Upper school students in Mr. Janick and Mr. Liu’s U.S. Government classes participated in the DC Circuit Court Historical Society’s Mock Court Competition on Friday, March 12. Students argued First and Fourth Amendment cases before District Judge Randolph Moss. They responded to challenging questions about search and seizure law of students’ homes by schools with a mock case. Sterling Marchand, a partner at the Baker Botts law firm, also gave students direct individualized feedback on their performance in “court,” evaluating their argument, their use of supporting evidence, and their ability to answer questions. Washington Latin sophomores Michaela Irving and Cooper Davenport were awarded “Outstanding Advocate” titles. 

The program was done virtually this year and allowed students to develop public speaking and rhetorical skills while learning about the workings of one of the key branches of government.  Many of these students visited courtrooms as eighth graders for a field trip to the D.C. Superior Court.

On Saturday March 6, 14 upper school students in the Chinese language classes were up bright and early to volunteer with the Capital Area Food Bank to pack and distribute food to a mostly Chinese-speaking population in downtown DC. Participating in the event were Tyler Davis, Micah Gans, Ellie Anderson, Janiyah Basil, Simone Campbell-Hayes, Nina-Skye Johnson, Charlotte Lin, Isabelle Charles, Kayla Park, Cian Fitzgerald, Elias Baldwin, Kayden Kidd, Will Paxson, and Aidan Fitzgerald. The students showed great teamwork in checking in residents and diligently packing bags and boxes of food and loading them into residents’ carts and bags, all while eagerly practicing their Chinese. These students truly embodied the spirit of service at Latin. The students were joined by their Chinese teachers, Mr. Liu and Ms. Han, and parent, Ms. Paxson.

Junior Dylan Paglee wrote a story in Arabic III to retell Aristophanes’ account of the two lovers that Zeus split in half, forever to look for their long lost love. Here’s a rough translation of the story completed by his Arabic teacher, Mr. Hamd: “There was a myth in Greece. In the story two people were in one body. Zeus chose to cut the people in two. For that reason they look for each other, this is their life.” At Latin, the richness of the modern language and classical language curriculum allows students to make complex connections between worlds and cultures.