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May 4, 2023

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Featured News

Grills and Games is Tomorrow!

Join the fun on campus at our Grills and Games celebration tomorrow from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. This community event will feature opportunities to cheer for our Panther athletes in six separate games across campus. Please note: Children younger than seventh grade must be accompanied by a parent for this event.

Robotics Stuns at Worlds Taking Second

The Upper School Robotics team 12H finished as division champions and advanced to the finals at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas – the largest robotics competition in the world. They finished second in the world – a school and Virginia State record. Seniors Ben Bartlett, Claire Coker, Rohan Iyer, and sophomore Elaina Song competed hard. Upon their return to school, the team was greeted by US Head Doug McLane, parents, and students with a surprise party! The IS Robotics teams gleefully welcomed them as well. The event was presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and the REC Foundation, and some sponsors include NASA and Google. Congrats to our robotics program! 

Earth Month Concludes, But the Work Continues

Potomac celebrated our planet with a variety of activities throughout April. All 100 LS and MS classes and IS and US Advisories were invited to get outside in honor of our natural world. Check out this photo gallery to see how our K-12 students enjoyed being outdoors together to love nature and live responsibly during Earth Month 2023. Potomac also held a wonderful Farmers Market on Friday, April 21, during which K-12 students purchased produce from local farms, as well as honey, fresh fruit, vegetables, and healthy baked goods generously donated by members of our community. A big thank you to PEA leaders Lauren Flanagan and Marie Hasan for spearheading this meaningful environmental stewardship event. Thank you also to our food service staff from Meriwether Godsey for providing fresh produce and helping with the popular smoothie station.

Rain Was No Match for Colorful May Day

Last Friday, our connected community celebrated Potomac’s time-honored tradition of May Day, which marks winter’s transition to spring and summer. We hope this year’s blend of music, dance, poetry, and learning will be a model for many May Days to come. It was a beautiful day to be together on campus! Enjoy the colorful photo gallery

Announcements

Band and String Students at Solo and Ensemble Festival

Over the weekend, 17 band students in Middle, Intermediate, and Upper School and four string students in Middle and Intermediate School participated in the 2023 VBODA Solo and Ensemble Festival at Rocky Run Middle School. These students chose a piece of music to perform as a solo or with a small ensemble, spent extra time outside of class learning the piece, and performed it before a judge for a rating. Their hard work paid off, as all Potomac students that participated earned a rating of 'Superior' or 'Excellent.' We are very proud of all our student musicians for taking on this extra challenge and representing Potomac so well!

A Campout Success

Thanks to the Fathers Association of The Potomac School for hosting a successful Campout, which drew more than 400 members of our community. It was a memorable experience for everyone, and the smiles were contagious! The kids enjoyed “helping” parents set up campsites with all the essentials, roasting s’mores, hiking, and singing songs. Families were glad to be together in nature, and the event was an excellent way to celebrate the great outdoors. Thanks to everyone who helped to organize the Campout! Enjoy the photo gallery.

Grandparents and Special Friends Day is Almost Here

Next Friday, May 12, is Grandparents and Special Friends Day for the Lower, Middle, and Intermediate Schools. We are excited to welcome our guests, with more than 400 already registered. For guests visiting multiple students, we encourage you to consult the schedule and plan their visit to make the most of the day; view the full schedule. Because we are expecting so many grandparents and special friends, we cannot accommodate parents. Please encourage your grandparent or special friend to register to attend if they have not done so already.  

Thank You From the PEA

The PEA would like to thank everyone who contributed to their Earth Month efforts. Special thanks go to  Mr. Cort Morgan for leading Stewardship Day’s weeding and planting efforts; Ms. Lisa McLane for her help with the Farmers Market planning; and Mr. Albert Pingree ‘00 and Mr. Sean Conroy, whose time, expertise, and hard work made each Earth Month activity possible. A big thanks to the teachers for bringing their classes to the Farmers Market and managing their honey stick-fueled energy for the rest of the day! The PEA also thanks Bartlett Tree Service for donating saplings, and all the parents and families who walked, weeded, baked, donated, and volunteered.

Pawz Corner

FAPS MeetingAll parents are invited to the last monthly FAPS meeting of the year, this Tuesday, May 9, 8:30-9:30 am, in the Fisher Family Dining Room. Director of Enrollment Management Carson Roy will be the guest speaker.

PANTHER PIT VOLUNTEERS

The Panther Pit is looking for volunteers! Shifts are every day from 2:15 – 4:00 pm.

We look forward to seeing you in the Pit! Please consider signing up

Week Ahead

May

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Fisher Family Dining Room

Potomac Social

    After-School Activities

    The Flower Shop Came to Potomac

    ETC students participated in a Boulangerie Florale Workshop during their no school day! They learned new skills in custom cake decorating, created a special celebration Cupcake Flower Bouquet and complementary artful stationery. Participants used their fine motor skills, time management, and artistic and creative thinking while working on their own and in small teams. After completing the workshop, students took home all their creations, along with new skills to delight their family and friends on future occasions.

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    Lower School

    Sharing Assembly Tomorrow, May 5

    Please join us tomorrow (Friday) for our next Sharing Assembly. We will feature Mr. Gustavson's and Ms. McIntire's first grade classes, Mrs. Hoffmann's second grade class, and Ms. Passano's third graders. 

    Lower School Scientists Test Water

    Third grade students participated in an in-house, water-quality field trip on campus at Pimmit Run last week. Students tested the water for pH, nitrates, phosphates, and dissolved oxygen. Happily, they found all water quality values to be within the normal to healthy range. It was an educational and fun experience for all!  

    Grandparents and Special Friends Assembly Next Friday

    Grandparents and special friends are invited to the Lower School’s special assembly at 11:00 am, in Ramsey Assembly. This LS event will be livestreamed for parents to enjoy.

    Grade 3 ERB Milestone Assessment

    Our second grade 3 milestone testing will take place on Tuesday, May 16, from 9:30 - 11:30 am (two 40-minute tests with a break in between). No preparation is needed. Please ensure your child gets a good night's sleep, a nutritious breakfast, and arrives at school on time.

    Rising Grade 4 Parent Orientation Next Week

    Parents of current third graders are invited to attend an informational Middle School orientation on Wednesday, May 10, at 8:30 am, in the Fisher Family Dining Room (formerly Flag Circle Dining Room). MS Head John Mathews sent a letter last week that shared more details. The Middle School looks forward to welcoming you to your new division! 

    Lower School Dates

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    Middle School

    Spreading May Day Floral Joy

    After the May Day celebration on Friday, students, including leaders in the sixth grade Students for Environmental and Service Learning Action committee, repurposed May Day flowers to create 30 bouquets. The students delivered the arrangements to older adults at Chesterbrook Residences, one of Potomac's community partners. The delivery coincided with dinner at Chesterbrook, and the students were met with applause and smiles from everyone in Potomac's first in-person visit since the start of the pandemic. Thank you to the PA Service Learning Committee for donating gently-used vases used for the service project, and thank you to our students for spreading May Day joy to older adults in our community! 

    Mix and Mingle Reminder

    The campus will be buzzing with activity tomorrow afternoon. MS will host a Mix and Mingle event, where Middle School parents and their children can hang out on campus beginning at 3:15 pm.  A parent or other adult must attend the MS Mix and Mingle with the student. The students will play on the Middle School blacktop playground, where parents can join them for refreshments, conversations, and fun. An RSVP is required for this event. Please note that the annual Grills and Games event will begin at 4:00 pm on campus; at that time, families can either head over to the games or participate in a parent/child scavenger hunt around the MS building. 

    Rising Grade Meetings for MS Parents

    Please mark your calendars for two upcoming informational gatherings for parents of current students who will be moving up to another MS grade in September 2023. The meetings will take place in the Fisher Family Dining Room (formerly the Flag Circle Dining Room).

    • Rising sixth graders - Wednesday, May 17, at 8:30 am 
    • Rising fifth graders - Wednesday, May 24, at 8:30 am

    The fifth grade meeting will include information about the instrumental program, known as BBS (band, bells, and strings), which students begin in the fifth grade.  

    Final MS Play of the Year

    Mr. Mogle's class has the honor of presenting our final 2022-23 MS play tomorrow, Friday, May 5. The students are excited to perform The Unprincess for the MS community. Parents are welcome to attend or view the play via livestream.

    Upcoming Grades 5 and 6 Field Trips

    Excitement abounds as fifth and sixth graders prepare to take their final field trips of the year. Grade 5 will take a Greek architecture study field trip to Washington, DC, on May 8, from 8:30 am to 2:15 pm. 

    The Grade 6 Chesapeake Bay Foundation boat trips will begin on May 16. An informational letter will be sent out next week. Here is the schedule for grade 6:

    • Tuesday, May 16 (Ms. Furr)
    • Wednesday, May 17 (Ms. Fields) 
    • Thursday, May 18  (Ms. Coffeen)
    • Friday, May 19 (Ms. Morgan) 
    Class of 2029 World Language/Math Curriculum Info Session 

    On Tuesday, May 9, at 7:00 pm, the IS will host a second parent transition event – the World Languages and Math Curriculum Information Session. The program will be held virtually, and a recording of the event will be posted to CampusNET. Following the program, a letter will be sent detailing the steps you and your child need to take regarding course selections. 

    Middle School Dates

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    Intermediate School

    Grade 7 Paints “Our Life in the IS”

    Seventh graders collaborated for their “Our Life in the IS” art unit. First, they explored and scouted meaningful IS locations, took photographs of themselves in these environments, worked in pairs, and chose a photo to work from for their large painting. The students mixed all their colors from a palette of primary colors. It was wonderful to see the students work together on all aspects of this project. 

    IS Spring Concert on May 11 

    Potomac’s Music Department will present the Intermediate School Spring Concert on Thursday, May 11. The event will be held in the Spangler Center for Athletics and Community to accommodate performers and guests from each family. The concert will run from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. All IS students are expected to stay for the entire concert to support their peers. Unless students have athletic games, they are to head home immediately after school before returning to campus for their ensemble's 6:00 pm call time. If it is a hardship for your child to go home and return to Potomac, please let us know via SchoolPass and an email to Joleen Hyde by Monday, May 8.

    On the night of the performance, chorus students should report to the IS Choral Room; band and bells students should report to the Spangler Center; and strings students should report to the Spangler Center’s movement studio. All IS students should wear their ensemble polo, uniform bottoms (kilts or pants), and dark shoes. In addition, the concert will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. Our students are looking forward to performing for the Potomac community. This concert is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our students' talent and showcase their hard work, and we hope that you join us. 

    IS Sandwich Day is Next Wednesday

    All seventh and eighth graders will participate in the final Sandwich Day of the 2023-24 school year to support Martha's Table and Cornerstones on Wednesday, May 10, in their homerooms. This week, students were asked to sign up for and donate sandwich-making supplies (including meat, cheese, and bread). IS students should bring all sandwich-making donations to school on the morning of May 10. Thank you for your contributions to support Potomac's long-standing community partners! 

    Grills and Games Permissions

    On Friday, May 5, from 4:00 - 6:00 pm, the community will gather for Grills and Games. Provided they completed and submitted a parent-signed permission slip, IS students are permitted to stay on campus for Grills and Games and take the late bus home. If your child will be staying on campus, please update SchoolPass. In addition, if you are picking up your child during or after the event, please come to the IS Commons to sign them out.

    Intermediate School Dates

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    Upper School

    College Counseling Events

    On Tuesday, April 25, the College Counseling Office hosted Victoria Dawe, senior assistant dean of admissions for Johns Hopkins University. Ms. Dawe met with the entire junior class during Panther Time to talk about jumpstarting the brainstorming process when writing their personal essay. Students learned about the role of the essay in the admission process and critiqued two essays to assess the effectiveness of each. Last week, the College Counseling Office and Compass Education Group hosted a webinar to share information about the landscape of standardized testing and the shift to adaptive, computer-based testing. A recording of the webinar can be found here.

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    Lunchtime Conversation Highlights Earthquake Efforts

    On April 20, sophomore Adam Bhatti hosted an insightful discussion featuring Dr. M. Hisham Naji, renowned anesthesiologist and DC chapter president of the Syrian American Medical Society. Dr. Naji shared firsthand information about the devastating impacts of the earthquake in Syria and emphasized the significance of supporting fundraising efforts for the Syrian people. Learn more here.

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    “The Diviners” Performance and Audience Discussion

    The road to despair is paved with “the best intentions.” When closed minds lead, and others follow, the best intentions often yield tragic and unexpected results. The townspeople in the upcoming US play, The Diviners, have nothing but the best intentions in mind – but will someone pay the ultimate price for their cause?

    The Potomac Upper School Theatre will present The Diviners for their final show of the season on Friday, May 12, at 6:30 pm and Saturday, May 13, at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Please pre-register for tickets; admission is free. There will be a 10 minute audience discussion after the performance on Friday and Saturday evening. Poster artwork designed by senior Lina Jaeger. 

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    Guess the Grad Class of 2023 Edition

    This year's “Guess the Grad” presentation in honor of our seniors is now available. Viewers get to see an adorable baby picture and guess which amazing Potomac graduate that little person grew up to be. Enjoy the slideshow – and see how many you can guess correctly! 

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    US Spring Concert Recap

    The Upper School Spring Concert was an entertaining evening of music that featured more than 100 performers and six ensembles. The audience enjoyed a moving choral setting of the poem Where Your Bare Foot Walks, the motet O magnum mysterium by Spanish composer Tomas Luis de Victoria, and others.

    The Concert Handbell ensemble shared multiple rhythmic pieces entitled Friend of Mine, Bound for South Australia, and the Bruno Mars hit Grenade. The Honors Handbell Ensemble closed out the first half with Rondo Borincano, Fancye, and Britney Spears’ critically acclaimed Toxic.

    The String Orchestra performed a piece by Mozart, followed by John Williams’ Theme from Schindler’s List. Faculty member Mr. Nicholas Tkach once again had one of his original compositions on the program, this one entitled Dramatic Overture from his opera Antigone. The string orchestra finished with the classic 12-bar blues Green Onions featuring many soloists.

    Fresh off their NYC tour, Concert Band first performed After Pandora, a piece of contrasting themes before closing their portion of the performance with the title theme from Stephen Sondheim’s musical Into the Woods. Jazz Band’s first piece was the Grammy-award winning song No Time to Die before bringing the house down with the jazz standard Take Five, written by Paul Desmond for the Dave Brubeck Quartet.

    Photos from the evening can be found here.

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    Active Minds Club Welcomes Guest Speaker

    Last Thursday, our Active Minds Club led by seniors Max Revis, Ella Adamec, and Will Hart sponsored an assembly and lunchtime conversation featuring guest speaker Abraham Sculley. During his freshman year, Abraham fell into a deep depression. At the time, he did not know it was depression due to growing up in a Jamaican-American household where mental health and seeking help were not discussed. After a concerned friend reached out, Abraham sought support from the counseling services on his college campus. Abraham decided to take a 3-month break, which helped him return to school with a new outlook. Abraham graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology and is now a mental health advocate speaking around the country to raise awareness and break down the stigma. 

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    Prom Brings the Sun Out

    We were lucky to have a strong turnout and beautiful weather for this year's Junior/Senior Prom. Our students enjoyed a wonderful opportunity to be together with dinner, dancing, and time together. 

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    All-Virginia Concert Band

    Ben Schirmeier '23 recently auditioned for and was selected to perform with the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA) All-Virginia Concert Band on percussion, a highly competitive honor for high school musicians. This past weekend, Ben traveled to Richmond, Virginia, and the All-Virginia Concert Band, featuring Ben on percussion, gave a stunning performance at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Congratulations, Ben, on this remarkable achievement! 

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    Upper School Dates

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    US T208 Tiered Classroom

    Athletics

    Show your Panther Pride Tomorrow!

    We’ve got spirit - yes we do! Our community has six opportunities to cheer on our scholar-athletes in a variety of matchups that will occur during Grills and Games:

    • Girls Varsity Lacrosse vs Flint Hill - Turf Field - 4:15 pm
    • Varsity Softball vs St. John Paul the Great Catholic HS - Tundra Field - 4:15 pm
    • Boys Varsity Tennis vs Sidwell Friends - Tennis Courts - 4:15 pm
    • Varsity Baseball vs Sidwell Friends - Baseball Field - 4:30 pm
    • Boys Varsity Lacrosse vs Sidwell Friends - Gum Tree Field - 4:30 pm
    • Girls JV Lacrosse vs Flint Hill - Turf Field - 5:45 pm
    A Meet of Personal Bests

    The Potomac track team set 25 personal bests this past weekend at Chantilly High School's XBC Invitational. In the 800m Alex Mathews '24 ran 2:03, Noah Altschuler '25 ran 2:12 and Ella Lu '25 ran 2:38. For the 2 miler, Sasha Minsky ‘24 ran 9:44 while Arielle Kouyoumdjian '25 and Kate Tuttle '24 both broke 12 minutes, with Emmy Holland ('24) breaking 13 minutes. Nasir Yankey '26 improved by over 10 feet in the discus. Michele Horton '26 improved by over 6 feet in the triple jump and placed third overall. We compete next at the Dogwood Invitational at UVA on May 6.

    Baseball Tied for First in MAC

    The varsity baseball team enters the final week of the regular season with a record of 16-4, and is tied for first in the MAC with a 8-2 conference record. Over the past two weeks, the Panthers had three mercy-rule wins over St. Andrew's (twice) and St. James, as well as a 6-3 win over cross-town rival Flint Hill. Davide Bertuzzi '23, Paul Witkop '24, Jack Graham '24, and David Boehm '24 all delivered strong performances on the mound, with Witkop and Graham throwing complete games in their starts. 

    On the offensive side, the top of the lineup set the tone, as Marcus Burrell '23, Kelly Crittenberger '23, Owen Peterson '24, and Witkop combined for 22 hits and 25 RBI across the four games, and there were additional contributions from everyone on the roster. Coming up Friday, the Panthers will take on Sidwell Friends on senior night in a matchup that will likely decide the MAC regular season title.

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    Athletics Dates