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February 2, 2023

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Featured News

Getting Ready for the Scholarship Auction
Getting Ready for the Scholarship Auction

Wine Party: The Scholarship Auction Wine Party is this Sunday, February 5, 3:00-5:00 pm, at the home of Julie and Tom Steindler. Please join us and bring a bottle of your favorite wine or see our wishlist for suggestions. 

RSVP: Potomac’s 2023 Scholarship Auction invitations have been sent. RSVP early so we can accommodate your seating requests for the March 4 event. 

Best of Live: Don't Miss Out! There are only 70 of the 250 Best of Live tickets left. Purchase yours now before they sell out, and get a sneak peek at a sampling of this year’s fabulous auction items in our Auction 2023 catalog.

Announcements

Tonight's Celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day
Tonight's Celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Please join us tonight, February 2, to celebrate both National Girls and Women in Sports Day and the 51st anniversary of Title IX, a landmark ruling that forever changed the landscape for female athletes. Here is the rundown of events for the day. Please mark your calendars; we hope to see you in the stands!

  • 3:30-4:15 pm: MS basketball clinic sponsored by Potomac girls varsity basketball coach Carol Hilderbrand and Barb Mays. Please see the Middle School section of Paw Prints to sign your child up!
  • 4:15 pm: JV girls basketball vs. Stone Ridge
  • 5:45 pm: varsity girls basketball vs. Stone Ridge

After-School Activities

Extending School Day Fun!

Drop-in Extended Day is available for students from K-8. Learn more about the program and register.

Spring Break Sports Camp
Spring Break Sports Camp

Enhance your K-6 students' sports skills for spring break ‘23 with coach Barb Mays’ Panther Spring Break Sports Camp. What better way to spend your spring break than with fun, friends, and organized sports and games. Kick off spring break and register here.

Extended Day/Spring Break Camp
Extended Day/Spring Break Camp

Extended Day performed a fun Volcano Eruption Science experiment. We used sand to create our volcanos and added baking soda, vinegar, and red food coloring to the volcano's crater and voila, eruption time! We learned how a chemical reaction between vinegar and baking soda creates carbon dioxide gas which made the experiment more exciting, as we watched the volcano erupt! Join us for more fun with S.T.E.A.M Spring Break Camp March 13-17. Full S.T.E.A.M ahead!

Pawz Corner

Diversity Hiring Fair This SaturdayPotomac’s annual Diversity Hiring Fair, now in its 11th year, will be held on Saturday, February 4. View details about the fair, and feel free to share this information with anyone you think may be interested in attending.

Week Ahead

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2023-24 Calendar

The 2023-24 core calendar is now available.

Potomac Social

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    Lower School News

    Lower School

    Parent-Teacher Conferences and Childcare

    Lower School homeroom teachers are looking forward to meeting with parents tomorrow, February 3, to discuss student progress and goals. There will be no classes for K-12 students. 

    For those who have registered for in-person conferences, drop-in, short-term childcare (for Potomac students only) will be available free of charge between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. Childcare will be in the Flag Circle Building Dining Room. Please remember to sign your child in and out.

    Next Sharing Assembly on February 10

    Our next Sharing Assembly will be on Friday, February 10, 11:00 am, in Ramsey Assembly. We will feature Ms. Kim's kindergarten class, Mrs. Berke's first grade class, Mrs. Jackson's second grade class, and Mr. McEwen's third grade class.

    Lost and Found Keeps Growing

    Is your child missing a sweater, jacket, or hoodie? When you come for your conference tomorrow, please be sure to check out the Lower School Lost and Found. Our collection is growing!

    Second Grade Sound Waves
    Second Grade Sound Waves

    Mrs. Hoffmann's second grade class studied sound waves during their unit on sound and light. The students observed how salt "danced" on top of a cup when they hummed next to it at different pitches. When they did a low hum, the salt moved a little. When they did a high hum, the salt flew off the cup. Pretty awesome!

    Field Trip

    On Wednesday, February 8, our second grade students will attend Discovery Theater's production of "How Old Is a Hero?" This play, infused with archival music of the Civil Rights era, celebrates three young people who helped change the nation by their heroic actions – Ernest Green of the Little Rock Nine, Claudette Colvin, and Ruby Bridges. Their stories provide inspiring examples of perseverance, courage, social change, civil rights, and activism.

    Third Grade Science Fair Coming Soon!

    Since the beginning of January, third graders have been working hard on a science fair project of their choosing! As a way to practice the scientific method, they have been questioning, hypothesizing, researching, experimenting, and documenting their progress. We look forward to our Science Fair on Friday, February 24, in Ramsey Assembly. Please note that there will be no Sharing Assembly that day.

    Heart Heroes in LS
    Heart Heroes in LS

    Thanks go to the PE team for organizing a fun time for a worthy cause at our Kids Heart Challenge Assembly. And a special shout-out to third grader Laila Pandhi for her great work as one of the emcees. The Spangler Center was filled with energy as students and faculty jumped, danced, and hopped their way to healthy hearts. Well done, all!

    Lower School Dates

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    Middle School News

    Middle School

    Reminder That a Delayed Opening = Casual Dress in MS!

    This is just a reminder that if we are "lucky" enough to have a bit of snow this year, MS students may come to school dressed in casual attire on any delayed-start day.

    Student Report Cards and Parent-Teacher Conferences

    Middle School first-semester report cards are available now via the parent portal section of CampusNET. There will be no classes for students on Friday, February 3, due to Parent-Teacher Conferences. If you need to change or cancel your scheduled conference time, please email Kim Mackay. Drop-in childcare will be available during your conference time in the Flag Circle Building Dining Room. Please be sure to sign your child(ren) in and out if you are taking advantage of this service.

    Vision Screenings – February 15

    Vision screenings have returned. The Prevention of Blindness Society of Greater Washington will be on campus on Wednesday, February 15, to screen all Middle School students. If your child wears glasses or contact lenses, please make sure that they wear them on the day of the screening.

    CW5 Takes The Stage 

    On Friday, February 10, Ms. Westermann's fifth grade class will present the short comedy The Hill of Magic Beans, or Here's Looking at you, Jack for all MS students and CW5 parents. The play will begin at 9:30 am in the Langstaff Auditorium. A livestream link will be shared in next week’s Paw Prints.

    Heart-Healthy Fun
    Heart-Healthy Fun

    A special thanks to the PE team for organizing a good time for a worthy cause at our Kids Heart Challenge Assembly. The event was emceed by sixth grader Ethan Schwartz. The Spangler Center was filled with energy as students and faculty jumped, danced, and hopped their way to healthy hearts. Well done, all!

    Standardized Testing Next Week

    Middle School will administer three Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) subtests during the week of February 6. Parents are asked to avoid making appointments during the testing periods noted below:  

    • Monday, February 6 - 8:35-9:45 am - Quantitative Reasoning
    • Tuesday, February 7 - 8:30-9:30 am - Reading
    • Thursday, February 9 - 1:05-1:50 pm - Writing Mechanics
    • Monday, February 13 - Make-up testing for grades 4 (10:20-11:10 am) and 6 (12:05-1:00 pm)
    • Tuesday, February 14 - Make-up testing for grade 5 (10:20-11:10 am)

    Middle School Dates

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    Intermediate School News

    Intermediate School

    CTP Testing for IS Students

    Both seventh and eighth grade students will take three CTP subtests (quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, and writing mechanics) between Tuesday, February 14, and Thursday, February 16. Students will need to bring a fully charged Chromebook to school, but they do not otherwise need to prepare for these tests. The tests will have a limited impact on the daily schedule with no classes missed. Please direct any questions about CTP tests or known upcoming absences for your child on any of those days to Alex Helwink.

    Parent/Advisor Conferences Tomorrow!

    As a reminder, IS conferences will take place tomorrow, February 3. There are no classes for K-12 students on this day. If you have a conflict or need to make a change with your conference time slot, please ensure to email your child’s advisor.

    Grade 7 Sandwich Day Next Wednesday

    All grade 7 advisories will participate in Sandwich Day on Wednesday, February 8. The entire grade will make sandwiches for Potomac's community partners, Martha's Table and Cornerstones, in the Commons. This week, students were asked to donate sandwich-making supplies (including meat, cheese, and bread) and they will email their parents with the items they have signed up for. Seventh graders should bring all sandwich-making donations to school on the morning of February 8. Thank you to our IS families for supporting this meaningful service learning tradition!

    Planning The Freshman Year: Join Us Next Thursday

    Eighth grade parents and students are invited to “Planning the Freshman Year” on Thursday, February 9, in Langstaff Auditorium. Please note the start time for the event is 6:00 pm. US Director of Curriculum and Academics Tory Virchow, Grade 9 Dean Katherine Proctor, and US Head Doug McLane will be sharing academic and student life information to help students and parents plan their ninth grade year. There is only one athletic contest on February 9, providing time for most students to head home immediately after school before returning to campus for the program. If it is a hardship for your child to go home and then turn around and return to Potomac, please let us know via SchoolPass and an email to Joleen Hyde by Monday, February 6. We will hold a study hall for students who need to stay on campus.

    IS Musical Tonight and Friday!
    IS Musical Tonight and Friday!

    The Intermediate School is excited to present our production of Shrek, Jr. Hope to see you all there! The performances will be on Thursday, February 2, 7:00-8:30 pm, and Friday, February 3, 7:00-8:30 pm in the Langstaff Auditorium. 

    Beauty is in the eye of the ogre in Shrek The Musical, Jr., based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film and fantastic Broadway musical. It's a "big bright beautiful world" as everyone's favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, Shrek Jr. is an irreverently enjoyable show with a powerful message for the whole family. No tickets required! Both shows will be livestreamed here.

    Intermediate School Dates

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    Upper School News

    Upper School

    Advisor-Advisee-Parent Conferences Tomorrow

    US advisor-advisee-parent conferences will be tomorrow, Friday, February 3 (a day off for K-12 students). If you prefer a virtual conference, please email your student’s advisor directly to request this option. Otherwise, conferences will be on campus, in person.

    Read More about Advisor-Advisee-Parent Conferences Tomorrow
    Winterfest Makes a Strong Comeback

    Though the weather recently has felt more like early spring, the US gathered for Winterfest last Friday. Historically, this event has been built around a varsity basketball game, but this year the community was treated to a varsity wrestling dual meet in the Landry Wrestling Arena. The wrestlers put on a great show for the crowd, many of whom had never before experienced the sport in person. Afterward, students participated in a 3v3 basketball tournament in Spangler; when the dust settled, seniors Marcus Burrell, Devin Dunn, and Kelly Crittenberger were the victors. Other treats during the evening included a capella performances by Mixed Company and Mag7 and delicious chocolates and pastries from Cameron's Coffee and Chocolates.

    Read More about Winterfest Makes a Strong Comeback
    US Model UN Team Takes on Philly
    US Model UN Team Takes on Philly

    This past weekend, 9 members of Potomac’s Model United Nations team attended the Ivy League Model United Nations Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After traveling on Thursday afternoon, our students competed with and amongst roughly 1,000 others from around the country until Sunday afternoon. Our students successfully contributed to the following committees: Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Issues; The United Nations Development Plan; Special Political and Decolonization; a Special Summit on Climate Change in 2032; and a Mexican Multinational Crisis Committee. The conference was quite busy. Students were practicing diplomacy in their committees from roughly 8:00 am until close to midnight each day. The students were respectful and enjoyed their time immensely. We are very thankful to Upper School French teacher Ms. Searchinger for helping to chaperone the trip, and are already looking forward to attending next year!

    Model UN Team: Jackson Mackney '23, Alex Hekmat '23, Anna O’Sullivan '24, Tenley Overdeck '24, Kasim Khapra '25, Alexander Bauer '25, Laith Weimer '24, Nat Estes '24, and Fifi Loza '24

    Read More about US Model UN Team Takes on Philly
    Mental Health Assembly Moves the Upper School Community

    On Monday, students gathered for Potomac’s annual US Mental Health Assembly. There, a small group of students spoke about their personal journeys in an attempt to destigmatize mental illness and encourage those who might be suffering in silence to seek support. After the assembly, the counselors hosted a lunchtime conversation to continue the discussion in a less formal setting; they were also available for any students who wanted to check in individually. Thank you to our student speakers for their courage and vulnerability.

    Read More about Mental Health Assembly Moves the Upper School Community
    Student Recognized for Writing

    The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards program identifies students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and presents their remarkable work. The program gives students opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarships. Potomac freshman Aliyah Majeed-Hall’s flash fiction piece, "Perihelion Pieces” was awarded a Silver Key, which means her writing placed in the top 18 percent in the competition. Congratulations, Aliyah!

    Read More about Student Recognized for Writing

    Upper School Dates

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    US T208 Tiered Classroom

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    Athletics

    Athletics

    Boys Swim Team Repeats as MAC Champs
    Boys Swim Team Repeats as MAC Champs

    Potomac's boys swim team won the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference championships for the second straight season by scoring 494 points. The Flint Hill Huskies were second with 453 and Georgetown Day third with 430. The Panthers won with only 10 swimmers and had no divers in the meet at Georgetown Prep School in Maryland. Read the full story in the Sun Gazette and see photos from the meet.

    Potomac Grapplers Make a Big Splash at Winterfest
    Potomac Grapplers Make a Big Splash at Winterfest

    The varsity wrestling team competed well against a tough Lewis High School squad in front of a jam-packed crowd at Landry Center last Friday. The energy in the room was electric as the team celebrated its senior night, honoring Aidan Cullinan, Alex DeCamp, and Bram Halpert. The team's toughness and character were on full display on the mat, and our school spirit was at full tilt in the stands. The Potomac wrestling program offers its sincere thanks to the members of SAC, the Athletics Department, the Upper School school administration, and all the fans who came out to make it such a special event. Enjoy the photos. Your grappling Panthers will next see action at the MAC individual tournament at Sidwell this Saturday, February 4, 10:00 am

    Recap of Varsity Boys Squash Matches
    Recap of Varsity Boys Squash Matches

    On January 26, the varsity boys squash team demonstrated their skills and abilities on the road against Episcopal, winning 8-1 in regulation (9-1 overall) with most of our victories coming in three straight games. The only match loss was by just two points in a very close fifth game. The home team's advantages (more supporters, greater court familiarity) were not enough to match Potomac’s preparations and efforts.

    Potomac hosted St. Christopher’s on January 31 in the Spangler Center. In very competitive matches, most Panthers pressed their opponents into overtime games before St. Chris finally prevailed 5-4. Ben Levy ’25 had a notable 3-2 win playing at our number one position, defeating his higher-rated opponent 13-11 in the fifth game by hitting a back wall dead nick after 36 minutes of high-tempo, corner-to-corner squash. Alex Zhou ‘23, Will Scribner ’25, and Aidan Corwin ’24 posted impressive wins, and co-captain Jeffrey Nuechterlein ’23, Max Revis ’23, and Daniel Overdeck ’24 competed hard, forcing their opponents into overtime. 

    The Panthers were playing without our number 3 player, while the Saints appeared to have a full roster. Hopes remain high for our February 9 rematch, which will be played at the Country Club of Virginia, in Richmond. Enjoy the photos!

    Girls Squash Beats Episcopal

    The girls squash team defeated Episcopal High School on January 26. Potomac won 8-2, with great wins from Cecelia Woods ‘25, Sophia Calkins ‘24, and Yabby Maelaf ‘23. Woods won both her matches after stepping up from junior varsity to play the ninth and 10th positions on the varsity team. Well done! Alex Meek ‘23 and Anya Aggarwal ‘25 played tough matches as well. Overall, the team put up a very strong performance against Episcopal.

    JV Boys Squash Earns Convincing Win

    In a fine display of skills and spirit against Episcopal High School, the boys JV squash team won by a tally of six matches to three. The top four Panthers won all their matches 3-0, while our number 6 and 8 players notched the other two victories. Every player gave it their best.

    #1 John Cayenne-McCall (2023) slickly dispatched his opponent who had no solutions for John's speedy retrievals and pinpoint accuracy.
    #2 Cliff Kanner-Bitetti (2025) was all business in quickly shutting down the opposition with a three-love win.
    #3 Miqy Khapra (2026) completely dominated, scoring his first "bagel" when he won the last game 11-0.
    #4 Nik Bhargava (2026) cranked up the power, allowing his opponent to win only three points. He also served an 11-0 bagel in the last game.
    #5 Sasha Leifer (2026) and his opponent salted away four games before Sasha went out on his shield, 13-11 in the fifth. 
    #6 Bellamy Falatko (2026) clawed his way out of a two games to zero deficit to win in five. The last game was a nail-biter in which he gave up three match balls, but dug in to win the tie-break 12-10.
    #7 Nathan Arundel (2023) demonstrated vast improvement. He and his opponent seesawed in five close games but the other player squeaked out the last one to win 3-2.
    #8 Aidan Muhat's (2025) drop shots and feathery touch proved to be too much for his opponent. He notched a convincing 3-0 victory. 
    #9 Matthew Katerberg (2026) won a lot of points in each game of his 3-0 loss. He also played a match at #10 in which he was too good for his opponent, using accurate serves to win in three.

    Athletics Dates