Common Sense

Navigate Left

Navigate Right

News
College-ready minds: The Impact of AP Seminar, AP Research in high schools
Alex Balian, sports editor | May 2, 2024
Profiles
Student-owned business thrives off hard work, dedication
Cameron Cowen, staff writer | May 2, 2024
Opinion
Does music increase productivity?
Kiana Rahimi, staff writer | May 2, 2024
News
Asynchronous day impacts teachers, students
Shayna Fleischer, staff writer | May 2, 2024
Columns
Culinary Quest: One-day croissants
Heerah Jayakumar, features editor, race & equity editor | May 2, 2024
Profiles
Naima Cho-Khaliq: Training to be professional model
Danielle Ram, features editor | May 2, 2024
Features
New teachers reflect on first year at school
Noah Friedman, staff writer | May 1, 2024
Reviews
Romantic-comedies light up students’ nights
Maya Halpern, back page editor | May 1, 2024
Columns
What the world is reading: AP classes as books
Emma Karcz, news editor | May 1, 2024
Sports
Boys’ varsity lacrosse slides to 2-8 in tough season
Eric Mehler, staff writer | April 30, 2024

Common Sense Print Edition

Poll

What are you most excited for in summer?

Sorry, there was an error loading this poll.

Warm weather

No school

Vacations

Other

News

Juniors Will and Charlie Balian, seniors Elizabeth Mehler and Kelly Ren, and AP Research teachers Brett Bentley and Michelle Hanson celebrate after the AP Research symposium on Apr. 25.

College-ready minds: The Impact of AP Seminar, AP Research in high schools

Alex Balian, sports editor • May 2, 2024

On Apr. 22, students had a day of working and catching up on missing assignments from home during an asynchronous day. Students worked on assignments given by teachers.

Asynchronous day impacts teachers, students

Shayna Fleischer, staff writer • May 2, 2024

A radar speed sign along Wootton Parkway monitors cars driving by. Recent safety issues have caused concerns around drop-off and speeding. In education, safety and security need to be our top priority, Assistant Principal Stephanie Labbe said.

Safety issues on Wootton Parkway raise concern

Pragna Pothakamuri, staff writer • April 29, 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

Profiles

Sophomore Chloe Ayissi-Etoh presents during a fashion show in 2023. Ayissi-Etoh sews, models and markets for her company, Chlolaná. “I just never thought I was going to love something that much,” Ayissi-Etoh said.

Student-owned business thrives off hard work, dedication

Cameron Cowen, staff writer • May 2, 2024

Naima Cho-Khaliq: Training to be professional model

Danielle Ram, features editor • May 2, 2024

Second year varsity girls soccer sophomore Megan Lomotan dribbles up the field to start a counter attack for her team. Lomotan and her team were able to take finish the game with a 6-0 win over Blake.

Megan Lomotan does it all

Annalise Yi, staff writer • April 21, 2024

Dr. Mei Wang reviews with her seventh and eighth period chemistry class for the AP exam.

Dr Mei Wang: teacher who does it all

Inayat Thukral, profiles editor • April 19, 2024

Junior Miles Sklar (number 16) met with his teammates during the 21-6 loss to Blake. It was a tough loss but I think we all know we were capable of much more, freshman Caleb Cook said.

Sports

Boys’ varsity lacrosse slides to 2-8 in tough season

Eric Mehler, staff writer

April 30, 2024

Junior Marissa Cook gets past her defender in a 16-0 win against Kennedy at home on Apr. 2.

Sports

Girls’ lacrosse stays strong at halfway through season

Matthew Xu, staff writer

April 23, 2024

Wootton goes up against Churchill for the first divisional meet of the season on Apr. 3. Both the girls and boys teams were defeated.

Sports

Track jumps into championship season hopeful for regional title

Emory Scofield, news editor

April 23, 2024

Caitlin Clark ends her collegiate career with an historic impact on womens basketball.

Sports

Caitlin Clark impact on, off the Court

Jack Weinstein, staff writer

April 22, 2024

Former Commanders quarterback and second overall pick Robert Griffin III stiff-arms a Cowboys safety on Dec. 30, 2012.

Sports

Commanders hold second pick in draft; will it be a bust or new hope for fans?

Kian Kaz, staff writer

April 20, 2024

The crew of How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying prepared the playbills on the opening day of the show. During sixth period, they gathered in the theater to make final preparations.

Arts

Curtains up for drama department spring show

Lea Weinstein, sports editor, race & equity editor

April 29, 2024

Sophomore Nusrat Nowsin completes a ceramics project during advisory on Apr. 16. Nowsin enjoys doing artwork in her free time because it provides a break from her tough schedule. Whenever I do art I feel happier and less stressed, Nowsin said.

Arts

Opinions about art classes vary among students

Cameron Cowen, staff writer

April 17, 2024

Senior Jax Kobey walks through the streets of New York on their way from dinner to the Broadway show, Hadestown.

Arts

Band, theater trips help students explore unique careers

Naina Giare, managing editor

March 23, 2024

The North Potomac Area Color Guard takes a group picture after winning first place in the Scholastic Regional AA division at their first competition of the winter season. Guard helped me create so many great memories with my teammates, sophomore Summer Yao said.

Arts

Color guard: The sport of the arts

Natalie Pak, staff writer

March 12, 2024

Statistics teacher Michelle George sings during TNL. George was the masked singer in the pink unicorn costume. Students often hear her singing in class so she was the first person we asked, music teacher Keith Schwartz said.

Arts

TNL allows performers to showcase their talent

Eric Mehler, staff writer

March 11, 2024

Opinion

Sophomore Amad Sangare works on a Photoshop assignment in his eighth period website development class while listening to Your Love is King, by Sade.

Does music increase productivity?

Kiana Rahimi, staff writer • May 2, 2024

The college counseling company, Empowerly, describes their students acceptances rates in comparison to the national acceptance rates. The national acceptance rate for UCLA is a low 8.0%, however for students at Empowerly, the acceptance rate is near 50%.

Are college counselors worth it: My experience

April 23, 2024

School uniforms can provide a sense of discipline and also prepare students for a professional environment in the future.

Should uniforms be required at all schools?

April 22, 2024

Several bookstores across the country, such as Barnes & Noble, have recently introduced stands designated for books that have gone viral on TikTok. A large percentage of these displayed books are dark romance novels by popular authors such as Colleen Hoover.

Dark romance: The romanticization of trauma

April 19, 2024

Reviews

Juniors Lainey Berman and Nibras Hassan watch 10 Things I Hate About You to unwind before sports practices. I like watching these kinds of movies with my friends because rom-coms are a pretty universally liked genre, Berman said.

Romantic-comedies light up students' nights

Maya Halpern, back page editor • May 1, 2024

Senior Sanjana Mudiya enjoys a Chick-fil-A meal after school.

Fast food cravings: Where should students go?

April 29, 2024

Sophomore Gavin Hall listens to music while doing chemistry homework. I love listening to rap and sometimes when Im studying Ill listen to classic music, Hall said.

Fresh beats alert: Unveiling hottest tracks of season

April 20, 2024

On Mar. 25, Zach Bryan came to Capital One Arena in D.C.. Students were in attendance and enjoyed it greatly. All in all, it was a great show and Im really glad I went with my friends, senior Kelly Ren said.

I Remember Everything from Zach Bryan's concert

April 17, 2024

Features

Science teacher Gavin Kramar is heading toward the end of his first year at this school. Kramar considers himself lucky to be teaching here and it is particularly special for him because he is a former student.

New teachers reflect on first year at school

Noah Friedman, staff writer • May 1, 2024

Sunrise at Dewey Beach in Delaware. “I love to wake up for the sunrise at the Delaware beaches because the sun rises on the ocean,” junior Josie Spicer said.

DE vs. MD beaches: the debate continues

April 29, 2024

William and Kate Middleton with their first child, Prince George.

Public believes Kate Middleton owes them information

April 24, 2024

Financially smart tasks when turning 18

April 23, 2024

Columns

Croissants are a delectable treat for any season.

Culinary Quest: One-day croissants

Heerah Jayakumar, features editor, race & equity editor • May 2, 2024

The Love Hypothesis, by Ali Hazelwood, 11/22/63, by Stephen Hawking, These Violent Delights, by Chloe Gong, and Vicious, by V.E. Schwab, and the AP courses that match that book.

What the world is reading: AP classes as books

Emma Karcz, news editor • May 1, 2024

Title card for Luca Guadagninos 2024 film Challengers, starring Mike Faist, Josh OConnor, and Zendaya. The film was released in theaters on Apr. 26 and had an early IMAX screening on Apr. 22.

Is ‘Challengers’ a Grand Slam?

Ahmed Ibrahim, staff writer • April 26, 2024

Junior Emma Karczs bookshelf shows a variety of romance books and other genres she has enjoyed over the years.

What is the world reading: Romance season in full bloom

Emma Karcz, news editor • April 21, 2024

Check us out on Instagram

View this profile on Instagram

Wootton’s Common Sense (@whs.commonsense) • Instagram photos and videos

Support Us

$2050

$2000

Contributed

Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Thomas S. Wootton High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.