Potomac Stories

Last Wednesday was Community Action Day in the IS. Seventh grade students and advisors visited a recycling center, built trails on campus, and considered how they could lead Potomac’s recycling effort across campus. The eighth grade students and advisors engaged in meaningful work at various community partners across the DMV and came together for the first Sandwich Day of the year back on campus! Congratulations and thanks to all IS students and teachers for embodying a true generosity of spirit. See photos from the day.

Our seventh grade Spanish Advanced class saw a matinee performance for Colores de Flamenco  at  the GALA  Hispanic Theatre on Thursday, November 14. GALA Hispanic Theatre is a leading national center for Latino performing arts based in Washington, D.C. Since its founding in 1976, GALA has been dedicated to sharing the vibrant cultures and artistic expressions of the Latino community. Through innovative productions, educational programs, and community engagement, GALA aims to inspire and connect audiences, nurture emerging talent, and preserve the rich heritage of Latino arts for future generations. After the performance, they enjoyed a Cuban lunch from La Colada Shop, which gave students a taste of the Caribbean. Ask the students about the empanadas!

In Seminar 7, the students wrapped up a unit on group dynamics, communication skills, and collaboration by presenting carnival attractions they constructed out of cardboard to eager groups of MS and LS students in the IS Commons. Through the engineering and design process, students, in small groups, explored ways to communicate as a team and identify conflict resolution strategies. Check out the gallery.
 

This week, 13 IS mathletes traveled to the Washington Episcopal School for the first of three annual math meets. Each meet consists of three 10-minute rounds of two questions per round. With a strong showing from our mathletes and 15 schools participating, Potomac tied for first, scoring 18 out of a possible 24. Congratulations to all participants, and we are looking forward to the next meet at the end of January. 

All IS students were treated to a presentation by Dr. Todd Rimkus, a professor of biology and life sciences at Marymount University. Our seventh grade students assist with his turtle research by studying turtle growth rates throughout the school year. He brought along a few scaly and slithery friends to accompany his talk. Thanks for stopping by, Dr. Rimkus! Check out the photos. 

Clay Food Looks Good Enough to Eat: Colorful and realistic-looking sculptures made by the Class of 2029 are currently on view in the IS Commons. These pieces were created last spring and then, this fall, were glazed and fired. To understand form, shape, color, and dimension, the students made sculptures of everyday food, such as hamburgers, sushi, ice cream, pie and cake, noodles, fruit, and more. According to teacher Hillary Steel, the goal was to teach observational skills and trompe-l'oeil, the technique of creating art that, at first glance, looks real and "fools the eye." The exhibit will remain in the IS Commons through most of October.

IS Tapestry Weavings: The Class of 2029 is proud to invite you to look at the weavings completed at the end of their Art 7 class last spring. The tapestries can be seen in the hallway between the Commons and the IS art room. Students will explore tapestry weaving again in Art 8.