Potomac Stories

The Chinese Culture Club wrapped up the year with a calm and powerful final meeting on May 14! Students had the unique chance to learn and experience Yang-style 8-form Tai Chi, led by Master Sun and Master Zhang from the Silver Light Senior Association’s Tai Chi team. The session was both energizing and peaceful, allowing everyone to slow down, focus, and connect with traditional Chinese culture hands-on. Students shared that the Tai Chi practice helped them feel more centered and relaxed, which they needed before finals! It was a meaningful, memorable way to end a fantastic year of cultural exploration and community. 

SERC 10 students recently visited the Advanced Surgical Technology & Education Center (ASTEC) on the INOVA Fairfax Medical Campus. While there, students were able to practice with instrumentation for laparoscopic surgeries, test their skills using the Da Vinci robotic surgery system, speak with interactive mannequin patients, and learn about 3D printed models of a CT scan that allows surgeons to visualize tumors and blood vessels before surgery. 

Potomac School's robotics program was proudly represented at the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas (May 6–8), where over 800 high school teams from 41 countries gathered for one of the world’s premier STEM competitions. Among just 15 teams from Virginia, three Potomac teams – 12A Absolute Zero, 12C Caffeine, and 12Y Yuun – earned their place on the global stage.

All three teams competed with focus and professionalism, reflecting months of preparation and collaboration. Team 12C Caffeine had a particularly strong showing, captaining their alliance and advancing to the division semifinals, a finish that placed them among the top-performing Virginia teams at the event. Teams 12A and 12Y also held their own in competitive divisions, gaining valuable experience and representing Potomac with distinction.

Potomac Teams at Worlds: 12A Absolute Zero (Helena Backus ’28, Woodley Bohannon ’28, Marissa McEwen ’28, Jasper Majeed-Hall ’28); 12C Caffeine (Santi Cangahuala ’27, Nikhil Kothari ’27, Julian Mankovsky ’27, Brayden Nelson ’25, Trevor Nelson ’27, Cole Peterson ’27); and 12Y Yuun (Adam Bhatti ’25, Luke Brittin ’25, Dominic Cairncross ’28, Andrew Mu ’25, Ben Muhlendorf ’25)

Congratulations to all three teams for their outstanding efforts and achievements at the World Championship. Their performance was a strong reflection of Potomac’s commitment to excellence in robotics and STEM education.

Students in Ms. Searchinger's honors French 4/5 class explored the heart of North African hospitality and culinary savoir-faire as they prepared and shared couscous, then concluded with a traditional mint tea dégustation. The experience not only celebrated the region's culture but embodied its deep values of generosity, community, and meaningful connection through shared meals, offering a rich and flavorful culmination to the students' learning about Algeria. Savor the photos!

Ninth grade students visited the National Museum of Natural History to complement their current coursework in biology and honors biology. Students were treated to a special introduction to the museum by staff scientists and researchers. Throughout the visit, students were asked to reflect on the central question, "What does it mean to be human?" Some highlights included the Hall of Human Origins, which prompted students to consider the evolution of the human species, and the Ocean Hall, where students were asked to consider humans' impact on the environment. Students in biology and honors biology will draw upon their reflections and learning from this field trip to help shape their topics for the year-end Culminating Academic Assessment. Special thanks to Potomac parent Matt Kelly, who helped facilitate this wonderful opportunity for our students. 

On Wednesday, GPAC11 held its annual assembly for the Upper School. Over the past year, each student has developed an individual research project based on a global problem that they have identified. For the assembly, they collaborated to create a presentation that highlighted shared themes across their work. In their final message, they reflected on a powerful insight: “Power, when detached from accountability or cultural sensitivity, can become a tool of harm rather than healing. Whether through military operations, economic policy, or environmental governance, the consequences of irresponsible power echo far beyond borders and mandates, shaping lives, altering landscapes, and often deafening the very voices most impacted by their actions.” With their presentations complete, GPAC students will now spend the remainder of GPAC11 and GPAC12 writing their formal research papers.