• 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

Jake Dolan, managing editor emeritus

Jake Dolan is a 2022 graduate.

All content by Jake Dolan
Seniors Mia Mikowski, Katherine Sarkisov and Keerthi Padmanabhan celebrate at the senior picnic, which took place at Smokey Glen Farm on May 6.

Senior picnic’s bad weather, disappointing activities not enough to ruin students’ fun

Jake Dolan, managing editor emeritus
May 18, 2022
Junior Souvik Kar practices for his AP AB Calculus exam at the beginning of class on Apr. 29.

Students go extreme lengths to prepare for AP exams

Jake Dolan, managing editor emeritus
May 5, 2022
One reason for the increase in college applications is the Common App. The Common App simplifies the college application process and allows students to apply to almost any college in the U.S. via their website.

Increase in college applicants leads to all-time low acceptance rates

Jake Dolan, managing editor
March 27, 2022
The bocce team had a successful divisional tournament on Jan. 29 beating out Walter Johnson, Richard Montgomery and Churchill to take home the division two tournament title.

Bocce team wins divisional tournament, fails to make it far in county championship

Jake Dolan, managing editor
February 21, 2022
Packages of KN95 masks were passed out to students during advisory on Jan. 18.

Students upset with MCPS decision to stay in-person

Jake Dolan, managing editor
January 22, 2022
Junior Rose Adkins' family had a wide variety of appetizers on Thanksgiving day, Nov. 25.

Students boast strong opinions on Thanksgiving dishes

Jake Dolan, managing editor
December 23, 2021
Senior Neha Dheen and sophomore Divya Subramaniam celebrate a successful book drive outside school on Oct. 29.

Neha Dheen and BEAT try to end anemia together

Jake Dolan, managing editor
November 29, 2021
Students experiencing Covid symptoms should go to the health room where they can get a rapid test.

Students don’t trust MCPS rapid testing, cite false results as concern

Jake Dolan, managing editor
October 21, 2021
Security guard Ivan Hicks surveys the area during lunch on Sept. 17.

Students, staff have split opinions on removal of SROs

Jake Dolan, managing editor
September 24, 2021
U.S. News & World Report ranks Wootton the fourth best public high school in Maryland.

Wootton ranks 4th in Maryland, no surprise to students

Jake Dolan, managing editor
May 28, 2021
For freshmen returning to in-person learning, these past few weeks have been the first time they've ever stepped foot in this building.

Good things to know about coming into school for freshmen

Jake Dolan, staff writer
April 28, 2021
Social studies teacher Christina Rice smiles at her virtual teaching set up in her home on the first day of the current school year.

Teachers share differing opinions on return to in-person learning

Jake Dolan, staff writer
March 24, 2021
One thing students will miss about snow days is hanging out with friends, sledding and having fun in the snow.

Students, staff agree that online learning may mark the end of snow days

Jake Dolan, features editor
February 25, 2021
As online learning trudges on, students often find themselves more interested in apps such as Netflix than their actual classes.

Teachers try their best to keep students engaged during online learning

Jake Dolan, features editor
January 26, 2021
For many the holiday season is a time of joy and gratefulness, but for others it can be a pit of loneliness and anxiety.

Methods to fight off seasonal depression

Jake Dolan, features editor
December 17, 2020
Students sit down and discuss the Minority Scholars Program's purpose at a meeting on Nov. 12, 2019.

Online learning fails to meet expectations; students ponder when a return to in-person learning should happen

Jake Dolan, staff writer
November 22, 2020
Junior Jake Dolan takes the MAP practice test from his home on Oct. 18.

MAP testing disappoints as students take it for the first time in years

Jake Dolan, staff writer
October 24, 2020
Khan‌ ‌Academy‌ ‌is‌ ‌one‌ ‌resource‌ ‌students‌ ‌say‌ ‌is‌ ‌helpful,‌ ‌especially‌ ‌for‌ ‌math‌ ‌and‌ ‌science. Users also see on average a 39 point improvement when using Khan Academy’s official SAT practice for six or more hours.

Online resources support students during virtual semester

Jake Dolan, features editor
September 30, 2020
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