Sessions 4 and 5, 2018

Passing

ooParkmont School Class Of 2018: 10 Strong ooParkmont Poets Join Festival Elite ooMiddle School Interns: The March To May Shift CLICK TO GO ooStudent Internship Interview: “It Was More Fun DIRECTLY Than Scary.” TO THAT STORY! ooSpring Exhibition: Food, Fun, Talent ooWhat’s Alaska? Parkmont Finds Out ooTest Marketing Capitalism ooCreative Writing: Gallery Words ooTeacher Spotlight: Nijole Gedutis ooMiddle Schoolers Sample Community Action ooPoP: Singing Students’ Praises ooPhilosophy A, B, Cs ooEspañol En El Terreno ooAsbestos Notice Parkmont School explorers reach Alaska in Spring 2018. Parkmont School Class Of 2018: 10 Strong They made their marks and made the grade. And on Sunday, June 10, 2018, they were recognized for their achievements and for what they had become: Parkmont School graduates. At a ceremony at Zion Baptist Church, Head of School Ron McClain called the roll: William Aitken, Yann-Cooper Atchole, Nathan Coleman, Joseph Doyle, Maria Harris, Alexis Jackson-Scott, Gigi Levin, Victory Nnam, Nicole Sadler, and Justin Wade. Parkmont’s 44th graduating class included many long-timers, and as a whole represented a total of 42 years of matriculation. As students, they amassed long records of learning, productivity and experience, culminating in 20-page graduation petitions reflecting on the journeys they’d traversed and the roads that lie ahead. They collectively put in more than 6,000 hours of work out in the community during the past six years and travelled thousands of miles on school adventures to places like the Grand Canyon and Alaska. At Parkmont, teachers engage students with interesting lessons, while everyone is responsible for learning to work hard, and taking students out into the

Four proud 2018 graduates, from left, Justin Wade, Maria Harris, Joseph Doyle, and Nathan Coleman.

PASSING NOTES | 2 world beyond the classroom is an essential part of preparing them for their futures, Ron noted. Outings occurred right up to the Friday night before graduation, with dinner for graduates and staff at Cactus Cantina in Cathedral Heights and then a trip to Signature Theatre for a musical about the Scottsboro Boys.

Ron called attention to the dedication Yann-Cooper of the school’s faculty and staff, and to the Atchole receives his graduation rose. parents of the graduates for the “substan- tial work you’ve done with your students to get them ready for today. You have been remarkably patient and persistent, and we are proud to be your allies.” The graduates, each introduced by one of their teachers, spent their years at Parkmont immersed in a program whose philosophy dates to 1972, with the development of an alternative school model. The school began with a group of

Gigi Levin poses Victory Nnam thanks the people who have helped for a photo with her on her high school journey, with Head of her long-time School, Ron McClain, standing by her side. Headmaster.

PASSING NOTES | 3 Nicole Sadler joins her fellow graduates.

Alexis Jackson-Scott celebrates her new status with her teacher, Bridget Mullins, and friend, Lidya Demissie. parents intent on making middle school William Aiken steps more intimate and fun and was later through graduation into the future. combined with a high school devoted to adventure and main lesson study, and the belief that knowing yourself should be a curricular goal, along with mastering math and English. Ron remarked that it had been the school’s good fortune to collaborate closely with the students of the graduating class of 2018. He thanked the graduates for tapping into the instructional skills of teachers and the opportunities of the program, adding that it had been an honor to help students build their foundations for the next phase of their lives. n

PASSING NOTES | 4 Parkmont Poets Join Festival Elite Six Parkmont School students made the final cut of the 36th Annual Parkmont Poetry Festival and joined 34 other students from schools across Washington, DC, whose exceptional verses passed through two tiers of distinguished judges, including a New York Times-bestselling writer. Nearly 120 people turned out for the annual Festival Reading on April 28, 2018, at the Zion Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, where the young writers braved the spotlight and read their poems that were chosen from nearly 400 sub- missions from students in Grades 6-12 at 22 public, charter and private schools. Emceeing the event was poet Sharan Strange, who grew up Orangeburg, SC, graduated from Harvard College and now teaches writing at Spelman College in Atlanta. Sharan praised the students’ flexing of the “empathy muscle” and the importance of their impulse to express themselves. She offered gentle segues and analysis between poems: “That was unexpected and delightful”; “I identi- fied with all that stabbing and scratching of the paper”; “You have such a won- derful reading voice. When I get my YouTube channel, you can be my narrator.” Parkmont writing teacher and Festival coordinator Kim Schraf noted the luck of the event arriving on a “quintessential spring day.” Kim, who oversees

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At the 36th Annual Parkmont Poetry Festival, Parkmont writing teacher and program coordinator Kim Schraf addresses the 2018 finalists and assembled guests.

PASSING NOTES | 5 Like us on Facebook

Parkmont 10th Grader Graham Velsey reads his winning poem, “I was Raised by Family.”

production of the printed Festival poetry collection and becomes deeply famil- iar with the students’ work, said that the Festival Reading celebrates not a handful of “bests,” but many “excellences,” and the raising and connecting of diverse voices. She suggested the audience try averting their eyes from the page to just listen to the poems for another kind of experience. Signs of the inspiring power of the poems showed up in the fresh-cut decoration of the church hall. After one student read his poem, prominently featuring a sunflower, Sharan let the audience know that “Kim just whispered to me, that’s why there are sun- flowers in each of the windows.” Taking on the challenge of writing poetry and submitting it to be judged doesn’t always come naturally to students. Kim noted that teachers are “often the ones who give them a nudge” and thanked them for their support. Following the students’ reading of all of the winning poems, she shared the words of finalist judge Anne Harding Woodworth, the author of six books of poetry and the co-chair of the Poetry Board at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Anne was unable to attend the event, but provided an integrating twist. She wrote a closing poem, drawing on a style popularized by the German

PASSING NOTES | 6 philosopher Walter Benjamin, that wove lines from each of the 40 winning poems into a larger poem called a “convo- lute.” It was thrilling to hear. Winning Parkmont students were: William Aitken, Grade 12; Casper Corsello, Grade 7; Conor Kelly, Grade 9; Graham Velsey, Grade 10; Katherine Salmeron, Grade 11; and Ian Makle, Grade 6. Congratulations! Thirteen other schools had winning poets: Charles Hart Middle School, Gonzaga College High School, National Cathedral School, Sidwell Friends School, Capital City Public Charter School, Georgetown Day School, Ballou Senior High School, Richard Wright Public Charter Capital City Charter School 11th Grader and three-time winning poet School, St. Albans School, Maret School, Sheridan School, Zion Keen takes the helm. National Collegiate Preparatory Public Charter School, and Washington International School. Congratulations! The Festival stays alive with the help of generous donors. Kim announced during the event that a supporter had offered to match donations up to $5,000. A total of $1,600 was raised during the event and con- tributions overall have pushed the total to the necessary goal. The support is greatly appreciated. As we look to the coming National Cathedral School 11th Grader year, we hope that people Maggie Wang reads her winning poem, “Twenty-four Hours in Henan who recognize the value Province.” of activating the voices of young people will consider helping the Sidwell Friends School 6th Grader Parkmont Poetry Festival continue its work. Zachary Farrington reads his winning poem, “The Silence.” Contact: [email protected]. n

PASSING NOTES | 7 Middle School Interns: The March To May Shift On Wednesdays from mid-March through May, middle school students set off for afternoon internships. They worked at a variety of job sites throughout the DC -2018

Calendar 2017 APRIL APRIL MS Noon Dismissal End of Session IV; 3 Apr. 1 SPRING BREAK Apr. 22 4 – AUGUST Apr. 1 Beginning of Session V Metropolitan area, some individu- 3 Faculty Returns Apr. 2 Parkmont Poetry Festival 8 Aug. 28 oon Apr. 2 MAY SEPTEMBER -N -3:00 Upper School Orientation, 9:00 Spring Exhibition and Potluck; May 11 Noon Dismissal Aug. 31 Middle School Orientation, 1:00 Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL) Aug. 31 First Day of School; ally and some in small groups super- May 28 Sept. 5 Beginning of Session I JUNE -Up Ceremony; Noon Dismissal (Teacher Workshop) MS Moving 8 Sept. US Back to School Night June 5 Last MS Day; Noon Dismissal

Sept. 26 MS Noon Dismissal MS Trip Sept. 29 (Teacher Workshop) June 6 End of Session V for US 8 OCTOBER June Upper School Graduation vised by Parkmont staff. Internship

June 10 Last Faculty Day MS Back to School (NO Night SCHOOL) 3 June 15 Oct. Federal Holiday MS Noon Dismissal Oct. 9 End of Session I; Oct. 27 Teacher Workshop (NO SCHOOL) a-Glance END Oct. 30 NOVEMBER Session Schedule STARTAt- hosts included a garden center, sev- 7 Oct. 2 SESSION 5 Beginning of Session II Sept. Dec. 20

Oct. 31 Family Potluck Dinner Session I Oct. 31 Feb. 16 2 Session II Jan. April 13 Noon Dismissal 6 Session III Feb. 2 June 8 6 THANKSGIVING BREAK 3 Nov. 1 – Nov. 26 Session IV April 2 Nov. 223 eral local non-profit organizations, a Nov. 2 DECEMBER MS Noon Dismissal Session V End of Session II; -up day Dec. 20 US Catch Last Day of Each Session Dec 21 HOLIDAY BREAK students will have time, if needed, to finish class – Jan. 1 Upper School Dec. 22 JANUARY work and do writing for their internship templates. There are NO MORNING CLASSES for students who are current. law firm, a cafe, and a youth base- Beginning of Session III All US students are expected to go to their internships in the

Jan. 2 MLK, Jr. Holiday (NO SCHOOL) afternoon. students will have English class, then participate

Jan. 15 MS Ski Trip Middle School 4 in special activities and be dismissed at 12 noon. Jan. 2 MS Noon Dismissal - 6 (Teacher Workshop) Jan. 2 after

FEBRUARY Inclement Weather Policy www.parkmont.org ball program. For information on school closings, please call the school at 202 US Ski Trip MS Noon Dismissal -0740 or check out our website at . 31 726 Jan End of Session III; 6 am. We also report closings to WTOP News (1500 am or 6 Feb. 1 5 WINTER BREAK wtop.com). – Feb. 2 Feb. 17 Beginning of Session IV 6 Patrick Neal is on the job at DC Central Kitchen. Feb. 2 MARCH The internship program gives Teacher Workshop (NO SCHOOL)

Mar. 16

-0748 • www.parkmont.org -0740 • Fax: (202) 726 students the opportunity to experi- 4842 16th Street, NW • Washington, DC 20011 • (202) 726 Parkmont’s ence many layers of the world out- 2018-19 Calendar side of school. By spending time at is now available a job site over several months, they at Parkmont.org. are exposed to many of the rhythms Click here! of workday life, and can get a sense of how different groups organize themselves and accomplish their goals. Their site supervisors are encouraged to include them in as many aspects of the work as pos- sible so that they experience both the humdrum and the exciting. Our hope is that they walk away with a sense of the world of work and the opportunity to add more skills to Bezawit Tucker doe her part to clean up the Henok Abebe helps prepare meals Anacostia River during her internship day their toolkit. n at DC Central Kitchen. with the Earth Conservation Corps.

PASSING NOTES | 8 Student Internship Interview: “It Was More Fun Than Scary.” Gabe Qualiana was Parkmont’s first student to intern at the Greenhouse at the Franciscan Monastery located in Brookland, in NE DC. He spoke with Parkmont Internship Coordinator Willa Reinhard about his experience.

What is the major function of the Greenhouse? They get donations and then they grow food, seasonal veg- etables, and then they donate it to area homeless shelters.

What were your general tasks? I would mostly help with upkeep. That included raking, mowing the lawn, moving dirt to the garden.

What was the highlight of your internship? I got to learn how to make honey with the beekeepers. You pull it out of the hive, put it through a giant strainer to strain everything out and then jar the honey.

Did you get to pull the honey from the hive? And was it scary? I did. I put on a protective suit that looks like a hazmat suit. It was more fun than scary. Gabe Qualiana sorts seeds at the Greenhouse What did you gain from your internship experience? at the Franciscan Monastery. I got to learn a lot about agriculture, and I’m interested in agriculture as a career.

Could you see working at the Greenhouse as a full-time job? Yes, despite the menial tasks, it was fun. I got to grow stuff!

Would you recommend this internship to another student? Yes, and I already have. n

PASSING NOTES | 9 Spring Exhibition: Food, Fun, Talent By Willa Reinhard, Administrator and Teacher On Friday, May 11, Parkmont families came together to share food and see examples of student work. The weather coop- erated and families sat out on the front porch and lawn to have dinner and play games. Inside, student work was on view, including poetry, creative writing, science demonstrations, consumer math proj- Parents Mary and Philip Doyle and Todd Leavitt enjoy ects and art. The evening concluded with a slide presentation highlighting the a meal together outside. last several years of Parkmont trips, from Panama to Puerto Rico, Alaska, the Grand Canyon, and California. n

Parent Steve Aiken joins students Brian Reyes and Elvin Canales on the front Dean of Students Nijole porch at Gedutis hula hoops Parkmont’s on the front lawn with Spring Claudia Leavitt-Majors Exhibition. and Bailey Maxwell.

PASSING NOTES | 10 What’s Alaska? Parkmont Finds Out By Matt McClain, Teacher As we rounded the final corner of the five-mile trek from Kennecott, an abandoned mining town outside of McCarthy and nestled deep in Wrangell-St. Elias State Park, I could see Nathan and William in full sprint off the trail and onto the biggest glacier we had ever seen. It was A our first real experience with how big Alaska truly is — Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest national park in the United

Day 3 | Wrangell-St. Elias Park, McCarthy, and Kennecott

A The Alaska students pause for a photo in the abandoned mining town of Kennecott, right outside of McCarthy, before finding the trailhead to the Root Glacier Trail. B Henry Rosser, Abbie Jones, and Latisha Bangura round the final bend before making their way onto the ice. B

PASSING NOTES | 11 DAY 4 Whittier, kayaking, and Blackstone Glacier DAY 5 A Seavey’s dogs, Seward, Kenai Fjord A cruise, and Alaska Sealife Center

A The Parkmont kayakers B C raise their oars before the glacier. A Henry Rosser peers at a B Blackstone Glacier B Steller’s sea lion at Alaska reveals its majesty. Sealife Center. B Lidya Demissie and Abbie Jones befriend a lead sled dog on Parkmont’s Alaska States, encompassing Adventure. 13.2 million acres, and C A humpback whale we felt incredibly small waves its tail as it dives underwater. nestled between the D D Lidya Demissie and Latisha park’s two largest moun- Bangura touch anemones. Help Support tain ranges. Parkmont School. In our eight days in Click here to Alaska, we traveled over 1,600 miles by car and ferry, spending time in Denali’s Learn More! tundra wilderness, the fjords of the Kenai peninsula in Alaska’s southwest, an incredible yak farm in Willow, kayaking past glaciers in rainy Whittier, and relaxing in our hot tub overlooking Robe Lake outside of Valdez. We witnessed some of the largest and smallest animals in North America in their natural

PASSING NOTES | 12 A

A B C

DAYS 6 and 7 Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Nate’s birthday, Alaska Native Heritage Center, and Willow Ranch B

A Everyone cooked a delectable birthday breakfast for Nate Coleman. B Frank hosts the Alaska class at the Hope Willow Ranch. C Alex Jennison and Abbie Jones greet a yak at Hope Willow Ranch. D A sports demo at the Alaska Native Heritage Center dazzles the audience. C E The class keeps a respectful distance from this grizzly at Alaska D E DAY 8 Wildlife Conservation Center. Denali, animals, and bus tour

A Nate Coleman and Gigi Levin walk on a log outside habitats — bull moose, grizzly bears, bison, Dall sheep, of Talkeetna. mountain goats, snowshoe hares, the collared pika, B Are students observing these Dall sheep or are the trumpeter swans, golden eagles, convocations of bald sheep observing the students? eagles, hawk owls and snowy owls, harbor seals and C These are the Denali mountains, not a postcard. Steller’s sea lions, humpback whales and many more. n

PASSING NOTES | 13 Test Marketing Capitalism By Mike Shoup, Teacher Capitalism has a long history of emphasiz- ing private business and individual free- doms. In my Main Lesson on the topic, the class tracked the rise and fall of different economic systems and discussed the ideas that drive them. Among the keys to Like us on capitalism are choices and competition. Facebook Students put these concepts into practice with a hands-on project to test their small- business skills. Working with classmates, groups received funding from the venture capitalist (me) to make their dream busi- nesses a reality. Students created advertising campaigns to generate enthusi- Jared Adams, Joseph Doyle and Asa Nugent asm for products and performed market research to assess viability. Participants are open for business. then had one week to execute their business plans. They kept track of their accounts and total profit, and found profit margins for each item that they sold. From baking brownies and cookies with a chocolate fountain to a coffee and donut stand, each business found its target market. At the end of the class, students used the proceeds for a class party to celebrate their hard work. n

Cairo Jannone, Jeff Djoyoadhiningrat and Graham Velsey offer breakfast Carolina Honea-Hughes is alternatives. a one-woman sales team.

PASSING NOTES | 14 Creative Writing: Gallery Words By Nijole Gedutis, Dean and Teacher In Session 5’s Creative Writing class, we went on a field trip every week, taking advantage of the plethora of resources in our city and inspiring student expres- sion. During a visit to the National Gallery of Art, students chose a piece of art and then free-wrote about it, taking care to use sensory and specific details.

I sit, I sit, and I sit. I think, I think, and I think. I sit and think all the time. I wonder about a lot of things. I think about how this world was made or who the first people on this earth really were. I think about a lot of things. I think about why I sit here and think. I don’t know why. So I sit and think all day and every day. My skin starts to burn when I’m not in shady areas. I wonder why my skin does this when it’s hot. I think about why our skin can’t just block it out. So I sit and think about it. Sometimes I like to sit. I think about why I like to sit. Is it “The Thinker” cool? Is it comfortable? Does it make me look handsome? I by Auguste Rodin sit and think about a lot of things. I guess you can just call me a sitter or maybe a THINKER. — Khalil Dawson-Martinez

Mother tells me to go out and play with the sweetest voice, almost sweeter than strawberries. I reply, saying, “I will, Mother.” I slowly walk up to our beautiful, delightful smelling garden. Flowers of all kinds of shapes and colors surround me, putting a bright big smile on my face. Gently picking up my light-orangy hula hoop and my light yellow, smooth, wooden stick. Walking slowly on the soft, dark brown dirt. Suddenly I hear my mother’s sweet voice asking me to pose for a picture. She takes the picture before I am ready and laughs at my reaction to that. I lean over “Girl with a Hoop” by Auguste Renoir to look at the picture and like it. She kisses my big white cheeks and I go off to play in my light blue dress. — Jacqueline Salmeron

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PASSING NOTES | 15 I come from the biggest house on the top of the mountain, watch- ing over all the smaller homes that look like little Help Support ants from where I am standing. I’m served beau- Parkmont School. tiful plated steak while the others have por- Click here to ridge. I’m five. Soon I’ll rule over all the land. Learn More! But I don’t want this for myself. Ride a bike, skate, jump rope, hang out with my friends “Boy With a Straw Hat” — that’s the normal life I wish to have, but by Paul Cézanne no, Mother doesn’t think I should have fun. She has kept me almost hostage from the real world. — Giselle Reyes

Sam was in a dark room quivering with fright because there was an elder- ly man sitting in a chair that was dark “Paul Alexis Reading a brown with black wheels. The man Manuscript to Zola” held a white paper covered in sloppy by Paul Cézanne handwriting, only one long word with no space which looked like it was rushed through. Sam had a big, heavy beige blanket wrapped around him. — Firaol Hailu

Teacher Spotlight: Nijole Gedutis Role: Dean, with responsibilities that include overseeing staff, student advising, managing discipline and class scheduling, along with teaching. Hails From: Houston. It was not nearly as cool then as it is now – World Series-winning team, great food scene. When I was growing up it was just a hot, humid place, with lots of freeways. continues on the next page

PASSING NOTES | 16 Higher Ed: Pomona College, in southern California, for a bachelor’s and Catholic University, in DC, for a master’s degree. Start-Up: In college, a friend and I edited a literary arts magazine. We had so much fun, and when we moved to Washington, DC, we launched The Wash in 1998, a print magazine devoted to “the undiscovered, the unknown, the untapped genius peeking out from behind that grey matter -2018

Calendar 2017 APRIL APRIL MS Noon Dismissal End of Session IV; 3 Apr. 1 SPRING BREAK Apr. 22 4 – AUGUST Apr. 1 Beginning of Session V in the back of your head.” It lasted two years, until the call to 3 Faculty Returns Apr. 2 Parkmont Poetry Festival 8 Aug. 28 oon Apr. 2 MAY SEPTEMBER -N -3:00 Upper School Orientation, 9:00 Spring Exhibition and Potluck; May 11 Noon Dismissal Aug. 31 Middle School Orientation, 1:00 Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL) Aug. 31 First Day of School; teach had to be answered. May 28 Sept. 5 Beginning of Session I JUNE -Up Ceremony; Noon Dismissal (Teacher Workshop) MS Moving 8 Sept. US Back to School Night June 5 Last MS Day; Noon Dismissal

Sept. 26 MS Noon Dismissal MS Trip Sept. 29 (Teacher Workshop) June 6 End of Session V for US 8 OCTOBER June Upper School Graduation

June 10 Last Faculty Day MS Back to School (NO Night SCHOOL) Oct. 3 Federal Holiday June 15 Why Teach: I was an English major. I love to read. I love to MS Noon Dismissal Oct. 9 End of Session I; Oct. 27 Teacher Workshop (NO SCHOOL) a-Glance 0 END Oct. 3 NOVEMBER Session Schedule STARTAt- 7 Oct. 2 SESSION 5 Beginning of Session II Sept. Dec. 20

Oct. 31 Family Potluck Dinner Session I Oct. 31 Feb. 16 talk about books. It’s a natural way to talk about books with 2 Session II Jan. April 13 Noon Dismissal 6 Session III Feb. 2 June 8 6 THANKSGIVING BREAK 3 Nov. 1 – Nov. 26 Session IV April 2 Nov. 223 Nov. 2 DECEMBER MS Noon Dismissal Session V End of Session II; -up day Dec. 20 US Catch people. I think it’s just in my blood; I’ve just always known. Last Day of Each Session Dec 21 HOLIDAY BREAK students will have time, if needed, to finish class – Jan. 1 Upper School Dec. 22 JANUARY work and do writing for their internship templates. There are NO MORNING CLASSES for students who are current. Beginning of Session III All US students are expected to go to their internships in the

Jan. 2 MLK, Jr. Holiday (NO SCHOOL) afternoon. students will have English class, then participate

Jan. 15 MS Ski Trip Middle School My father was a social worker who taught night school. I’m a 4 in special activities and be dismissed at 12 noon. Jan. 2 MS Noon Dismissal - 6 (Teacher Workshop) Jan. 2 after

FEBRUARY Inclement Weather Policy www.parkmont.org For information on school closings, please call the school at 202 US Ski Trip MS Noon Dismissal -0740 or check out our website at . 31 726 Jan End of Session III; 6 am. We also report closings to WTOP News (1500 am or teacher who just got my social work degree. I like the com- 6 Feb. 1 5 WINTER BREAK wtop.com). – Feb. 2 Feb. 17 Beginning of Session IV

6 Feb. 2 MARCH Teacher Workshop (NO SCHOOL)

Mar. 16 bination of getting to know these kids, but that’s combined -0748 • www.parkmont.org -0740 • Fax: (202) 726 4842 16th Street, NW • Washington, DC 20011 • (202) 726 with the content. I get to learn a lot myself when I teach. Nijole hiking the Tongariro Parkmont’s Alpine Crossing in New 2018-19 Calendar Why Parkmont: Luck. I was working as an intern at a non-profit in Takoma Zealand, February 2017. is available at Park. My boss said, “You know, my son’s soccer coach runs a little school in DC.” Parkmont.org. The rest is history. This is my nineteenth year. Click here! Style: I like the creativity when I’m teaching my classes – not having to teach to a test or someone else’s curriculum. I like that I can look at my group of kids and say, “I think this group of kids would really like The Catcher in the Rye or this is the right time to read 1984.” I love field trips, creating a lesson plan around an exhibit that is in town. Student Engagement Secret: It’s not so secret. I like to use humor. Sometimes our kids feel overwhelmed and can’t imagine they’ll be able to get through things. I see humor as a way to help gain perspective. Favorite Movie: Amélie, about a naïve Paris waitress’s devotion to helping others while struggling to find her own way. It’s whimsical. I love the story. I love the colors in it. I love that it’s kind of quirky. n

PASSING NOTES | 17 Middle Schoolers Sample Community Action By Troy Burki, Teacher During Sessions 4 and 5, a group of middle school students got involved with three DC-area community organizations. The group worked with Earth Conservation Corps, an organization focused on cleaning up the Anacostia River and educating people about the native plants and animals in the area and the impact of pollution. Students par- ticipated in educational programs and had the opportunity to assist in the Anacostia River cleanup effort. Students also joined in with DC Central Kitchen, a major DC organization that prepares over three million meals per year for area homeless shelters, schools and nonprofits, and provides food industry training for jobless adults. Students

Parkmont students dig in at the Garden Guild at the Franciscan Monastery.

PASSING NOTES | 18 assisted with the creation of several meals and learned about proper food preparation and safety. And then, at the Garden Guild at the Franciscan Monastery, students tested their green thumbs. The Garden Guild grows over 8,000 pounds of produce every year, donating the harvest to area organizations and nonprofits to help feed those in need. Students assisted with many tasks, includ-

Parkmont students join an Earth Conservation Corps cleanup effort.

ing installing fencing for tomatoes, picking and preparing herbs, digging and tilling soil for planting, helping with the landscaping, and harvesting bulbs for next season. Students also learned about all the different programs and initiatives of the Garden Guild, as well as the importance of bees and the beekeeping that At DC Central Kitchen, Sasha Milius does the honeydew slicing. takes place in the gardens. n

PASSING NOTES | 19 PoP: Singing Students’ Praises By Sam Graul, Teacher This year, starting in Session 2, the staff decided to enact a new weekly tradition with the goal of celebrating students’ achievements and moments of excel- lence. At the end of our faculty meetings each week, we would discuss individual triumphs, moments of perseverance, leadership, good will toward others, and anything else that stood out to us as examples of students being great members of our school community. Thus was born “Parkmont’s Pupils of Prestige (As Appointed by Appropriate Personnel).” During our Thursday announcements each week, we would reveal a list of nominees for the award, culminating in the recognition of that week’s awardee. It was great how as the year went on, and the tradition became more established, that PoP became more and more important to both students and staff. For us, as teachers, it was a great weekly reminder of why we teach and what we love about Parkmont. Ending our meetings on such amazing positive notes each week provided a great Help Support emotional boost. Parkmont School. The response from the Click here to Learn More! students was also won- derful; each morning it was great to see how they intently listened to the suc- cess stories of the week and congratulated each other to show support for their friends’ hard work. n

Parkmont’s Pupils of Prestige certificates adorn a school wall.

PASSING NOTES | 20 Philosophy A, B, Cs By Sam Graul, Teacher I started teaching at Parkmont over a decade ago, originally hired as a math teacher. Over the years, I have taken on a wide variety of main lessons, across a diverse set of subject areas. One hat I had never worn, however, was that of a Reading Group teacher (our Upper School’s version of English class). Building off a 7-week Main Lesson course I’d previously taught, I embarked on a new year-long journey back into the world of grammar, literature, and writing that I had not been a part of since I was a student. Each session we focused on a different and specific field of philosophy and dove into reading and learning about some of the most important and prominent theories and their interpretations. I really enjoyed Session 4 in particular, our Existentialism unit. We read Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis aloud in class, and Albert Camus’ The Stranger on our own at home. While the students took on novels that involved existentialist ideas and characters on their own, we combined it all into a class A few of the books read in that had some amazing discussions each week, as we worked to understand philosophy class show that our own absurd existence. It was amazing to lead a great group through a new they exist. course, and for me, exciting to re-enter the realm of English and see my students respond with such enthusiasm. n

Español En El Terreno By Bridget Mullins, Teacher During Sessions 4 and 5, a group of aspiring language learners were enrolled in Spanish 2A and 2B. The class focused on increasing students’ knowledge of Spanish vocabulary and grammar, and improving students’ abilities to communi- cate using the Spanish language. As a part of this process, students often engaged in games in the classroom, written projects, oral presentations, and field trips. Near the end of Session 4, students began working to master formal Spanish commands and los comestibles. They would later use this information to

PASSING NOTES | 21 recreate simplified recipes for authentic Spanish dishes. To help reinforce the

-2018

Calendar 2017 APRIL APRIL MS Noon Dismissal in-class conversations, students took their practice to las calles where they vis- End of Session IV; 3 Apr. 1 2 SPRING BREAK 4 – Apr. 2 AUGUST Apr. 1 Beginning of Session V

Apr. 23 Parkmont Poetry Festival Faculty Returns 8 Apr. 28 Aug. 2 -Noon MAY SEPTEMBER ited Don Juan’s restaurant in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. At Don Juan’s, -3:00 Upper School Orientation, 9:00 Spring Exhibition and Potluck; May 11 Noon Dismissal Aug. 31 Middle School Orientation, 1:00 Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL) Aug. 31 First Day of School; May 28 Sept. 5 Beginning of Session I JUNE -Up Ceremony; Noon Dismissal (Teacher Workshop) MS Moving 8 Sept. US Back to School Night June 5 Last MS Day; Noon Dismissal the students were given a hands-on lesson about how to make traditional pupu-

Sept. 26 MS Noon Dismissal MS Trip Sept. 29 (Teacher Workshop) June 6 End of Session V for US 8 OCTOBER June Upper School Graduation

June 10 Last Faculty Day MS Back to School (NO Night SCHOOL) 3 June 15 Oct. Federal Holiday MS Noon Dismissal sas and communicated almost entirely en español! In addition to practicing Oct. 9 End of Session I; Oct. 27 Teacher Workshop (NO SCHOOL) a-Glance 0 END Oct. 3 NOVEMBER Session Schedule STARTAt- 7 Oct. 2 SESSION 5 Beginning of Session II Sept. Dec. 20

Oct. 31 Family Potluck Dinner Session I Oct. 31 Feb. 16 2 their command structures, students received valuable practice in listening to Session II Jan. April 13 Noon Dismissal 6 Session III Feb. 2 June 8 6 THANKSGIVING BREAK 3 Nov. 1 – Nov. 26 Session IV April 2 Nov. 223 Nov. 2 DECEMBER MS Noon Dismissal Session V End of Session II; -up day Dec. 20 US Catch Last Day of Each Session native Spanish speakers and ordering in a restaurant setting. Dec 21 HOLIDAY BREAK students will have time, if needed, to finish class – Jan. 1 Upper School Dec. 22 JANUARY work and do writing for their internship templates. There are NO MORNING CLASSES for students who are current. Beginning of Session III All US students are expected to go to their internships in the

Jan. 2 MLK, Jr. Holiday (NO SCHOOL) afternoon. students will have English class, then participate

Jan. 15 MS Ski Trip Middle School 4 in special activities and be dismissed at 12 noon. Later, in Session 5, students returned to the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, this

Jan. 2 MS Noon Dismissal - 6 (Teacher Workshop) Jan. 2 after

FEBRUARY Inclement Weather Policy www.parkmont.org For information on school closings, please call the school at 202 US Ski Trip MS Noon Dismissal -0740 or check out our website at . 31 726 Jan End of Session III; 6 am. We also report closings to WTOP News (1500 am or 6 Feb. 1 WINTER BREAK wtop.com). time visiting the popular second-hand store, Frugalista. In class the students 5 – Feb. 2 Feb. 17 Beginning of Session IV

6 Feb. 2 MARCH Teacher Workshop (NO SCHOOL)

Mar. 16 had been learning new vocabulary related to la ropa while working to master -0748 • www.parkmont.org -0740 • Fax: (202) 726 4842 16th Street, NW • Washington, DC 20011 • (202) 726 how to use direct object pronouns. At Frugalista, the students were tasked with Parkmont’s competing in a scavenger hunt for various clothing items and using these items 2018-19 Calendar is available at to style three new outfits. The results were muy interesante. In the end, stu- Parkmont.org. dents used their photos from the trip in their final projects of the session. n Click here! Asbestos Notice In accordance with Environmental Protection Agency Regulation, C.F.R. ss763.93(g)(4) and ss7763.84, this is to give notice that the Parkmont Asbestos Management Plan documents are maintained in the office of the Head of School and are available for inspection at any time upon request. For your further information, the management plan was established in 1988. Our most recent EPA re-inspection was conducted in September 2015 by Jenkins Environmental, Inc. Re-inspections are conducted every 3 years. Should you have any questions or wish to review the Management Plan, please contact Ron McClain at 202.726.0740. n

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4842 Sixteenth Street, N.W. • Washington, D.C. 20011 (202) 726-0740 • (202) 726-0748 (fax) Admissions: Ext. 2 • Email: [email protected] www.parkmont.org

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