We are delighted to share news of another appointment to the 2021-22 Leadership Team, this time with a long-time member of our faculty stepping into a newly established role. Bill Clausen is a fixture at Washington Latin, having joined the faculty in our second year. Over the past 14 years, he has become a master teacher and has reached countless students as an advisor and role model. Mr. Clausen is likewise a faculty leader, serving as Chair of the Classics Department, head of the Classical Committee, and an instructional coach for his colleagues. The entire faculty has benefited from both his expertise in classical education and his gifts as a teacher, whether in one of these formal roles or in faculty discussions aimed at helping us understand the classical education model.
Next year is an important transition for our school, and we know we must stay focused maintaining the quality of our classical education model. As the Assistant Principal for Academics, Mr. Clausen will be essential in this work, ensuring alignment across our curriculum and elevating strong teaching. And, of course, he will continue to teach some classes alongside his leadership role, something all our administrators do to stay grounded in the classroom experience and have connections to our students.
Mr. Clausen will have a second new title next year – Latin parent – when the oldest of his four children starts 5th grade. His deep commitment to the school is evident, and we are certain that there is no one better suited to help us live out our creed: “A classical education for the modern world.”
Several Washington Latin seniors celebrated winning scholarships this week. Oliver Krisetya won the Stephen Joel Trachtenberg scholarship, which provides a comprehensive full ride to George Washington University. Previous Washington Latin winners of this scholarship include Jenesis Duran in 2017, Nathan Hanshew in 2015, Coumba Gueye in 2014 and Timothy Hursen in 2013. This week seniors Erick Rivas and Chima Ukaegbu also won the David M. Rubenstein/Economic Club Scholarship. Previous Washington Latin winners include Justin Burgon and Damian Hanshew in 2020, Goodness Ukaegbu and Jania Clare in 2019, and Kyra Redman in 2018.
Latin’s Certamen team showed their skills with Latin language and culture at the annual Thomas Jefferson tournament on Saturday, March 16. Three teams from the middle school competed. Sixth graders Orode Omatete, Madelyn Zeller, Zane Wood, Miles Johnson, and Sadie Greenhalgh competed and made it to the Finals, earning a second place finish overall. Eighth graders Sarah Schifferle, Lucia Claire, Alice Pittard, Ben Blier, Sophia Smith, and Max Aaron competed against high schoolers and performed well.
Eighth graders will enjoy an outing on the 13th of March to various outdoor escape rooms. The event, chaperoned by teachers and parents, will involve students working together to answer questions to “escape” various park settings by cracking codes and solving puzzles. Students will be gathering at Dumbarton Oaks, Tregaron Conservancy, and National Arboretum. The combination of teamwork, the outdoors, and masks makes this a safe and fun way to reconnect with peers. The 9th grade and 12th grade will have various outings on the 17th of March, some on campus and some off.
Upper school students in Mr. Janick and Mr. Liu’s U.S. Government classes participated in the DC Circuit Court Historical Society’s Mock Court Competition on Friday, March 12. Students argued First and Fourth Amendment cases before District Judge Randolph Moss. They responded to challenging questions about search and seizure law of students’ homes by schools with a mock case. Sterling Marchand, a partner at the Baker Botts law firm, also gave students direct individualized feedback on their performance in “court,” evaluating their argument, their use of supporting evidence, and their ability to answer questions. Washington Latin sophomores Michaela Irving and Cooper Davenport were awarded “Outstanding Advocate” titles.
The program was done virtually this year and allowed students to develop public speaking and rhetorical skills while learning about the workings of one of the key branches of government. Many of these students visited courtrooms as eighth graders for a field trip to the D.C. Superior Court.
