The first day of school was even more exciting than usual with TV crews in attendance spotlighting Whitman on local news channels.

Each year, local news outlets choose a MCPS school to feature on the first day of the school year. Whitman was selected this year most likely because of its close proximity to D.C. and Board of Education President Patricia O’Neill’s appearance that morning at the school, according to Todd Hochkeppel, Multimedia Producer/Director for MCPS TV.

Aside from MCPS TV, stations 4, 5 and 7 featured Whitman on today’s news.

Reporters asked students questions about their goals and hopes for the upcoming school year.

“I was a little nervous with the camera and microphone being held to my face, but it added excitement to the first-day experience,” junior Ferzam Mohammad said.

Overall, the visiting press provided students with an interesting twist to their return to school.

“I think it’s great that we were selected this year for the news to come here,” assistant principal Kristin Rudolph said. “I also think a lot of students were excited to see [the news crews] and wanted to be interviewed. I think it was a good way to open the school year and some additional excitement.”