Welcome to the spring issue of Mosaic, Potomac's CommUNITY Newsletter! Here, you will find news, information, and resources related to our school's goals of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and fostering an engaged, connected community. To learn more about The Potomac School's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, please read our DEI Statement. Please submit comments, questions, and story ideas to mosaicnewsletter@potomacschool.org.
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In This Issue
Around the World Family Event a Huge Success Notable Speakers, Back In Person - Exploring the World...with Peppers!
Translation Services Connect Families - Affinity Groups Build Community
More Predictable Survey Cycles and Share-Outs - ABAR Training for Faculty and Staff
- Making a Difference through Service: Nuna Endale '24
Giving Back to Potomac: Jian Mostaghim '21 -
Meet Paul Singleton II, 7-12 Counselor and DEI Coordinator
- June is Pride Month
- PCCC Potomac Stories Series Finishes with a Focus on AAPI Stories
- Parents of Black Students Family Network: Year Two of Community
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Around the World Family Event a Huge Success |
Around the World is a beloved Potomac tradition — an annual celebration of the diverse cultural heritages that enrich our school community. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, that year's Around the World celebration, scheduled for April, had to be canceled. But the event’s intrepid parent organizers were not deterred, and in spring 2021 Around the World returned in a virtual format, via a Google Earth project that allowed visitors to click on sites around the globe and view information and artifacts related to those places, contributed by members of the Potomac community.
This April, everyone was overjoyed to see Around the World return in person. Co-chaired by parents Neha Sharma and Haneez Zattam-Amr, the event featured 37 booths representing various countries and cultures, an amazing international tasting menu, and lively performances by Potomac students and family members from all four academic divisions.
A true community-builder, Around the World 2022 drew hundreds of participants for an educational and enjoyable evening. Neha reflects, “I think the value of this event lies in the way it brings everybody together. It gives the students — and all of us — opportunities to learn more about each other. And it’s heartwarming to see the pride people have in their heritages and how generous they are in sharing this important part of their lives with our community.”
Incoming Around the World Co-chairs Haneez Zattam-Amr and Janet Manu have already begun planning for next year’s celebration, scheduled for April 14, 2023. Save the date and plan to join us as the Potomac School community takes another exciting trip Around the World! |
Notable Speakers, Back In Person |
It's been two years since we have been able to welcome speakers to Potomac's campus, and what a spring this has been, with incredible guests sharing their wisdom in person! |
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| MARIA RESSA, NOBEL PEACE PRIZE RECIPIENT
A special Upper School assembly on March 31 featured a presentation by journalist Maria Ressa, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. She received the honor in October 2021, in recognition of her “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.” Ms. Ressa spoke about a wide range of issues, including freedom of the press, social media manipulation, moral integrity, surveillance capitalism, and emergent behavior.
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In addition to her work as a journalist and author, Ms. Ressa is the CEO of Rappler, a digital-only news site that is leading the fight for press freedom in the Philippines. In 2018 she was named to Time Magazine's “Person of the Year” list. The themes of her work – integrity in journalism, courage in the face of disinformation and authoritative rule, the fight for democracy, freedom of expression, and the push for human rights – provide compelling fuel for thought and action. You can watch Ms. Ressa's presentation here.
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| TONY WEAVER, JR., CEO OF WEIRD ENOUGH PRODUCTIONS
Tony Weaver, Jr. is a writer, voice actor, and publisher of manga and comic books, where he aims to highlight underrepresented voices. He spoke to our Upper School community about his educational journey and the intersection of identity, belonging, and mental health.
Mr. Weaver shared three lessons with his audience: - Utilize your support systems.
- Don't worry if others view you differently from how you view yourself.
- When one door is shut, look for the doors that are open.
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| JULIE LYTHCOTT-HAIMS, AUTHOR AND SPEAKER
New York Times bestselling author Julie Lythcott-Haims addressed the Upper School at a special assembly on April 27. Ms. Lythcott-Haims’ books include How to Raise an Adult and, more recently, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult. Thanks to Olivia Eads ’23 and Annabel Cronic ’23 for introducing our guest speaker. |
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Her message to students could be encapsulated in three points: -
It isn’t enough to be good at something; if you also love it, pursue it.
- When you love yourself, you belong to yourself.
- It’s both scary and amazing to be in charge of yourself.
Ms. Lythcott-Haims also spoke to parents from Potomac and the wider community, at an evening event co-sponsored by The Potomac School and the Safe Community Coalition. In that presentation, she emphasized...
- Don't add pressure and stress to your children's lives by over-parenting.
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Allow your children to take the driver's seat for their own lives.
- Love and support your children unconditionally.
Check out Julie Lythcott-Haims' TED Talk, "How to raise successful kids – without overparenting," which has had more than 2.6 million views! |
Exploring the World...with Peppers! |
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Inspired by the Around the World event, Mr. Wolfe's fifth grade scientists have been making connections between their personal family heritages and chili peppers used around the world. Each student was tasked with formulating questions to ask their family about their own cultural heritage. After learning about their cultural roots, each student chose two varieties from a large selection of chili pepper seeds that produce peppers that are popular in the cuisines of various cultures. During the week of the school's Around the World event, the young scientists prepared pots with soil, planted their seeds, and carefully watered them. Since then, they have been tending to their plants and watching in amazement as they grow taller and bushier each week. The students will eventually take their plants home to transplant into their own yards or gardens, so that they and their families can enjoy the spicy treats that are important to the cuisines of their own cultural heritages.
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Translation Services Connect Families |
Being able to communicate in one's native language is a privilege we want to afford all of our families. Ensuring that language will not be a barrier is a way to increase inclusion and a sense of belonging. Earlier this year, Potomac engaged Alboum, an Arlington-based company, to provide us with live interpretation services, which will be useful in connecting families with teachers and the school administration. After much research, we also made the decision to use Google Translate for written translation. To date, the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools have utilized interpretation services for parent-teacher conferences.
We continue to research more effective ways to provide interpretation and translation services for our families and will add new features to our communications in the near future. If you would like to engage with Potomac in a language other than English, please reach out to David Grant, director of student diversity recruitment and retention, or your division's administrative assistant.
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Affinity Groups Build Community |
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Affinity groups are spaces where students can find others who are able to relate to their experiences based on cultural identities, providing opportunities for understanding and mutual support. Affinity groups help students feel a sense of community and develop healthy self-identities and positive relationships. Read more to see what IS and US students have to say about why affinity groups are important to them.
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More Predictable Survey Cycles and Share-outs |
Feedback is key to improvement. Hearing the perspectives of members of the Potomac School community helps us know what we are doing well and where we can do more to deliver on our educational mission and support our community. Three years ago, in response to requests for an anonymous feedback mechanism to supplement the other avenues community members were using to share their perspectives, we partnered with Authentic Connections to obtain nationally normed surveys that would help us assess issues related to health, wellness, culture, and climate at Potomac. Last year, we administered Authentic Connections surveys to students, parents, and faculty and staff. This spring, we again used Authentic Connections surveys with students and employees but introduced a different survey vehicle for Potomac parents.
We partnered with a locally based, nationally known research firm, Limelight Insights by Shugoll, to custom design a comprehensive parent survey directly tied to the priorities outlined in Potomac's Strategic Roadmap. This survey was administered for the first time this May, and we expect to receive Shugoll's analysis of the responses in early summer. We plan to continue working with Shugoll to administer parent surveys at least every other year, in order to obtain longitudinal data that will help gauge our progress in key areas. We will also be collaborating with Shugoll to create an alumni survey that will be administered for the first time next year.
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Now that we have platforms in place to help us stay better connected to our community, we will settle into a more predictable pattern of surveying and sharing back. In general, we plan to administer surveys each spring and share the findings with our community the following fall. We thank everyone for participating in this ongoing process; your feedback is important as we continue working to deliver on Potomac's mission of educational excellence. |
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ABAR Training for Faculty and Staff |
Three years ago, Potomac made a commitment to ensure that our faculty and staff receive mandatory training to ensure that the adults are engaging with students and colleagues in culturally responsive ways. While last year's modules focused on reflecting and understanding one's own identities and how that impacts our work with others, this year's modules focused on two of the four cultural competence cornerstones: Identity and Connection. One of the hallmarks of the Potomac faculty and staff is a spirit of collaboration and the joy that colleagues have when working together. Using Zaretta Hammond's Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, the four modules centered faculty group conversations and culturally responsive pedagogy and curriculum development. We want all students to be in educational environments where they thrive, are respected for who they are, and trust that everyone has their best interest at heart.
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Making a Difference Through Service: Nuna Endale '24 |
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Let's Care 4 Natural Hair |
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This year, Nuna Endale '24 partnered with a friend from Holton-Arms School to launch Let's Care 4 Natural Hair. On May 17, Nuna spoke about the initiative at an Upper School assembly. She says, "We created Let’s Care 4 Natural Hair to provide products for Black women in need. We have partnered with House of Ruth, which is a shelter that provides resources to women and children from the DC area who have been abused or are homeless." ACE Everett, Potomac's director of service learning, says, "Nuna demonstrated great empathy when conceptualizing this service project. She was very thoughtful and patient, working to identify a community partner that could benefit from the donations." Read more about Nuna's project and find out how you can help.
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Giving Back to Potomac: Jian Mostaghim '21 |
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Recent graduate Jian Mostaghim '21 has been spending his Tuesday afternoons back on campus working with Potomac fifth grade cellists. Jian, an accomplished musician who has performed at esteemed venues like the Kennedy Center, is a graduate of Potomac's Visual and Performing Arts Concentration (VPAC) and recently returned as a guest performer at the 2022 VPAC Recital. It's special to see alumni returning to campus to serve as examples and inspiration for current students, and Jian has done even more, working directly with young Potomac musicians. Read a Q&A with Jian.
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Meet Paul Singleton II, 7-12 Counselor and DEI Coordinator |
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Looking to add a fourth member to our K-12 Counseling Team, Potomac hired Paul Singleton II in fall 2021. Before joining the school, Paul was at the University of Connecticut, pursuing his doctorate in psychology and running SCHOLAR House, a program to increase graduation rates among Black men attending the university. In less than a year at Potomac, Paul has built strong relationships. He's easy to talk to thanks to his calm, friendly demeanor, and his unwavering optimism and knowledgeable perspectives on adolescent development are valuable assets for the Counseling Team. Read more about Paul.
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PCCC Potomac Stories Series Finishes with a Focus on AAPI Stories |
On May 16, the Parent Cultural Competence Committee hosted its final Potomac Stories panel of the school year, highlighting the experiences of parents and faculty members who are of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage. Janice Lam, Potomac parent and former PCCC co-chair, started the program with a heartfelt call for solidarity in the wake of the Buffalo mass murder by a white supremacist and offered a historical look at the contributions of, and racism and violence against, Americans of Asian descent. Her remarks were followed by a panel discussion moderated by PCCC co-chair Esther Lee; the panelists were Nadia Pardesi, Lower School teacher and DEI coordinator; Precious Singson, Upper School history teacher; and Julie Wong, Upper School math teacher and grade 11 dean.
It is hoped that learning about the experiences of others will galvanize us to appreciate our similarities, respect our differences, and accept each individual's authentic self. In a follow-up to the program, Shauné Hayes, who hosted her last PCCC event as co-chair, wrote, "I wanted to share again the quote I read last night from Potomac parent Noe Gerson, which really resonated and summed up our program so well: 'It is no small thing to be brave enough for authentic communication and courageous conversation. But at its core doing so is where hope lives.'"
This powerful program can be viewed here, along with recordings of all past Potomac Stories programs. We look forward to seeing you next year at PCCC programs led by co-chairs Esther Lee and Manuel Retureta.
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Parents of Black Students Family Network | | |
The Potomac family network Parents of Black Students (PBS) is a voluntary association of parents with an interest in bridging gaps and fostering relationships among parents of Black students. The affinity group supports the mission of the school by articulating, promoting, and supporting the needs and goals of African American/Black students and parents in the Potomac community. In September, PBS co-chairs Stephanie Gilliard and Monica McNeil surveyed their community members to better understand the kind of programming and events they wanted to roll out this school year. Using this feedback, PBS offered social gatherings, as well as three workshops: College Prep for High School Students, Family Financial Literacy, and Mental Health and Wellness for Youth. Thank you to Stephanie and Monica for leading a year of insightful programming and creating community for parents of Black students at Potomac. We look forward to next year's events with incoming co-chairs Lisa Franklin and Tanika de Souza. |
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