• 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

Catie Russ, profiles editor

Catie is a 2023 graduate.

All content by Catie Russ
Senior Lunah Schleret checks her housing portal for the University of California, San Diego. "I'm going to be in another state, and it's honestly terrifying," Schleret said.

The World is Ending: Moving Up and Out

Catie Russ, profiles editor emeritus
May 26, 2023
Students wait at the bus stop after school for the MCDOT Ride On bus to arrive.

The World is Ending: Bus Safety

Catie Russ, profiles editor emeritus
May 1, 2023
Nationalist graffiti on a public wall in the Northern Irish town of Derry. Everyday citizens were drawn into the conflict, which resulted in over 3,000 deaths, as towns became unofficial battlefields for bombings and snipers.

The World Is Ending: Luck of the Irish

Catie Russ, profiles editor
March 27, 2023
Rescuers work to save trapped worshipers and recover dead victims inside the mosque after the bomb caused a whole wall to collapse. Citizens observe the damage from behind police tape.

The World Is Ending: No space for anti-Muslim hate

Catie Russ, profiles editor
February 23, 2023
Brazil’s new President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (left) campaigns in Porto Alegre with his wife Janja Lula da Silva (right) and Vice President-elect Geraldo Alckim (middle) on the platform of saving the Amazon Rainforest.

The World Is Ending: Amazon Rainforest, dying?

Catie Russ, profiles editor
January 19, 2023
Senior Allison Cheng donates a gently used coat to the winter clothing drive for Ukraine. She is donating with dignity.

The World is Ending: Donating without dignity

Catie Russ, profiles editor
December 14, 2022
Feral hog populations expand northward from 1982 - 2020. With feral swine populations in Virginia and Pennsylvania, Maryland is now openly accessible to further migration.

The World is Ending: Feral Hog Invasion

Catie Russ, profiles editor
November 16, 2022
Four bees pollinate a flower on Sugarloaf Mountain. Pollen from the flower sticks onto their furry bodies and is then carried to another plant, fertilizing it and fostering biodiversity.

The World is Ending: You’d better BEElieve it

Catie Russ, profiles editor
October 20, 2022
A young Queen Elizabeth II plants a tree while on a diplomatic world tour. Her husband, Prince Phillip, watches.

The World is Ending: Queen Elizabeth, dead?

Catie Russ, profiles editor
September 24, 2022
Sophomore Victoria Alexander, senior Rose LeFlore and juniors Sophie Zhang, Tenzin Chen and Seungha Shin dance to "Weapon" by ITZY.

Lunchtime flash mob sparks excitement

Catie Russ, profiles editor
May 24, 2022
An art project by junior Jules Lindauer depicts pride flags as candles, raising awareness of gender identities and sexualities.

New Florida law bans LGBTQ+ topics from classroom discussion

Catie Russ, staff writer
May 1, 2022
A chart displays basic color theory, which suggests that every color has a set of emotions or feelings that the human mind commonly associates with that color.

Math is red

Catie Russ, staff writer
March 20, 2022
Math teacher Miim Kwak holds one of the first live classes on Zoom after learning went virtual in March 2020. Her students appreciated her dedication with a hyperbolic caption.

True meaning of MATH: Miim is an Awesome Teacher to Have

Catie Russ, staff writer
February 25, 2022
Hundreds of drivers are stuck bumper-to-bumper on I-95 on Jan. 3. The highway won't clear until tomorrow morning.

I-95 crash strands hundreds in freezing temperatures without food, water

Catie Russ, staff writer
January 14, 2022
Junior Jules Lindauer examines the class shirts as she waits to finally retrieve her merch.

Missing class merch mystery solved

Catie Russ, staff writer
December 18, 2021
Juniors Kate Thepnorarat, Rachel Nanos and Maddie Press wear their masks after finishing their lunches to keep each other safe.

Fight against COVID-19 continues; hoping to prevent another spike

Catie Russ, staff writer
November 16, 2021
President Joe Biden gives an impassioned speech in-person at the UN General Assembly.

UN General Assembly finds COVID-19 solution through hope, peace

Catie Russ, staff writer
October 21, 2021
Junior Maddie Press enjoys a vegetable ricotta casserole with her family to celebrate the new year.

Jewish students celebrate most important holidays this month

Catie Russ, staff writer
September 17, 2021
How to know if YOU are being anti-Semitic

Rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes, few repercussions from authorities

Catie Russ, staff writer
January 21, 2021
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