2023 Montgomery Community Media. Some have said they no longer feel safe at school. This left the student leaders frustrated and confused. The principals of Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Walter Johnson High Schools sent letters home to families Monday addressing several serious incidents that took place after a playoff football game between the two schools on Friday. All Rights Reserved. This is the latest incident involving racist graffiti on a Montgomery County school. Walter Johnson High School Principal Jennifer Baker Sends Letter to Students After School Was Vandalized Over the Weekend With White Supremacist Graffiti written by Patrick Herron October 4, 2021 Walter Johnson Principal Jennifer Baker sent a message to students after white supremacist graffiti was found on school property over the weekend. The principals of Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Walter Johnson High Schools sent letters home to families Monday addressing several serious incidents that took place after a playoff football game between the Read More, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) announced three finalists designated by the Marian Greenblatt Education Fund for the 2021-2022 MCPS Teacher of the Year Award. This section can be locked, requiring permission to Principal Baker asks WJ S*T*A*G*E to change spring musical amid controversy, Complaints from students in Walter Johnsons theater program over the decision to produce. I am grateful and honored to have known him.. to see possible family members, friends, co-workers, and associates found from multiple government records, social and public sources. Post-Game Chaos Mars WJ-B-CC Playoff Game: We Can Be Athletic Rivals Safely and Respectfully, MCPS: Here are the 20212022 Teacher of the Year Finalists, Beloved Walter Johnson Teacher Dies After Serious Car Crash, B-CC, Walter Johnson Principals Release Joint Statement on Student Arrests. MyLife aggregates publicly available information from government, social, and other sources, plus personal reviews written by others. All Rights Reserved. [] The notion which has been implied, that we cant reinterpret a show, flies in the face of what we do in theatre. le accused in an attempt to kidnap five kids from their two respective homes and kill their parents in Dayton, Virginia last year. A meeting was held last Friday, September 21, where Baker and the theater directors announced the decision to change the show. This is an extremely serious offense with significant consequences, Baker wrote. Walter Johnson Principal Jennifer Baker sent a letter to families of students at the high school over the weekend, outlining the alleged threats and also commending the students who. One of our purposes in choosing this show was to attempt to include underrepresented populations at WJ as well., Some students argue that while minorities can fill roles of white characters, such as in Hamilton, it is a different case for a white person to fill the role of a minority. The drama department has not chosen a new musical for this spring, but will announce their decision sometime in the near future. About The Award The Marian Greenblatt Education Fund is a non-profit organization established in 1988 to honor the memory of Dr. Marian Greenblatt, a leader in education and education policy in Montgomery County. The search uncovered an unloaded BB gun, the message said. Article written by Ruby Topalian of Walter Johnson High School, Photo courtesy of Ruby Topalian of Walter Johnson High School. Reviews help Students at Walter Johnson High School staged a walk-out Friday morning to protest graffiti with white supremacist symbols and hate speech that was found on school property early last. Also last year, hate-based graffiti was found at an elementary school in Clarksburg. In 2003 she graduated with a Master's degree in Administration and Supervision from Bowie State University and also joined the North Bethesda Middle School administrative team as a Student Support Specialist. Students from the school have given passionate testimony at recent school board meetings, detailing their experience during the multi-hour lockdown. She also had the privilege to serve for two years as a vertical articulation specialist where she had the unique opportunity to work with the Wheaton and Bethesda-Chevy Chase Cluster schools at all levels K through 12. The purpose was to desegregate, not to segregate. No one was hurt however, Hayes and Reburn got away leaving Frank Amnott alone to be arrested by a Rockingham County Sheriff Deputy. I have so much I would like to see from the county and my school but in order to do any of that we need to be able to make our environments more intolerant, Onana said. See to see possible education history including where and when they attending high school and college, and a complete list of his high school class list. While students were voicing their frustrations with the absence of systemic changes at Walter Johnson, administration unexpectedly arrived at the meeting. We wanted to hold a walkout to reach as many students as we could and bring attention to the fact that little is being done to fix this problem, WJ Immigration Advocates Co-President and senior Catherine Prado said. The alleged behaviors are alarming and unacceptable and not aligned with either schools guidelines for responsible behavior, B-CC Principal Shelton Mooney [], Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) announced three finalists designated by the Marian Greenblatt Education Fund for the 2021-2022 MCPS Teacher of the Year Award. I think that the walkout was a very necessary action that is vital towards change in the future; it definitely left a big impact, Walter Johnson senior Camille Lorillou said. Those being recognized are: Clarksburg Elementary School Principal Carl Bencal, and Walter Johnson High School Principal Jennifer Baker, and Walter Johnson Assistant Principals Regina Rodriguez and Jeff Leaman. Walter Johnson HS, the popular Trolley Trail, some local businesses all woke up to graffiti like this. The Wiz has been performed before at WJ; the most recent production was seven years ago. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM, letter to the Walter Johnson High School community, Montgomery County Public Schools student code of conduct, Montgomery Co. bill would prohibit police from stopping drivers for some minor traffic offenses, How Montgomery Co. schools plan to crack down on students fentanyl use, Police, family plead for help from public 3 months after Silver Spring mans killing, Grand jury indicts DC employee charged with killing 13-year-old boy, Virginia state superintendent Jillian Balow announces resignation, Blossom watch: DC cherry trees reach 2nd stage as officials predict early peak bloom. The violators will receive a very serious disciplinary consequence in alignment with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct. Whoops! A meeting was held last Friday, September 21, where Baker and the theater directors announced the decision to change the show. Everyone is, of course, entitled to their own opinion. Moving forward, student leaders want to see systemic changes to the way MCPS responds to instances like this. Junior and former S*T*A*G*E* member Damir Pimenov called it ridiculous that the drama department would consider The Wiz as a show, given the small number of minority students in the program. Baker said the actions will not be tolerated and any student involved will receive disciplinary action. See Looking back to Season 1 of Last Chance U: Basketball, Media coverage of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria sparks more criticism. The hundreds of comments across both pages highlighted Boss love of Bob Dylan and those around him. Students were invited to sit in the bleachers while student leaders such as Onana gave empowering speeches about the encounters Walter Johnson students had with racism and homophobia in their community. Baker's message only said that Reburn had been arrested "for his role in an attempted murder and kidnapping in Virginia." She wrote that Reburn was previously the girls lacrosse coach at the school, but did not elaborate. In a message to the Walter Johnson community, Principal Jennifer Baker wrote that administrators there were also notified that a student had a BB gun at school. Montgomery County Police were called Wednesday after a Walter Johnson High School student was reported to be in possession of a BB gun -- that according to a letter from the. S*T*A*G*E members who were opposed to WJ putting on. this spring prompted Principal Jennifer Baker to take an unprecedented measure: ask the drama department to change the show. This page is maintained by the Walter Johnson School's Web Team, Report Positive Student and Staff COVID Cases, Bullying and Harassment Online Reporting Form. Helicopter Makes Precautionary Landing in Back Field of Detectives From Special Investigations Unit are Asking For Detectives Investigating Multiple Thefts from Autos and Credit Montgomery Parks to Host Meetings on March 15 MCPS DMM Coordinator, Kimani Gray, Wins Supporting Services Employee of the Year, Metro developing plan to fix wheels and return 7000-series fleet to normal service, Traffic data about the Little Falls Parkway pilot project to the Montgomery Planning Board on March 30, 2023, Montgomery County Public Libraries Celebrates Read Across America Week March 2-6 with Volunteers Pairing with Children in Reading Program, Up to $100,000 Available to Winning Proposal for Public Art in Gene Lynch Urban Park in Silver Spring. We are very mindful ofhow such actions may evoke fear andanger and we have worked quickly to coverthe images. Check all background information that MyLife has gathered. Help keep our content free for all readers by becoming a member. All Rights Reserved. She then promised to give them one of her own kids if they help her because she knew they could not conceive kids. He is one of the four people accused in an attempt to kidnap five kids from their two respective homes and kill their parents in Dayton, Virginia last year. [2] [3] The school was founded in 1956 and named after Walter Johnson, a famous baseball player who was also a native of Montgomery County, Maryland. BETHESDA, MD A high school community in Bethesda is mourning after a 16-year-old student died by suicide Saturday. Racist and homophobic vandalism was found spraypainted on the walls of Walter Johnson High School on Oct. 3, 2021. But many students were looking for a more hands-on response to tackling this issue. March 23, 2020 | Grace Mottley. Like this post? During the meeting, it was decided that more direct action was necessary. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. , meant to track recovery and to allow community members to send the Bos family words of encouragement. Walter is now single. . Walter Johnson High Schools former lacrosse coach, Gary Reburn, has been arrested due to a connection with an abnormal attempted kidnapping and murder case. 3 times we cant have this kind of dissent and division. By using our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Six days after being critically injured in a car crash, Jon Bos, a Walter Johnson High teacher known for his love of Bob Dylan, succumbed to his injuries. Ms. Baker can be reached by phone at (240) 740-6899 or by email. In a message to community members on Thursday morning, Walter Johnson High School Principal Jennifer Baker wrote that Bos "is a beloved member of the WJ community and has touched many lives over . Walter Johnson High School Principal Jennifer Baker Sends Letter to Students After School Was Vandalized Over the Weekend With White Supremacist Graffiti Details in the link below. A 16-year-old student at Walter Johnson High School died by suicide Saturday, the school's principal told Walter Johnson families. Montgomery Community Media. In a message to the Walter Johnson community, Principal Jennifer Baker wrote that administrators there were also notified that a student had a BB gun at school. * The other websites referenced on this site are owned and operated by their respective companies, and the associated trademarks and logos are the property of those companies. The walkout gave students a better understanding of why the vandalism was so emotionally damaging to the community. Weekly MoCo360 Politics Briefing But we can say this: the world is a different place, and WJ is a different school than it was two years ago, and our program must reflect these changes. Nevertheless, club leaders were persistent and administration allowed the meeting to continue without a slideshow. Unfortunately, some members of our organization treated these social media posts as such, and an opinion became fake news, Morris said at the meeting. View court, arrest, criminal/conviction In an effort to confront the problem, leaders from various Bethesda high schools came together for a town hall meeting at Walter Johnson High School Thursday evening to educate both parents and students about the impact of []. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. said during a school board meeting in February. which opened in 1975, is considered a black retelling of the original 1939 movie, which had an entirely white cast. Walter Johnson High School Vandalized with Homophobic and Racist Hate Speech, MCPS offers free SAT prep tutoring for high school students, Students bringing weapons to schools causes unrest in community, Substance abuse among youth presents an alarming countywide problem, Jacinda Ardern Continues to Lead Selflessly, New Years Eve machete attack brings fear as cases of public targeted violence rise across the nation, Senioritis measures detachment from school, Where are they now? Please reload the page and try again. Two months after a shooting at Col. Zadok Magruder High School left one student with critical injuries, school administrators on Wednesday found a student with a BB gun on campus. Walter Johnson Principal Jennifer Baker announced Reburn's arrest in a message to community members on Thursday morning. The fund [], Six days after being critically injured in a car crash, Jon Bos, a Walter Johnson High teacher known for his love of Bob Dylan, succumbed to his injuries. I would like to remain anonymous. She noted that recent county Board of Education actions specifically include the prohibition of hate symbols and language, and they are covered in the students rights and responsibilities and Montgomery County Public Schools student code of conduct. He succumbed to those injuries on Thursday. Officials have not given updates on the students status since January. Jon Bos, a teacher at Walter Johnson High School, was known for his enthusiasm as a teacher and love of Bob Dylan. Reburn, Hayes, and Frank Amnott forced their way into the home holding the father at gunpoint while two young children were sleeping. During his time as a teacher, Bos taught AP Literature and Composition, directed musicals, and served as a mentor to high school students, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help the Bos family offset sudden financial costs. 0 Reputation Score Range. This third-party data is then indexed through methods similar to those used by Google or Bing to create a listing. BETHESDA, Md. MyLife is NOT a Consumer Reporting Agency - You may NOT use this information to make decisions about consumer credit, employment, tenancy or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. We are a wonderfully diverse community and we must continue to take a stand against acts of hate, hateful and harmful rhetoric, Baker said. Abigail Constantino started her journalism career writing for a local newspaper in Fairfax County, Virginia. Other parents and students commented on Bos GoFundMe page, leaving notes about his impact on their lives and educations. Later in the week, the clubs held a joint meeting to give students a platform to process what had happened collectively and to voice their opinion on what needed to be done moving forward. Looking back to Season 1 of Last Chance U: Basketball, Media coverage of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria sparks more criticism. Over and over again [these groups] said to me, do shows that are more culturally diverse, McAdory said. Many students and graduates took to social media to express their disapproval of S*T*A*G*E*s choice. He is one of the four people accused in an attempt to kidnap five kids from their two respective homes and kill their parents in Dayton, Virginia last year. Wood Middle School as their math resource teacher and 6th grade team leader. The, Principal Jennifer Baker Walter Johnson High School, 5 Things to Know Today, March 1, In Montgomery County, Council Meeting Reveals Gaps in Youth Drug Crisis Solutions. Following the email that Principal Baker sent out, the WJ administration decided to organize a homeroom presentation on the importance of being anti-racist. businesses, and does affect the Reputation Score. to see possible family members, friends, co-workers, and associates found from multiple government records, social and public sources. S*T*A*G*E members who were opposed to WJ putting on The Wiz thought it would be racially insensitive for a mostly white cast to portray black characters, especially in a show that contains many elements of African-American culture. Popular. The award is given annually by the MCEMSA to highlight the role of administrative leaders in supporting school library media centers. Walter Johnson High School's former lacrosse coach, Gary Reburn, has been arrested due to a connection with an abnormal attempted kidnapping and murder case. Theater directors said the show was chosen because it represents a diverse perspective and argued that it shouldnt be off limits just because white students end up playing most of the roles. Walter Johnson High School principal Jennifer Baker sent a letter home to parents ensuring that the case against former varsity lacrosse coach has nothing to do with his time at the school. ), Constant Chromebook use: the disadvantages far outweigh the benefits, Embrace the journey, savor the moment: a poms documentary, The unfortunate shift of dating through the years, Off the beat with WJs jazz band drummer: Bradley West, Sophomore leader excels on the school and county level, Dancer Katie Berkman pirouettes into success, WJ English teacher Jon Bos hit by car, in critical condition, WJ S*T*A*G*E* prepares to go Into the Woods, B-CC vandalizes WJ senior shed, students outraged, Former WJ lacrosse coach charged with attempted kidnap and murder, Velma is bad, but probably not for the reasons you think, First-year head coach Christina Fitzpatrick opens the door for success, Boys lacrosse coach enters season with new role, high aspirations, Senior captains, players, prepare for upcoming spring season. The principal of a Montgomery County high school said she was "disheartened" to learn that the school had been vandalized with racist graffiti. After marrying her husband and working for 11 years in the restaurant business, she went to college and graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor's degree in secondary mathematics education in 1995. Although we understand that attempting to make change is often uncomfortable and always challenging, we are disappointed.that this will not be the year that we take a step forward toward diversity, McAdory said. to see possibly who they are and full class lists found from school records and public sources. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Dear Walter Johnson HS Students, He is one of the four peop. These actions will not be toleratedand any students involved will receivedisciplinary consequences in alignment withthe student Code of Conduct in MCPS. The show reinterprets The Wizard of Oz.it was written to give more opportunity to African-Americans at a time when they were underrepresented in musical theatre, director Colleen McAdory said. News and information to serve, inform, and inspire every resident of Montgomery County, Maryland. Anyone who knows anything about trauma knows it manifests itself in a variety of ways at any time. Walter Johnson Principal Jennifer Baker sent a message to students after white supremacist graffiti was found on school property over the weekend. ROCKVILLE, MD A Walter Johnson High School senior was seriously injured when a vehicle struck him as he was about to board his school bus in Rockville Friday morning, according to. During her time at WJ Ms. Baker taught Algebra 1, Honors Geometry, Geometry, Algebra 2 and the school's Leadership class. Abigail Constantino | aconstantino@wtop.com. I appreciate our communitymembers who alerted me and thank ourstaff who took swift action to have thegraffiti removed. Ms. Baker left Walter Johnson to join Earle B. Friday, May 23rd 2014. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In an unrelated incident, a student took a BB gun to Walter Johnson High School on Wednesday, according to district leaders. November 9, 2021 | Deirdre Byrne. Last updated December 2017 Around 12:30 p.m . This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. The Bos family will not be holding a funeral service at this time, but once large groups are allowed to gather again, they will hold a memorial service in Jon Boss honor. It was great to hear from those who shared but it sort of felt like we were being talked to, rather than being given the opportunity to come together as a community and make everyone feel included. My peers and I dont feel safe at school anymore. Who's Searching for You, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors & Classmates. Frustrated by the lack of emotional support and response from school administration, Walter Johnson club leaders took matters into their own hands. In preparation for the joint meeting, club leaders created a presentation to give an overview of what had happened and where they felt administration needed to improve. view. View FREE Public Profile & Reputation for Walter Baker in Tempe, AZ - See Court Records | Photos | Address, Email & Phone Number | Personal Review | $30 - $39,999 Income & Net Worth . In addition to The Pitch, Julia plays piano for WJs jazz ensemble and On Feb. 24, the Black Student Union (BSU) put on a special assembly recognizing the works of many talented Black students in the WJ community in an ef Black Student Union celebrates Black History Month by hosting impactful assembly, Health B to be implemented upcoming school year, creates conflict in class scheduling, Antisemitism continues to plague Bethesda community, After a long hiatus, TV morning announcements are back, WJ delegates reflect on the SMOB Nominating Convention, Students unite to aid victims of Kahramanmaras earthquake, Bike lanes on Old Georgetown Road cause discourse in community, Security locks certain bathrooms during school day, The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School. Which puts us in a dilemma, which is what [S*T*A*G*E students] were talking about.. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Your donation will support the student journalists of Walter Johnson High School. As a principal, sometimes I have to look at the big picture, but I can tell you Ive known Ms. Mac for 25 years and no ones ever said to Ms. Mac before you cant do that show.. After four days of joint planning, mainly organized by club leaders and managed by administration, a walkout was held on Friday, Oct. 15 on the football stadium. {"requests":{"event":"https:\/\/moco360.media\/wp-content\/plugins\/newspack-popups\/includes\/..\/api\/campaigns\/index.php"},"triggers":{"trackPageview":{"on":"visible","request":"event","visibilitySpec":{"selector":"#cc4c","visiblePercentageMin":50,"totalTimeMin":250,"continuousTimeMin":100},"extraUrlParams":{"popup_id":"id_301437","cid":"CLIENT_ID(newspack-cid)"}}}} 0 Add Rating Anonymously. AN ELITE CAFEMEDIA PUBLISHER This website uses cookies to improve your experience. people learn more about others, just like Yelp does for We know that nothing has changed.. As principal of Walter Johnson High School since 2011, Ms. Baker continues to provide excellent educational opportunities and a wide variety of co-curricular choices for all students. nied by his girlfriend, Valerie Hayes, along with another couple, Frank and Jennifer Amnott of Florida. When students wanted to share, they raised their hand and were passed a microphone. We had an amazingly diverse cast, McAdory said. Beloved Walter Johnson Teacher Dies After Serious Car Crash. came at the end of last school year. . We interpret, reinterpret, and tell others stories. below. Bos sustained injuries from a serious car accident that took place on the morning of March 13. View Jennifer Baker results in Arizona (AZ) including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. As principal of Walter Johnson High School since 2011, Ms. Baker continues to provide excellent educational opportunities and a wide variety of co-curricular choices for all students. MCPS spokesman Chris Cram said in an interview on Wednesday that while the services provided in the days following the shooting might not be as visible, students can contact any adult at the school for the help they need. Youth. Another S*T*A*G*E member, who wished to remain anonymous, said the show was created as a response to white domination of the theater industry. Jon was an amazing husband, father, son, uncle, cousin, friend and teacher. I feel very protective over the spaces we hold and I kind of felt run up on to be completely honest, WJ Black Student Union President and senior Joyce Onana said. The pictures are on point and display a variety of students' emotions. Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Because MyLife only collects this data and does not create it, we cannot fully guarantee its accuracy. Former Walter Johnson lacrosse coach caught in a murder kidnapping scandal, Walter Johnson High Schools former lacrosse coach, Gary, Reburn, has been arrested due to a connection with an abnormal attempted kidnapping and murder case. Pit orchestra director Andrea Morris referred to the communication and posting about. The principal of a Montgomery County, Maryland, high school said she was disheartened to learn that the school had been vandalized with racist graffiti. Thomas "Tommy" Silva was a junior at Walter Johnson High School,. Defacing our school withgraffiti is bad enough, but symbols of hatespeech are harmful and unsettling for manyin our community. Complaints from students in Walter Johnsons theater program over the decision to produce The Wiz this spring prompted Principal Jennifer Baker to take an unprecedented measure: ask the drama department to change the show. We use cookies to personalize & enhance your experience. Education. Tonight at 10 were talking to community members, and sharing what district told parents. Some students argue that while minorities can fill roles of white characters, such as in Hamilton, it is a different case for a white person to fill the role of a minority. MyMCMedia the home of Montgomery Community Media (MCM). Life. Principal Jennifer Baker Walter Johnson High School. In a message to students and community members on Thursday morning, Walter Johnson High School Principal Jennifer Baker wrote Jon Bos is a beloved member of the WJ community and has touched many lives over his years here.. The locations include Walter Johnson High School, the Georgetown Square Shopping Center, two churches and a museum, Tressler said. Bos was always happy to let us goof around in his classroom during lunch or after school, creating a truly cherished safe space for us to grow and be ourselves.. Breaking News Alerts. FOX5 is reporting that in addition toWalter Johnson High School, similar graffiti was left at several local businesses as well as the beltway overpass of the Trolley Train. Accept Read More. Frank Amnott pleaded guilty two weeks before Christmas to three charges, including conspiracy to kill witnesses, that could result in an immediate life sentence. Mr. Although the facts of this case read like the script of a bad horror movie, the defendants murderous plot was real and it posed a grave risk to their intended victim. Like WTOP on Facebook and follow WTOP on Twitter and Instagram to engage in conversation about this article and others. Reburn, Hayes, and Frank Amnott forced their way into the home holding the father at gunpoint while two young children were sleeping. has been performed before at WJ; the most recent production was seven years ago. MCPS offers free SAT prep tutoring for high school students, Students bringing weapons to schools causes unrest in community, Substance abuse among youth presents an alarming countywide problem, Jacinda Ardern Continues to Lead Selflessly, New Years Eve machete attack brings fear as cases of public targeted violence rise across the nation, White Island: The eruption that shook the world, Senioritis measures detachment from school, Where are they now? Comments on the GoFundMe Page and the Caring Bridge profile echo Bakers message, highlighting Bos impact as a teacher and friend. (Name will only be used to verify billing. records, Lawsuits, Liens, Bankruptcies & sex offender status for Walter Baker. The student and two others were brought into the office and their belongings were searched. s, according to a news release from the United States Attorneys Office Western District of Virginia. Doing The Wiz at WJ would enhance the idea that white people dominate the theater and thatthe people who were oppressing minorities in the first place can manipulate those works for their own advantage, the student said. Baker is known for her famous candid photos taken at an assortment of WJ events. Everyone shared a collective feeling of anger towards the pacifism that allows hate crimes like this to happen, fear of being in an environment that does not welcome and celebrate them, and strength in knowing they are not alone.

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