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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

Rebekah Buchman, online editor-in-chief

Junior Rebekah Buchman is a senior news editor in her third year at Common Sense. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, reading, baking/cooking and attending concerts. You can find her on Insta @bekah.buchman

All content by Rebekah Buchman
The Blueprint for Maryland's Future plan was passed in 2020 during the pandemic to support students. "I believe in the promise of the Blueprint but the realization of that promise doesn't come through strict adherence to formulas, at all costs," Governor Wes Moore said, according to ABC News.

Maryland loses crucial education funding

Rebekah Buchman, online editor-in-chief
May 2, 2025
A U.S. Army official recruiting at a career fair at Clarksburg High School in March 2022. Since conscription was ended in the 1970s, the military has increased their spending on advertisements and recruiting, according to KQED.

Military recruitment in high schools targets disadvantaged youth

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
March 31, 2025
Types of credibility range from Tier 1, the most credible source such as scholarly articles, to Tier 5, which includes blogs and social media.

Lack of media literacy leads to rise in misinformation

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
March 12, 2025
President Donald Trump talks with Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, in the Oval Office. Musk is currently leading the Department of Government Efficiency, a new agency set up by Trump to cut federal spending and regulations.

What actions has Trump taken during his first month in office?

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
February 23, 2025
The Kentlands is a popular place for teens to hang out with restaurants, cafes, stores, a movie theater, and green spaces in the spring and summer.

Affordable, accessible hang-out spots for teens decrease

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
January 17, 2025
President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to put reporters in jail as well as strip major television networks of their licensing if they put out coverage he doesn't like, according to NPR.

Trump’s attack on the free press: ‘fake news’ label erodes trust in media

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
December 13, 2024
Character.ai, an online chatbot service, offers a personalized therapist chatbot for people to talk to and discuss their problems with. However the website provides a warning that this "therapist" is not a real person or a licensed professional and should not be taken seriously.

AI companions can not replace human interaction

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
November 18, 2024
An official ballot drop box outside of the school is one place where voters can drop off their mail-in ballots before election day.

Students, teachers to participate in November elections

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
November 1, 2024
Sophomore Halie Ma serves at the opening home game against BCC on Sept. 9. Wootton won 3-0.

Girls’ varsity volleyball wins against Magruder, adding to 10-2 streak

Rebekah Buchman, senior news editor
October 18, 2024
The sign at the front of the school was vandalized on Aug. 19 with hateful graffiti, which was removed soon after. "As a school we can continue to educate students about how hate-bias incidents harm members of our community," restorative justice coach and English teacher Lindsey Vance said.

Wootton vandalized with antisemitic graffiti

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
September 13, 2024
On Apr. 17, Columbia students occupied their campus lawn and named the encampment, the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment."

College encampments divide campuses across country

Rebekah Buchman, senior news editor
June 4, 2024
Brandy Melville in Georgetown is packed with girls shopping for trendy clothes.

Brandy ‘Helville’ documentary exposes toxic culture behind iconic brand

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
May 3, 2024
During the total solar eclipse in 2017 the moon completely covered the sun.

Total solar eclipse creates excitement over once in lifetime occurrence

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
April 23, 2024
In 2023, there were multiple protests in France against a bill meant to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. Over 1 million people attended.

Protesting: the foundation of democracy

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
March 25, 2024
Sephora has become the main destination for young girls looking for products such as Drunk Elephant and Rare Beauty.

Rise of “Sephora Kids”: Should makeup stores have age limits?

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
March 11, 2024
GoGuardian blocks websites that are deemed inappropriate on school-owned Chromebooks.

MCPS eliminates GoGuardian from school budget

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
February 16, 2024
The New York Times allows readers to access a maximum of 10 articles per month before they have to subscribe. They offer a discounted rate of $4 a month for the first six months before they charge $25 a month.

Is paying for information ethical?

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
January 10, 2024
"The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" is an indictment of modern society due to the separation of the rich and poor criticized in the film.

Rachel Zegler brings new Hunger Games movie to life

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
December 19, 2023
The Activist Club discusses school safety and how MCPS can keep students safe.

Fake bomb threats cause safety concerns in MCPS

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
November 27, 2023
Mike Johnson, a representative from Louisana, has taken over as the Speaker of the House after Kevin McCarthy was dismissed from the position.

Kevin McCarthy removed as speaker of the House, Mike Johnson elected

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
October 31, 2023
Lana Del Ray performs at the All Things Go Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Fan favorite song "Born to Die" was played during the set.

Upcoming local concerts, festivals in DMV

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
October 6, 2023
Joel Beidleman used to work at Roberto Clemente Middle School as an assistant principal. "It shocked me that although he was doing all these things and creating complete havoc at Clemente, he was promoted and they were applauding him for what a great job he had done," Joanne, a former Clemente teacher who spoke on the condition that she was identified with her first name only because she was bullied by Beidleman, told the Washington Post.

MCPS ignored complaints about principal sexually harassing teachers

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
September 14, 2023
Uptown Cheapskate is a thrift store in Rockville. You can find new clothes there or donate old clothes in turn for cash.

Thrifting over fast fashion: Shop sustainably while saving money

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
June 2, 2023
Drug-involved overdose deaths have grown significantly over the past 20 years. This results from an opioid crisis that has affected the entire nation. National drug overdoses have increased from 20,000 in the year 2000 to almost 100,000 drug overdoses in 2020.

County works to decrease drug use in schools after Quince Orchard student overdoses at McDonald’s

Rebekah Buchman, features editor
May 3, 2023
The media center is celebrating Women's History Month by showing a slideshow full of important women throughout history.

Celebrating Women’s History Month by remembering why it’s important

Rebekah Buchman, staff writer
March 29, 2023
Security Guard Ivan Hicks works to protect the school every day.

Students concerned over increasing gun violence in MCPS

Rebekah Buchman, staff writer
February 22, 2023
Freshman Megan Lomotan (right) plays varsity basketball in the first game of the season versus WJ.

Freshman Megan Lomotan makes varsity basketball team

Rebekah Buchman, staff writer
January 4, 2023
Keith Yanity lectures during his afternoon AP NSL class.

Keith Yanity brings AP Art History to this school

Rebekah Buchman, staff writer
December 9, 2022
Students who wish to read more books can find a variety of genres in the Media Center.

Students, teachers reading variety of books

Rebekah Buchman, staff writer
November 30, 2022
Club leader Josie Starr and Danny Fitzgerald at a Best Buddies meeting Thursday.

Best Buddies fosters friendships between students

Rebekah Buchman, staff writer
October 31, 2022
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