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

Student Trips Make an Exciting Comeback

by Rachel Themistokleous ‘26 Music teacher Emily Chu is bringing back student travel trips, with one to Disney World and one to Ireland. Many years ago, Sherwood was known for these opportunities when it had an “International Studies” signature program. More recently, recently retired French teacher John Falls honored this tradition by taking students to France, and now with Chu … Read More

MCPS Implements New Hate/Bias Response

by Katie Ng ‘25 MCPS has introduced new procedures for reporting and responding to hate-bias incidents, which MCPS considers as “any disruptive conduct (oral, written, graphic, physical, or electronic communication) that includes intentional discriminatory behavior based on personal characteristics.” MCPS will now respond to hate-bias incidents using a tiered system that consists of three levels based on intent, impact on … Read More

MD Requires ELA Proficiency Test for Third Grade

by Lilly Mains ‘25 Maryland is poised to join more than 25 states that require third graders to demonstrate proficiency in reading and writing skills to advance to the fourth grade. Third graders who are not deemed as on track for reading at a fourth-grade level will be held back one year. This is a part of Maryland’s aggressive new … Read More