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February 1, 2024

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Featured News

Community Gathers to Combat Hunger
Community Gathers to Combat Hunger

Snow delays couldn’t freeze Potomac’s generosity of spirit as our community joined together to pack 25,056 meals last weekend for families impacted by the crisis in Ukraine. Dozens of Potomac families joined the effort organized by The Fathers Association of The Potomac School. Students from the Upper School’s Global Perspectives and Citizenship (GPAC) program were also important partners in this meaningful service event, providing important educational context and serving as table captains. We worked with community partner The Outreach Program, who organized the pick-up and distribution of the meals. 

Top 5 Reasons to Attend the PA Winter Spotlight

We hope to see you at the Parent Association Winter Spotlight next Wednesday, February 7, from 8:30 to 9:30 am, in the IS Choral Room for the annual joint meeting of the Parent Association and Board of Trustees. We are offering a live feed if you can not join us in person. Virtual participants must register first. A recording will be available for 24 hours. Here are the top five reasons to attend! 

1. Receipts, proof, timelines, screenshots (for the Bravo Fans)!
2. Who is Sarah Beck, you ask? Why all the buzz? Come and find out! 
3. Roll back the mystery behind the Board of Trustees - hear about their work, business operations, financial plans, and everything in between!
4. Appreciate how excellent teaching and professional development are thriving at Potomac.
5. Experience the IS Choral room knowing no one will be using a pitch pipe.   

Share Your Feedback! Survey on the Six-Day Rotation Schedule

With the launch of our new academic schedule this school year, we'd like to hear your feedback! Please take five minutes and complete this short survey on the schedule, including the six-day rotation, tumbling blocks, and intentional community time. In addition to surveys to our faculty and students, this data will guide improvements for the 2024-25 school year.

Things to Know

Update to SchoolPass

Effective Monday, February 5, any requests for afternoon transportation changes should be entered into SchoolPass before 1:30 pm. As a reminder, student absences, late arrivals, early dismissals, and changes to transportation plans should be reported through the SchoolPass app. Adherence to these deadlines ensures that the bus drivers will have accurate rosters.

Around the World Kickoff Meeting and Social

On Thursday, February 8, at 7:00 pm, we are hosting the Around the World Kick-off Social, celebrating an exciting season of fun, diversity, and unity within the Potomac Community. Light hors d’oeuvres will be provided and beverages available for purchase. Please note the new venue is at Randy’s (8051 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182).

Are you interested in hosting a booth, showcasing your talents, volunteering, or learning about one of Potomac’s signature events? Join us for the Around the World 2024 Kick-off Meeting! Meet the co-chairs and fellow Potomac friends to discover more about Around the World and how you can participate, volunteer, and engage with this exciting event. The kick-off meeting will be held in the Intermediate School Choral Room on February 21 at 8:30 am. We anticipate your presence and enthusiasm.

FAPS Ice Skating Event!

The Father’s Association of the Potomac School (FAPS) invites all Potomac students and family members to the annual fun-filled afternoon of ice skating, followed by pizza and refreshments. FAPS reserved the Capitals Ice Rink on Sunday, February 25, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm and the upper floor for lunch from 12:50 to 2:00 pm.

Don’t have skates? FAPS is covering skate rentals for all who need them. If you have your own skates, feel free to bring them. Don’t know how to skate? Fear not, as two skating instructors will be on the ice assisting those kids (or adults) still finding their skating legs. While helmets are not provided, most kids wear one, so be safe and bring that bike helmet. Register here.

Pawz Corner

RSVP for the Scholarship Auction!

Our 47th Annual Scholarship Auction will be Saturday, March 2. We invite you to partner with us in support of Potomac's mission of educational excellence and RSVP!

Week Ahead

February

Potomac Social

    PHOTO OF THE WEEK

    Over the weekend, Potomac's dance team performed during halftime for both the girls and boys varsity basketball games!

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    Lower School News

    Lower School

    Student Report Cards and Parent-Teacher Conferences

    Lower School first semester report cards will be available via the CampusNET Parent Portal on Wednesday, February 7, at 3:00 pm. 

    Due to parent-teacher conferences, there are no classes for students on Friday, February 9. If you have not already done so, please sign up for your conference time on the Parent Portal. Most conference slots are on February 9, with a few additional slots depending on teacher schedules. Online registration will close at noon on Wednesday, February 7. Our LS conferences are optional. Drop-in childcare will be available on Friday during the time of your conference. Please sign your child in and out. 

    February Assemblies

    Due to a flurry of Friday activities in February, tomorrow’s Sharing Assembly is our only one this month. Tomorrow, February 2, at 11:05 am, in Ramsey Auditorium, we are featuring Mrs. Harper's and Ms. Malik's kindergarten class, Mr. Gustavson's and Ms. McIntire's first-grade classes, and Ms. Passano's third grade class. For those unable to attend, a recording will be available after the assembly. 

    Heart Heroes in LS
    Heart Heroes in LS

    Special thanks to the PE team for organizing a fun time for a worthy cause at our Kids Heart Challenge Assembly. The Spangler Center was filled with energy as students and faculty jumped, danced, and hopped their way to healthy hearts. Potomac has engaged in this tradition for more than forty years, supporting the American Heart Association each January. Well done, all! Check out a photo gallery!  

    Grade 2 Map Skills
    Grade 2 Map Skills

    In science, second grade students participated in a landmark scavenger hunt around campus as a culminating activity for their map skills unit. They learned about map keys, cardinal points, landmarks, how to use a compass, and, most shockingly, that maps used to be on paper! With their newly acquired map skills and no Waze, GPS, or Siri, they navigated their way around campus! 

    Second Graders Visit Assisted Living Homes
    Second Graders Visit Assisted Living Homes

    Second graders took turns visiting assisted living homes as part of their Service Learning curriculum. Last week, students first met with the executive director of Chesterbrook Residences, Ms. Bremda Riggs, to learn more about the needs of older adults in our community. On Monday, Mrs. Jackson's class visited Chesterbrook to take a tour, join an exercise class, and visit with some residents. Later that day, Ms. Morrissey's class visited Sunrise Senior Living in McLean Village, where they toured the facility, interviewed residents, and played some Valentine-themed games. Mrs. Hoffmann's class will visit Culpepper Gardens tomorrow. 

    Mini Panthers Take the Victory
    Mini Panthers Take the Victory

    In what turned out to be a shooting gallery, the Mini Panthers earned a 4-0 home victory last week over the much older SAC members. It was a tightly contested halftime game, with the Mini Panthers controlling the offensive glass and attempting what looked like close to 30 shots! The SAC members played phenomenal defense to only allow two baskets and were left scoreless after five grueling minutes. The victorious team of third graders Leyla Aggarwal, Brady Retureta, Cilla Stanzel, Liva Bunting, William DenHerder, James Prince, and Monroe Stein-Sapir would like to thank the brave SAC members for playing. They’ve been challenged to a rematch on Tuesday, February 6, at 5:30 pm during halftime of the girls varsity game against Georgetown Visitation. 

    Next Week’s Lower School Family Science Event

    Please RSVP for the science and tech LS Family Event no later than this coming Monday, February 5, by 4:00 pm. The event is on Thursday, February 8, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, in Ramsey Auditorium.

    Grade 3 Science Fair Coming Soon!

    Since the beginning of January, third graders have been working hard on a science fair project of their choosing! As a way to practice the scientific method, they have been questioning, hypothesizing, researching, experimenting, and documenting their progress. We look forward to our Science Fair on Friday, February 23, in Ramsey Auditorium. Please note that there will be no Sharing Assembly that day.

    Lower School Dates

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    Middle School News

    Middle School

    Conferences and Report Cards

    Middle School first semester report cards will be available via the CampusNET Parent Portal on Wednesday, February 7, by 3:00 pm. 

    Due to parent-teacher conferences, there are no classes for students on Friday, February 9. If you have not already done so, please sign up for your conference time on the Parent Portal. Most conference slots are on February 9, with a few additional slots depending on teacher schedules. Online registration will close at noon on Wednesday, February 7. Drop-in childcare will be available on Friday during the time of your conference. Please sign your child in and out. 

    Upcoming Plays 

    We are hopeful that Mr. McNeil's class play, Recess Ruckus, will actually take place this Friday, February 2, beginning at 9:05 am, in the Langstaff Auditorium. Neither snow nor illness will keep ADM5 kids from performing this week (fingers crossed!). A livestream is also available. 

    Mr. Mogle's fourth grade class will present Bedbugs on Thursday, February 8, at 9:05 am in the Langstaff.  We expect a whole lot of figurative head-scratching to take place during the performance.

    Heart Healthy Assembly
    Heart Healthy Assembly

    Special thanks to the PE team for organizing a fun time for a worthy cause at our Kids Heart Challenge Assembly. And a special shout-out to sixth graders Tejas Amin and Caroline Su for their great work as emcees. The Spangler Center was filled with energy as students and faculty jumped, danced, and hopped their way to healthy hearts. Potomac has engaged in this tradition for more than forty years, supporting the American Heart Association each January. Well done, all! Check out a photo gallery!

    Experiencing a Lunar New Year Fair 
    Experiencing a Lunar New Year Fair 

    To ring in the upcoming Lunar New Year and enhance their studies of ancient China, fifth graders experienced what a Lunar New Year Fair (Miao Hui) would look like. They rotated through paper cutting, landscape painting, calligraphy, and mochi-making stations with the help of Chinese language Upper School student leaders. These cross-divisional collaborations bring our community together, reflecting the spirit of Lunar New Year. See more photos from the day. 

    Standardized Testing Coming Soon

    Middle School will administer five Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) subtests on February 13-15 and 20-21, with makeups to follow on February 22 (grades 5 and 6) and February 23 (grades 4-6). Parents are asked to avoid making appointments during these weeks if possible. A detailed testing schedule will be shared next week. 

    Upcoming Grade 5 Field Trips 
    • February 6: Mr. McNeil's and Ms. Chung's fifth grade classes head to Higher Horizons from 8:30 to 11:00 am
    • February 7: Mr. Spinosi's and Ms. McClain's fifth grade classes head to Higher Horizons from 8:30 to 11:00 am 
    • February 20: Grade 5 heads to the National History of Asian Art from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm 
    Vision Screening Approaches

    All fifth grade students and new-to-Potomac fourth and sixth graders will have their vision tested at school on Friday, February 23. Students who wear glasses or contacts are encouraged to bring their corrective lenses with them to school on this day. Please note this is a date change from the date previously listed in the most recent MidStream publication. 

    Middle School Dates

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    Intermediate School News

    Intermediate School

    Parent-Advisor Conferences Next Week!

    As a reminder, IS conferences will take place on Friday, February 9. There are no classes for students that day. Sign-ups for parent-advisor conferences will close at noon on Tuesday, February 6. For more information about conferences and first-semester report cards, please see this letter shared in InSights. 

    The Lion King Jr. – Come Hear Them Roar!
    The Lion King Jr. – Come Hear Them Roar!

    Students in the IS musical have dedicated their winter athletics season to prepare for a fantastic performance of The Lion King Jr! We hope to see you all there. Please note this is a free admission event. Students are not permitted to stay after school to await Friday’s performance. Showtimes are: 

    • Friday, February 2, at 7:00 pm
    • Saturday, February 3, at 7:00 pm  
    Disco Dance!

    On Friday night, the IS Commons transformed into a disco-themed dance floor for the annual Intermediate School dance. The students enjoyed dancing and singing to their favorite songs, using a photo booth, and eating delicious snacks. Since September, the Student Council Events Committee has planned the dance. It was a huge delight for everyone to see their vision become a reality. 

    Standardized Testing in February

    For advanced planning purposes, Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) testing will take place during the morning on February 13, 14, and 15. If you know your child will miss school during the testing days, please contact Alex Helwink.

    Intermediate School Dates

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    Upper School News

    Upper School

    Parent Conferences and Grades

    Parents can now access grades and any accompanying comments through the Parent Portal, where they can also sign up for a February advisor-advisee-parent conference. All conferences will be held on Friday, February 9, and all available slots will be posted online. Online registration will close at noon on Wednesday, February 7. 

    Read More about Parent Conferences and Grades
    SERC Student Earns Top Honors in Regeneron Science Competition
    SERC Student Earns Top Honors in Regeneron Science Competition

    Imagine a world where all amputees have access to affordable, life-changing prosthetics. That's the future that senior and SERC student Arav Bhargava is working towards– tackling complex problems with ingenuity and compassion. His low-cost, 3D-printed prosthetics aren't just devices but tickets to a world of possibility. This isn't a science project; it's a revolution in accessibility. His “Low-Cost, 3D-Printed, Universal-Fit, Transradial Socket for Amputees in Developing Countries” earned him a spot in the Top 40 finalists of the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2024. Read more about the how and why behind his work.

    Read More about SERC Student Earns Top Honors in Regeneron Science Competition
    EFEB Students Learn from Five Guys Leaders
    EFEB Students Learn from Five Guys Leaders

    The Economics, Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Business (EFEB) Concentration hosted its third speaker of the school year with a visit from Potomac parent Sam Chamberlain and Potomac alum Skip Calvert ’01. Mr. Chamberlain is the COO of Five Guys, and Mr. Calvert is the vice president of operations. In his talk "American Dream: History of Five Guys and Restaurant Economics," Mr. Chamberlain discussed the history of Five Guys, which opened its first restaurant in 1986 in Northern Virginia and has expanded into a multinational company with nearly 2,000 stores across 26 countries. He also covered the economics of restaurant management and the higher margins investors require to compensate for the associated risks, breaking down the Five Guys basic restaurant cost structure and where the business prioritizes spending to ensure a quality product. Fun fact: Five Guys has added only one menu item - the milkshake - in its nearly 38 years of operations! 

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    Winterfest Draws a Crowd
    Winterfest Draws a Crowd

    Though it was the warmest day of the winter so far, the US gathered for Winterfest last Friday. The event began with pizza dinner before everyone headed to Spangler for the annual 3v3 basketball tournament. Although a strong group of ninth and tenth graders made it to the finals, we were all blown away by faculty team Student Support, including ninth grade dean Andrew McGrath, who eventually took the win. While some played basketball, others enjoyed karaoke, a video game tournament, s'mores outside, and delicious cookies provided by community partner Together We Bake.

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    Class of 2027 Joins Student Government With Election

    This week, the Class of 2027 officially joined the Upper School Student Government Association (SGA) by electing a class president and two class representatives. On Monday, ninth graders met in EPAC to listen to speeches by 17 of their classmates who were eager to represent the entire grade on SGA. The candidates were well-prepared, the speeches were authentic, and the audience was attentive. Students then engaged in a rank-choice voting process to identify their top candidates. Congratulations to our ninth grade president, Jacob Jackson, and our two ninth grade class representatives, Manasi Kumar and Rohan Amin! We look forward to the rest of the school year under your leadership.

    Read More about Class of 2027 Joins Student Government With Election

    Upper School Dates

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    US T208 Tiered Classroom

    Athletics

    Boys JV Basketball Wins Five in a Row

    The JV boys basketball team improved their conference record to 4-1 with a thrilling victory over Flint Hill on Saturday. Co-captain Noah Abraham '26 hit a game-winning buzzer-beater to give the Panthers a 61-59 win. The team is on a five-game winning streak, including victories over Saint Andrews Episcopal (52-34) and Maret (60-50). Abraham and co-captain Trip Moser '26 lead the team in scoring this season. The Panthers are currently in second place in the MAC conference behind Sidwell Friends and will face the Quakers this Friday. In their previous match-up, Sidwell edged Potomac 42-39 in a close contest. Come out and support the JV boys basketball team as they battle Sidwell for first! Tip-off will be at 4:15 pm on the Culp Main Court. 

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    Athletics

    After-School Activities

    Hot Cocoa Stand Workshop Supports Great Cause
    Hot Cocoa Stand Workshop Supports Great Cause

    Potomac students participating in the ETC Hot Cocoa Stand Workshop used their newfound entrepreneurial skills to open their shop. Students took on roles from chief financial officer, marketers, baristas, and station managers. Everyone had a job, and the students participating in this financial literacy workshop did their best work for a great cause. In just 30 minutes, they raised a whopping $227 after expenses and donated the funds to Children’s National Hospital.

    Continue the fun with our next ETC Workshop, Valentine’s Day Treats and Crafting, on Friday, February 9, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Be sure to register your student for this heartwarming day of fun. There are only eight spots left in this class, so sign up soon. 

    Extending Support Across Divisions
    Extending Support Across Divisions

    Deja Dimps '25, a member of our US cross divisional after school credit program, enthusiastically assists an Extended Day student with their math homework. Extended Day is a great resource for students after school, and drop-in options are available for students from K-8. Learn more about the program and register here.

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    After School Activities