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
Christina Xiong

Christina Xiong, Online Production Head

Grade 12

 

 

All content by Christina Xiong
Senior Destinations 2022

Senior Destinations 2022

By Christina Xiong
July 1, 2022
Fencing Profile

MCPS should reform its methodology so that semester letter grades are based on the numerical average of students’ quarter percentage scores, and it should begin allowing pupils to earn pluses and minuses.

[Photo] MCPS: deflate grade inflation and reform the grading system

May 22, 2022
Jewish activism

MCPS has eliminated the COVID-case benchmark the school district previously used to flag individual schools for possible virtual learning.

[Photo] Students, teachers skeptical of MCPS' coronavirus policies

January 9, 2022
Principal Robert Dodd announced to staff on Sunday that educators may now livestream their classes.

[Photo] “All hands on deck”: Administrators introduce livestream instruction option, address temporary staff shortage

January 3, 2022
The Black & White’s 21 best albums of 2021

[Photo] The Black & White’s 21 best albums of 2021

December 31, 2021
MCPS has suspended in-person extracurricular activities, except for athletics, because of an increase in local coronavirus cases.

[Photo] MCPS suspends in-person extracurricular activities due to uptick in local COVID-19 cases

December 18, 2021
Happiness doesn't necessarily mean constant smiles, but Whitman administrators can still aim to increase grins by looking to the famous Yale course.

[Photo] Bring well-being to Whitman: our school should offer a happiness class

January 12, 2022
After a recent series of violent incidents at MCPS schools, Whitman administrators and school district officials are focusing on student safety.

MCPS should ramp up their efforts to protect the community from coronavirus. That starts with a vaccination requirement for high school students.

[Photo] MCPS: extend the staff vaccine mandate to high school students

October 3, 2021
Giving wealthier students the comfort to apply early blocks other equally qualified students from the opportunities higher education provides.

[Photo] Colleges and universities: eliminate early decision

September 16, 2021
Senior Destinations 2021

Senior Destinations 2021

By Christina Xiong
July 29, 2021
With the release of her new song "Your Power," Billie Eilish took advantage of the obsession with her body and made a statement about empowerment.

[Photo] 'Her power': Billie Eilish makes a statement on female empowerment

June 12, 2021
The Montgomery County Board of Education recognized May 2021 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Board’s vote comes amid a nationwide surge in anti-Asian hate bias incidents and a recent discovery of racist graffiti at Whitman.

[Photo] Board of Education unanimously votes to recognize May as AAPI Heritage Month

May 18, 2021
Opinion: Should high schoolers return?

college experiences feature

Racial inequity with vaccine rollout

For both high school and college students, learning from accredited professionals increases the likelihood of being accepted into top-ranked medical schools — participation in these programs is crucial for any prospective doctor.

[Photo] Students gain real-world healthcare experience through teleshadowing

May 7, 2021
Feature on Whitman Addition: Interview with Dr. Dodd & Architect

[Photo] Whitman’s new addition: The inside scoop from Dr. Dodd and head architect Allison Legg

April 22, 2021
This past Lent, rather than completely stepping away from social media as I usually do, I constricted my social media use to weekends.

[Photo] Allowing myself to be lenient with my pandemic-era Lenten promises

April 23, 2021
New teachers may provide excitement and exploration, but may also lead to an unproductive work environment.

[Photo] Pro/Con: Should we continue to change teachers for the second semester?

March 31, 2021
The BOE's approval of an increased budget comes after multiple significant pandemic-induced budget adjustments for the next fiscal year.

[Photo] Hogan proposes 'surprise' grant, quells fears of MCPS budget reductions

March 14, 2021
Poetry: Coping with Loss During the Pandemic

I kept looking back at one sentence: “You share this personality type with about 5% of the population, which means that 95% of the world sees things differently.”

[Photo] Analyzing my Myers-Briggs personality type

March 13, 2021
The joy of watching him “swiiiiiirl the numbers” and “pick a number” in his midwestern nasally drawl comes from its idiosyncratic nature rather than any inherit meaning.

[Photo] Social distancing surrealism: how David Lynch has helped me get through a pandemic

March 7, 2021
MLB Opinion

Mental health depictions on screen seldom match the darker impacts of real life mental illnesses.

[Photo] 'There's nothing romantic about that': The media must stop glamorizing mental illness

March 8, 2021
Students should have the opportunity to excuse themselves and talk to a counselor when triggering topics arise during class.

[Photo] MCPS: Allow students to exempt themselves from triggering conversations in the classroom

April 3, 2021
We are living through history, an unprecedented time which we must all be cognizant of.

[Photo] Living through history: How the United States can move forward as a nation

March 23, 2021
Videogames Blog

Whitman students took advantage of the February stock market frenzy.

[Photo] From Reddit to Wall Street: Whitman students capitalize off stock frenzy

February 25, 2021
Despite Governor Larry Hogan's call for Maryland schools to reopen for in-person learning by March 1, MCPS will stick to their previously announced schedule.

[Photo] MCPS Board of Education clarifies reopening schedule, discusses plans for in-person athletics

February 4, 2021
TSwizzle

[Photo] I listen to Taylor Swift: don’t let cultural norms dictate your preferences

January 23, 2021
It's easy to be relieved at a Biden presidency, but don't get too comfortable; progressives must continue the fight for change.

[Photo] The fight isn't over

January 20, 2021
One of my favorite Pakistani TV shows, "Zindagi Gulzar Hai," is a class-conscious drama which taught me many Pakistani cultural elements.

[Photo] Watching culture come to life; my experience with foreign media

January 6, 2021
In-person learning

Menstrual Product Resolution passed regarding menstrual product dispensers

[Photo] MCPS plans to install menstrual product dispensers in schools

December 22, 2020
I tried running everyday

[Photo] Trying out a quarantine routine: running every day

January 1, 2021
Superintendent Jack Smith has proposed a lowered MCPS school budget for the 2021–22 school year.

[Photo] Proposed MCPS budget exhibits first contraction in over a decade

December 27, 2020
Since the start of the pandemic in March, students have increasingly disregarded COVID-19 safety precautions.

[Photo] Quarantine fatigue hits Whitman; students open door to virus

December 17, 2020
Grading guidelines changes

Fall Lax

[Photo] Fall ball: how lacrosse players brought back their sport during a pandemic

December 6, 2020
Whitman senior Rohil Raofield has created a unique business revolving around the video game Destiny 2.

[Photo] Boosting business: Whitman senior turns a profit with video games

January 2, 2021
Unbalanced Life In Quarantine Blog

November is Native American Heritage Month, the time to honor the contributions of Indigenous people to American society.

[Photo] A guide to celebrating Native American Heritage Month

November 23, 2020
Black author James Baldwin

[Photo] Don’t just do lip service to the idea of anti-racism, amplify unheard voices in literature

November 18, 2020
MCPS' new policy allows students struggling with mental health to transfer schools.

[Photo] MCPS modifies transfer policy, allows students to relocate for mental health

October 28, 2020
Whitman’s proficiency rates in reading and science stand at 91% and 77%, respectively, exceeding the state averages of 50% for reading and 40% for science.

[Photo] Whitman ranked second-best high school in Maryland, 139th nationally

May 8, 2024
As a progressive, it may not be easy to support Biden, but it should still be done.

[Photo] Hey, Whitman progressives: support Joe Biden

October 15, 2020
This is the first year the Minority Scholars Program is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which lasts from September 15 to October 15.

[Photo] Hispanic Heritage Month celebration gives Latinx community a platform to honor their culture

October 2, 2020
Athletes over Quarantine

BLM and Student Athletes

Senior Voting Efficacy

Just because students learn virtually, doesn't mean they must learn without collaboration.

[Photo] Virtual learning shouldn’t mean the end of collaborative learning

October 18, 2020
Whitman AC Energy and Costs

[Photo] Students look to combat high energy costs at Whitman

March 12, 2020
MCPS no longer offers Driver's Ed during the school day. But they should.

[Photo] MCPS: Bring back in-school Driver's Ed

February 28, 2020
In an era where fake news abounds, we have to double check before we pass on information

[Photo] Think before you share

March 15, 2020
Cable Blog

[Photo] I used to want cable. Now? Not so much.

February 9, 2020
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