As we begin the third week of our 20th year, I write to you with a mixture of honest reflection about the challenges we face and tremendous excitement about the extraordinary progress we’ve made together. This year has already tested our community in unexpected ways, yet it has also revealed the remarkable strength and character that define who we are as a Latin family.
Navigating Challenges Together
The unprecedented circumstances in our city at the start of this school year have required all of us to dig deeper into our values and our commitment to one another. The heightened law enforcement presence and uncertainty in our District have created anxiety for many in our community. Yet in true Latin fashion, we have responded not with retreat, but with thoughtful action grounded in our mission and The Latin Way.
I have been moved by how our community has rallied. Faculty members have volunteered to provide additional presence during arrival and dismissal. Families have stepped forward to lead carpools and support one another in myriad ways. Students have shown remarkable resilience and maturity. This is who we are—a community that serves the common good, especially when times are difficult.
A Strong Start Despite Challenges
Despite these external pressures, I am thrilled to report that we are off to a fantastic start academically and operationally. Both campuses are buzzing with the energy of learning and discovery. Teachers and students are engaged in the deep, enduring conversations that make our classical education come alive. The Latin Creed is being lived out in our hallways, classrooms, and communities.
This past weekend at 2nd Street, we hosted a successful application boot camp for our seniors, organized and led by our interim Director of College Counseling. We also held a college fair featuring some of the nation’s most competitive colleges and universities. And we’re thrilled to welcome Joh’nita Johnson to our team as a full-time college counselor.
The Cooper Campus continues to take shape beautifully. While we put finishing touches on our permanent home, we look forward with great anticipation to our official ribbon cutting ceremony on October 31st. This milestone represents not just a new building, but a new chapter in our mission to provide accessible, transformative classical education in the District.
Extraordinary Campaign Progress
This brings me to one of the most exciting developments I’ve had the privilege to share: our Cooper Campus capital campaign has achieved remarkable success. We have already raised over $9.5 million toward our $12 million goal—a testament to the belief our community has in the transformative power of Washington Latin’s mission.
This achievement reflects the generosity and vision of so many who understand that this is about more than buildings and pavers. This is about expanding access to an education that develops not just students’ minds, but their character. This is about creating spaces where Truth, Beauty, and Goodness can flourish. This is about ensuring that more young people in our city have the opportunity to fall in love with deep, enduring ideas that will shape them into thoughtful citizens and leaders.
An Invitation to Leave Your Mark
As we enter the public phase of our campaign, I invite you to be part of this legacy through our Cooper Campus Paver Campaign. These pavers will form the path to the main entrance of our new school, creating a lasting tribute to the members of our Latin family who made this vision a reality. This opportunity is open not only to Cooper families, but to everyone in the Washington Latin community.
We offer two meaningful ways to participate:
Patron Pavers ($1,000, $1,500, $2,000, or $2,500+)
Honor an individual or family of your choosing on a beautiful plank paver outside the main entrance, creating a lasting legacy for generations of Latin students to see and appreciate.
Faculty and Alumni Pavers ($150, $250, or $500)
A special opportunity for our faculty and recent alumni to leave their imprint on the campus with pavers along the path from the vehicle entrance to the Upper School.
Every day, students will walk past these pavers and be reminded that they are part of something larger than themselves—a community of learners, dreamers, and builders who believe in the power of education to transform lives and strengthen our democracy.
To make your gift, please use the button below or contact our Director of Development, Ewing Moussa emoussa@latinpcs.org.
Looking Forward with Gratitude
As we navigate both the challenges and opportunities of this pivotal year, I am reminded of Cicero’s words: “Non nobis solum nati sumus”—we are not born for ourselves alone. This principle, central to our Latin Creed, guides us through difficult times and inspires us to reach for something greater.
Your support through the paver campaign does more than help us complete our beautiful Cooper Campus. It demonstrates to our students that education is a community endeavor, that their dreams are worthy of investment, and that they are part of a legacy of learning that extends far beyond their time in our classrooms.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we build not just buildings, but the future leaders our city and our world so desperately need. Together, we are creating something truly extraordinary.
With deep gratitude and excitement for the road ahead,
Peter Anderson
Head of Schools/CEO
