• 2022-2023 CSPA Crown Award Finalist
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

Emma Karcz, managing editor

Emma Karcz is a 2025 graduate.

All content by Emma Karcz
Senior Anna Jeyachandran goes to Barnes and Noble on Mar. 18 to pick up her copy of the newest installment in the Hunger Games series, "Sunrise On The Reaping."

SPOILER ALERT: ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ shocks readers

Emma Karcz, managing editor
March 27, 2025
Senior and Editor-In-Chief Claire Lenkin works to edit writers' articles in her third period newspaper class. Newspaper has been one of her main extracurricular activities throughout high school.

How extra do you need to be with your extracurriculars?

Emma Karcz, managing editor
March 16, 2025
Sophomore Amen Tekleab shows off her Valentine's Day gift from her friend during advisory Friday, Feb. 14.

What the world is reading: Romcoms for the season of love

Emma Karcz, managing editor
February 14, 2025
Acting Principal Dr. Joseph Bostic Jr. settles into his office at this school, adding his water bottle with a University of Georgia sticker and his diploma from Northwood High School.

Dr. Joseph Bostic Jr. hopes for stronger Patriot community as acting principal

Emma Karcz, managing editor
December 14, 2024
Perfect gifts to give to book-loving friends include a Kindle and bookmarks.

What the world is reading: Holiday gift guide for book lovers

Emma Karcz, managing editor
December 12, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump won both the popular vote and the Electoral College in the Nov. 5 election..

Donald Trump wins: Americans should be worried

Emma Karcz, managing editor
November 20, 2024
This school's library has a table set up for Halloween, promoting scary books for the month of October. They also had a challenge for students: if they read and reviewed two books, they were entered to win a prize.

What’s the world reading: Are you thrilled yet?

Emma Karcz, managing editor
October 30, 2024
Senior Josie Spicer reads "The Scarlet Letter," by Nathaniel Hawthorne, on Friday, Oct. 5, during advisory. Having not read a book in a while, she said she is struggling to find the motivation.

What the world is reading: Slumps

Emma Karcz, managing editor
October 4, 2024
Senior Emma Karcz read 17 books over the summer including "Into the Wild."

What the world is reading: Summer book review

Emma Karcz, managing editor
September 10, 2024
Senior Josie Spicer runs to the ball at the varsity field hockey home game against Sherwood on Friday, Sept. 6. The 2-1 win for the Pats had goals by senior Jenna Goldberg and sophomore Kate Bardill.

Field hockey charges into season with win against Sherwood

Emma Karcz, managing editor
September 10, 2024
Senior Jordyn Cottone reads the third book in the "Divergent" series, "Allegiant," during free time in her first-period ASL class. "I love how powerful Tris is throughout the series," Cottone said.

What is the world reading: YA Dystopian

Emma Karcz, news editor
May 23, 2024
"The Love Hypothesis," by Ali Hazelwood, "11/22/63," by Stephen Hawking, "These Violent Delights," by Chloe Gong, and "Vicious," by V.E. Schwab, and the AP courses that match that book.

What the world is reading: AP classes as books

Emma Karcz, news editor
May 1, 2024
Junior Emma Karcz's bookshelf shows a variety of romance books and other genres she has enjoyed over the years.

What is the world reading: Romance season in full bloom

Emma Karcz, news editor
April 21, 2024
Media Specialist Tammie Burk picks out books for her monthly themed display. She chooses books based on important topics happening that month as well as what's popular.

What is the world reading?

Emma Karcz, news editor
March 23, 2024
A house in Sterling, VA, exploded due to a gas leak from an underground propane tank, trapping 12 firefighters inside. One firefighter was killed, and 11 others and two civilians were injured.

House explosion felt as far as 40 miles away

Emma Karcz, news editor
March 5, 2024
"Yellowface," by R.F. Kuang, wins Best Fiction in the 2023 Goodreads choice awards.

Meet some of the best books released in 2023

Emma Karcz, news editor
February 13, 2024

Winter pep rally excites students, staff

Emma Karcz, news editor
January 12, 2024
Movie posters of "Shadow and Bone," "The Summer I Turned Pretty," "Red White & Royal Blue," "Heartstopper" and "The Hunger Games The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," all of which are books turned to movies or TV shows released this year.

What makes a good book-to-movie adaptation?

Emma Karcz, news editor
December 14, 2023
Sophomore Kioko Kibua holds a mental health matters stress ball during lunch on Nov. 8.

Mental Health Week helps make students, staff aware of important resources

Emma Karcz, news editor
November 20, 2023
Banned books spark debate among students and teachers

Banned books spark debate among students and teachers

Emma Karcz, news editor
October 28, 2023
Characters Lorelei and Rory Gilmore say goodbye to character and real-life journalist and TV host Christiane Amanpour.

Fall media to spice up your life

Emma Karcz, news editor
October 12, 2023
Junior Lyla Dinallo (far right) and friends see the Barbie movie decked out in pink at Bethesda Row on Aug. 5

Detrimental or beneficial: Should movies be gender specific?

Emma Karcz, news editor
September 20, 2023
Celebrities Elle Fanning, Maya Hawk, Billie Eilish and Halle Bailey take a mirror selfie in the bathroom of the Met Gala on May 1.

Met Gala outfits blow fans away

Emma Karcz, news editor
May 24, 2023
Sophomore Kian Hamidzadeh sits outside reading '"Rule of Wolves" by Leigh Bardugo on Apr. 25.

Dive into spring with these books

Emma Karcz, news editor
April 28, 2023
Deaf influencer Justina Miles performs "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at the Super Bowl on Feb. 12.

Justina Miles steals the show

Emma Karcz, staff writer
March 20, 2023
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Charlie Brown comes to stage next month

Emma Karcz, staff writer
February 13, 2023
Math department head Kayla White enters grades into Synergy for upcoming interims.

Math teacher Kayla White kicks off her first year at this school

Emma Karcz, staff writer
December 12, 2022
Wes Moore discusses his proposals for Maryland, including marijuana legislation, while campaigning to become governor.

Marylanders vote for legalization of marijuana

Emma Karcz, staff writer
December 6, 2022
Senior Rae Weinstein and sophomore Lea Weinstein pose from their seats at Madison Square Garden during one of Styles' electrifying performances on Sept. 14

Harry Styles performs all over US, exciting fans

Emma Karcz, staff writer
November 9, 2022
Former ASL student and prospective ASL club member senior Josh Mirsky signs on a Zoom meeting.

Signing back onto the scene with ASL Club

Emma Karcz, staff writer
October 19, 2022
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