Oct 10, 2019
The college counselors hosted a weekend workshop Sunday on writing the college essay with help from English teachers Ms. Seid and Mr. Day. Students worked to plan, draft, and revise their college essays, noting various challenges that students face in telling a personal story in a candid, specific, and evocative manner. Students can continue to meet with their counselors and Ms. Breitman in follow-up meetings during Tuesday lunch periods, as they approach the impending early application and rolling deadlines.
Oct 10, 2019
Students in Mr. Banks’ Upper School Digital Humanities classes made presentations last Friday on Immanuel Kant. Students made digital displays considering the ideas of the Age of Enlightenment philosopher, discussing how his transcendental idealism would relate to modern digital issues. Students used various quotes, memes, and digital images to convey his ideas about rationality and consent.
Oct 5, 2019
Eighth graders are hard at work on original mystery stories due this week. Each story includes a mysterious setting, well-developed characters, a red herring, dialogue, foreshadowing and suspense. The students are midway through a mystery unit, featuring books by Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and Varian Johnson, among other writers.
Oct 5, 2019
Eighth grade science teacher Ms. Barlev started a Magic the Gathering club this year during her Wednesday in her advisory. The club, open to eighth graders, allows students a chance to bring their own cards to her class and play during lunch. The game is a complicated card game in which each card has multiple features and meanings involving fantasy characters.
Oct 5, 2019
Middle Schoolers hosted their first assembly last week, combining grades 5 through 8. The event focused on the theme of adventure and seizing the day, and featured student speakers like Angie Sturr, who read a Doctor Seuss poem, and Giaan Kalsi, who read an introduction encouraging the younger middle schoolers to capitalize on all the exciting adventures and opportunities coming their way. Ms. Sisk spoke about overcoming stage fright and tackling challenges like public speaking. Teachers honored students with merit awards for showing positive examples for their peers and being kind, respectful, generous, and engaged in the community. Students as well wrote merit awards for teachers, honoring their instructors for their enthusiasm and effort. Next week the upper schoolers will have an assembly on the theme of “Home.”
Oct 5, 2019
Ninth graders took a trip to Terrapin Adventures this week in Maryland. The annual event includes outdoor activities like low and high ropes courses. Aerial adventure guides instructed students about outdoor survival, climbing, team-building and understanding and protecting the ecosystem in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Next week the fifth graders head to Calleva for another outdoor climbing experiences. Many students cite these outdoor events as a chance to develop a shared identity and trust between their classmates and build a feeling of belonging.
