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The Student News Site of Thomas S. Wootton High School

Common Sense
The Student News Site of Thomas S. Wootton High School

Common Sense
The Student News Site of Thomas S. Wootton High School

Common Sense

Diya Khetan, news editor emeritus

Diya Khetan is a 2025 graduate.

All content by Diya Khetan
Senior Diya Khetan (this writer) and Howard High School senior Sophie Mueller got off the Brown waitlist on May 5. Both students are now committed to attending Brown University this fall.

Update: I survived the waitlist war

Diya Khetan, news editor emeritus
May 24, 2025
After being offered a spot on the waitlist by a college, students must fill out a short form either accepting or declining it. This is the waitlist form used by Duke University, which includes an additional question asking students the school they are planning to commit to.

The story of a true waitlist warrior

Diya Khetan, news editor emeritus
May 5, 2025
English teacher Zachary Lowe's favorite book to teach is "A Tale for the Time Being," by Ruth Ozeki, finding that the conversations he's had with his students have influenced his view of the novel. "You learn more about a book - and yourself - when you read it in conversation with other people. Students often bring fresh eyes to texts that I know quite well. It helps me to keep the text fresh and open and feel that it is alive, which is the way all great art should feel," Lowe said.

Magical realism to Shakespeare: English teachers’ favorite books to teach

Diya Khetan, news editor
April 8, 2025
African American and Latinx honor society members and officers speak on a panel during the honor society fair. Restorative Approaches Lead Lindsey Vance was one of the staff members in charge of organizing the fair. “A lot of factors contribute to the ‘achievement gap’ between historically marginalized racial groups and their peers, including access and awareness. This fair provides information that students otherwise may not have. We will identify more ways to ensure all students know about the wide array of opportunities available at school,” Vance said.

Honor society fair encourages minorities, promotes diversity

Diya Khetan, news editor
March 14, 2025
Senior Diya Khetan (this writer) opens her acceptance letter from the University of Maryland College Park on Jan. 31. Only approximately 33% of applicants across the country received an acceptance to UMD through early action this year.

UMD rejects over half of applicants early action

Diya Khetan, news editor
February 26, 2025
Senior Daksh Badri visits Columbia University with his mom, the college he will be attending in the fall after applying early decision this application cycle. "I decided to ED to Columbia because I formed a deep connection with the university when I went on a tour there," Badri said.

Students commit to dream schools through early decision

Diya Khetan, news editor
January 13, 2025
The sign outside the girls' bathroom by the health room, particularly the term vandalism, can be misinterpreted by students. "When we say vandalism, it's not any sort of graffiti or tagging, it is damage of actual equipment in the bathroom," Business Administrator Arlin De La Rosa said.

Vandalism shuts down bathrooms, frustrates students

Diya Khetan, news editor
December 17, 2024
Freshman Mahita Dheenadhayalan celebrates Christmas with sophomore Ashu Khetan (this writer's sister) and senior Diya Khetan (this writer). "I enjoy getting together with not only my biological family, but also with my family friends who I've pretty much grown up with," Dheenadhayalan said.

Students embrace holiday spirit early through family traditions

Diya Khetan, news editor
November 16, 2024
Page 36 of the Moco360 Media magazine shows compiled data on high schools across Montgomery County, including average SAT scores, AP test scores and construction and renovation dates.

SAT, GPA, AP, IB: What are the best metrics to compare schools?

Diya Khetan, news editor
October 30, 2024
This year's shirt is different from the class of 2020, class of 2022 and class of 2024 in both colors and design. Senior class secretary Justin Kim’s favorite design from the past five years was the class of 2024’s senior shirt. “I think it’s the most original and timeless design. I would wear it outside of school,” Kim said.

Seniors feel ignored, disappointed with class shirt

Diya Khetan, news editor
October 6, 2024
Senior Anna Lizondo works on her presentation for the Spanish 5 students in her combined Spanish 7 class during lunch on Sept. 17. "It's fun to have a bit of a leadership role in class with the presentations we do every Friday for the Spanish 5 kids," Lizondo said.

Class sizes increase as school grapples with county budget cuts

Diya Khetan, news editor
September 18, 2024
Junior Rebecca Gao and her coworkers attend orientation to work as a lifeguard over the summer at the City of Gaithersburg Waterpark, where they will make $17.50 an hour. "I love my job and I love the amount of money I make," Gao said.

Working students face income disparities

Diya Khetan and Naina Giare
May 26, 2024
National Honor Society members help set up for the Sam Williams 5K on Mar. 16 for community hours. "Community hours are much more reflective of your dedication to the society," junior Neil Kotval said.

Are honor societies worth it

Diya Khetan, staff writer
May 7, 2024
The new FAFSA for the 2024-2025 school year is significantly less complicated and more accessible than the FAFSA from 2009-2010, featuring gewer questions and available is multiple languages.

Students forced to commit to college without knowing cost

Diya Khetan, staff writer
April 18, 2024
Brookhaven Elementary School hosts an after-school enrichment project to provide additional opportunities for students using the financial aid they receive as a Title 1 school. They are one of four schools losing their Title 1 status in the 2024-2025 school year.

Four MCPS elementary schools lose Title 1 status, funding

Diya Khetan, staff writer
March 22, 2024
Freshmen Riya Gupta, Saya Kalaria and Maya Saini study for their honors biology test and honors algebra two quiz before school on Mar. 5. Buses such as 5308 get to school at around 7:12 a.m., leaving 25 minutes of free time for students. So, students have begun utilizing this time to work on assignments in the second semester to decrease procrastination.

Freshmen ready to conquer semester two

Diya Khetan, staff writer
March 10, 2024
Juniors Emma Li and Sebastian Thomas study for their AP AB Calculus test together during Wellness Wednesday on Feb. 14. Due to rising class sizes, students rely on each other for help more than the teacher since the teacher has less time to give personalized feedback for each student.

Extreme class sizes disrupt learning, planning

Diya Khetan, staff writer
February 21, 2024
Junior Aanya Kapoor performs with Poms at POTH on Dec. 6.

From Prog to Poms, Aanya Kapoor does it all

Diya Khetan, staff writer
December 22, 2023
The relationships of characters Phoebe, Joey, Monica, Joey, Rachel and Chandler are all fuel for drama on the hit show Friends.

‘We were on a break’: did Ross cheat? What would you do for your lobster?

Diya Khetan, staff writer
December 12, 2023
Michelle Hanson teaches her second-period AP Seminar class on Nov. 30.

Michelle Hanson: more than a teacher

Diya Khetan, staff writer
November 30, 2023
Senior Sofia Bautista said, "I have the same color folders for each subject every year and I still have to label them to keep track."

Why is math red? Students debate colors of subjects

Diya Khetan, staff writer
November 7, 2023
Co-President Kristina Khrimian, VP of Training Alvin Wang, Dylan Xu, and VP of Training Charles Freedman celebrate at the first DECA meeting of the year on Oct. 4.

DECA thrilled for high membership

Diya Khetan, staff writer
October 26, 2023
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