Potomac Stories

Grade 7 students have been working in pairs to research a person or event memorialized by a monument on the National Mall. Guided by the central question, “What are monuments for?”, students are creating five-minute documentary films that explore both the individual or event and the monument itself. On Thursday, May 15, students visited their chosen monuments and filmed on-site footage for their documentaries. Some even had the opportunity to interview park rangers during their visit.

Students also completed an in-depth analysis of the Lincoln Memorial, complementing their study of Abraham Lincoln and his leadership during the Civil War. They explored the symbolism embedded in the monument’s design by architect Henry Bacon—for example, the number of steps (87), which represent the journey from the founding ideals of the United States to the struggles of the Civil War, referencing Lincoln’s “Four score and seven years ago…” from the Gettysburg Address. There are also 36 Doric columns surrounding the memorial, each representing a state in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death in 1865. These symbolic features, along with the texts of the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address engraved on the interior walls, offered rich material for analysis—to give but two examples of what students explored and worked with their partners to apply meaning and discover rich symbolism often missed, though hidden in plain site. Check out their day!

The Intermediate School Spring Concert was an unforgettable evening filled with music. The event showcased remarkable performances by the musicians of the Intermediate School string orchestra, chorus, handbell ensemble, and band. Each ensemble brought a distinct sound and vibrant energy to the stage, performing a wide variety of music of different eras and styles. 

The orchestra mesmerized with selections such as "Intermezzo" from Cavalleria Rusticana and "Hoedown Showdown.” The handbell ensemble impressed with "Perseverance" and "Billy Jean" by Michael Jackson. Two highlights from the chorus performance were soul-stirring versions of “Shule Aroon” and “J'entends Le Moulin.” Lastly, the band performed "Prelude & Firestorm" by Roland Barrett and "Pink Pony Club" by Amstutz & Nigro, arranged by Mr. Heidtmann. Congratulations to all the student musicians on their outstanding performances! Enjoy photos from the concert. 

A group of 25 eighth grade students traveled to Port Isobel and Tangier Island, VA, for this year's bay trip with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. They studied the Bay's water quality, dredged an oyster rock to determine biodiversity, set crab pots (and only caught two crabs), and enjoyed being one with the marsh.

Last week, students in French 1B traveled to the Alliance Française for Festinema, a program dedicated to promoting Francophone culture to youth through cinema. They attended a private screening of Asterix et Obelix: Mission Cleopatra. Alliance library staff introduced the film by highlighting the history of the famous comic books of the same name. After the screening, they led a discussion en français in which our eighth graders shared their interpretations. Students returned to school for a French picnic, a tasty end to a morning of French culture.

On Thursday morning, IS French students heard from Mr. Wendpanga Dipama, a representative from the International Monetary Fund. His presentation introduced the students to the life and culture of Burkina Faso. Most importantly, he discussed the role the French language plays in his country and around the world. While his presentation was incredibly thoughtful and engaging, our students' questions may have been the most impressive part of the program. Enjoy the photo gallery.

Grade 7 art students used their powers of imagination and observational drawing skills to invent new creatures of the Animal Kingdom – the Chimeras. These mythological creatures are composed from one animal that lives in water, one animal that flies, and one animal that lives on land.

Using reference books from the art classroom, students made careful, realistic pencil studies of many different animals in their sketchbooks. Through that exercise, each seventh grader had to be aware of the basic shapes of each form, proportion, value, and texture. Next, to meet the parameters of our project, the students chose three very different animals and combined them into their unique chimeras, which are currently on view in the IS first-floor hallway. Ask our students about theirs! View a sample flock of chimeras.