• 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

Naina Giare, managing editor emeritus

Naina Giare is a 2025 graduate.

All content by Naina Giare
Seniors Diya Khetan, Naina Giare (this writer), Aanya Kapoor and Rebecca Gao celebrate prom at the National Cathedral on Saturday, May 17.

Common Sense: an uncommon experience

Naina Giare, managing editor emeritus
May 26, 2025

Episode 1: Life advice for seniors

Naina Giare, managing editor emeritus
May 7, 2025
Arts honors society members paint a mural on the wall of the athletic training room.

School murals spark creativity, connection

Naina Giare, managing editor
April 2, 2025
AP Statistics teacher Michelle George shows off her leftover Chipotle bowl that she packed for lunch and warmed in her crockpot on Mar. 14. "I use little crock pots to heat stuff at my desk without having to go find a microwave, or wait in line for a microwave because we only have a couple in the math office," George said.

Students, staff struggle to balance meal packing, eating lunch

Naina Giare, managing editor
March 17, 2025
Current school boundary lines at the site of and around Crown High School are visible using MCPS GIS Interactive Map.

Crown High School threatens redistricting

Naina Giare, managing editor
February 25, 2025
The Bocce team celebrates their win against Whitman (2-1) on Dec. 18.

Bocce promotes inclusion, goes undefeated in winter season

Naina Giare, managing editor
January 16, 2025
Senior Cathleen Shi fences at the 2022 North American Cup in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Cathleen Shi looks to sharpen fencing skills at UPenn

Naina Giare, managing editor
December 17, 2024
Varsity cheer performs at the county competition at Blair on Oct. 26, where they placed fourth.

Varsity cheer places fourth in state; first time in six years

Naina Giare, managing editor
November 15, 2024
Sophomore Ashrita Khetan browses HBO Max watching the new mini series, "The Penguin."

HBO Max’s new TV show ‘The Penguin’ slides onto the scene

Naina Giare, managing editor
October 31, 2024
Acatonics tease the release of their new album "Don't you understand?" on their instagram account @woottonacatonics.

Don’t you understand?’: acapella’s premiere album highlights remarkable season

Naina Giare, managing editor
October 5, 2024
Former AP Chemistry student and intern Ayush Garg measures out salt for AP Chemistry class during fourth period. "I want to improve the experience for other AP Chem students," Garg said.

Student interns explore possible career paths

Naina Giare, managing editor
September 15, 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
Students write messages of appreciation for teachers and staff on the sidewalk outside the auditorium.

Teacher Appreciation Week highlights hard work by faculty

Naina Giare, managing editor
May 9, 2024
Patriot Ambassadors Isabel Leibowitz, Emily Teague, Emma Yuan, Hana Ghalib and Parsa Hashemi volunteer at the Spring Bash on Apr. 6.

Splanning hosts first spring bash

Naina Giare, managing editor
April 20, 2024
Senior Jax Kobey walks through the streets of New York on their way from dinner to the Broadway show, Hadestown.

Band, theater trips help students explore unique careers

Naina Giare, managing editor
March 23, 2024
Senior Lucy Kerr uses a ladder during her EMT and firefighter training.

Lucy Kerr: first student or responder?

Naina Giare, managing editor
March 5, 2024

Second bomb threat of the year calls directed evacuation protocol into review

Naina Giare, managing editor
February 22, 2024
Sophomores Maximilian Iano-Stockton and Aava Nikakhtar collaborate with juniors Naysa Mustafa and Diya Khetan on their team multimedia presentation during their second period AP Seminar class, which will be offered for the first time in place of Honors English 10 in the 2024-2024 school year.

A path to the future: New AP Seminar 10 prepares sophomores for college

Naina Giare, managing editor
January 11, 2024
Junior Katherine Hua and her sister Emily Shao hike through mountains last December during winter break.

How are students spending their winter break?

Naina Giare, managing editor
December 7, 2023
A flow chart helps students determine the next steps toward earning the Seal of Biliteracy.

Seal of Biliteracy exam highlights students’ success in world languages

Naina Giare, managing editor
November 27, 2023
Ree Drummond, also known as the Food Network's Pioneer Woman, cooks during her television show, filmed at her lodge, which is embroiled in debate raised by the movie "Flowers of the Killer Moon. "

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ movie shines light on mystery around Food Network’s Ree Drummond’s estate

Naina Giare, managing editor
November 1, 2023
Junior Diya Khetan finds an unlocked bathroom during sixth period on Oct. 6.

Students experiencing growing frustration with bathroom locking practices from administration, security

Naina Giare, managing editor
October 6, 2023
Water was thrown at Cardi B by a fan during her performance in Las Vegas on July 30.

Fans throw items on stage during performances, legal consequences ensue

Naina Giare, managing editor
September 15, 2023
Protesters and writers from the Writers Guild of America strike and protest for higher writer and director wages.

The writers’ strike: Why are they striking? When will they be back? What does this mean for all of your favorite shows?

Naina Giare, managing editor
May 29, 2023
Jacob Buxton in the 2015 yearbook and fishing in a local creek.

Buxton leaving Wootton: A career in review

Naina Giare, managing editor
May 8, 2023
Barron's test prep publishes their first online AP Precalculus exam study guide.

CollegeBoard offers new AP class next year: AP Precalculus

Naina Giare, news editor
March 21, 2023
Students gather to watch Superbowl LVII at a viewing party.

Students make plans for Super Bowl

Naina Giare, news editor
February 14, 2023
Students can use the Course Request Planning Worksheet provided by the counseling department to plan the classes they want to take next year.

Advice to freshman planning their schedules

Naina Giare, news editor
January 18, 2023
On Dec. 9, students danced in Clarksburg High School's cafeteria during the Naach Ball.

Naach Ball returns with new registration process

Naina Giare, news editor
December 15, 2022
Members of the community can call, text or email this hotline to report an anonymous tip about school safety.

Gun violence assembly educates, informs MoCo community

Naina Giare, news editor
November 16, 2022
Before school, sophomore Rebecca Gao looks at promotional posters for Cobra Kai season five.

Netflix-hit show Cobra Kai returns for fifth season

Naina Giare, news editor
October 27, 2022
Photo used with permission from Blanton Studios

Alumni, rapper, actor Utkarsh Ambudkar succeeds across industries

Naina Giare, news editor
September 23, 2022
Actor Johnny Depp and ex-wife, actress Amber Heard are suing each other for defamation.

Johnny Depp, Amber Heard defamation trial comes to a close

Naina Giare, news editor
May 28, 2022
Keith Burnham: A life of pi

Keith Burnham: A life of pi

Naina Giare, staff writer
April 30, 2022
In recent months, planes have been diverted to the nearest airport due to disturbances caused by passengers.

Airlines hope to establish federal no-fly list for unruly passengers in time for spring break

Naina Giare, staff writer
March 25, 2022
The musical cast practices their big dance number for “Under the Sea” after school in the cafeteria on Feb. 16. English teacher Catherine Boswell is the choreographer for the musical and uses hand signals to cue each move during the dance. “It’s going to be really fun learning everything with everyone especially 'Under the sea' because that’s like one of the biggest songs in Disney history,” senior Neha Dheen said.

Patriot players begin rehearsals for this year’s spring musical, ‘The Little Mermaid’

Naina Giare, staff writer
February 25, 2022
Withdrawal of School Resource Officers: promising or precarious?

Withdrawal of School Resource Officers: promising or precarious?

Naina Giare, staff writer
January 5, 2022
Counselor Arielle Markiewicz addresses student concerns in her office. She first became a counselor 13 years ago.

Resource counselor Arielle Markiewicz’ journeys through life, from kid to counselor

Naina Giare, staff writer
December 15, 2021
Students attend the homecoming dance on the stadium field.

Students have mixed feelings about homecoming; different from past years

Naina Giare, staff writer
November 23, 2021
Marine biology is the study of aquatic animals. The club meets every other Wednesday during lunch in room 101.

Marine biology club hopes to raise awareness, money for aquatic wildlife

Naina Giare, staff writer
November 1, 2021
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