The Economics, Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Business (EFEB) Concentration hosted its first speaker of the school year with a visit by Potomac parent and past board chair Sameer Bhargava. Mr. Bhargava is the CEO of Clark Asset Solutions Group. In his talk entitled "Value of Reinvention," Mr. Bhargava approached the topic of reinvention from a personal perspective, in terms of managing one's career and from the perspective of building a business. He encouraged students to embrace the bolder decision and described the benefits of a zig-zag career path, as opposed to a structured path, to broaden thinking and build knowledge across multiple disciplines. Mr. Bhargava described the importance of reinvention for established companies and the culture of reinvention that Clark leadership creates to ensure that their teams identify and capitalize on changing market forces but with multi-dimensional thinking.

Upper School faculty member James Gillespie recently received a 2023 Outstanding Educator Award from the University of Chicago. Mr. Gillespie was nominated by a former student, now enrolled at the University of Chicago, in recognition of going “beyond everyday teaching and making a difference” in their life. The student said, "I could not have had a better person to introduce me to the world of computer science and mechatronics than you [Mr. Gillespie]. A well-deserved honor!

This week, Upper School Chinese IV students, under the guidance of Ms. Carol Jia and Ms. Joy Webster, visited elderly Chinese residents at Hunters Wood Fellowship Building. This experience unfolded as a tapestry of cultural exchange, generational bonding, and profound service learning. The students savored authentic Chinese dishes prepared by the residents, recited classical poetry for them, and actively participated in learning Tai Chi. Beyond cultural preservation, the day emerged as a dynamic canvas of understanding – blending respect, compassion, and shared learning. Our students thoughtfully presented Potomac gifts and heartfelt cards as tangible expressions of gratitude and unity. This event created connections that resonated across generations and cultures. 

Six Potomac juniors recently attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) in St. Louis, MO, in conjunction with the National Association of Independent Schools annual People of Color Conference (PoCC). Potomac faculty and staff participated in PoCC, while the students participated in SDLC. Students enjoyed engaging with teens from around the country in activities and discussions around diversity, equity, and justice. They loved hearing from keynote speakers Simon Tam and Dr. Omekongo Dibinga, who were able to weave music and art into their messages of justice and inclusion. 

The walls of Upper School are exhibiting work from drawing and design class this month. The project called "Speaking Up" was inspired by the Malala Yousafzai quote, "When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful." The students thought of something that they wanted to say to our community. They chose a word and created an image that together expressed what they wanted to communicate. They used the block printing technique to create these images.