A dozen juniors will attend the  Junior Science and Humanities Symposium at Georgetown University this week. They will have the chance to see key note speakers like Dr. Lucile Adams-Campbell, the associate director for Minority Health and Health Disparities Research at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown.  Other speakers will include Alexander van der Horst, assistant professor of astrophysics at GW, who will talk about modeling of cosmic sources called transients. Dr. Kostadin Kushlev, assistant professor of psychology at Georgetown will talk about his research on online behavior and well-being.  Biology teacher Ms. Jost will escort the students for the two-day symposium.

Mr. Anderson hosted Kathryn Zickuhr, deputy director of policy at the D.C. Policy Center in his health class last week. Zickhur was also a research analyst at the Pew Research Center’s Internet & Technology Project. She has studied such topics as the role of public libraries in American communities and the digital divide. She spoke about health and communication policies and how technology can play into public awareness and public health.

Wednesday was the annual Poetry Out Loud competition for the upper school. In classes, students memorize and perform several poems, and then compete with the top public speakers from various classes. Judges evaluate their diction, tone, rhythm, passion, and memory in their performances. First place this year went to freshman Vivian Claire, and second place went to junior Dakota Turnage. Third place went to last year’s winner and citywide champion Felicity Ryan. Vivian performed “Enemies” by Wendell Berry in the first round and “Famous” by Naomi Shihab-Nye. Dakota performed “The Song of the Smoke” by W.E.B. DuBois int he first round and “truth” by Gwendolyn Brooks in the second round. Felicity performed “Time does not bring relief; you all have lied,” by Edna St. Vincent Millay and “The Calm” by Sean O’Brien. The winner will continue on to the citywide competition in March.

For the African American History assembly this year, teachers, students, and musicians worked together to create a memorable morning full of meaningful reflection and inspiring song. Student speakers including seniors Chandler Brossard, Tyrica Miller, and Isaiah Mays reflected on their families’ experiences and their cultural heritage. Upper school student support teacher Mr. Banks spoke about his experiences as a philosophy student at Cornell. Student performers lit up the stage with song and dance. Freshman Kofi McFadgion performed a hip hop dance, the jazz group performed “It Don’t Mean a Thing” by Duke Ellington, the Black Facts Club, a student group advised by Ms. Coleman performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and finally the student Go Go Group performed Adele’s “Hello,” featuring sophomore Ryann Mellion on vocals, junior Duncan Matthews-Cox on piano, and seniors Jaden Gourdine and Rodney Goldring and freshman Jonah Spiva on percussion. The speakers’ words and performers’ passions and the students’ positive energy and respect for each others’ talents lifted every voice and heart in the room.