Sophomores in Potomac’s Science and Engineering Research Center (SERC) program recently enjoyed an informative visit to MIT. They learned how research is conducted in a college setting and gained insight into various areas of research, including brain imaging, battery construction, carbon capture, and ion propulsion systems for cube satellites. The goal of the trip was to allow SERC students to experience a vast range of scientific research topics at a top higher ed institution as they begin to decide on their individual areas of interest. The students were accompanied by SERC teachers Laura Petro and Bill Peery.

Carol Jia’s Upper School Chinese program students recently had an exciting virtual language and culture exchange with high schoolers in China. Our students were excited to share information about their school life, living in the national capital area, and Halloween traditions – in Chinese. They also shared their favorite songs and sports stars and discussed cultural differences between the two countries. Students are always excited to practice their foreign language skills by chatting with native speakers in a real-life setting! 

Championships are nice, but any Upper Schooler knows that the real prize is winning the annual US Halloween Costume Contest. Each year, all faculty and students are invited to participate in individual and group categories. This year's competition was riveting. Despicable Me provided the inspiration for many of the costumes, but the most impressive entrants were faculty members James Gillespie with a DIY Optimus Prime that actually transformed and a terrifying Ms. Shawn Lizarazo as "Mommy Dearest." Audrey Rentzepis '24 was quite convincing as a chimney sweep, and the day's overall winner was Jake from State Farm, AKA Nicholas Derisca '26. The group division was won by seniors Marcus Burrell and Devin Dunn (boxers), senior NJ Langman (referee), and sophomore EJ Schneeberg (promoter).

The Potomac School Speech and Debate team competed at the University of Florida this past weekend, producing five place winners and four semifinalists in various events. The tournament featured roughly 150 schools from 24 states and a large turnout of big Florida speech and debate teams. 

Potomac’s team was paced by senior Natalie Roots-Nowakowski, with a third-place finish in humorous interpretation. Fellow senior Olivia Eads was fourth in a huge congressional debate tournament. Junior Taylor Burris finished fourth in the extemp speaking invitational and sixth in the main extemp tournament. Sophomore Ethan Maher was ninth, and freshman Armaan Sethi was sixteenth, in congressional debate. Potomac also had four semifinalists in speech: junior Ayanna Nayar (oratory), junior Graeme Evans (humorous interpretation), sophomore Hannah de Souza (program oral interpretation), and Abigail Woldgebriel (extemp speaking).  

Three Potomac public forum teams competed locally over the same weekend. Juniors Nuna Endale and Catherine Ruggeri took third to win their Metro finals bid. Most recent placement results are available here.

This weekend, the Upper School Theatre Department will present David Bottrell and Jessie Jones' Southern-inspired comedy Dearly Departed. When the patriarch of the Turpin family keels over dead, the struggle to get him buried involves the whole family, including the not-so-grieving widow. Amid the chaos, the Turpin family looks for comfort from their friends and neighbors, an eccentric community of misfits who manage to pull together and help one another through their hours of need. Performances will take place in the Langstaff Auditorium on Friday, November 4, at 6:30 pm, and Saturday, November 5, at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Admission is free. (Poster artwork by junior Sofya Donets)