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The School Newspaper of Winston Churchill High School.

The Observer

The School Newspaper of Winston Churchill High School.

The Observer

The School Newspaper of Winston Churchill High School.

The Observer

Speech therapy is a widely used and relied on resource for students who are in school. Now, with the MCPS speech therapist and pathologist shortage, it is harder for students to get personal attention concerning their speech which can hinder their learning and prevent them from reaching their full potential.

Words left unspoken: tackling the speech therapist shortage in MCPS

By Isabel Vorabhanda, Opinions Editor December 13, 2024

Speech is a part of everyday life. It is used to communicate with one another and even now with the rise of technology, speech is a crucial part of clear communication. Without being able to clearly communicate,...

WCHS's annual themed concert Blast has run for a third of a century. Programs from across that period are on display outside the auditorium.

Musical memories: tracking the roots of BLAST

By Ray Guan, Subscriptions, Promotions, and Communications Manager December 13, 2024

As the spring of 2025 creeps closer, it brings Blast 35: Coloration. Over its three and a half decades, students have performed and largely led the performance. Blast budded from the choir’s spring concert....

The CEOs of Discord, Snap, TikTok, X, and Meta at a congressional hearing in January of 2024.

Not just a TikTok ban could be looming over U.S. teens

By Maximus Wang, Opinions Editor December 13, 2024

On Nov. 28, legislation introduced in Australia that would ban social media access to minors under the age of 16 passed in both the Australian House of Representatives and Senate by significant margins....

MCPS students discuss financial topics in a classroom. While it has not always been a graduation requirement, many MCPS schools have offered classes on economics.

Faceoff: school finance courses offer little practical benefit for students

By Isar Uslu, Features Editor November 21, 2024

“When are we ever going to use this stuff in real life?” Since the dawn of time, students around the world have wondered why they learn about derivatives and Shakespearean English rather than filing...

High schools students are interested in learning about financial topics, as it can help them to have better finial habits and reach their financial goals faster. WCHS adoption of a personal finance course, is a great first step for students to become financially literate.

Faceoff: add financial literacy into the curriculum

By Ava Van Vuren, Assistant Features Editor November 21, 2024

Papers are scattered all around a desk. The calculator shuts down after being exhausted from processing billions of numbers. Statements upon statements screaming “OVERDUE” cover the floor. When it...

Starbucks and Dunkin' released their new holiday beverages in time for the Christmas season. Items range from peppermint mochas to a cookie butter doughnut.

Cheers to the season: a guide to the best holiday beverages

By Ella Carnathan, Subscriptions, Promotions, and Communications Manager November 20, 2024

It is beginning to look a latte like Christmas! November marks the beginning of the holiday season, and with it comes festive drinks and snacks from Starbucks and Dunkin’. These coffee shops are a great...

WCHS English classes have long incorporated both in-paper and online assignments. The return to entire handwritten essays adds a sizable chunk to that.

The pen is mightier: a shift from keyboards to notebooks in education

By Ray Guan, Subscriptions, Promotions, and Communications Manager November 20, 2024

The clicking of keystrokes fades into scratching pencils and gliding pens as WCHS English classes respond to artificial intelligence. In sophomore English classes especially, assignments that would have...

"Party School" by Jon Hart is not just about partying. It focuses on Dylan Mills finding the person he wants to become as he starts college. With atypical characters, scandals, and nudity, this is an entertaining must read.

Thriving outside the top tier: a celebration of college life in “Party School”

By Ava Van Vuren, Assistant News Editor November 20, 2024

It is easy to get caught up in the stress of getting into an “it” school; Dylan Mills can attest to this. He grew up in Castleton where the only question the local parents ask is “What college are...

On Nov. 3rd, clocks were set back an hour, and an extra hour of sleep was gained. This happened as a result of daylight savings coming to an end, which ran from March to November.

Why do we love spring and summer, but hate the time change?

By Sydney Stern, Promotions and Subscriptions Manager November 15, 2024

Twice a year clocks get adjusted as a result of the sun’s decreasing or increasing daylight hours. This past Nov. 3rd, clocks nationwide gained an hour in exchange for an hour of daylight in the evenings....

At pop singer Matisyahu's concert at the 9:30 Club on March 20, 2024, almost every audience member can be seen on their phones, watching him through the screen.

Smartphones have turned memories into moments

By Amari Suissa, Sports Editor November 14, 2024

Life is about the moments. If we are not paying attention, we miss the smallest of details: a smile here, a tear there, a sign of loss or a sign of hope shown. Since the early 90’s, one single piece...

WCHS girls varsity cheer team pose with the 1st place trophy they won at the Division I MCPS County Cheerleading Competition. Their next stop is regionals.

First-place finish highlights WCHS cheer team’s dedication

By Anne Ma, Assistant Online Editor November 8, 2024

Amidst the noise and cheers, the WCHS varsity cheer team secures a first-place finish at their first “serious” competition, counties. Backing up their previous Oct. 14 inter-school competition, the...

On Oct. 7,  Netflix released a true crime documentary about brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, infamously known as "The Menendez Brothers."

True crime documentary sheds light on the story of infamous brothers

By Leah Kreisler, Editor in Chief October 31, 2024

Murder. Controversy. Documentary. Two years ago it was Jeffrey Dahmer. Now, the Menendez Brothers have taken TikTok by storm. Widespread attention was drawn to the Menendez case following the release of...

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