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

State’s Attorney John McCarthy speaks at a high school gun education assembly. MCPS partnered with the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) and prosecutors from the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office as part of its latest initiative to tackle gun violence in schools.

MCPS, local law enforcement to hold gun education assemblies at all high schools

By Harper Barnowski September 26, 2022

All MCPS high schools will hold gun education assemblies over the next two months, MCPS Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy wrote in a September 13...

In a video recording from a Student Athlete Leadership Council meeting, students called on their peers to renew their commitment to sportsmanship guidelines that include respecting other players and coaches, avoiding confrontations with referees and cheering on student athletes from the stands.

MCPS implements new security measures at high school athletic events

By Ines Foscarini September 23, 2022

MCPS officials announced new security measures for high school athletic events after violent altercations led to multiple arrests and an injury at a Gaithersburg High School football game last Friday....

Pictured: graffiti from the June 25 act of vandalism, which contained the f-slur and sexually explicit images.

Graffiti found at Pyle Middle School contained racist and homophobic slurs, antisemitic symbol

By Harper Barnowski and Darby Infeld September 22, 2022

Graffiti discovered at Pyle Middle School this summer contained antisemitic symbols and both racial and homophobic slurs, Pyle Principal Christopher Nardi wrote in an email to The Black & White.  New...

If convicted of distributing fentanyl that led to the death or serious injury of a minor victim, Mikiyas Maryie Kefyalew of Silver Spring faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Federal prosecutors charge 24-year-old man with selling fentanyl that led to overdose death of Whitman student

By Ethan Schenker September 21, 2022

Federal prosecutors charged a 24-year-old man with distributing fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of Whitman sophomore Landen Hausman in January, the U.S. Justice Department announced in a press...

Whitman’s Pep Band performs during the first home football game.

Whitman’s new Pep Band debuts from the stands, replacing traditional Marching Band performances

By Jasper Lester September 19, 2022

Whitman’s new Pep Band debuted from the stands of Jerome M. Marco stadium this fall, replacing the traditional Marching Band that had performed during halftime shows at football games. Instrumental Music...

After browsing a back to school night fair at the school’s main entrance and listening to a message from Principal Robert Dodd on the announcements, parents filled the halls to attend the first of seven 10-minute class periods. 

Whitman parents return to the classroom for first Back to School Night since 2019

By Darby Infeld September 13, 2022

Hundreds of parents returned to the classroom for Whitman’s first in-person Back to School Night in three years on Thursday evening.  After browsing a Back to School Night fair at the school’s...

In the days following Wards announcement, some students with personal computers have struggled to access consistent Wi-Fi, and others’ phones have been unable to reliably connect.

Former Whitman teacher and crew coach Kirkland Shipley sentenced to 3 years in prison for sexual abuse

By Greta Berglund September 10, 2022

Content warning: this story contains language that pertains to sexual assault.  Former Whitman social studies teacher and crew coach Kirkland Shipley was sentenced to three years in prison at a court...

The town hall-style presentations covered the shift to a one-lunch bell schedule, the return to pre-COVID attendance policies, new cell phone use guidelines and ID requirements for seniors leaving campus during lunch.

Administrators visit math classes to discuss new school policies, expectations

By Ines Foscarini September 6, 2022

Administrators and counselors visited math classes last week to discuss new schoolwide policies and expectations for the 2022-2023 school year. The town hall-style presentations covered the shift to a...

Pictured: Walt Whitman High Schools new wellness center.  While all high schools now contain wellness centers, only the six centers that were operational during the 2021-2022 school year are  currently open.

New high school wellness centers not on track to be fully staffed until December

By Harper Barnowski September 2, 2022

Newly constructed wellness centers at 19 MCPS high schools are not on track to open until December due to staffing challenges, according to the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services...

Over seven years, school staff filed 18 accusations of harassment against Beidleman — the most recent occurring in 2023.

Administrators announce shift to one-period lunch schedule for upcoming school year

By Ines Foscarini July 29, 2022

Whitman’s instructional schedule for the upcoming school year will contain one schoolwide lunch period instead of two separate lunch periods, administrators announced in an email to community members...

Attendees participated in breakout sessions with school counselors, psychologists, student personnel workers, MCPS administrators and DHHS officials.

MCPS, DHHS hold mental health forum to spread awareness of student resources

By Amelia Laroski June 16, 2022

MCPS and the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) hosted a mental health forum for students and their families at Seneca Valley High School on May 31. Attendees participated...

The Board voted against a proposal that would have required students to complete a semester-long financial literacy course in order to graduate high school.

Board of Education votes against proposed financial literacy course requirement

By Greta Berglund June 12, 2022

The Board of Education voted against a proposal that would require MCPS students to complete a semester-long financial literacy course in order to graduate at a meeting on Tuesday. The measure failed in...

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