Teachers visited Mr. Hagerty’s junior class to describe their own experiences and memories from September 11, 2001. Speakers included Ms. Abercrombie, Mr. Martin, Ms. Breitman, and Ms. Grant. The visitors spoke about their memories of the day and its aftermath and their thoughts about how the terrorist attack has affected our society since then. For many students who were born since the event, the personal experiences help illustrate the intense emotions associated with this historic event and help them understand the context and aftermath of the incident. Later in the year Mr. Hagerty’s class will travel to Shanksville, Pennsylvania to see the site of the downed fourth plane.
Ms. Grant’s DC History classes went on a walking tour Wednesday and Thursday of U Street. Local historical sites include the Victorian-era neighborhood, developed largely between 1862 and 1900. The historic district was the center of Washington’s African American community between 1900 and 1948, including African American fraternities/societies, theaters, and jazz clubs. Students were surprised to meet Ben’s Chili Bowl owner Virginia Ali and former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson in their travels this week.
Science teachers attended a visual arts exhibit last Thursday at Artechouse. The “Fractal Worlds” exhibit Julius Horsthuis, which tries to “bridge the gap between the real and virtual world,” creating sci-fi worlds and infinite 3D geometric patterns. The art included projection and virtual reality elements using fractals. The exhibit uses math and infinite geometric patterns to create images and films. The science teachers will be using math and technology in their curriculum including digital simulations.
Ms. Latham and Ms. Richardson will host their Application Boot Camp on the 15 and 16 of September. The college counselors also ran a boot camp over the summer, featuring all aspects of the application process, from selecting schools, creating a digital resume, to writing college essays. Senior English teacher Ms. Seid also worked with students at the Application Boot Camp. During the week Ms. Breitman and community volunteer Gail Laster will be meeting with seniors every Tuesday in small groups to help edit and revise college essays. The college counseling process includes course selection, understanding GPA, applying to jobs and internships, creating the junior portfolio, developing a resume, selecting schools, and applying for scholarships.
In the fall the school will host a series of afterschool dialogues between upper school students, parents, and faculty to share perspectives and learn from one another. Sessions will include readings, role playing various scenarios, and reflecting on personal experiences. The goal of these discussions are to foster the ability for students and adults alike to see others’ points of view and develop empathy while learning how to clearly articulate and share ideas.
Teachers at Washington Latin are taking part in an education-themed monthly book club for volunteers who wish to read about and discuss challenging topics in education. The books include topics about helping children deal with trauma, understanding racism and peer pressure between students, and a number of books that deal with psychology and a better understanding of the brain. The September text we will be exploring first is The Trauma Informed School by JIm Sporleder and Heather T. Forbes.
