Seven Upper School seniors from The Potomac School have been selected as semifinalists for 2023 National Merit Scholarships.

Potomac’s annual fall carnival, Fall Frolics, is fun for students and parents alike. Join our community on Saturday, October 14, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. It’s also a great way to support student scholarships and Potomac’s faculty development program. There are many ways to get involved:

• Volunteer for a pre-event shift or day of shift.
• Donate individually wrapped candy for the Candy Counter game or a cake for the Musical Cakes game here; grade/class raffle baskets and gently used clothing, shoes, and accessories for Fabulous Finds/Nearly New.
• Shop the 2023 Fall Frolics Spirit Store.
• Sponsor and learn about the many ways to support the carnival. 

Parents and caregivers are invited to join us on Wednesday, October 18, at 7:00 pm, in the Langstaff Auditorium for an interactive conversation with Dr. Catherine McCarthy, Dr. Heather Tedesco, and Jennifer Weaver, LCSW, authors of Raising a Kid Who Can: Simple Strategies to Build a Lifetime of Adaptability and Emotional Strength. This event kicks off Potomac’s Health and Wellness Speaker Series. 

Filled with scientifically based and eminently actionable advice and strategies, Raising a Kid Who Can boils down the ten essential things that every child needs to thrive and covers topics such as Resilience, Attention and Self-Control, Psychological Flexibility, Self-Motivation, Compassion, and Gratitude. To learn more, watch their recent segment on Good Morning America and read their recent article in TIME. 

Learn more and register now for this Parent Association Spotlight program. 

This year’s honoree is Cort Morgan, art department chair, who is also celebrating his 40th year at Potomac. This award holds particular significance because Mr. Morgan and Mr. Cook were close friends. 

Thanks to all those who came out to our Welcome Back Cookout. Although the weather and lighting delayed and postponed most of our athletic contests, it was great to see members of our community come together for some fun. Thanks to the FAPS committee for organizing this event. View the photo gallery.

Named in honor of beloved teacher and assistant head of school Bill Cook, who passed away in 2016, the Bill Cook Excellent Teaching Award is presented annually to a teacher who exemplifies the commitment to excellence and love of learning that defines a Potomac education. This year’s honoree is Cort Morgan, art department chair, who is also celebrating his 40th year at Potomac. This award holds particular significance because Mr. Morgan and Mr. Cook were close friends. 

Mr. Morgan has taught in the Intermediate and Upper Schools and served as an outdoor education instructor, tech director, advisor, and coach. He translates his love of the arts to his students through teaching drawing, painting, sculpture, woodworking, architecture, art history, and more. His stewardship of Potomac’s outdoor spaces is unparalleled. Using wood harvested from the campus, he has skillfully built conference and coffee tables, benches, podiums, and more. And most importantly, while he teaches, his students also learn the responsibility they have as stewards of our campus and nature. 

We thank him for his many contributions to Potomac and congratulate him on receiving this well-deserved honor.

The Potomac community ushered in the new academic year with its annual Opening Assembly. The ceremony began with a procession of seniors escorting the kindergartners into their first-ever Potomac assembly. Then, Head of School John Kowalik and Student Government Association President Kasim Khapra ‘25 offered welcome remarks. Hugh Kanner-Bitetti ’25, a Visual and Performing Arts Concentration (VPAC) program member, performed "Moonlight Sonata Remix" by Lionel Yu. 

A highlight of the assembly was the presentation of the 2023 Bill Cook Excellent Teaching Award to Art Department Chair Cort Morgan (read more about Mr. Morgan below). The IS/US choruses closed the assembly with a beautiful a capella version of Potomac’s “Alma Mater.”

The Opening Assembly was a fantastic start to the year, and the Potomac community looks forward to an exciting year ahead! View the photo gallery. 

It’s great to be together again for the 2023-24 school year! Yesterday, arriving buses were met with cheers, music, and high-fives from the Potomac Panther and members of SAC (the Senior Athletic Committee). The morning was filled with Panther spirit and excitement for what the year will bring. View the Opening Day gallery. 

New-to-Potomac students arrived on campus Tuesday for their orientations. Thanks to the current Panthers who were on site to help give tours and make our new students feel welcome! Our newcomers participated in activities designed to familiarize them with the campus, classrooms, and faculty. 

We look forward to the Opening Assembly this Friday, September 8, at 9:00 am in the Upper School Quad. Parents of kindergartners and seniors are invited to attend the Opening Assembly in person; other parents and family members can watch it via livestream.

Friday’s Welcome Back Cookout, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, will be a great opportunity for our entire community to celebrate the start of the new school year. Please come out and be part of the fun!

We extend a warm welcome to the new faculty and staff members who have joined Potomac for the 2023-24 school year and beyond. These team members come from a wide variety of backgrounds, disciplines, and places. Be sure to say hello when you see them!