The Student News Site of Richard Montgomery High School

The Tide
The Student News Site of Richard Montgomery High School

The Tide
The Student News Site of Richard Montgomery High School

The Tide
Samantha Wu

Samantha Wu, Editor-In-Chief

Samantha Wu is thrilled to spend her senior year as Editor-In-Chief of The Tide, after three years as editor and COVID beat reporter for the News section. After school, she edits and writes op-eds and personal essays for political and cultural magazines. She thinks that you should check out the Black-and-Gordle (and suggest fun five-letter words)!

All content by Samantha Wu
Students exit the auditorium following the IB Spanish exam.

[Photo] Free AP and IB exams; good move by MCPS

Samantha Cutler, Assistant Opinions Editor
September 20, 2023
Senior Isari Kodithuwakku, president of the National Art Honor Society, paints a colorful landscape on a canvas. The artwork is part of a Youth Arts for Healing project, a Montgomery County based nonprofit dedicated to bringing youth artwork into healthcare environments. “It’s a big project that we do that basically has a bunch of themes and different size canvases based on the themes, and we’re donating these canvases to hospitals in the local area,” Kodithuwakku said. The paintings will be permanently displayed, and student artists will receive honor society credits for their contributions. “At first I didn’t really think of it as something super impactful, but this year… even though I have all the credits done, I still wanted to do it. I can imagine being in a hospital and not having anything interesting to look at every day.”

March 20, 2023: National Art Honor Society, Youth Arts for Healing

Samantha Wu, Editor-In-Chief
March 20, 2023
Seniors Maya Ramamurthi and Aarushi Gupta trace henna designs for the South Asian cultural fair on Friday, Nov. 4 in the parking lot during lunch. The event featured free food, music, dance performances, chalk drawings and cultural exhibits. A row of tables, run by students, were each dedicated to a different activity. Though the event was organized by the South Asian Student Association for the purpose of spreading and celebrating the club’s culture, performers and celebrators were not solely South Asian students. “My favorite part of this has been seeing all the people in their beautiful traditional clothes, and even non South Asians enjoying parts of our culture,” senior and club president Shayyan Ahmed said. “I think that it’s important that South Asian culture is out here, our food, our clothes, our sports, everything,” freshman Kaveesha Punchi, who presented a table on cricket in homage to her Sri Lankan heritage. “Figuring out food in this administration’s whole bureaucracy thing, that was a bit of a hassle,” Ahmed said, “But anyone who wants to do a cultural fair should definitely do it.”

Nov. 4, 2022: South Asian Student Association

Samantha Wu, Editor-In-Chief
November 4, 2022
Senior Samantha Wu smiles for the camera.

Senior Reflection: Samantha Wu

Samantha Wu, Editor-in-Chief
May 16, 2023
The Tide's editors-in-chief have not reflected the diversity of the student body.

The Tide’s staff must reflect the students it serves

Samantha Wu, Ella Koenig, and Avery Wang
May 11, 2023
Photo of the Day: NAHS participates in Youth Arts for Healing

Photo of the Day: NAHS participates in Youth Arts for Healing

Samantha Wu, Editor in Chief
March 20, 2023
Photo of the Day: RM Madrigals deliver singing Valentines

Photo of the Day: RM Madrigals deliver singing Valentines

Samantha Wu, Editor in Chief
February 15, 2023
Former student with gun trespasses on RM campus

Former student with gun trespasses on RM campus

Hannah Lee, Avery Wang, Samantha Wu, Claire Xu, Claire Yu, and Davi Jacobs
January 25, 2023
Mr. Hinsvark's first period class collects a shopping cart full of canned food for the Mana food drive, a fundraiser for the local food bank. The event was planned and advertised by the SGA, incentivized through a competition between first periods, with a donut prize as a reward for any class bringing in over a hundred cans. "History and English are killing it, I'm so serious. The entire history hallway is great," senior Scout Pollack said, "But I don't think the donut incentive is working." The cart was filled with various nonperishable goods, from dried pasta to beans and pudding. "Normally we hold a Toy drive during the holidays," senior Rayan Molkara said. "We've done clothes this year, for the future there could be fundraisers for any specific causes." The SGA is currently in the brainstorming process for new charitable events, including a spin on the traditional toy drive. "A math teacher told us about this thing called 'stuff a bus,' where you fill a bus with toys. You drive the entire bus to a shelter and feel like you did something nice for the community," Pollack said.

Nov. 14, 2022: SGA’s canned food drive

Samantha Wu, Editor-in-Chief
November 14, 2022
Mr. Hinsvark's first period class collects a shopping cart full of canned food for the Mana food drive, a fundraiser for the local food bank. The event was planned and advertised by the SGA, incentivized through a competition between first periods, with a donut prize as a reward for any class bringing in over a hundred cans. "History and English are killing it, I'm so serious. The entire history hallway is great," senior Scout Pollack said, "But I don't think the donut incentive is working." The cart was filled with various nonperishable goods, from dried pasta to beans and pudding. "Normally we hold a Toy drive during the holidays," senior Rayan Molkara said. "We've done clothes this year, for the future there could be fundraisers for any specific causes." The SGA is currently in the brainstorming process for new charitable events, including a spin on the traditional toy drive. "A math teacher told us about this thing called 'stuff a bus,' where you fill a bus with toys. You drive the entire bus to a shelter and feel like you did something nice for the community," Pollack said.

Photo of the Day: SGA holds canned food drive competition

Samantha Wu, Editor-In-Chief
November 14, 2022
Photo of the Day: South Asian Student Association holds cultural fair

Photo of the Day: South Asian Student Association holds cultural fair

Samantha Wu, Editor in Chief
November 9, 2022
RM DECA members enter the Washington Commanders' stadium on Thursday, Oct. 13.

[Photo] RM’s DECA partners with the Washington Commanders

Ashlee Argueta, News Writer
October 31, 2022
The infographic depicts data collected from polling 67 RM sophomores, juniors, and seniors on their 2021-2022 school year sporting events attendance and favorite sport to watch.

Who’s got spirit?

Samantha Wu and Danny Martella
October 5, 2022
President Joe Biden took the stage at the end of the event. Against a backdrop of Democratic Party volunteers holding campaign signs, he spoke about his new student debt policy, the IRA, and defeating the “MAGA Republicans” in the coming November midterms. “People need to be aware of right-wing extremists, who are willing to fight for what they want,” Elly Shaw-Belblidia, “Democrat of the Year” and Chair of Maryland Democratic Party, said.

Photo Essay: President Biden rallies support at RM

Samantha Wu and Avery Wang
September 12, 2022
SGA candidates promise change

SGA candidates promise change

Claire Yu and Samantha Wu
June 12, 2022
The updates come on top of existing safety measures. One example is Richard Montgomery's designated CEO, Corporal Derrick Tibbs, who has worked with administration for safety issues beginning in the 2021-2022 school year.

[Photo] MCPS returns police to schools

Hannah Lee, Senior News Writer
June 9, 2022
The SGA spread awareness of the walkout prior to June 3 on social media.

RM students hold walkout to advocate for gun control

Ella Koenig and Samantha Wu
June 8, 2022
Untitled drawing (1) (1)

[Photo] Arvin Kim elected SMOB, students react to Baba Cisse’s defeat

Erica Saulsbury, News Writer
June 5, 2022
Students exit the auditorium following the IB Spanish exam.

[Photo] Students prepare for exams

Claire Yu, Senior News Writer
May 28, 2022
RM students collect donations on Main St. to support refugees in Ukraine.

[Photo] RM students host Ukrainian refugee fundraiser

Erica Saulsbury, News Writer
May 2, 2022
Freshman Kevin Si and sophomore Adin Bokman work on their laptops. Following MCPS' new policy, RM classrooms have featured a mix of masked and unmasked faces.

One month later- RM reflects on optional masking policy

Samantha Wu, News Editor
April 19, 2022
"We are not going to be able to solve any justice crisis if we cannot solve the climate crisis"

“We are not going to be able to solve any justice crisis if we cannot solve the climate crisis”

Samantha Wu, News Editor
March 28, 2022
Sophomore Raha Murtuza reads the recent school shooting threat on her phone.

School shooting threat raises SRO security question

Samantha Wu, News Editor
March 28, 2022
RM substitute, Jill Sosin, is one of many filling in for missing teachers this year.

[Photo] County increases substitute salaries

Hannah Lee, Senior News Writer
March 8, 2022
Junior Paris Ye takes a hands-on approach to the electricity unit in IB Physics. Mr. Michale Willard directed the class in touching an electrically charged sphere, to witness the properties of static shock on their hair. The class also held hands to see the conductive levels of their bodies, and passed around a charged potato in a game of electric shock hot potato. "Learning a science like physics that requires robust conceptual understanding is extremely hard," Ye said, who experienced an unusual hair day after participating in the experiment. "But these experiments help connect our real world knowledge... to the conceptual side, which helps our overall understanding and ability to learn."

Photo of the Day: IB Physics takes an electric approach to learning

Samantha Wu, News Editor
March 7, 2022
Senior Aylin Apaydin auditions for the spring musical, "The Sound of Music."

“The Sound of Music” dispute leads to drama director’s resignation

Hrishita Mareddy, Avery Wang, and Samantha Wu
February 24, 2022
RM's Red Cross club members and seniors Riki Doubia and Kaitlyn Roh set up a table for a supply fundraiser for the benefit of the Armed Force Committee on the week of Feb.14-18. "Veterans are such a vulnerable group sometimes that don't have access to the resources they should," Doumbia said. "It was important to us to have this drive and allow them to draw, color, and take time to take care of them." The club collected colored pencils packs and body wash during lunch, setting up a table on Main Street.

Photo of the Day: RMRC collects supplies for veterans

Samantha Wu, News Editor
February 22, 2022
Students take notes in history class while Mr. Patrick Heeg instructs.

[Photo] Pandemic tires teachers out

Akshya Mahadevan, News Writer
February 14, 2022
The cast and crew of RM's annual One Acts production takes a bow.

One Acts limits onlookers

Samantha Wu, News Editor
February 10, 2022
Interim Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight was appointed to the permanent Superintendent position on Tuesday, Feb. 8.

Dr. McKnight becomes first MCPS female superintendent

Samantha Wu and Avery Wang
February 8, 2022
Heightened snowfall in the DC and Rockville area may be evidence of "global weirding."

Irregular weather heightens climate concerns

Crystal Li and Samantha Wu
February 7, 2022
FARMS and ESOL rates among student populations at seven of the eight schools that had active infection rates in the "green" were higher than county averages .

Language and testing barriers may explain low COVID numbers at “green” schools

Samantha Wu, News Editor
January 25, 2022
Physics teacher Michael Willard takes a hands-on approach to demonstrating the effects of centripetal force to his 4th period. Students were able to try their hand at swinging a cup of water balanced on a platform in a circle. His classroom experiments throughout the semester have included shooting arrows, riding bicycles around the track, building trebuchets, dropping eggs, and a semi-homemade hoverboard. "Despite the concerns surrounding COVID-19, I'm incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to do experiments in person," said junior Sophia Wu. "It's a much different experience compared to a zoom setting."

Photo of the Day: Mr. Willard takes a swing at new learning methods

Samantha Wu, News Editor
January 19, 2022
The Board of Education, operating at limited capacity for the pandemic, opened the floor on Monday for student, parent, and staff testimony. These perspectives will guide amendments to the county educational budget.

[Photo] Students and educators testify at Board of Education budget hearings

Avani Ambardekar, Assistant News Editor
January 18, 2022
Media Services technician, Eric Rodney, guides a journalism class behind the scenes of RM's student show, RMBC. The recording studio features professional teleprompters, cameras, and editing equipment, but has recently faced difficulties in attracting enough students to fill all of the crew and talent positions necessary to run the show. "The main purpose [of this class] is basically to get the kids who are in RMBC used to what is truly a professional studio environment, and disseminate information to the student population," Mr. Rodney said.

Photo of the Day: Students dive into media production on RMBC

Samantha Wu, News Editor
January 7, 2022
Interim Superindendent Monifa McKnight responds to questions from community members at a press conference on Monday. Dr. McKnight urged parents to opt their children in for random screening, in an attempt to gain accurate metrics about the rapidly changing COVID-19 case numbers across the county.

MCPS releases Omicron updates as RM cases climb

Avani Ambardekar and Samantha Wu
December 24, 2021
Senior Victoria Tong logs in to Facebook on her cellphone.

[Photo] Facebook papers reveal social media concerns

Samantha Cutler, News Writer
November 29, 2021
Students walk through a school hallway between class periods.

New hall pass policy creates student concerns

Emily Pham and Samantha Wu
November 13, 2021
Students wearing masks walk through the language hallway to get to their next classes.

[Photo] County officials consider reinstating mask mandate

Matthew Miller, News Writer
November 8, 2021
Editor in-chief Delaney Crawley distributes the first print edition of The Tide at a table on Main Street. Students dressed in Halloween costumes read the paper. "It's good that we live in a school environment where so many people are reading it," said junior Maya Rayamurthi, "It's really significant that the circulation is so good, I feel like almost everybody has a copy." After two weeks of online layout design and formatting, a thousand print copies were distributed to students and staff across the building.

Photo of the Day: the Tide returns to print after 20 months

Samantha Wu, News Editor
November 2, 2021
Projecting her voice, sophomore Desiree Chen gives a one minute extemporaneous speech to onlookers at a debate meeting. The team is preparing for the upcoming season. "I want to see everyone get up there and try it," said team sponsor Noah Grosfeld-Katz.

Photo of the Day: R.M. Debate Club starts the season

Samantha Wu, News Editor
October 6, 2021
Buses line up for dismissal in the RM parking lot.

Bus driver shortage leaves students waiting

Athira Nair, Samantha Wu, and Hrishita Mareddy
September 27, 2021

School Board member Patricia O’Neill passes away

Samantha Wu, News Editor
September 22, 2021
RM senior Jessie Chen's artwork, captioned 'Rise from the Ashes', was awarded honorable mention in the county-wide AAPI poster art competition.

Three RM students recognized in county-wide Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month poster art competition

Samantha Wu, Senior News Writer
June 6, 2021
RM has fully completed the school reopening process and continues to regulate a hybrid instruction model.

RM completes full rollout of school reopening

Samantha Wu, Senior News Writer
May 20, 2021
Incidents of hate speech occurred at both Walter Johnson high school and Sherwood high school.

Board of Education reviews school reopening process

Samantha Wu, Senior News Writer
April 12, 2021
More than one full year has passed since Gov. Larry Hogan first announced that schools would close due to the coronavirus.

One year later: Looking back at the beginning of the pandemic

Victoria Tong, Rachel Wang, Delaney Crawley, Mary Ma, Grace Burwell, Rohan Dewan, Nicole Fang, Samantha Wu, Kevin Zhang, Sydney Weiss, Emily Pham, Ava Lunenfeld, Eric Caulfield, and Mirula Prasad
March 27, 2021
On Jan. 14, MCPS Superintendent Dr. Jack Smith announced that he would be stepping down from his position on Jan. 14.

Dr. Jack Smith steps down as MCPS Superintendent

Samantha Wu, Senior News Writer
February 13, 2021
The Board of Education (BOE) held the second of two hearings regarding the superintendent's budget proposal for the 2021-2022 school year on Jan. 19.

BOE hosts educational budget hearing for 2021-2022 school year

Samantha Wu, Senior News Writer
February 6, 2021
As the 2020-2021 school year has entailed fully virtual instruction thus far, changes to the county’s inclement weather policies have been made.

MCPS releases ‘Post-COVID Inclement Weather Plan’

Samantha Wu, Senior News Writer
February 2, 2021
Due to COVID-19, celebrations of the winter holidays have differed from previous years.

COVID-19’s impact on the winter holidays

Samantha Wu, Senior News Writer
December 25, 2020
Montgomery County educators and officials held a virtual conversation on a potential returning to school framework on November 12.

MCPS Virtual Conversation presents ‘Return to School’ framework

Samantha Wu, Senior News Writer
November 19, 2020
Virtual school can quite literally distance students from learning, hindering motivation, focus, and performance.

Technology and resource allocation mishaps at RM

Samantha Wu, Senior News Writer
November 15, 2020
Montgomery County voters will elect three members to the Board of Education (BOE) next Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Candidate profiles of Board of Education election finalists

Samantha Wu, Senior News Writer
October 26, 2020
The Board of Education (BOE) voted unanimously to begin the return to in-person instruction on March 1, after almost a year of all virtual instruction and multiple reopening delays.

RM extracurriculars accommodate for distance learning

Samantha Wu, Senior News Writer
October 5, 2020
On June 5, hundreds gathered in front of the Montgomery County Circuit Court to protest in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign.

Rockville protesters support Black Lives Matter campaign

Samantha Wu and Rachel Wang
June 8, 2020
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