The Student News Site of Walt Whitman High School

The Black and White
The Student News Site of Walt Whitman High School

The Black and White
The Student News Site of Walt Whitman High School

The Black and White
MCPS identifies four priorities for changing school boundaries: promoting diverse student bodies, maintaining proximity to students’ homes, minimizing educational disruptions and ensuring fiscal responsibility.

MCPS launches boundary studies to establish new attendance zones

By Maria Garcia-Musalem • March 24, 2025

MCPS began a new boundary study to determine school attendance zones for the 2027-2028 school year after adopting a $1.3 million proposal, Dec. 5. The study coincides with the district’s plans to reopen...

Many U.S. colleges and universities award credit for AP exams and typically grant exemptions from entry-level courses to students who score four or five.

College Board to offer two new AP Kickstart courses

By Fiona Graham • March 22, 2025

The College Board will introduce new AP courses in cybersecurity and finance starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The new courses, AP Networking Fundamentals and AP Cybersecurity Fundamentals aim to...

The research finds that average admission rates at bachelor’s degree-granting colleges and universities now exceed levels from 20 years ago.

College acceptance rates rebound after downturn in recent years

By Noah Bloom • March 21, 2025

College acceptance rates, which had been declining since 2002, are now rising. New research released in September by the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute (AEI) reveals that colleges...

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, MoCo businesses will no longer be allowed to provide customers plastic bags at checkout, except for certain items like fresh meat, prescription drugs and dry cleaning.

Montgomery County bans plastic bags at retail stores, doubles paper bag tax

By Noah Bloom • March 11, 2025

The Montgomery County Council unanimously approved a countywide ban, known as the “Bring Your Own Bag” bill, Feb. 11. The bill bans plastic shopping bags at most stores and doubles the tax on paper...

In addition to Herbert’s retirement, Assistant Coach Kenneth Heckert will also be stepping down. The two teachers have a unique relationship compared to other teacher duos at Whitman, having grown up together in Philadelphia. Heckert and Herbert have been long-time friends and continue their relationship with neighboring houses and classrooms.

Varsity girls’ soccer coach Gregory Herbert retires after 20 years

By Kavya Rajani • March 6, 2025

The bleachers erupted with cheers at Loyola University on Nov. 15th as the varsity girls’ soccer team secured their fourth consecutive state championship. Additionally, they successfully completed an...

The dance will be held in the main Whitman gym from 9 to 11 p.m., with the doors closing at 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and are available on the GoFan app. 

Whitman SGA hosts Spring Fling Dance

By Allegra Bai • March 6, 2025

The Whitman Student Government Association (SGA) will host a new Spring Fling dance for their annual Charity Month, March 8.  The dance will be held in the main Whitman gym from 9 to 11 p.m., with...

Quizbowl is a fast-paced, buzzer-based competition that tests players on various academic and non-academic subjects, including history, literature, science, math and pop culture. Each team consists of four players who compete head-to-head against another team.

Whitman Quizbowl team advances to the finals

By Phoebe Gordon • March 5, 2025

The Whitman Quizbowl team placed sixth out of 24 teams at the Montgomery Academic Beltway League (MABL) competition, Feb. 6. Their overall score of 7,853 secured them a spot in the final competition for...

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, MoCo businesses will no longer be allowed to provide customers plastic bags at checkout, except for certain items like fresh meat, prescription drugs and dry cleaning.

Board of Education adopts 2026 Operating Budget

By Phoebe Gordon • March 1, 2025

The Montgomery County Board of Education unanimously approved the MCPS operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026, Feb. 4. The revised budget request increases spending by $36.762 million, bringing the total...

DEI programs, which aim to create diverse and equitable workplaces, have roots in the Civil Rights Movement. These programs often include employee diversity training and hiring practices prioritizing workplace diversity.

Boycotts emerge against companies rolling back DEI programs

By Landon Heuer • February 27, 2025

On Jan. 20, President Trump ordered a crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in the workplace. This caused companies across the U.S. to abandon their own DEI initiatives in an effort...

Governor Wes Moore submitted his recommendations to select Crosslands High School junior O’Marie Barnes to serve as Maryland’s 2025-2026 State SMOB, Feb. 18.

Gov. Moore confirms Crossland junior O’Marie Barnes as Maryland’s 2025-2026 State SMOB

By Ella Kotelanski • February 27, 2025

Governor Wes Moore submitted his recommendations to select Crossland High School junior O’Marie Barnes to serve as Maryland’s 2025-2026 State SMOB, Feb. 18. Barnes will replace Abhiram Gaddam, the...

MCPD arrests one suspect following B-CC lockdown

MCPD arrests one suspect following B-CC lockdown

By Landon Heuer • February 25, 2025

Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (B-CC) went into lockdown after reports of a weapon on campus, according to the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), Feb. 25. Around 10:24 a.m., B-CC entered lockdown...

Outside of student engagement, book bans limit children’s intellectual and emotional growth, stifling critical thinking skills and reducing empathy. Book bans have narrowed curriculum choices, and teachers have struggled to create a lesson plan that both fulfills school requirements and abides by book bans.

Local parents continue lobby against elementary LGBTQ+ books

By Julia Cerione • February 24, 2025

The Supreme Court agreed to address a lawsuit against MCPS regarding English curriculum books with LGBTQ+ content, Jan. 17. The parents filing the lawsuit claimed that MCPS violated their religious rights...

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