Potomac Stories
![Students Participate in Congressional Black Caucus]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1759869734/potomac/ngifcysgfx8se2sw6btg/CBC_2025.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1759869734/potomac/ngifcysgfx8se2sw6btg/CBC_2025.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1759869734/potomac/ngifcysgfx8se2sw6btg/CBC_2025.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1759869734/potomac/ngifcysgfx8se2sw6btg/CBC_2025.png","width":1000}])
Students Participate in Congressional Black Caucus
EXPLORE MORE
Search Stories
POTOMAC STORIES
![US Architecture]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1776884129/potomac/qwyujrtpfbikcqpx7bqn/USArchitecture.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1776884129/potomac/qwyujrtpfbikcqpx7bqn/USArchitecture.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1776884129/potomac/qwyujrtpfbikcqpx7bqn/USArchitecture.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1776884129/potomac/qwyujrtpfbikcqpx7bqn/USArchitecture.png","width":936}])
One project for every Advanced Architecture class invites students to work in small design teams to consider the redevelopment of a real local site. What would be feasible, necessary, and appealing within its context? Last Thursday, students went on a short field trip to explore their current challenge: a commercial location on Washington Boulevard in North Arlington. There was much they could do in advance, looking for information online through GIS (Geographic Information Systems), county planning documents, real estate postings, and historical archives. As they walked the site and surveyed its surroundings, the teams finally had a grounded opportunity to test their assumptions. They now return to the studios with more specific ideas as they approach a final presentation next week.
![Speech and Debate All Americans]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1776950542/potomac/opf9zziegnpzaxryvqs7/SpeechAndDebateAllAmericans2026.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1776950542/potomac/opf9zziegnpzaxryvqs7/SpeechAndDebateAllAmericans2026.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1776950542/potomac/opf9zziegnpzaxryvqs7/SpeechAndDebateAllAmericans2026.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1776950542/potomac/opf9zziegnpzaxryvqs7/SpeechAndDebateAllAmericans2026.png","width":1080}])
The Speech and Debate program celebrated seven new NSDA Academic All-Americans at a special luncheon hosted by Mr. Kowalik. The seven join eight existing students who won their honors last season when the eight were juniors.
The designation requires substantial evidence of a student's academic performance, along with a certain level of competitive success. Fewer than 2 percent of debate students nationally win this recognition.
The juniors who are new members of this group are: Tristan Mankovsky, William Shanmugam, Jacob Jackson, Helena Zhai, Iris Zhou, Meritt Leahey, and Darya Miralli. Senior debate students recognized in their junior year (last year) include: Thomas Shanmugam, Miles Su, Avi Agrawal, Sasha Leifer, Julia Saba, Addie Wolff, Aaliya Haque, and Miqy Khapra.
Potomac School's program is one of the few in the country with 15 NSDA Academic All-Americans.
![Tournament of Champions]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1776883316/potomac/hnvj6hrdvmgwnszvvuwp/TournamentofChampions.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1776883316/potomac/hnvj6hrdvmgwnszvvuwp/TournamentofChampions.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1776883316/potomac/hnvj6hrdvmgwnszvvuwp/TournamentofChampions.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1776883316/potomac/hnvj6hrdvmgwnszvvuwp/TournamentofChampions.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1776883316/potomac/hnvj6hrdvmgwnszvvuwp/TournamentofChampions.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1776883316/potomac/hnvj6hrdvmgwnszvvuwp/TournamentofChampions.jpg","width":2200}])
Eight Potomac Speech and Debate students qualified for the Tournament of Champions during the course of this season. One of them narrowly missed winning a national championship. Junior Kate Hedges finished third overall in Original Oratory. Kate's oratory was titled "Ribbit for Justice."
![Hispanic Student Alliance Celebrates Heritage During Assembly]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1774464440/potomac/tjdtfduk4aqhaznur9d3/HSAAssembly2026.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1774464440/potomac/tjdtfduk4aqhaznur9d3/HSAAssembly2026.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1774464440/potomac/tjdtfduk4aqhaznur9d3/HSAAssembly2026.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1774464440/potomac/tjdtfduk4aqhaznur9d3/HSAAssembly2026.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1774464440/potomac/tjdtfduk4aqhaznur9d3/HSAAssembly2026.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1774464440/potomac/tjdtfduk4aqhaznur9d3/HSAAssembly2026.jpg","width":2200}])
The Potomac Upper School celebrated our Hispanic heritage on Wednesday with an assembly led by the members of the Hispanic Student Alliance. The assembly touched on the broad range of areas of the collective Latino experience. Alliance members Sebastian Chumpitaz '26, Alex Runde '28, David Chumpitaz '29, Emilia Tamayo '29, spoke about the importance of different dimensions of their individual heritage that mattered to them, from the World Cup and current events, to food and music, and how those dimensions captured the spirit of their cultural experience and identity. HSA leader Alejandra Villafuerte '26, shared important reflections on our names, their sounds in the voice of others, and our identity. We celebrated the wonderful language of dance, as all of the US students learned and practiced the core Bachata moves led by Spanish teacher Ms. Azul Torres Velducea. Then eight students participated in a Bachata dance contest with the senior team coming out as most impressive. The assembly concluded with personal reflections by Santi Cangahuala '27, and HSA leader Sophia Vilela '26 ¡¡Excelente!!
In the last few months, the Math Team has competed in the Berkeley Math Tournament and the Perennial High School Math Rendezvous. In the Berkeley Math Tournament, Ayman Teshome '29, Esther Choi '28, and Katie Lee '26 earned Honorable Mentions for their performance on the general, algebra, and calculus tests, respectively. In addition, the team of Teshome, Choi, Lee, and Bridget Holmes '27 won first place at the Perennial High School Math Rendezvous, competing against over 20 teams.
![SERC Activities This Month]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1774466458/potomac/djskdsmgqk37cejjl0rc/Untitleddesign.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1774466458/potomac/djskdsmgqk37cejjl0rc/Untitleddesign.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1774466458/potomac/djskdsmgqk37cejjl0rc/Untitleddesign.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1774466458/potomac/djskdsmgqk37cejjl0rc/Untitleddesign.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1774466458/potomac/djskdsmgqk37cejjl0rc/Untitleddesign.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1774466458/potomac/djskdsmgqk37cejjl0rc/Untitleddesign.png","width":2200}])
Over Spring Break, three of our SERC students were busy presenting their research at the Fairfax County Regional Science & Engineering Fair. Sophomore Misa Hikawa earned first place in the Biomedical & Health Science field for her work entitled, "Molecular Docking Screenings of FDA-Approved Drugs Against Frequently Mutated PI3Kα and PTEN Variants to Identify Potential Endometrial Cancer Therapies." While seniors Charlie Holtman and Avery Miller aptly presented their research, they answered questions from judges and networked with scientists.
On Tuesday, Dr. Doug Schmidt and Dr. Michael Speight from William & Mary’s brand new School of Computing, Data Science & Physics spoke with students during a lunchtime conversation about the use of AI in college and beyond, and how it can be incorporated into research to augment it. They also discussed how students can be successful in a data-driven world.