• 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

Nico DePalma, editor-in-chief emeritus

Nico DePalma is a 2022 graduate. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, cooking, and spending time with friends. You can contact him @nicodepalmaa on Instagram or at [email protected].

All content by Nico DePalma
Seniors Ellie Cowen and Nico DePalma spend time at Rockville Town Center as freshmen (left) and dress in their class colors for the last pep rally of senior year (right).

A letter to my freshman self

Nico DePalma, EIC emeritus
May 25, 2022
Senior Miles Wiley totes his materials to school in a laundry basket brought from home for "Anything but a Backpack" day Apr. 20.

What’s Underway in SGA: A spirited start to spring

Nico DePalma, editor-in-chief
May 1, 2022
Students gather in front of school the afternoon of Mar. 17 to view a simulated drunk driving crash coordinated by the SGA. Working with the Montgomery County Fire Department and Every 15 Minutes program, the goal of the simulation was to raise awareness of the frequency and severity of distracted driving incidents.

What’s Underway in SGA: Spring project in review

Nico DePalma, editor-in-chief
March 28, 2022
Senior and SGA member Lizzy Jack does spring project work for her committee Feb. 18. Each committee plays a vital role in coordinating and creating media for the project.

What’s Underway in SGA: SMOB, spring project and more

Nico DePalma, editor-in-chief
February 20, 2022
Students enjoy a competitive game of musical chairs in the Commons on Oct. 29. The SGA often utilizes space in the Commons for activities and displays related to its yearly projects.

What’s‌ ‌Underway‌ ‌in‌ ‌SGA:‌ ‌New‌ ‌year,‌ ‌new‌ ‌projects‌

Nico DePalma, editor-in-chief
January 18, 2022
Members of SGA prepare backstage to perform their dance at POTH Dec. 16.

What’s Underway in SGA: Getting in the holiday spirit

Nico DePalma, editor-in-chief
December 17, 2021
Junior Vivek Majumdar testifies to members of the Board of Education on Nov. 4 about issues of ADA noncompliance in the school building.

What’s Underway in SGA: Gearing up for winter break

Nico DePalma, editor-in-chief
November 15, 2021
Students gather in the Commons for a game of tug-of-war Oct. 12, just one of the games SGA has hosted to bolster spirit before the homecoming dance.

What’s Underway in SGA: Homecoming and beyond

Nico DePalma, editor-in-chief
October 14, 2021
Senior and SGA Co-President Nick Jones helps sophomore Ewere Elbuiazor work on games, tickets and prizes for the Oct. 16 homecoming dance.

What’s underway in SGA?

Nico DePalma, editor-in-chief
September 20, 2021
A patient receives a dose of the Pfizer vaccine at a Navy medical center Dec. 15, 2020.

FDA lowers age limit for Pfizer vaccine, students quickly make appointments

Nico DePalma, editor-in-chief
May 26, 2021
From left to right: Candidates Henry Kaye and Hana O'Looney.

Everything you need to know about this year’s SMOB election

Nico DePalma, commons editor
April 21, 2021
A chart by the Montgomery County Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) details school arrests by race, ethnicity, gender, and special education.

Board of Ed holds hearings to determine fate of county school resource officer program

Nico DePalma, commons editor
March 20, 2021
An aerial view of a bus lot owned by MCPS.

The process of picking MCPS’ new superintendent, explained

Nico DePalma, commons editor
February 17, 2021
Jon Ossoff addresses a crowd Nov. 10, 2020. Ossoff later won David Perdue's Senate seat after the Jan. 5 runoff election.

Democrats win georgia runoff, flip senate

Nico DePalma, commons editor
January 31, 2021
President-elect Joe Biden speaks at the 2019 Iowa Federation of Labor convention Aug. 21 in Altoona, Iowa.

Biden begins selecting new presidential cabinet

Nico DePalma, commons editor
December 17, 2020
Outgoing President Donald Trump nominates Judge Amy Coney Barrett for Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Barrett confirmation: perfectly legal, perfectly wrong

Nico DePalma, commons editor
November 16, 2020
A large crowd gathers in front of the Supreme Court the night of Sep. 19 for a candle-lit vigil in honor of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Student-lead advocacy groups urge Senate against Supreme Court nomination before next year

Nico DePalma, commons editor
October 20, 2020
Thousands of protestors gather by the reflecting pool at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC to hear speakers and to march during the fight against police brutality and systemic injustice against black people on Aug. 28. Photo by Nicolas DePalma.

Thousands attend second March on Washington amid resurgence of civil rights movement

Nico DePalma, Commons editor
September 21, 2020
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