Tuesday middle school students attended the DC Global Classrooms Model United Nations Conference held at the U.S. State Department. Eighth graders Steve Mirabello, Robbie Mirabello, Philip Horrigan, Aaron Scott, Zoe Edelman, Niko Davis, Oriana Escobar, Mihir Patel and Samir Bhojwani, seventh graders Henry Cohen, Vladimir Zadorojny, Ava Pugh, and sixth grader Jamie Hayes joined 700 students from private and public schools in Washington, Maryland, and Virginia. Zadorojny and Escobar received cerificates of Honorable Mention for their performances on the UN Environment Programme Committee. They represented the Russian Federation and debated the topic Climate Change and Rising Sea Levels. Horrigan and Bhojwani received the award for Best Position Paper while serving on the UN Security Council. They represented the country of Somalia. They debated the topic of civil unrest in Somalia.  Mirabello and Patel received the award for Best Delegates on the UN Security Council. They represented the Russian Delegation, and debated the topic of Civil Unrest in Somalia. Mirabello was seleced among this group to serve as the Secretary-General for the entire conference, and was given the honor of presidng over the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the conference. He spoke with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who attended the conference and gave a speech.  The middle school Model UN Club is advised by seventh grade history teacher Mr. Wills and gives students the chance to learn more about foreign policies and how global issues impact people’s lives.

Several seniors have decided to take a gap year this year, postponing their freshman year at college while they travel or study abroad. Elena Mujal has postponed her freshman year at Pomona to take part in the Congress-Bundestag Vocational Youth Exchange. She is one of only 25 high school graduates in the United States of America who will be sent to Germany for a year to study, live with a host family in various cities, and take part in an internship for a German company.  Meanwhile, Ben Roodman has postponed his freshman year at Haverford to work on organic farms internationally through WWOOF.  Lou McDonough will be spending a gap year in Portugal before starting at Middlebury the following year and that ZhenHua Pavetti will be going to Spain before attending James Madison University. Theo Shoag plans to postpone his freshman year at Bates to travel on the Appalachian Trail.

At last week’s Penn Relays track competition juniors Ayinde Motirayo, Max Muradian and seniors Judah Lloyd and Sam Mader broke the school record for the 4X400 meter relay. The boys finished in 3:31.32, 4 seconds faster than the previous school record. The track team is coached by Mr. Callum and Ms. Brady. Motirayo and Muradian also competed last year.