The Black and White

MCPS announces virtual-only learning for first semester of school year

July 21, 2020

MCPS will begin the 2020–2021 school year virtually, Superintendent Jack R. Smith said in a July 21 email to community members. County officials plan to keep students home until the end of the first semester and will reassess second semester plans in November. Officials made the decision after deliberati...

Students save annual performance, construct virtual talent show

By Afsoon Movahed

June 27, 2020

When MCPS announced that schools were closing for the rest of the year due to COVID-19, the staff of Whitman’s annual talent show immediately wondered about the fate of their beloved school production. “It was upsetting when school closed because we were so close to our final product,” s...

Two Whitman students and one alumnus arrested for recent racist graffiti

Photo taken of the recent racist graffiti before Principal Robert Dodd painted over it.

By Lily Freeman

June 16, 2020

On Monday, the Montgomery County Police Department made three arrests in connection with the recent racist vandalism of a utility shed on Whitman’s campus this past Saturday. One of the suspects was also charged for vandalizing the school with identical racist graffiti on March 1. The MCPD said in a...

Recurrence of racist graffiti on school property marks second time in months

Students and staff protesting in front of Walt Whitman High School in response to racist graffiti on school grounds.

By Lily Freeman

June 13, 2020

Racist graffiti was found on a utility shed on Whitman’s campus early Saturday morning, Principal Robert Dodd said in an email to the community today. This is the second incident of racist vandalism on Whitman’s school grounds in four months. Dodd quickly painted over the graffiti, which included the n-word,...

Assistant Principal Phillip Yarborough steps down; replaced by Gregory Miller

Assistant Principal Phillip Yarborough poses with sophomores Rafe Epstein (left) and Quentin Corpuel (right). Yarborough has served as Whitman's 9th grade administrator for the past two years. Photo courtesy Phillip Yarborough.

By Lily Freeman

June 10, 2020

Assistant Principal Phillip Yarborough will leave his position at Walt Whitman High School on July 1, according to Principal Robert Dodd. In an email to the Whitman community, Dodd announced that Gregory Miller, one of the current assistant principals at Winston Churchill High School, will fill Yarborou...

MPCS hosts virtual graduations for class of 2020

Graduating seniors participate in Whitman's car parade at Westfield Montgomery mall

By Vishnu Dandi

June 8, 2020

Montgomery County is hosting virtual graduation ceremonies for seniors from June 8 to June 12, after a county-wide celebration on June 7. To kick off graduation week, MCPS hosted a live, county-wide recognition event for the 10,500 outgoing seniors. José Andrés, a world-renowned chef and the ...

Fauci: ‘We are living through a historic experience’

Dr. Anthony Fauci in his office at the National Institutes of Health.

By Claire Lane

June 7, 2020

COVID-19 has infected over 6.9 million people globally and 1.9 million people in the United States. As cases began to appear across America, state governments issued “stay at home” orders, and politicians and health officials have encouraged individuals to adopt social distancing practices. &n...

Black Lives Matter Bethesda protest

June 7, 2020

Montgomery County begins Phase One of COVID-19 reopening plan

Businesses prepare for reopening in downtown Bethesda.

By Christian Larson

June 1, 2020

Montgomery County has entered phase one of its COVID-19 reopening plan at 6 a.m. on June 1st. This initial stage will allow many services to resume business for the first time since early March. Phase one will allow the following services to reopen: bar, restaurants, hair salons, childcare s...

Pride town hall gives LGBTQ+ community a platform during COVID-19 crisis

Panelists discuss ways families can support LGBTQ+ students at the town hall held on May 27.

By Zoe Cantor

May 28, 2020

MCPS administrators hosted a virtual Pride Town Hall on May 27, their second-ever LGBTQ+ public forum, to discuss strides taken by the LGBTQ+ community in Montgomery County. Following the forum, the speakers held a question and answer session to address issues that disproportionately affect the LG...

BOE decides on policy for second semester grades, gives students a choice

MCPS Board of Education members decided on how semester grades will be reported on semester 2 transcripts.

By Emily London

May 13, 2020

MCPS students now have the choice between a pass/incomplete or one letter grade above their third marking period grade on their second semester transcript. Board of Education members adopted the policy during a May 12 board meeting after moving to a pass/incomplete grading system for the fourth marking period April 19. Students who choose to have a “pass” on their transcript will not have their GPA impacted, ...

New LGBTQ+ studies course in development for 2020-21 school year

MCPS is piloting an LGBTQ History course in the 2020-21 school year. The class will be the first high school course of its kind in the country.

By Meera Shroff

May 13, 2020

Ten Montgomery County schools, not including Whitman, will pilot a semester-long LGBTQ studies course during the 2020-21 school year in hopes of establishing a more inclusive curriculum. Chief Academic Officer Dr. Maria Navarro approved the course development November 12, 2019. The Office of Curriculum...