by Taylor Adams ‘27 The work of Sherwood’s security guards potentially became easier with the installation of vape detectors in bathrooms to combat vaping and marijuana use by students. Since the detectors became fully functional in late April, security has received an average of 50 alerts every day, including both vape and marijuana detection. When a vape detector picks up … Read More
by Evelyn San Miguel ‘26 In order to meet state requirements for 180 days of instruction, MCPS extended the school year to Tuesday, June 17, designating the last three days of school as early release days in order to allow staff to complete end of year grading and planning, according to a letter from the county. The change comes as … Read More
by Julius Lindner ‘26 and Piotr Popiel-Machnicki ‘26 Even though MCPS banned most AI tools from the school-issued Chromebooks to stop students from cheating with those tools, the frequency of students using AI is only increasing. Students continue to use it for assignments and studying, while teachers use it to plan lessons and generate ideas. Teachers now recognize and perhaps … Read More
by Cara Farr ‘27 After multiple changes to the grading policy over the past few years, MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor is looking to revise grading for the upcoming school year as a “Return to Rigor” that will “restore clarity and establish high expectations for students,” according to a slide presentation at the April 10 meeting of the Board of Education. … Read More
by Ziv Golan ‘26 The social studies department offers a wide variety of electives beyond the traditional courses offered to fulfill graduation requirements. This includes a Comparative Religions class described in the MCPS course bulletin as a means for students to discover the basic tenets of each of the world’s major religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism), along with … Read More
Admin Attempts Various Approaches in Response to Fighting Incidents by Audrey Farris ‘25 and Jordan Costolo ‘25 Recently, Sherwood has seen a troubling increase in the number of physical altercations among students. What was once a rare occurrence has now become more frequent and concerning, leaving students, teachers, and parents alike questioning the root causes behind these outbursts, as well … Read More
by Evelyn San Miguel ‘26 The Supreme Court on January 17 agreed to hear Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case repeatedly denied by the lower courts on the subject of MCPS parents’ rights to opt-out their children from the reading of books with LGBTQ+ themes in K-6 classes. The parents, who are Muslim, Roman Catholic, and Ukrainian Orthodox respectively, argue that … Read More
by Rachel Themistokleous ‘25 Principal Tim Britton sent an email February 28 to teachers and other staff addressing concerns about students smelling like marijuana, and the smell wafting out of the restrooms and through the hallways. At Britton’s direction, a number of teachers showed the email to their students for them to understand new guidelines. “We were seeing a sudden … Read More
by Evelyn San Miguel ‘26 and Ziv Golan ‘26 The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, passed by the Maryland legislature in 2021, is increasingly resulting in significant concerns around the pragmatism of the costs and execution of the Blueprint’s main objectives. The Blueprint calls for increased funding across all spheres of public education, namely teacher pay and special education programs. Despite … Read More
by Isabella Landaverde ‘27 Over this spring break, 31 students from seven different MCPS high schools will head to China for an opportunity to build international friendships through pickleball. Organized by MCPS Athletics, the trip aims to promote cultural exchange and unity through sports. Students from high schools including Sherwood, Clarksburg, Winston Churchill, Damascus, Poolesville, Richard Montgomery, and Wootton will … Read More