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February 22, 2024

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Featured News

Auction 2024
Bidding is Now Open!

The Scholarship Auction is next week, and the Silent Auction is officially open for bidding! Don’t miss these exciting NEW auction items that were just added: 

Get started with your bidding and buy your ticket. There are only 35 Best of Live Tickets left. Purchase yours today!

Please sign up for a volunteer shift. We need a few more volunteers on February 29, March 1, and March 2 to help make Spangler BLOOM!

Get Ready for Around the World 2024

Save the date and prepare to embark on a journey Around the World on Friday, April 12, as we celebrate the diverse cultural heritage of the Potomac community through exhibits, food, dance, fashion, and music.

  • Share: We are seeking students, alliance groups, social clubs, and faculty to showcase their talents on stage – from singing, dancing, and poetry to playing instruments – the possibilities are endless! Students and faculty interested in participating should contact Janet Manu or Lishuang Zhang at atw@potomacschool.org.
  • Represent: We are looking for Potomac families to represent their heritage by hosting a booth and sharing their rich culture with our Potomac community. Please submit the participation form by March 31.
  • Volunteer: We’re also in need of volunteers to assist with setting up the Spangler Center for Athletics and Community, supporting cultural booths during the event, and helping with the parade of flags, performances, and fashion show! Please sign up here!

Things to Know

PCCC Speaker Series Tonight

The Parent Cultural Competence Committee (PCCC) invites parents to a virtual evening with Carson Roy, director of enrollment management and financial aid, tonight, February 22, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Mr. Roy will discuss his work, his experiences, the admissions landscape, and how he strives to build a connected Potomac community with new families each year. If you have a question you’d like to submit in advance, email pccc@potomacschool.org.

Potomac Kindness Week

February 26 through March 1 will be Potomac Kindness Week! The third graders in the Social Emotional Learning Committee are working with the Upper School Peer Leaders to promote kindness at school. Here are suggestions for families to promote kindness at home.

CONNECTdmv Career Networking Event and Reception

CONNECTdmv will host a Career Networking Event and Reception for area students of color on Sunday, March 3, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, in the Langstaff Auditorium. The event will include a keynote address by alum Stefanie Thomas ‘03, managing director of Zeal Capital Partners, a panel discussion featuring Potomac faculty member Russell Roache and other professionals from a variety of fields, and a reception with giveaways. Participating students will also meet with the speakers in small groups. This is an excellent opportunity to gain career insights and make connections that could potentially lead to internships and employment in the future. There is still time to register; visit this page for more details and to sign up to participate. 

Parents of Black Students Brunch

The Parents of Black Students are hosting a parent brunch this Sunday, February 25, from 2:30 to 5:00 pm, at Tupelo Honey in Arlington. There's still space available! Reach out to co-chairs Lisa Franklin or Tiffany Anderson to attend. Don't miss this opportunity to be in fellowship with other parents!

Buds & Blooms Nature Walk

Join fellow Potomac parents on a picturesque Buds & Blooms nature walk through Potomac's campus trails on Friday, March 1, at 9:30 am. Catch the beauty of early spring, chat about the weekend's events (Bloom! Scholarship Auction), and enjoy some fresh air and light exercise. You're welcome to bring your leashed furry friend. Sign up here!

Llama Notes Features Four Alumni Stories
Llama Notes Features Four Alumni Stories

Check out the issue of Llama Notes, our alumni newsletter is filled with stories, news, information, and resources to support our community. The most recent issue features Claudia Swope '17: Alumna Brings Her Talent to The Voice; James Hawthorn ‘03: New Year, New You!; Zal Batmanglij ’98: Filmmaking, Creative Collaboration, and Telling Stories That Matter; Kristin Carlucci Weed '98: A Daughter Reflects on Her Father’s Life of Service; and more.

Spotlight Program: An Evening with Devorah Heiter, PhD
Spotlight Program: An Evening with Devorah Heiter, PhD

Save the date! New York Times bestselling author and speaker Devorah Heiter, Ph.D., will speak to the Potomac community on April 17, at 7:00 pm, in the Langstaff Auditorium. Dr. Heiter, who launched her most recent book this fall, Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World, will share guidance to empower parents to help their children navigate boundaries, identity privacy, and reputation in their digital world. Dr. Heitner will be available to sign her book after the talk. More information, including registration for this event, will be shared in early March.

Parent Association Spring Nomination Cycle

The Spring Nominations cycle is now open and will close on Thursday, March 7. The Parent Association seeks the Potomac community's participation in the nomination process for the 2024-25 school year. Please consider nominating yourself or another Potomac parent for a variety of PA leadership roles. Submit your nominations here, or email nominations directly to PAnominations@potomacschool.org.  The PA Nominations form can also be accessed via the Parent Association page. Contact Jen Graham or Stephanie Kapsis with any questions.

Pawz Corner

FAPS Ice Skating Party

The Fathers 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, on Sunday, February 25, at 11:00 am. Learn more and register here. 

Week Ahead

February

March

Potomac Social

    PHOTO OF THE WEEK

    Volunteers from the Parent Association treated faculty and staff to an appreciation lunch. We appreciate you!

    SAVE THE DATE: GRANDPARENTS & SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY

    Please mark your calendars for Grandparents & Special Friends Day on Friday, May 10. Our special guests will be invited to gather in the Preston Gym for coffee and remarks. Then, they will have the unique opportunity to visit classrooms across the Lower, Middle, and Intermediate Schools. We encourage you to connect with your grandparents and/or special friends in advance of the event day to help them coordinate their schedules. More information and volunteer information will be sent soon, but in the interim, do not hesitate to contact Brady Doty and Erin Antosh with any questions or interest. We are excited to see you soon!

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    Lower School News

    Lower School

    Third Grade Scientists!

    Third grade scientists are putting the finishing touches on their displays in preparation for the Science Fair tomorrow, February 23. Families, students, and teachers are invited to meet with our scientists in Ramsey Assembly during the following time slots: 9:00 to 10:00 am, 11:15 am to 12:15 pm, and 1:30 to 2:30 pm. Get ready for a day of scientific discovery, learning, and excitement!

    Next Sharing Assembly March 1

    Please join us on Friday, March 1, at 11:05 am, in Ramsey Auditorium for our next Sharing Assembly. We will feature Mrs. Callahan's, Mrs. Zecher's, Mrs. Mendoza's, and Ms. Husain's kindergarten classes, and Mrs. Berke's and Ms. McIntire's first grade classes. 

    Cross-Divisional Connections
    Cross-Divisional Connections

    Yesterday, during Upper School Panther Time, tenth graders joined a few Lower School classes (JG1, JH2, RM3, and a section of Tinker Tech) to connect through reading lessons or chat over lunch. We love opportunities for cross-divisional connections. It's especially critical for students from our youngest division to connect with students from our oldest division. We will continue to find meaningful ways to interact throughout the year. 

    Light Sources in Grade 2
    Light Sources in Grade 2

    Students in second grade science are learning about light. They’ve discussed its natural and artificial sources and played with light through refraction, reflection, and transmission through a variety of materials (translucent, transparent, opaque). In this particular lesson, students were reflecting light (the sun) off of a CD in a variety of different and creative ways including games of light tag. It was an illuminating lesson!

    Lower School Dates

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    Middle School News

    Middle School

    Lunar New Year Parade
    Lunar New Year Parade

    The Middle School has celebrated the Lunar New Year in several ways these past few weeks. Most recently, fifth graders wound their way around campus to celebrate the Year of the Dragon with their annual Lunar New Year dragon parade. This was the first year that second graders joined the parade. View the photo gallery here.

    Standardized Testing - Nearing Completion

    We have one more day of makeup tests for the Comprehensive Testing Program. Please take note of the grades and times for tomorrow's tests: 

    Grade 4: 12:00 to 12:50 pm and 1:15 to 2:05 pm
    Grade 5: 9:50 to 10:35 am
    Grade 6: 10:40 to 11:25 am

    We are unable to provide makeup tests after February 23. Test results and a guide for how to interpret the results will be sent home to parents via USPS in mid-March. John Mathews or Shefali Sardar will be happy to discuss the results with parents who have questions about the results.

    Vision Screening - Tomorrow 

    All fifth grade students and new-to-Potomac fourth and sixth graders will have their vision tested at school tomorrow, February 23. Students who wear glasses or contacts are encouraged to bring their corrective lenses with them to school on this day.

    MS Celebrates Black History Month 

    Middle School students will gather in the Langstaff Auditorium at 9:05 am, for a special assembly tomorrow, February 23. Ms. Alisha McClain, fifth grade teacher, and Middle School DEI coordinator, has organized a program that celebrates this year's Black History Month theme: African Americans in the Arts. The program will include songs and poems written by African Americans and performed by our Middle School students and reflections from some of our sixth graders about what Black History Month means to them. A special thank you goes to Russell Nadel for his help in arranging the musical selections for the event. Parents are welcome to join us. For those who cannot attend, here is the livestream link.

    Sharing Assembly - February 29

    Our Sharing Assembly will take place on Thursday, February 29, beginning at 9:05 am, in the Langstaff Auditorium. There will be music, poetry, and dance performances from many MS students. Classroom teachers will notify parents if their child is performing. However, all parents are welcome to attend or enjoy the show via this livestream link.

    Middle School Dates

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    Intermediate School News

    Intermediate School

    Lunar New Year Assembly-  谢谢 Xièxiè (Thank You)
    Lunar New Year Assembly-  谢谢 Xièxiè (Thank You)

    A huge thanks goes out to the students in Chinese 1A and 1B and members of the AAPI Affinity/Alliance group for a great assembly last week. The sword dancing, umbrella dance, history of the dragon, and zodiac signs all came to life on stage, and learning the Lunar New Year taboos will have us all prepared for next year. Which zodiac sign and year is next? 

    A Powerful Black History Assembly
    A Powerful Black History Assembly

    The IS Black Student Alliance (BSA) put on an amazing educational and cultural celebration for Black History Month. The assembly was opened by Serena Burwell ’29 who shared a brief history about Black History Month before Kaia Davis ’29 and Mackenzie Hodge ’29 read Maya Angelou’s poem “Caged Bird.”. Upper School students Isabella Sequar ’24, Lauren Hilliard ’25 and Alex Davis ’25 performed “All the Stars” (by Kendrick Lamar and SZA) on saxophone, drums, and the piano. The celebration also included a student Q&A slideshow by Isis Nzekwe ‘28, Imani Nzekwe ‘28, Omega Girma ‘28, Chinwe Chuke ‘28, Isaac Abraham ‘28, Ismail Karim ‘28, and Dwayle Smith ‘28. On March 1, we will continue to celebrate by incorporating the IS Black History Month documentary produced by Emon Ransford ‘29, Nate Ayalew ‘29, and Lola Burrell ‘29 and an interactive jeopardy game during an advisory period. Thank you to everyone who participated in the assembly. View the photo gallery.

    Mathletes Flex

    On February 13, 13 IS mathletes ventured over to St. Albans for the second of three Math Meets this academic year.  An IS math meet consists of three 10-minute rounds, with the students individually solving two problems per round.  The top four scores are added to determine the team's final score at the end of the meet. Potomac's mathletes earned 22 out of a possible 24 points, earning second place. Well done, IS students! 

    Intermediate School Dates

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    Upper School News

    Upper School

    Romeo and Juliette
    Romeo and Juliet ‘Like Totally’ Comes to the Potomac Stage

    Next week, the Potomac Upper School Theatre Arts department will present William Shakespeare’s classic tale, Romeo and Juliet! Set during the 1980s and infused with iconic rock and pop music, Shakespeare’s timeless tale of star-crossed lovers unfolds as a bitter family feud sends the pair on a race against an ill-fated destiny. Showtimes are Friday, February 23, at 6:30 pm and Saturday, February 24, at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. All are welcome to join! 

    Read More about Romeo and Juliet ‘Like Totally’ Comes to the Potomac Stage
    College Counseling Director on National Board

    Last month, Stacy Richardson, Potomac's director of college counseling, attended the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS) winter board meeting. Ms. Richardson is serving a three-year term on the board of trustees. Forty-two founding schools, including Potomac, provided seed funding and initial support for the Association's formation in 2007. Today, ACCIS counts over 600 schools as members. 

    Through our involvement in ACCIS, Potomac gains invaluable professional development, networking opportunities with college admission professionals, and access to the latest data, research, and trends in college admissions.  In 2018, Ms. Richardson helped create ACCIS's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee and was a co-chair working to develop programming to educate the membership. She currently chairs the board-level Organizational Accountability for Access and Equity Committee.

    Read More about College Counseling Director on National Board
    Robotics Teams Qualify for States

    The final State qualification events for the US robotics team took place this weekend, with teams attending competitions in both Culpeper and Richmond. In addition to 12C Chips N’ Fish (Tony Diller ‘26, Nikhil Kothari ‘27, Julian Mankovsky ‘27) earning the Skills Champions and Design Awards for the second weekend in a row, six teams qualified for the VA State Championship at The Meadow Event Park in Doswell, VA held March 1 and 2. 

    Read More about Robotics Teams Qualify for States
    Learning About Biodiversity on Smithsonian Field Trip
    Learning About Biodiversity on Smithsonian Field Trip

    Students in the Biodiversity & Conservation class traveled to the Natural History Museum to participate in the Reefs Unleashed program led by museum staff. Students learned about Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS), a nondestructive tool that Smithsonian scientists use to measure the biodiversity of coral reefs all over the world, then observed and analyzed data from images of ARMS plates to better understand the impact of ocean acidification on coral reefs. Applying their knowledge of marine ecosystems to their observations, students developed hypotheses to explain the differences in reef biodiversity. 

    Read More about Learning About Biodiversity on Smithsonian Field Trip

    Upper School Dates

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    US T208 Tiered Classroom

    Athletics

    Potomac Hosts State Meet, Wrestlers Shine
    Potomac Hosts State Meet, Wrestlers Shine

    This past weekend, Potomac hosted the 2024 VISAA State Wrestling tournament for the first time in school history. Held in the Spangler Center for Athletics and Community, the event marked the first time the tournament was hosted in Northern Virginia since 2005. Thirty-one teams, 247 wrestlers, coaches, event staff, and spectators filled Spangler with exciting wrestling action over the two-day event. Pictures from the event can be found here, courtesy of Becky Cullinan.

    Your grappling Panthers wrestled their best yet, with six wrestlers earning All-State honors. Evan McNamara '27 earned fifth place, Adar Weinman '25 earned eighth place, Jeremy DeLaVille '24 earned sixth, Robbie Pence '27 earned fifth, Richard Perry '25 earned seventh place, and Jason Seeber '25 took sixth. The team finished 12th overall in the standings. Finally, the team was honored with the Sportsmanship Award for the entire tournament. A special thanks goes out to our entire Potomac community, who pitched in to help make the event a huge success! Read coverage from the Gazette Leader. 

    Indoor Track & Field Concludes Season on High Note

    Potomac’s indoor track & field team came away with two top-10 team finishes, third for the girls team and ninth for the boys team, as well as several state championships and medals. VISAA champions were Ally Griswold ‘26 (300m) repeating as state champion in that event; Mackenzie Fulgham ’24 (500m) and the girls 4x400m relay of Tenley Overdeck ‘24, Griswold, Kate Tuttle ‘24, and Fulgham. Tuttle won an individual bronze medal and All State Honorable Mention in the 1000 meters. Michele Horton ‘26 set personal records in the long jump and triple jump scoring points in both events that contributed to the podium finish for the girls team. The 4x200m team of Grayson Crittenberger ‘27, Rose Barabanov ‘27, Griswold, and Riley Walters ‘26, raced to fourth place. 

    Alex Mathews ‘24 was the top individual finisher on the boys side earning All-State Honorable Mention for  finishing third in the boys 1000m event, earning the honor again on the 4x400m. Teaming with Cole Griswold ‘24, Zach Dalva-Baird ’25, and Ve Lee ‘24, the team raced to a bronze medal. C. Griswold scored in three events during the course of the afternoon placing fourth in the 500m and sixth in the 300m in addition to his relay duty. The 4x800m relay team of Eli Levine ‘26, Luke Carter ‘26, Javi Almonte ‘25 and Finn Nagoski ‘25 ran a gutsy race to snag sixth. Almonte and Nagoski both ran lifetime bests on their carries and all four earned their first VISAA Track & Field points. Congratulations are also in order for two of our first-time track and field competitors Charlotte Everhart ‘25 and Garrett Hicks ‘25  who not only were new to the sport this season but took on the challenge of learning technical events, and qualified for VISAA States in their first season. Well done!

    Barabanov, Matt Brow ‘24, Fulgham, and Tuttle have all qualified to compete in individual events at the Nike Indoor Nationals in New York this March. 

    JV Boys Basketball Wraps Season

    The JV boys basketball team concluded a successful winter season, finishing second in the MAC with a 7-3 conference record. The team was also competitive outside the MAC, as they notched wins against non-conference rivals, including Episcopal and Landon. The Panthers were particularly strong defending Culp Court, winning almost 80% of their games. The team plans to compete in the Bishop McNamara league this summer. Congratulations to the coaches and the players on a great season! 

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    Athletics

    After-School Activities

    Spring into Action!
    Spring into Action!

    Spring ETC registration is off to a great start, and the season is fast approaching. Be sure to register for classes and clinics soon! Register now for:

    • Adventures in Spanish Intermediate Level (grades K-3) - Language and Culture
    • Hip Hop Dance (grades 1-3 & 4-6) – Led by Potomac student Manasi Kumar ’27
    • Made Not Bought (grades 4-6) – From woodworking to cooking… next level life skills
    • Cooks with Books (grades K & 4-6) – Stories that inspire cooking fun treats (featured photo)
    • Speech Squad (grades 5- 6) – Technique and skill building to confident public speaking
    • Intro to Vex IQ (grade 3) – Welcome to the world of robotics
    • Sports Clinics
      • Basketball
      • Girls Cubbies Lacrosse
      • Volleyball
    Extended Day Student Leaders
    Extended Day Student Leaders

    Daelyn Dimps '24, a member of our US cross-divisional after-school credit program (CASCP), enthusiastically led Extended Day students in a game of BINGO. As part of our CASCP partnership, participating Upper School students will lead a student activity. Identifying and reading sight words was the topic of this BINGO game. Fun was had by all as many Extended Day students got a chance to shout out B-I-N-G-O and win a prize! 

    Spring Break Camp

    Although Spring Break is right around the corner, there’s still time to register for Panther Sports Camp!

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    After School Activities