Juniors and seniors took part in the end of the year trip to Camp Letts. The campground is a YMCA camp that spreads over 2,600-acres on the Rhode River, south of Annapolis, Maryland. Students did not let rain dampen their spirits and took part in collaborative games and competitions, including Cranium, tag, canoeing, and other fun ways for their advisories to bond. The annual event allows graduating seniors to impart their wisdom to rising seniors, providing insight on colleges, teachers, and social life at Latin. It is also a chance for teachers to say goodbye to students they have worked with over the course of four years.
Several students and teachers are taking part in an optional afterschool field trip Friday at 2 pm to Ben’s Chili Bowl. The trip, organized by DC History teacher Mr. Dumas, will include an interview with Vida Ali, the current owner and daughter of founders Ben & Virginia Ali, to discuss and learn more about the history of U Street. The restaurant is located at 1213 U Street NW, next to Lincoln Theatre and has been a meeting place for civil rights leaders throughout the neighborhood’s history since its founding in 1958. The restaurant has survived the tumult of the late 60’s race riots and the revitalization and gentrification of the U Street Corridor in the 90’s. Mr. Findler, who previously taught the American history and D.C. history courses, had also taken students to visit the historic site.
Friday fifth grade theater students will perform scenes from Matilda, Newsies, Bye Bye Birdie, and Hairspray. The fifth graders, under Mr. Balwdin’s direction have been practicing singing, dancing, dialogue and monologues throughout the semester. Mr. Baldwin also directs sixth graders in theater class, and the schoolwide musical, including this year’s production of In the Heights.
Middle school students in the Girls on the Run program will compete in the Community 5K at Freedom Plaza on Sunday at 9:00 AM. Running buddies alongside them will be a number of parent volunteers and Ms. Lee-Bey, Ms. Izurieta, Ms. Eleby-El, and Ms. Collins.
In Ms. Dobler’s 6th grade science class, students spend the beginning of the year studying the Chesapeake Bay watershed as an example of an ecosystem. All students work together, as a class, to craft proposals to answer the question “What can we do to improve our watershed in Washington, D.C.” This year, five of our six groups made it to the final round of the competition, representing the work of 4 class periods and one enrichment group. This is the most groups we have ever taken to the competition! Last week representatives from each group traveled to Anacostia Park to present their work as part of the Anacostia Youth Environmental Summit. This day included the final round of the competition and a variety of activities related to the environmental and health sciences. In total, the students won $3000 in prize money for their proposals.
