Students will perform the Neil Simon play “Rumors” on November 21, 22, and 23.  The fall drama is directed by our theatre department teachers. The story takes place at the 10th anniversary party of the Deputy Mayor of New York, Charlie Brock, and his wife Myra.  The madcap story involves various dangerous and unexpected acts that take place at or nearby the party.

Physics and AP Environmental Science teacher Mr. Torrence and librarian Ms. Hamm took 24 students to the Association of Old Crows STEM Symposium last week.They had the opportunity to fly real drones and virtual planes, control robots, design ships, wear bomb squad gear, and handle radar detecting equipment used in warfare. Students also learned about scholarships and internships. Most of the students were from AP Computer Science and Science Research Methods classes.

Students in fifth grade geography have started discussing world problems, including climate change, discrimination, and political strife. Ms. Mujal has worked with students in small groups and whole class circles to discuss how individual behaviors, like littering and bullying can have larger consequences. Students in the class will continue to think globally, as they read books about historical and current events that have impacted people around the world, while considering which local actions can help.

This week seniors visited the Harriet Tubman National Museum on the Eastern Shore. This field trip proves critical in better understanding the enslaved people of the area. This is timed with the biopic on Harriet Tubman which just hit the theaters, with a film debut of one of our alums, Jelani Brooks. The museum is part of Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park in Church Creek Maryland. They saw the beautiful bronze sculpture of Tubman and learned about her service in the Union Army. Students are reading Colson Whitehead’s Underground Railroad and watching the WGN show “Underground.”

On Monday the school welcomed 400 guests in the audience to listen to author and professor Dr. Ibram Kendi. Dr. Kendi spoke about his book How to Be an Anti-Racist, one of our selections this year for our teacher reading groups. Kendi has written at length on the history of race and discrimination in America. He is the author of three books, including The Black Campus Movement, and Stamped from the Beginning.  Dr. Kendi teaches history and international relations at American University and is the founding director of the Anti-Racist Research and Policy Center at the college.