by Julia Robins ‘20 Most newspapers, magazines, and television newscasts show the same stressful and depressing stories of coronavirus, war, pollution, inequality, and divisive politics. Where are the uplifting stories? This constant negativity is harmful to one’s mental health. According to the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, television newscasts increase depression by 38 percent, and according to the Preventive … Read More
by Sudha Sudhaker ‘21 Following the release of a revision to the Maryland State Department of Education’s (MSDE) recovery plan for opening schools, Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) sent out a survey to all parents in the district to solicit their feedback about reopening school buildings in the Fall. The deadline for responses is Wednesday, July 8. The stated goal … Read More
by Ella Casey ’21 With schools shut down for the rest of the academic year, we are left to wonder about the long-term impact of this shift to online education across the nation. Looking toward the future, if online learning ends up working out during this crisis it could show what needs to be done to create a national online … Read More
by Shirley Zheng ‘21 On Tuesday, May 12, MCPS Board of Education released updated information regarding how the new Pass/Incomplete grading will play out for the rest of the school year– specifically how it will affect semester grades and GPAs on students’ transcripts. The newly revised grading policy grants students additional flexibility and an opportunity to boost their grades by … Read More
by Vendela Krenkel ‘20 For years, doctored images and videos have been a concern for personal and national safety, but with the development and popularization of deepfake programs, the potential for catastrophic consequences has increased dramatically. Today, anyone can download the code required to create altered videos of whoever they want, whenever they want. Deepfake technology can be used in … Read More
by Ayana Antoine ´20 The heartbreaking murder of 17 year old Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012 brought national attention to “stand your ground” self-defense laws, which allow armed individuals who believe they are in imminent danger to use deadly force. The tragic situation in Florida, and others like it around the country, have caused many people to question the … Read More
by Jenna Timmons ’21 Even though most of us are focused on how Covid-19 is impacting our lives, we should be aware and grateful for the frontline workers with all the challenges they face. Shannon Gaasch is a Nurse Practitioner working in the trauma Intensive Care Unit, and traditionally sees patients who suffered accidents. Kristopher Gaasch is a firefighter, and … Read More
by Reade Fenner ’20 COVID-19 has substantially altered our world by affecting the lives of millions. Businesses have shut down and people are staying home to avoid contracting or spreading the virus. However, among the many negative impacts of this pandemic, certain environmental positives provide a ray of hope. As non-essential businesses have closed due to this global crisis, there … Read More
by Andrew Waterfield ‘20 The entirety of the learning community is currently in uncharted territory, as schools are closed and education has gone online. And while many schools around the world are struggling to adapt, Sherwood seems to have gotten ahead of the curve with a new grading policy and multiple systems in place to connect students to teachers. With … Read More
by Shirley Zheng ’21 Montgomery County Public Schools announced on April 19 that all MCPS students are going to receive a Pass or Incomplete in replacement of traditional letter grades for the fourth marking period. This decision was made in hopes to ensure equity and assist students’ academic standing during the coronavirus crisis and extended school closures. Sherwood staff also … Read More