Washington Latin debaters performed well at the Ornstein Summer Debate Institute, competing against hundreds of children from the D.C. area. Ninth graders Jackson Lewis and D’Andre Person scored 11th overall in the varsity division. In the junior varsity division, seventh grader Brooke Robinson scored 4th overall, Ife Akinsanya scored 5th overall, and eighth grader Dami Akinsanya scored 11th overall. In the novice division seventh grader Nyko Orekoya scored 1st overall, ninth grader Omare Omatete, scored 3rd overall, and ninth grader Audrey Kim finished 7th overall. Mayowa Akinsanya finished 10th overall. Roberson was quoted in a NY Times article about the Ornstein Summer Debate Institute.
Physics teachers Ms. Shapiro and Ms. Torrence, joined sixth grade science Ms. Dobler and Librarian Ms. Hamm at the Sandy Spring Adventure Park this summer for Teacher Appreciation Day. The teachers took a course to help prepare them for ropes climbing. Students in science classes engage in various outdoor navigation, hiking, and team building activities in several grades.
Greek teacher Mr. Moore isn’t just a fan of Ancient Greece. He set some #globetrotting goals this summer with a trip to Peru, England, Ireland, Denmark, and Sweet. Other international travelers this summer included history teacher Mr. Bhuva, who visited India, and English teacher Mr. Baum who drove 3000 miles through Australia in a camper van.
Graduation will take place next Monday, June 10th at UDC. The event will feature several important speakers including the speakers selected by the senior class. Seniors voted for Maya Woods-Arthur to be the student speaker and English teacher Ms. Seid to speak for the faculty. Mr. Anderson will also address the students, as will a member of the school board. This is a moving and festive annual event, complete with a performance by the Honors Choir.
Fifth and Sixth grade students celebrated the end of their labors with Field Day competitions. Students competed in a buzz tournament and various sporting events. Sixth grader Nicholas Kempf won the Beep Tournament. The last day of classes for students was Thursday, and everyone enjoyed a restful day off on Wednesday.
Children’s book author Emma Otheguy read from her third book Silver Meadows Summer to the fifth graders last week, and she gave students advice about her writing process. She previously read last year to the fifth graders from her first book Marti’s Song For Freedom. Emma lives in New York City and has a PhD in history and has written several books that deal with Latin American history. This is her first novel. She is Ms. Breitman’s former seventh grade student. Her books are available on Amazon or at East City Books in Capitol Hill.
