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
Dana Herrnstadt

Dana Herrnstadt, Online Editor-in-Chief

Grade

12

Why did you join the Black and White?

I love writing, and I love the community.

What’s your favorite scent?

Paper Mate erasers!

All content by Dana Herrnstadt
Reynolds and her successor, Ryan Derenberger. She was the Black & White advisor from 2007 until 2019 and created a "familial" environment.

[Photo] Reynolds retires after 23 years at Whitman

By Skylar Chasen
July 6, 2020
Clockwise from top left: Managing editor Anna Yuan, managing editor Ally Navarrete and editor-in-chief Dana Herrnstadt.

Letter From the Editors: May 2020

By Dana Herrnstadt, Ally Navarrete, and Anna Yuan
May 18, 2020
MCPS hosted a virtual town hall April 21.

[Photo] Virtual town hall addresses COVID-19-related student concerns

By Taylor Haber
April 24, 2020
MCPS will move to a pass/incomplete grading system for fourth quarter.

[Photo] MCPS moves to a pass/incomplete grading framework for fourth marking period

By Anna Yuan
April 19, 2020
Governor Larry Hogan during his press conference April 17. Schools will remain closed through May 15 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

State Superintendent extends school closures through May 15 due to COVID-19 outbreak

By Anna Yuan and Dana Herrnstadt
April 18, 2020
Cabin fever

[Photo] Bored in quarantine? Here are a few ideas to avoid cabin fever.

By Ben Stricker
April 2, 2020
For months, a hissing sound that comes from gray boxes has plagued Whitman classrooms. For many students and staff members, the reasons behind the sound have remained a mystery. Until now.

[Photo] Uncovering the origins of the mysterious hissing noise

By Chloe Lesser
February 26, 2020
Top to bottom: Managing Editor Ally Navarrete, Managing Editor Anna Yuan and Editor-in-Chief Dana Herrnstadt

Letter from the Online Editors: February 2020

By Dana Herrnstadt, Ally Navarrete, and Anna Yuan
February 12, 2020
What's in, what's out: 2020

What’s in, what’s out: 2020

By Ally Navarrete, Anna Yuan, and Dana Herrnstadt
January 2, 2020
Left to right: Managing Editor Ally Navarrete, Editor-in-Chief Dana Herrnstadt and Managing Editor Anna Yuan

Letter from the Online Editors: December 2019

By Dana Herrnstadt, Ally Navarrete, and Anna Yuan
December 22, 2019
Why I’m in love with Kristoff and the writers of Frozen 2

Why I’m in love with Kristoff and the writers of Frozen 2

By Dana Herrnstadt
November 27, 2019
Left to right: Managing Editor Anna Yuan, Managing Editor Ally Navarrete and Editor-in-Chief Dana Herrnstadt.

Letter from the Online Editors: November 2019

By Dana Herrnstadt, Ally Navarrete, and Anna Yuan
November 9, 2019
Austin Tice's father, Marc, speaks at a press conference about his son. Austin is an American journalist detained in Syria. He hasn't been heard from in almost eight years.

Photo of the Day: 9/23

By Dana Herrnstadt
September 23, 2019
Students and teachers return to the building after the incident this morning. Montgomery County Police Department and Fire and Rescue responded to the scene. Photo by CHARLIE SAGNER

Alleged assault and fire alarm coincide, cause confusion

By Dana Herrnstadt and Alex Robinson
September 16, 2019
Photo of the day, June 14: freshman orientation

Photo of the day, June 14: freshman orientation

By Dana Herrnstadt
June 14, 2019
Math teacher Susan Wildstrom is retiring after 50 years of teaching. Throughout her career, she has left a lasting impression on her students, even inspiring some to pursue math-related careers.

Wildstrom to retire after 50 years of ‘enthusiasm and passion’

By Dana Herrnstadt
May 30, 2019
Romeo and Juliet 2

[Photo] Photo of the day: May 29

By Reuben Stoll
May 29, 2019
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.

[Photo] County officials host pride forum, tackle LGBTQIA student struggles

By Chloe Lesser
May 22, 2019
Louise Reynolds announced today that Introduction to Journalism teacher Ryan Derenberger will replace her as Black & White advisor next year. After 12 years of Black & White, Reynolds feels "proud," she said.

Ryan Derenberger to replace Louise Reynolds as Black & White advisor

By Dana Herrnstadt
May 19, 2019
Hey, MCPS! It’s time to digitize report cards

Hey, MCPS! It’s time to digitize report cards

By Dana Herrnstadt
May 7, 2019
The Whit-X Lecture series gives students a platform to share their opinions. Students research and create a 45 minute presentation on a topic of their choice.

Lecture circuit gives students a platform to speak out

By Dana Herrnstadt
May 3, 2019
Two students posted a photo on social media wearing splotches of a black facial mask captioned with the N-word. Police officials are investigating the photo as a hate-bias incident.

Photo captioned with N-word spurs hate-bias investigation

By Dana Herrnstadt
April 30, 2019
Photo of the Day: April 29

Photo of the Day: April 29

By Dana Herrnstadt
April 29, 2019

Our very own Parks and Rec: Meet the Montgomery County Parks Department

By Luka Byrne, Dana Herrnstadt, and Zara Ali
April 24, 2019
Sarah Park, the founder and owner of Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream, creates her own unique ice cream flavors using natural ingredients. She makes her ice cream by hand with machines she keeps in the back of her shop.

I scream, you scream, it’s Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream!

By Dana Herrnstadt
April 13, 2019
The kazoo: more than a mediocre plastic instrument

The kazoo: more than a mediocre plastic instrument

By Dana Herrnstadt
March 26, 2019
Free-response questions foster creativity and divergent thinking.

Pivot away from multiple-choice testing

By Dana Herrnstadt
March 23, 2019
The Whitman Foundation honored the building services staff this year. In past years, they’ve honored former principal Alan Goodwin, teachers who had been at Whitman for over 30 years, coaches and the counseling department.

Building services, innovative teaching honored at March 15 event

By Dana Herrnstadt
March 22, 2019

Embrace the effort, not the outcome

By Dana Herrnstadt
March 12, 2019
The D.C snowball fight association gathers on the Washington Mall Jan. 13 to pelt one another with snowballs. The DCSFA was founded in 2009, and people of all ages attend events.

Snow day? S’no problem! Q&A with Michael Lipin, manager of D.C. Snowball Fight Association

By Dana Herrnstadt
March 9, 2019
The bocce team poses with their trophy after winning the divisional championship last Saturday. The win earned the team their second straight division title.

Bocce provides a community for special, general education students

By Dana Herrnstadt
February 8, 2019
Graphic by Selina Ding.

Embrace the mystery of black holes

By Dana Herrnstadt
February 3, 2019
The Glen Echo Park carousel. The Park was segregated until 1961, but local segregation isn't included in elementary school curricula.

Elementary school students should learn local history

By Dana Herrnstadt
January 14, 2019
Junior Caroline Muir smiles before an endosscopy and a liver biopsy at Georgetown University Hospital this summer. Muir has POTS, and has had several procedures to manage her symptoms.

The Invisible Illness: POTS takes a toll on students’ academic, social lives

By Dana Herrnstadt
December 17, 2018
The InSight probe's landing on Mars Nov. 26 was a major step towards better understanding the planet. But the lack of public enthusiasm in response was indicative of a larger issue.

Give space exploration the gravity it deserves

By Dana Herrnstadt
December 15, 2018
Our society fosters the idea that unapologetic women are aggressive or hostile. We’re caught in a double-bind: be confident and risk seeming aggressive or be passive and not be taken seriously. Apologizing isn’t only a waste of words, it’s indicative of a culture stuck in the 19th century. Graphic By Landon Hatcher.

Sorry not sorry: Why women apologize too much and need to stop

By Dana Herrnstadt
November 13, 2018
Graphic by Alex Silber and Selina Ding.

Sexual assault isn’t partisan. So why is the response?

By Dana Herrnstadt
October 11, 2018
Graphic by Alex Silber.

Preparedness still needs to be a priority

By Dana Herrnstadt
June 1, 2018
Graphic by Selina Ding.

Teach OCD in middle school health classes

By Dana Herrnstadt
May 31, 2018
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