Middle school students met on Wednesday for an assembly celebrating Black History Month. Eighth grader Cydney Roberts served as the MC. For the upper school assembly, eleventh grader Casey Rice, and senior Amaya Tatum served at the MCs. Other speakers included sixth graders Selah Brown and Kayode Elion and fifth graders Quinn Frankiewicz, and junior Jonah Spiva. For the upper school, junior Vladimir Zadorojny shared a reflection about musicians who inspired him. Senior Graham Evans considered how Washington Latin had taught a more complex approach to African American history beyond the limits of the month of February, and senior Chimauchem Ukaegbu reflected on the meaning of his name and Nigerian history. Senior Hawa Sturr shared an original poem and speech about Billie Holiday. Students reflected on the lives of African American historical figures through arts, science, and education. Students also submitted artwork and poetry to showcase their reflections on black history and culture. Fifth grade science teacher Ms. Dorsey spoke about the history of her college, Howard University, as a beacon of excellence and its role within historically black colleges and universities educating the next generation of leaders. Ms. Allison was the faculty speaker for the upper school assembly, and Mr. Anderson shared a closing address. Students honored teachers and peers with merits, and teachers spoke about students who had exhibited creativity, kindness and growth in class with merits. Assemblies allow students a chance to convene as a large group, hear each other’s voices, show support for peers, and practice public speaking skills.
Fifth graders hosted a talent showcase afterschool on Thursday, full of song, instruments, and supportive cheers for each other. The event was MCed by fifth grader Samantha Brooks and fifth grade mom Margot Hoernner. Student performers included guitarists Francisco Blanco and Noah Ratzman, pianist Will Hocine, and vocalists Quinn Frankiewicz and Nora Paxson. Ms. Smith and upper school jugglers made a surprise visit too to share their juggling prowess. Students had also gathered to share talents over the summer before school started, and plan on future talent showcases to see each other and share passions outside the classroom.
Professor Dr. Anika Prather spoke to the faculty on Tuesday afternoon about diversity in the classics and the impact of classical texts on African American history. PRather is a professor of Classics at Howard University and the founder of The Living Water School in southern Maryland, a private classics school. She has graduate degrees in Education and Liberal Arts and a doctorate in English, Theatre and Literacy Education. She reflected on the role that Classics had on the philosophy of African American historical figures and philosophers like W.E.B. DuBois, Martin Luther King Jr., and Frederick Douglass.
The fifth and sixth grade completed a digital science fair this year, with students presenting their research using Google Slides and videos describing their work to judges. The fifth grade scientists, advised by science teacher Ms. Dorsey, completed experiments ranging from freezing balloons to submerging baby teeth in different liquids. In first place in the fifth grade was Max Smudde, who measured the impact of magnet placement on Gauss Rifles. Second place was Francisco Blanco, third place was Sebastian Risso, fourth place was June Walsh and Daphna Soskis. In sixth grade, first place was Annie Alcorn, who did a project on prosthetic hands, conducting an engineering challenge with the goal to design a prosthetic hand with both power and precision grip. Second place was Avis Weeden and Nora O’Donovan, and third place was Miles Johnson.
Upper schoolers also enjoyed a wellness day full of reflection and creativity. Ms. Trevino, Ms. Rose, and Mr. Callum kept students physically active with workouts while several teachers encouraged the students to get their cardio outside, socially distanced. Mr. Hultgren, Mr. Liu, and Mr. Edwards-Stuart took students on a bike ride, Mr. Keller invited students to play bocci ball on campus, Mr. Zinck and Ms. Kovach lead students on a hike in Rock Creek Park, and Mr. Clausen took students on a tour of the arboretum, and Mr. Martin, Mr. Torrence, and Mr. Yonker taught students to play disc golf, while Ms. Foster led a kickball game at the school. For the literary and artistic, there were also options like letter writing, led by Ms. Brady, journaling, lead by Mr. Chernitsky-Hamd, and Vision Boards with Ms. Richardson. For the environmentalists and green thumbs in the building, Mr. Stiff lead a wildlife scavenger hunt, Mr. Day shared backyard birding tricks, Ms. Feist shared tips about plant propagation.
