Columbus on Trial

Columbus on Trial

Mr. Koenig’s 8th grade U.S History students conducted a mock trial this week in the International Criminal Court.  The defendants were Christoper Columbus, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, and the System of Empire.  The charge was Genocide against the Taino people of Hispaniola.  Students played the roles of lawyers and witnesses, arguing whether Columbus’s treatment of the native people constituted Genocide. The class is working on a unit on exploration as part of the year-long American History curriculum.
Cross Country King and Queen

Cross Country King and Queen

Junior Luke Tewalt and sophomore Zoe Edelman won the boys and girls varsity A titles in the recent Cross Country Meet at Landon School. Tewalt won the 5K in 16:47, earning the fastest time recorded on Landon’s course since 2013.  Edelman won the girls varsity ‘A’ title by over a minute.

Poetry and Pride

Poetry and Pride

Junior MK Wilson spent her summer at a University fo Virginia Creative Writing workshop hosted at Sweet Briar College. She took the 3 week long advanced poetry workshop. Her classes were taught by published poets and fiction writers. MK is the Assistant Editor of the school’s literary magazine, and editor-in-chief of the school newspaper.

Cracking the Code

Cracking the Code

Junior Gabby Micheli attended a seven week summer technology immersion camp called Girls Who Code. Each week had a different topics, including working with robots, designing websites, and programming an app. The program was hosted at Georgetown Law School and run by the organization Software.org. During the time there, Micheli got to meet with a senator and a congressman and earned a free laptop.  To learn more about the program go to girlswhocode.com

Hieroglyphics and Heroes

Hieroglyphics and Heroes

Sixth graders had their Ancient Egyptian Festival on Tuesday, complete with Pharaoh’s costumes. Kids wrote their names in hieroglyphics and played Egyptian games. They made traditional masks and name plates and learned Egyptian riddles, and watched a documentary on the pyramids.  The event was an interdisciplinary activity day lead by social studies teacher Mr. Staten, who of course came in full Pharaoh regalia.