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Potomac Stories

An Enchanting Winter Lights Celebration
An Enchanting Winter Lights Celebration

Prior to the break, Upper School students gathered for a beautiful assembly celebrating many of our holiday traditions. Personal remarks were delivered by Upper School Head Doug McLane, French teacher Brigitte Searchinger, English teacher Stephen Wicker, and seniors Chase Edwards, Bryce Hall, Sasha Karpova, and Leila Bodner. In addition to the personal narratives shared, many of the Upper School ensembles and a cappella groups filled the space with joyful music. It was a lovely way to send off the division to the holidays and begin ringing in a new year. Enjoy the photos from this assembly.

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Learning About Biodiversity on Smithsonian Field Trip
Learning About Biodiversity on Smithsonian Field Trip

Students in the Biodiversity & Conservation class traveled to the Natural History Museum to participate in the Reefs Unleashed program led by museum staff. Students learned about Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS), a nondestructive tool that Smithsonian scientists use to measure the biodiversity of coral reefs all over the world, then observed and analyzed data from images of ARMS plates to better understand the impact of ocean acidification on coral reefs. Applying their knowledge of marine ecosystems to their observations, students developed hypotheses to explain the differences in reef biodiversity. 

ASIA Club Hosts NBC4 News Anchor
ASIA Club Hosts NBC4 News Anchor

Last week, the US ASIA (Asian Students In America) Club hosted its annual assembly and invited guest speaker Ms. Eun Yang to Potomac. Ms. Yang is the primetime news anchor at NBC4 Washington. She shared about her childhood growing up as an immigrant in PG County, her experiences in college that led her to broadcasting, and some of the challenges she has faced throughout her career, including the time that she was fired! Ms. Yang encouraged students to work hard and believe they are more than their grades and transcript. We thank Ms. Yang for coming to Potomac. 

Career Lab Highlights Variety of Professions
Career Lab Highlights Variety of Professions

Last week, the Career and Professional Skills Committee and the Alumni Office hosted Jack Moore ’11, producer at Bethesda Game Studios; Bria Peace ’16, assistant vice president at Bank of America Wealth Management on the Hedge Fund Origination team; and Naki Franklin ’17, YouTube channel operations coordinator for Nickelodeon as panelists for this year's second Career Lab for juniors and seniors. They shared their insights and advice on their journey after Potomac, their jobs, and their perspectives on work and the future of work. 

Academic Showcase Highlights First-Semester Successes
Academic Showcase Highlights First-Semester Successes

Earlier this week, Upper Schoolers enjoyed our second annual Academic Showcase Assembly, where students from various classes had the chance to show off their work from the first semester. Highlights included Photography I students sharing selections from their recent portfolios, Advanced Research Seminar students showing off complex, content-rich infographics, an Anatomy & Physiology lesson plan for teaching Lower Schoolers about food allergies, and an original rap reflecting on content from our US History class. The assembly was a great way to celebrate amazing work from the first half of the 2023-24 school year! 

Impactful Visit to the Holocaust Museum

Sophomores recently had an opportunity for a meaningful visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Students were invited to learn about the atrocities committed during the Holocaust but also to bear witness to resilience and resistance despite the unspeakable horrors of World War 2. Our students engaged with artifacts with the utmost respect, and some even had the chance to speak with survivors after a tour of the exhibits. Beyond the connections to lessons in their history and English classes, our sophomores had the opportunity to reflect on human suffering along with a persistent spirit of hope. After returning from the trip, students joined small groups to share what they learned and experienced in the museum, ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust continue to resonate and inform our understanding of history and humanity. 

SERC Student Earns Top Honors in Regeneron Science Competition
SERC Student Earns Top Honors in Regeneron Science Competition

Imagine a world where all amputees have access to affordable, life-changing prosthetics. That's the future that senior and SERC student Arav Bhargava is working towards– tackling complex problems with ingenuity and compassion. His low-cost, 3D-printed prosthetics aren't just devices but tickets to a world of possibility. This isn't a science project; it's a revolution in accessibility. His “Low-Cost, 3D-Printed, Universal-Fit, Transradial Socket for Amputees in Developing Countries” earned him a spot in the Top 40 finalists of the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2024. Read more about the how and why behind his work.