TikTok Faces U.S. Ban

by Molly Schecter ‘27 For the past few years, the U.S. government in Congress and through the courts has threatened to ban the app, TikTok. In addition to concerns over its potentially harmful effect on teens, the United States has raised national security alarms because the parent company of Tik Tok is located in China. This month, a U.S. Court … Read More

Fed Workforce Facing Cuts

by Chase Sondike ‘26 President-elect Donald Trump has announced a bold plan to restructure the federal government once he is sworn in on January 25. His proposition involves significant cuts to federal agencies and a shift in power away from what he describes as “the deep state.” Trump has publically been critical of the size and influence of the federal … Read More

Australia Bans Social Media for Adolescents

by Zach Geller ‘25 From Instagram to TikTok, social media is one of the most important ways teens stay connected. However this new modern necessity will soon be banned in Australia for all kids under a certain age. In late November the Australian senate passed “The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024,” a piece of legislation prohibiting … Read More

Language Deptartment Aims for Future Growth

by Ziv Golan ‘26 It is no secret that the World Language Department at Sherwood is limited in scope with the school only offering Spanish and French courses this year. Meanwhile, MCPS claims to offer a broad range of languages such as American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, Russian, Italian, and Japanese. Sherwood previously offered ASL and Italian but abandoned these … Read More

HS Rankings Raise Questions about Reliability

by Madelyn Awwad ‘27 and Nisha Khatri ‘26 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) performed well in the Niche 2025 rankings. Three schools in the district are ranked #1 in Maryland for their grade levels. Poolesville High School is ranked in the top spot for high schools, Cabin John Middle School is #1 for middle schools, and Westbrook Elementary is the … Read More

Break a Leg But Not the Budget

by Miriam Lev ‘27 Last month, Sherwood students, staff, and parents were given the opportunity to watch a fabulous production of the musical Mamma Mia. The four performances in mid-November were the culmination of nearly two months of rehearsals with a crew and cast of approximately 80 students. Many challenges to staging a school musical or play occur during the … Read More

Q1 Data Shows Impact of Grading Policy Change

by Cara Farr ‘27 With the new implementation of teachers being permitted to give zeroes in the gradebook, data showed that there was an increase in the number of E’s at Sherwood from last year for first quarter grades. The increase was not unexpected, and the teachers have plans in place to address students struggling to pass. Post-interims, teachers reported … Read More

Three Staff Members Say Goodbye to Sherwood

by Katie Ng ‘25 This December, Sherwood’s school secretary Carolyn Holonich, and Pamela Money and Linda Berkheimer, both from the school’s Business Office, will retire. Holonich, Money, and Berkheimer are all good friends who have decided to retire together, and they have made lasting contributions to the school. They have become an integral part of the Sherwood community, and they … Read More

New Superintendent Faces Challenges

by Audrey Farris ‘25 and Seph Fischer ‘25 Thomas Taylor, appointed school superintendent on June 25, faces a daunting task. He became the leader of MCPS at a time when the nationally known school district was in crisis following the departure of former Superintendent Monifa McKnight amidst a litany of controversy over her handling of the sexual harassment allegations against … Read More