Welcome to the fall 2022 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. We invite you to submit comments, questions, and story ideas to mosaicnewsletter@potomacschool.org.
|
In This Issue
Interview with James Hightower III, Director of Community Engagement Potomac Students Participate in the 51st Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference - Upper School Lunchtime Conversations and Student Initiatives
-
The Real Me Club for Sixth Grade Girls
- Students Engage in Community Action
- Supporting Students from Admission to Graduation
- Student, Employee, and Parent Surveys Guide Initiatives
- Inclusive Practices to Support Transgender/Non-Binary Students
-
ABAR Module 1 Professional Development in the Books
- Faculty and Staff Recruitment and Retention
- Yabsra "Yabby" Maelaf '23 Leads with Authenticity
- Michelle O'Hara '93 Engages on All Levels
- Community News
|
|
|
Meet James Hightower III, Director of Community Engagement |
|
|
|
James Hightower III joined Potomac in July 2022 and dove right in to meeting as many people as possible. When encountering someone new, James doesn't just say hello. He stops to ask a few questions to deepen the first encounter and make it more personal. His natural interest in human connections, affable nature, and keen insights align perfectly with his new role as director of community engagement. James has already had a big impact at Potomac, and we look forward to all that he will bring in the future. Read More – An Interview with James Hightower III
|
|
|
Potomac Students Participate in the 51st Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference |
The 51st Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) took place on Friday, September 30, at the DC convention center. This year’s ALC theme was “Advancing Our Purpose. Elevating Our Power.” 2022 is a year of action, and encouraging Black civic engagement is more crucial than ever. During the conference Potomac students had opportunities to meet Black congressional delegates, learn more about national issues affecting Black and Brown communities, and attend workshops on entrepreneurship, education, mental health, sports, politics, and issues in pop culture. The Annual Legislative Conference also served as a bridge for our Potomac students to meet African American scholars, leaders, and influencers with diverse career backgrounds. We look forward to participating again in the future!
|
Upper School Lunchtime Conversations and Student Initiatives |
"Lunchtime Conversations" is an Upper School panel discussion series that focuses on current events and topics of interest. Affinity space student leaders have used this time to engage in conversations that broaden perspectives, help develop informed opinions, and explore students' responsibilities as global citizens.
Students have hosted conversations on many topics. The Hispanic Student Alliance hosted a discussion featuring GALA (Grupo de Artistas LatinoAmericanos) Hispanic Theatre Director of Education and Arts Engagement Silvia Thorton Freeman, to learn about GALA’s commitment to provide opportunities for Latino artists, educate youth, and engage communities in an exchange of ideas and perspectives. YouToo Tennis held a lunchtime conversation about how Potomac students can get involved with students who are differently abled. The Virginia Teen Democrats and the Middle Eastern North African Alliance student clubs jointly hosted a lunchtime conversation focused on current events in Iran and the political and cultural oppression of women in the region. The Indian Student Alliance held a Diwali celebration, featuring a discussion about some traditional Indian sweets. Most recently, the Jewish Student Alliance discussed Kanye West's anti-Semitic tweets and other recent instances of anti-Semitism in the media and on the national scene.
|
The Real Me Club for Sixth Grade Girls |
The Real Me is a club that aims to empower sixth grade girls to embrace who they are, practice showing up for one another, and leave with kernels of wisdom that older females wish they had known at this younger age. Peyton Zarate ’23 recently joined the students to speak about her adjustment to Potomac as a new ninth grader and how she balances academics and co-curriculars now, as a senior. Then, club leaders from Girls Learn International (GLI) Selma Elrefai ’24, Sami Krilla ’25, and Lola Monroe ’24 spoke about advocating for equality and why having positive female role models matters. Additionally, second grade teacher Joy Webster reflected on the shifting terrain of middle school friendships. She acknowledged the inherent challenges and offered these guiding principles for navigating friendships: stay open, stay strong and true to yourself, and stay on your journey. As a culminating activity, the sixth graders painted rocks with inspirational messages and spread them around our beautiful campus to lift spirits.
|
Students Engage in Community Action |
|
|
| One of Potomac's commitments is to engage students at the intersection of service learning, DEI, and SEL. Community Action Days help us achieve this by enabling students to leave campus and get into the community to practice the skills of cultural competence, service to others, generosity of spirit, and emotional intelligence.
IS and US students volunteer with more than 40 partner organizations. After each Community Action Day, students reflect on the experience. Many of their reflections focus on how individuals can make a difference, effect change, and make connections through service. Read More |
|
|
Student, Employee, and Parent Surveys Guide Initiatives |
The mental health and wellness of all community members has been and continues to be a top priority for Potomac. Two years ago, we began using Authentic Connections resilience surveys with both students and employees to collect longitudinal data that can be used to measure the well-being of our community and the progress of our initiatives. The feedback directly informed the development of this year's institutional strategic priorities.
Faculty and staff heard a summary report of their survey data from Juna McDaid on October 12. IS and US students heard summary reports from Ryan Woods and Doug McLane, respectively, at recent assemblies, and videos of those presentations were shared with our IS and US parents.
All parents recently received a summary report of the findings from the parent survey that was conducted last spring. This report was provided by Dr. Mark Shugoll, CEO of Limelight Insights by Shugoll, the company that Potomac engaged to help develop and analyze our parent survey. In the near future, an alumni survey, also developed in partnership with Limelight Insights by Shugoll, will be sent to all Potomac alums for whom we have email addresses, and we look forward to receiving this group's feedback.
Hearing multiple perspectives is vital to the work that we do to ensure a healthy community and successfully pursue Potomac's mission of educational excellence. We thank all who have participated in our survey process and encourage everyone to participate in the future. |
| |
Inclusive Practices to Support Transgender/Non-Binary Students |
We want all of our students to have the opportunity to live authentically. This process involves exploration of many facets of identity; for some, this includes gender identity. Research consistently reveals that transgender and non-binary youth need more support in all areas of their school experience. We strive to support our transgender/non-binary students at Potomac.
Weezie Parry, grades 5-8 counselor, and Juna McDaid, assistant head of school for academics, attended a summer training through Kirby Creative Clinical Solutions to better understand the nuances and complexities of working with gender-diverse youth. Heather Kirby, a licensed social worker and local leader on this topic, has been working with transgender/non-binary teens and young adults for decades. She highlights that by listening to the voices of our students, we can better understand how to meet their needs. Read More
|
|
|
ABAR Module 1 Professional Development in the Books |
| |
|
Three years ago, Potomac made a commitment to provide mandatory adult education around anti-racist and anti-bias practices. On October 19, each division, led by their divisional cultural competence curriculum leader, engaged in conversations around the third of Potomac's four Cultural Competence Curriculum pillars – justice. Last year, we focused on the first two pillars, identity and connection. In this fall's session, faculty and staff discussed what justice looks like in a school setting, considered our grade-level outcomes in this regard, and brainstormed ways to incorporate the theme of justice into their classroom curricula.
|
|
|
Faculty and Staff Recruitment and Retention |
A national teacher shortage has been much in the news. While Potomac has not had significant difficulty recruiting and retaining quality faculty, we are aware of this trend and remain focused on recruiting the best educators and supporting them in their growth and development. Hiring processes that we implemented three years ago have helped us connect with a diverse pool of educators early and often, making it possible for Potomac to conduct the recruitment process with a personal touch. Getting to know the candidates and honoring their diverse talents and perspectives has proven to be key to building a strong pool of qualified, committed educators. These connections are being carried through the orientation and onboarding of the faculty and staff who are new to Potomac this year (pictured below).
|
For all faculty and staff, both new and veteran, we are creating avenues for greater communication like this fall's well-attended listening sessions with Head of School John Kowalik, more individualized attention through our faculty and staff growth and development programs, and increased the social activities to bring Potomac employees together and foster a sense of community. So far this fall, we have held two fun social events for employees and their families – a "Jack O' Lantern Jubilee" in October and a "Puppy Playdate" in November.
If you have a moment during this month of Thanksgiving, consider sending a note to a member of Potomac's faculty, staff, or administration who consistently goes above and beyond to ensure a wonderful experience for our students and the larger community. This small act makes an outsized impact in ensuring that Potomac's employees feel seen and appreciated. |
| |
|
Supporting Students from Admission to Graduation |
David Grant, director of student diversity recruitment and retention, is often seen giving tours to prospective families as a member of the Admission team, but his support extends beyond the admission process to help students feel a sense of belonging. Students can find Mr. Grant in his office in the Center for Community, Equity, and Racial Justice (CCERJ), in the Upper School. Students are welcome to stop by the CCERJ to relax, study, pick up a book, or have a conversation with Mr. Grant. Parents may also reach out to him to discuss ways that he and Potomac can support your family.
|
|
|
| Yabsra "Yabby" Maelaf '23 Leads with Authenticity |
Yabsra "Yabby" Maelaf '23 has been on the rise from the moment she joined Potomac seven years ago. Mrs. Hyde, Intermediate School administrative assistant, remembers hearing some of Yabby’s peers say, “Yabby, you will be class president in our senior year,” and Yabby has achieved even bigger things than that, becoming student body president for academic year 2022-23. Though one might assume that she was destined for leadership and that the path was paved for her, Yabby spoke at this year's opening assembly about perseverance and not giving up when faced with challenges. Read More
|
|
|
| Michelle O'Hara '93 Engages on All Levels |
A Potomac alumna and former homeroom teacher, Michelle O'Hara '93 is now a Lower School librarian and currently serves as the Lower School's interim dean. Needless to say, Ms. O'Hara loves Potomac! Of her new administrative role, she says, “So far, I'm enjoying being the dean. Like so much of what we do in LS, I help lay the firm foundations. I love thinking about what we teach, how we teach it, and why. I work with the faculty to think about curriculum through the LS and into MS, and I am also responsible for helping build the community.” Read More
|
|
|
Around the World Preparations Have Begun |
|
|
|
Around the World is a treasured event that celebrates the diverse cultural heritages of the Potomac School community. This tradition offers everyone the opportunity to participate in a global experience that includes country exhibits, a parade of flags, cultural performances, and an international tasting menu.
Last year, after a two-year COVID break, Around the World came back bigger and brighter than ever. We had 37 countries and three affinity groups represented, and well over 500 members of the Potomac community in attendance. Throughout the day students from all divisions bustled in and out of the Chester Gym, admiring the booths and eagerly collecting their passport stamps. The students learned about different cultures and took pride in our community's diversity. In the evening, the celebration continued, as parents and families arrived, ready to survey the exhibits, enjoy the performances, and sample delicious foods from around the globe.
|
|
|
If you are a parent or student who would like to showcase your heritage, country, or background, please contact co-chairs Haneez Amr or Janet Manu, and visit our website for more information about this year's event. You can also Read More about Around the World from the spring 2022 issue of The Potomac Term magazine.
|
|
|
Parent Cultural Competence Committee Hosts Events | | |
|
The Parent Cultural Competence Committee (PCCC) invites you to its next virtual meeting on Monday, December 5, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, for a wide-ranging and interactive discussion with Potomac trustee Michael Davis, who chairs the board's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and James Hightower III, Potomac’s director of community engagement. Please join the Zoom meeting here (meeting ID: 873 9183 6020 / passcode: 044172).
|
|
|
| On Sunday, November 6, the Parent Cultural Competence Committee hosted a social at the McLean Hilton. It was a time for parents, faculty, and staff to get to know one another better.
If you are interested in learning more about the PCCC and how to get involved, reach out to co-chairs Esther Lee and Manny Retureta.
|
|
|
Parents of Black Students Family Network Information | | |
The Parents of Black Students (PBS) family network launched the new school year with an initial Zoom gathering and a brunch, and they are looking forward to hosting more social and informational events in person and virtually in the months ahead. Parents of Black students who would like to connect in this parent affinity space are invited to reach out to this year's co-chairs, Lisa Franklin and Tanika de Souza.
|
|
|
Are You Interested in Starting a Family Network? |
Family networks are groups within the Potomac School parent community that bring together parents who have an identifier in common (affinity space) or who have a common commitment to an identifier (alliance space). Family networks might come together around race, religion, gender identity, family composition, and many other ways. If you are interested in starting a family network, follow this process for proposing one.
|
| |
|
