A team of intrepid Washington Latin students rescued a downed racing pigeon with the help of several teachers and students. With the help of Ms. Seid the team of young missing bird sleuths identified and contacted her owner who picked up the injured bird, which had been missing for about 10 days. The pigeon had joined a race from South Carolina to DC, a distance they can fly in about 7 hours. The pigeon was shot but will recover from her wounds. The students were excited to see the pigeon returned to her rightful owner and to know she was in safe hands again.
Several middle school and upper school science teachers attended the National Science Teachers Association regional meeting in National Harbor. They visited workshops on climate change, Ecology, robotics, STEM, race in the science classroom, graphing, and more. Physics and robotics teachers Mr. Torrence and Ms. Shapiro attended, along with A.P. Biology teacher Ms. Amaechi. Fifth, sixth, and seventh grade science teachers Ms. Steplight, Ms. Dorsey, and Ms. Olney also participated.
Seventh graders Nico David-Fox and Tomas Portilla- Marchiori were named as the “Outstanding Delegates” for their committee, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, at the George Washington University Middle School Model UN Conference on November 17. They debated on the the topic of , ” Gender and Prison Reform.” Meanwhile, seventh grader Ganesh Bhojwani was recognized at the Closing Ceremony for his performance as a delegate to the European Union 2015. His committee debated the topic: “The Re-Entry of the United Kingdom to the European Union.” Ganesh was given a verbal commendation by the chairperson of his committee during the awards ceremony. Five hundred students from Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia participated including nine students from Washington Latin. Seventh graders Shreya Kelly and Mackie Boone served on the U.N. Women’s Committee and debated the topic: “Improving Women’s Access To Education,” and Ella Hankins and Josie McCartney served on the Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Committee debating the topic: “Environmental Migrants.” Lucas Rohde and Ben Yarkin served on the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) and debated the topic: “Summit of the Crisis in the South China Sea.” The team is advised by seventh grade history teacher Mr. Wills.
The Great Debaters participated in the Julia Burke Invitational tournament at Greenbelt MS two Saturdays ago. Novice debaters included Kayla Park and Sheridan Easterling, Ahmad West-Bey and Jonah Cohen, Amal Buba and Brooke Roberson, Lena Webb and Dami Akinsanya, Alice Pittard and Pearl Steckler. Varsity debaters included D’Andre Person and Jackson Lewis and junior varsity debaters included Brandon Souverain and Maxwell Burton.
After the tournament, our team had the opportunity to hear former First Lady, Michelle Obama, speak at the Capital One Arena. Former president Barack Obama arrived and spoke.
This past weekend sophomore Zoe Edelman, and juniors Oliver Spiva and Luke Tewalt competed at the National Cross Country Regionals in Cary, NC. For these events the 12 southeast states’ top runners competed. Tewalt finished 23rd out of over 250 male runners, running his second fastest time this season, making him the fastest cross country male runner in the city. Edelman finished 32nd out of over 250 female runners. She ran her fastest time of the year, making her the fastest female runner in city. Spiva ran a terrific race, running his second fastest time of the season. The team was accompanied by track coach and upper school dean Mr. Callum.
At last week’s performance of the Hook, students performed music, poetry, and open mic. The event, organized by upper school students was run with the help of Ms. Seid, Mr. Hotchkiss, and Ms. Raskin. Twice a year, students organize an afternoon performance to showcase the creative talents and voices of upper school students. Meanwhile twice a year the middle school organizes a similar coffee house, featuring young poets, singers, actors and dancers in the MPR with the help of Ms. Bloomfield and Ms. Lee-Bey.
