• 2022-2023 CSPA Crown Award Finalist
The Student News Site of Wootton High School

Common Sense
The Student News Site of Wootton High School

Common Sense
The Student News Site of Wootton High School

Common Sense

Marley Hoffman, editor-in-chief

Senior Marley Hoffman is an editor-in-chief in her fourth year on the Common Sense staff. In her free time, she enjoys playing lacrosse. She hopes you enjoy reading all the great common sense articles! You can also find her on IG @marleyhoffmann.

All content by Marley Hoffman
The Ohio State University is one of many schools that require a counselor recommendation. For this school, they use Naviance to upload all materials, which has to be done by a counselor. Image courtesy The Ohio State University

Six counselors leave; seniors feel effects on college applications

Marley Hoffman, editor-in-chief
September 19, 2025
SGA works on May 28 to finalize plans for Patriot Field day taking place on Saturday, May 31.

Building a stronger school through community-centered classes

Marley Hoffman, editor-in-chief
May 29, 2025
The Attendee Mobile app allows students, parents and counselors to sign up for NACAC college fair events. The app provides information about which colleges will be attending the events. It also provides a QR code for each student to show to a college to get on their mailing list.

The NACAC National College Fair: A Gateway to the Future

Marley Hoffman, editor-in-chief
May 8, 2025
Junior Marley Hoffman went to coed volleyball practice on April 3 to experience their sport.

I’ve been playing sports my whole life – volleyball humbled me in 15 minutes

Marley Hoffman, back page editor
April 18, 2025
Class of 2023 graduates Mason Berk and Devin McCarthy celebrate together when they both decided to go to the University of Miami. “Devlin and I have been roommates for the past two years and have absolutely loved UM. It’s been great to have a friend from home in college and it’s still always fun to come back to UMD and see our other friends,” Berk said.

Wootton graduates find success after college decision setbacks

Marley Hoffman, back page editor
March 18, 2025
Junior Bryan Ngouzo goes up for the block in the boys' varsity basketball game against James Hubert Blake on Friday, Feb. 21. "I am excited to see how far this team goes in playoffs. I have high hopes," Ngouzo said.

Basketball drives into playoffs

Marley Hoffman, back page editor
February 26, 2025
Junior Bryson Filbert sets up at the starting line for his event at the Gator Invitational in March 2024. "I'm hoping to improve my times and height for high jump this season." Filbert said.

Indoor track team sets records

Marley Hoffman, back page editor
January 21, 2025
Junior Jenny Brailosvky celebrates Thanksgiving with her two brothers and their significant others. “I celebrate Thanksgiving at my house in Florida every year, usually with my brothers and my parents, this year I celebrated with my brother and his girlfriend, my other brother and his wife, and my parents, and it felt so great to all be together,” Brailosvky said.

The pie’s the limit: Thanksgiving traditions continue

Marley Hoffman and Jake Sklias
December 10, 2024
On Friday, Nov. 22, AP Psychology teacher Amy Buckingham tells her third period about the new unit "Development and Learning" concepts they will be studying over the next month. She started by discussing nature vs. nurture and then provided a video about developmental psychology.

Teachers process, plan for curriculum changes

Marley Hoffman, back page editor
December 3, 2024
During newspaper class, juniors Siena McCarthy, Annalise Yi and Cyrus Kaz read Walt Whitman's "The Black and White," Walter Johnson's "The Pitch" and Richard Montgomery's "The Tide" for inspiration on page designs and article ideas. "I enjoy seeing other schools' ways of creating pages and their designs as well as the differences between which schools create magazines and which schools create true newspapers," Yi said.

A look inside high school newspapers

Marley Hoffman, back page editor
November 1, 2024
On Sept. 13 at the first home game against Rockville, seniors Parsa Hashemi, Abe Tare, Maddie Sisco, and Noah Friedman show school spirit by wearing red, white, and blue and cheering for the Patriots.

Gameday etiquette: A fan’s guide to enjoying high school football

Marley Hoffman, back page editor
October 8, 2024
Chemistry teach Ellen Polster's class takes notes during a lecture about significant figures on Sept. 12. Chemistry is a key subject for the science section of the ACT.

ACT 2.0: Big changes are coming – here’s what you need to know

Marley Hoffman, back page editor
September 14, 2024
Sophomore Katherine Yao hits a hard backhand shot against her opponent during a match vs Richard Montgomery on Apr. 18.

Boys’, girls’ tennis win states

Marley Hoffman, back page editor
June 3, 2024
Cinépolis Luxury Cinema opened on Sept. 20, 2019, and was the first Cinépolis to open in Maryland.

Popcorn kingdoms and cell phone silencers: The wild world of movie theaters

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
May 5, 2024
On Apr. 19 at the pep rally, senior Jai Gurewitz, sophomore Theo Gittleson and senior Sebastian Valdivia compete in the cake eating contest to see who can finish a slice first without the use of their hands.

Students find joy at spring pep rally

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
April 26, 2024
The Alabama Crimson Tide takes on the North Carolina Tar Heels during the Sweet 16 round of March Madness on Mar. 28. The Crimson Tide took the victory with a score of 89-87 over the Tar Heels.

Looking into madness of March

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
April 4, 2024
Dulles Airport tries to handle snow on taxi-ways on Jan. 14 after a snowstorm hit leading to a four-inch coating of snow on the ground, causing delays and cancellations of flights arriving and departing.

Winter travel brings cautious conditions

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
March 5, 2024
Sophomores Danielle Rubin and Marley Hoffman ski at Liberty Mountain Resort. Hoffman and Rubin experienced a good snow day with almost every run open on Feb. 3.

Liberty vs. Whitetail showdown

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
February 22, 2024
The ice hockey team celebrates senior night after a loss to rival Churchill Bulldogs on Jan. 7.

Hockey team hopes for long run in playoffs

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
January 24, 2024
Exchanging gifts with loved ones is a significant part of the holiday season.

Common Sense offers holiday guide for gift giving

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
December 6, 2023
On Nov. 3, varsity field hockey beat Dulaney High School 2-1 in the first round of the state playoffs.

Girls’ varsity field hockey makes it to state semi-finals

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
November 28, 2023
Freshman Skye Cushing opens Instagram to find posts covering activist protests to stop violence against Palestinians.

How social media skews views on world issues

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
November 2, 2023
Sophomore Nicole Subiela opens the podcast app to go listen to her favorite podcast, Crime Junkies.

Listen up! Top podcasts to stream

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
October 13, 2023
Freshmen Manu Palmeida, Alex Rabin and Anna Sofronas showed spirit on the field at the first pep rally of the year on Sept.1.

Freshmen have feels about jumping into high school

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
September 26, 2023
Seniors Kassandra Acuna and Karen Potts celebrate after a 7-4 win against Poolesville on senior night.

Girls’ varsity softball season comes to end

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
June 5, 2023
Senior Kaitlin Mariani bats during the game against Churchill.

JV, varsity softball season rewind

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
May 4, 2023
Freshman Jenny Brailovsky watches episode six of Outer Banks season three during her free time in class.

Popular series ‘Outer Banks’ releases season three

Marley Hoffman, staff writer
March 28, 2023
The new season of Ginny and Georgia premiered on Jan. 5, with 2.7 billion viewing minutes in the second week after the second season launched.

Ginny and Georgia season two takes on comedy, romance, drama

Marley Hoffman, staff writer
February 24, 2023
Freshmen may be shocked to see how little lockers are utilized in high school.

Freshmen compare middle school to high school

Marley Hoffman, staff writer
December 8, 2022
PE teacher Tony Pykosh readies to teach a class.

Soccer star turned to physical education from his love of working with children

Marley Hoffman, staff writer
December 5, 2022
Freshman officers Grant McGraw, Ryan Shin, Joanna Jacob and Mia Coven display their winning homecoming booth.

Freshman planning looks to expand members

Marley Hoffman, staff writer
October 18, 2022
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