Great Debate
The middle school debate team participated in a varsity debate at Georgetown Day School. Eighth graders D’Andre Person and Jackson Lewis won two rounds, competing against high school and middle school students.
Honors Choir at Carnegie Hall
Upper school Honors Choir members performed as part of the National Fall Sing at Carnegie Hall, alongside several other choirs. The event commemorated and honored those effected by September 11. Survivors who worked in the Twin Towers and the Pentagon were guest speakers for the solemn event.
Into the Woods
Fifth graders visited Calleva on Tuesday, for a day of outdoor education. Students took part in low ropes course and trust building activities, like the Think Tank, Giant Swing, Round Robin, and Zip Line. Students faced and conquered their fears and worked on communication skills with their peers. Ninth graders went Thursday to Terrapin Adventures to do outdoor activities, orientation, and team building skills. The sixth grade students visited Ray’s Meadow in Rock Creek Park for a water monitoring trip hosted by the Audobon Society. Sixth graders are research watersheds for a year-long study in water quality and environmental impact on plant and animal life. More outdoor trips will come in the spring for the seventh, eleventh, and twelfth grades. We relish the chance to take students into nature and build leadership skills along with respect for the environment.
That’s the Spirit!
Upper school students celebrated Spirit Week this past week. Monday started with a pep rally. On Tuesday, students showed Latin pride with their new school shirts. Wednesday was Meme Day, as students wore costumes inspired by Internet Memes. On Thursday students wore athletic attire to celebrate their favorite teams. Also, Friday students wore class colors. During the week students cheered for the volleyball and soccer teams in their homecoming games, and the week capped off with a Homecoming Dance on Friday.
Bonding in the Wilderness
While the school year is now a month into its full swing, for seniors one of the official markings of the beginning of the year was the class trip to 4H Camp. This annual trip allows students to bond as a grade, think about the impact they would like to have in their final months of high school and work collaboratively with those in their advisories on activities such as “Capture the Flag,” making campfires, and other team building activities. This weekend experience also enables students to enjoy casual time with teachers and administrators, getting to know them and one another outside of the confines of the classroom.
The 4H Trip sets the tone for the senior year at Washington Latin, one that tends to be marked by intense emotional connection, friendship, collegiality, and cooperation. Many of our seniors have worked together at our school for eight years, growing from new students to the “seasoned leaders.” As they take on this year’s challenges, including rigorous honors and AP classes and applying to colleges, we hope they will learn to rely on each other and the friendships they have built over their time here.
And it seems that they have. As students shared special moments with each other, as a group, last weekend, one remarked: “We’re really lucky to go to a school like Latin, and I don’t think we always acknowledge that.” Another said, “Our school has a soul, and it’s really beautiful.” Teachers, administrators and students agreed that the experience was moving and affirming.
The year for the seniors culminates in another overnight trip. In June, they travel to Camp Letts, on the Rhode River, south of Annapolis. Once again, students will have the chance to work together in the outdoors, participating in games and boating and other fun activities. This event includes both graduating seniors and juniors. Besides offering opportunities for reflection, it is on this trip that the outgoing students “pass the torch” to the next generation of Latin leaders. We know that this bonding time for students helps them gain a better perspective on what it means to be part of our community. We hope that relationships nurtured, memories formed and lessons learned will last a lifetime.
Valete!