In an effort to keep our faculty healthy and energized through the winter months, Mr. Kelly spear-headed a fitness challenge between November and early December. Out of the faculty 29 teachers logged their daily hours of physical activity, totally 389 workouts totaling more than 365 hours. The three teachers who logged the most hours during this time were Mr. Berment with 3,450 minutes, Ms. Raskin with 2,055, and Ms. Breitman at 1,260 minutes. The teachers who logged the greatest number of workouts included Mr. Berment with 39 workouts, Ms. Raskin with 34 workouts, and Ms. Senty with 26 workouts. New Years Day started the second Washington Latin Fitness Challenge and teachers are scrambling to find ways to work out despite the bitter cold outside. We will keep you posted on the results!

The Middle School Community Council wanted to spread some holiday cheer so the students visited all advisories with a small candy cane and a little inspirational humorous message for each student. Students also participated in classroom festivities like holiday themed movies, songs, and food.

Before break the sophomores in Mr. Bhuva’s honors history class dressed as Enlightenment Thinkers for a dinner party. Students involved included Thea Davtyan, Owen Fox-Whelpton, Ellery Grimm, Damian Hanshew, Jane Leftwich, Duncan Matthews-Cox, Jonah Marks, Kimberly Montpelier, Xander Shoag, Oliver Spiva, Luke Tewalt, Sahara Trask, Alicia Trejo, MK Wilson, and Zoe Wolfel. Students portrayed different historical figures including French playwright Olympe de Gouges, English philosopher John Locke, English philosopher and scientist Francis Bacon, Dutch businessman Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, and French philosopher Dennis Diderot in their attire and conversations and debated historical issues and philosophy.

Eighth graders in English class performed raps about immigration this week. For the second quarter, students have been reading various books about immigration. After constructing formal persuasive letters to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley about America’s policies on refugees, students loosened up with playful songs using vocabulary and quotes from their books. The student group that won the highest reviews from their peers will have a rap-off freestyle battle with their teachers. For the culminating quarter project, students will also complete a DBQ, using charts, photos, and political cartoons about refugees.