THE OWL POST
SAYING GOODBYE TO MR. POWERS
Number o kids: 3 ( 1 dau hter and twin boys )
Favorite color: blue
Favorite animal: olden retriever
Favorite ood: French ood
Favorite thin to do: ol
Fun Fact: He was born on Friday the 13th, and he can do a really ood Kermit the Fro
AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. POWERS
ByDaisyKerpenAndAshaSchulick
Whenwesawthatwewereabletowritefortheschool newspaper,wethoughtthatitwasagreatideato interviewMr.Powersbecauseit’shislastyearhereatthe Woods.Mr.Powershaswelcomeduseachmorningwith fist-bumps,ranwelcomeZoomsduringCovid,taught5th gradersbusiness,andhelped8thgraderswiththeirhigh schooldecisions.
HowlonghaveyoubeenatWoods? Twelve years
Whatwillyoudonext? I will be joining the Waterside School in Stamford, Connecticut.
ThefacultyandstudentsatTheWoodsAcademyhavehadmany opportunitiestomeetournewheadofschooloverthepastfew months.WelookforwardtogettingtoknowDr.Palladinofurther asshebeginsherroleasthenewheadofschoolinthefall.Make sureyougiveheragreatWoodswelcomewhenyouseeher aroundtheschool.
Willyourchildrenbejoiningyou? My daughter is in college in California. My twins will be going off to college. Jack is going to California and Andrew will be playing baseball in Virginia.
Whatisyourfavoritethingtodowiththestudents? Teach them, learn from them, and sometimes even play a little recess with them.
June, 2023
End of Year Edition 1
DON’T HAVE TO BE SICK TO GET BETTER”—AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. PALLADINO
ByDylanManrique-Johnson
ItisfittingthatforthefirsteverissueoftheOwlPost,wefeaturean interviewwithournewheadofschool, DrJessicaPalladino. Currently sheistheprincipalofRollingTerraceElementarySchoolinTakoma Park. Sheisanamazingpersonwhobeganhercareertaskedwith writingtheMontgomerycountylanguageartslearningcurriculum. She receivedherPhDfromtheUniversityofMarylandspecializingin curriculumandinstruction.
Themainthingthatstoodouttomeduringour interviewwasherlove ofchallenges. Sheenjoysbeingpushedtobecomethebestbysearching outnewopportunitiesandthrivesonlearningnewthingsindifferent fieldsofwork. Oneof favoritequotescamefromoneofherold principals,“Youdon'thavetobesicktogetbetter.”Sheseesthisasan inspirationforhertimeattheWoods. Shecanstrivetomakeitbetter whiletryingnottocompletelychangetheschoolintheprocess.
Whenaskedaboutwhyshewantedtotakethepositionsherepliedthat theWoodshasareputationasaverystrongschoolwithawelcoming community. Sinceacceptingthepositionasheadofschoolshehas heardmanygreatstoriesabouttheWoodsfromcolleagues,friendsand neighbors.
OnethingthatIhavebeenwonderingaboutwasthefateofourbusiness classthatMr.Powershastaughttoupperschoolstudents. Dr.Palladino hasnotyetmadeafinaldecisionaboutthecoursebutshetalkedaboutthe importantlessonslearnedinabusinessclass,especiallyleadershipskills.
Dr.Palladinohasastronginterestinleadershiptrainingandplansto continuetomakesurethisispartofourcurriculum. Sometraditionswon’t change. Athercurrentschoolshegreetseverystudentuponarrivaljust likehowMr.Powersgreetsuseverymorning. Sheislookingforwardto bringingherownnewtraditionstotheWoodsanddevelopingnewones
FormyfinalquestionIaskedherwhatkindoflegacyshehopedtoleaveat theWoods.Sheansweredthisbyagainreferencingthesenseofstrong communityattheWoods.DrPalladinowantstoaddtothiscommunityby helpingthestudentstobecomemoreinvolvedinthevoiceoftheschool, creatingaplacewherestudentscanfeelheardandcanappreciatethe OverallIenjoyedtheopportunitytogettoknowDrPalladionbetter. She bringsawealthofexperienceandenergytoourschoolandIamdefinitely
“YOU
2
AnothergroupsawTheRaftofTheMedusa.Afteranexcitingmorning exploringthemuseum,wehadlunchattheGardenofTuileries.Wetook themetrotogoseetheL’OperaGarnier.Wethenstartedtomakeour waytotheGaleriesLafayettetoshopandbrowsearound.Westartedto makeourwaytoBrasserieBarochefordinner.
EIGHTH GRADE TRIP TO PARIS
ByAndrewKamineandHarperRushton
InMarch2023,theeighth-gradeFrenchstudentswenttoParis,Francefora week.Duringourtripwehadalotofexperiencesfromvisitingmuseums, visitingworld-famousmonuments,andweevengotthechancetomeetsome kidsourageataCatholicschoolinParis.Wehaveafewhighlightsthatwe wanttosharewiththerestoftheschool.
OnSundaythe12th,wearrivedatCharlesdeGaulleAirport.Weweretired buthappytobeinParis.MostofushadneverbeentoParisbefore.Exceptfor beingtired,wehadagoodtimeclimbingtheArcdeTriomphetothetop.It hadaspectacularviewoftheChampsElysees,TheEiffelTower,andThe Seine.
Thenextday,wewenttotheLouvreandwesawtheMonaLisathendivided intothreegroupstoexplorethemuseum.Onegroupsawtheapartmentsof NapoleonandanothersawtheWeddingofCanaandLibertyLeadingPeople.
OnTuesday,wemadeourwayovertotheMuseed’Orsay,whichisan oldtrainstationconvertedtohouseartfrom1848to1914.WesawVan Gogh’sself-portrait,StarryNight,TheTinyDancer,andother Impressionistpaintings.WewenttoaFrenchschoolforlunchand enjoyedsometraditionalFrenchfoods,suchasCrepesandPate.Our afternoonwasspentwalkinguptheEiffelTower,wherewehadsome MacaronsandHotChocolate,andwereabletolookatafantasticview ofParis.
OnWednesdaywewenttoa differenttypeofmuseum,history insteadofart,HoteldesInvalides, wherewewereabletoseethetomb ofNapoleonBonaparte.Aswellas Napoleon’stomb,Hoteldes Invalidesalsohasasmallmuseum dedicatedtotheFrenchResistance duringWorldWarTwo.Wesaw militaryuniforms,weapons,spy gearandmore.Afterleaving Invalides,westoppedtogetaquick continued on page 4
3
continued from page 3
lunchandthentookanhour-longdrivetoVersailles,thehomeof MarieAntoinetteandLouisXVI,whowereKingandQueenof FranceduringtheFrenchRevolution.Versaillesisahugeplace with2300rooms,soitwasimpossibletoseethemall,butwesaw TheKingandQueen’sroom,theHallofMirrors,andthelarge gardens.Attheendoftheday,wereturnedtoParis.
OnThursday,weatebreakfastattheHotelandstartedmakingour waytowardtheMetro.WestartedatSainteChapelleandeven thoughNotreDameisclosedforrenovation,wewereabletowalk pastitonourwaytoafamousbookstore,Shakespeare& Company.OnceitwaslatemorningwewenttoJardin d'Acclimatation.Thetimewentbyfastandeveryonehadalotof fun.
OnFriday,weatebreakfastandwetooktheMetrotovisitaschool calledNotreDamedesOiseaux.Wemetseveralstudentsandthey
werehappytomeetus.Weallhadagreattimeandthedaywasnot overyet.WehaddinnerandhadaneveningcruisearoundtheSeine River.
OnSaturday,unfortunately,ourtimeinPariswascomingtoanend, butwehadonemoredayoffun.Inthemorning,wewentto Montmartre,aneighborhoodknownforitsstreetartists,andThe BasiliqueduSacreCoeur,whichwasourfirststop.Weadmired stainedglass,alargemosaicofJesus,andmanyotherthingsbefore leavingtodosomeshopping.InMontmartre,severalstudentsgot portraitsdone,andallofusboughtmatchingParissweatshirts.For ourfinalstop,wesplitintotwogroups,onewenttoTheCatacombs andonewenttoCiemetairePereLachaise,whichhasthegravesof manyfamousartists,musicians,andauthors.OurdinneratAstaire onthelastnightwasveryfancy,andwehadmanyFrenchdelicacies likeescargotandfrog’slegs.
WedepartedonSundayandthevoyagewasfun,weallenjoyedit, andhadmanygreatexperiences.
4
JV SOFTBALL CELEBRATES A FUN SEASON
ByZalinaGormley
TheJVsoftballteamhadagreatseasonwith1win,1tieand2losses. TheteamcompetedagainstMcLeanandMarylandSchoolfortheDeaf, playingeachteamtwice.Unfortunately,theirlastgamewascanceled, buttheircoach,MeganMullally,madeitagreatandfunpractice.They hadascrimmagewiththewholeteamwhichprovidedachancetohave fun,improve,andtoeventrysomethingnew.
Theteam’stwocaptainswereMadisonMullallyandZalinaGormley. Theywereinchargeofleadingwarm-upsandstartingcheers.Theydid agreatjobofleadingtheirteamandsupportingtheirteammates.
Theteamhadmultiplepitchersandcatchers.ThepitcherswereEmma W,GabyY,andsometimesRubyS.Theydidagreatjobofpitching ourteam.ThecatcherswereMaeveM,GretaS,andGabyY.Theyalso didanamazingjob.Thankstobothourpitchersandcatchers. Again,theteamhadanamazingseason,workedveryhard,triednew positions,andimprovedtheirskills.GreatjobtoDaisyKerpen, MadisonMullally,MaeveMcCarthy,MollieWisecarver,GretaSun, RubySclafani,EmmaWaterman,ZalinaGormley,GabrielaYbarra, KylieRicca,RaphieJantio,SammyStanton,andMcCannaFaughtfor anamazingseason!
5
PhotoCredit:WillsByford
FIELD DAY
ByAndrewKamine
OnMay5th,2023theWoodsAcademyhostedaneventknownasField Day.ThestudentshavebeenpreparingandlookingforwardtoField Day.AmonthbeforefielddayPEteachersMr.ParkerandMs.Ricca havebeenmakingthefielddayeventsandplayingthegamesso studentscanhaveafeel.Inaddition,thereisawhiteteamandagreen team.Fielddayisheldforeveryonefromfirstgradetoeighthgrade. Unfortunately,youcannotchoosewhatteamyouwanttobeon.
EveryyearFieldDayisheldoutsideandthereareallsortsofgamesto do.Thegamesthatpeopleplayedwere;Dodgeball,Kickball,Tugof War,PrisonerBall,ChickenRun(LowerSchoolonly),UltimateFrisbee (UpperSchoolonly),Borderball,andFlagTag.DuringFieldDaypizza andsnowconeswereavailableforstudentsandteachers.
AdaybeforeFieldDay,teachersweregivenT-shirtsthatweregreen andwhite.OnthedayofFieldDay,studentsgoalloutwiththeirteam colorsandcanbeseendyingtheirhairorpaintingtheirfacesintheir teamcolor.EachgradegetscompetitivewhenitcomestoFieldDay whichmakestheeventfun.
Aftereveryonewasdonewiththeactivitiesandhadpizza,the8thgrade receivedthetraditionofplayingeighthgradeversusfacultykickball. Theteachersscoredalotofrunsandhomeruns.Whiletheeighthgrade hadagoodtimeandplayedcompetitively,thefacultyendedupwinning thegame.
Unfortunately,theFieldDayhadtocometoanend.Howeverbeforewe leaveyou,itistimeforthebigrevealandtoseewhowonFieldDayfor 2023.Whenateamwins,theteamwillrunuptothehillandcelebrate. TheGreenTeamwonandtheywereveryhappytowinsincetheylost twoyearsinarow.Unfortunately,thefuntimeendedanditwastimefor dismissal.Everyoneshookhandsandsaid“goodgame.”Allofthegrades showedperseveranceandsportsmanshipwhichmadeFieldDayinclusive foreveryone.
6
The War in Ukraine
ByZeDeaneRyan
OnFebruary24th,2022,Russian troopsinvadedUkraine.Thesetroops weregivenordersbyVladimirPutin,thepresidentofRussia.Putin wantedUkraineformanyreasons,butthemainoneisthathewantedto recreateSovietRussia.PutinthoughtUkrainewouldbearelatively straightforwardvictory,butithasn’tgonetoplan.
RussialaunchedmultipleassaultsonUkraine’scapital,Kyiv,butthanks toVolodymyrZelenskyandhisarmy,wererepelledeverysingletimesomethingnoonesawcoming.NowRussiahasbeendevastatedwith manydeathsandlostbattles,andhavestartedtoconcede.Butthe problemisthatPutincannotfullysurrenderbecausehehaswastedso manylivesandsomuchmoneythattostopwouldbeabadlookonhim, especiallygiventhefactthathestartedthewarwithzeroprovocation.
AnotherthingisthatPutinneverhadabackupplan.AsIsaidearlier,he wasconfidentthathisarmywouldjustmarchinandtakeUkraineina matterofdays.Whenthisdidn’thappen,Putinwasoutofideasandhas sincebeentakingdefeatafterdefeat.It’sgottentothepointwhereit’s nowbecomeawarofattrition,withmanybattlesbeingfoughtandeach sidetryingtogettheupperhand.
thesamewaytheywonthebattleinKharkiv. Whilethebattleisstill goingon,Ukrainehasnotbackeddown,andtheyaredoingverywell.
Infact,theyareprobablydoingbetterthantheiropposition.
OneofthemaintacticsthatUkrainehaveimplementedistheelement ofsurprise.TheyusedittosuccessfullyrepeltheRussiansfromKyiv, andonoffenseaswellinCrimea.Andtheycontinuetouseittogood effect.
Soitisawarthatcontinuestounfoldandstunuswithourevents,but whathashappenedhastrulybeenstaggering.Nottoolongago,it lookeddireforUkraineandnowtheyhavecomebackwithafirein theirstomachs.Withbothsidesdoingwhattheycan,andgettinghelp fromallycountries,noonecanpredictwhenorhowthisunpredictable warwillend.Wecanjustprayandhopethatitendspeacefully.
Afewmonthsago,Zelenskysaid,“Ukraineisaliveandkicking.” Now,Ithinkit’sfairtosaythattheyarealiveandfighting.
OneofthembeinginKherson.KhersonisacityinthesouthofUkraine that,inthelastfewmonths,hasseenquiteabitofaction.InKherson, UkrainelaunchedacounteroffensiveagainstPutin’sarmy-
7
MUSIC AND RIDES
ByRiaanAhuja
MostpeoplegotoKingsDominionjustfortherides,butonMay26, theWoodsAcademyUpperSchoolChoirwenttoKingsDominion tosinginanadjudicatedfestivalcalledtheFestivalofMusicand celebratetheirhardworkthisyear.About30kidsmetearlyinthe morningtoboardthecoachbusthatheadedtoDoswell,VA.Atthe festival,theysangtheKoreanfolksong“Arirang”andanAfrican AmericanSpiritualcalled“TurnMe‘Round”.Theydidamazingand receivedanExcellentRatingfromthejudges.ThechoirteacherMs. Pabonsaid,“Thiswasanamazingscoreconsideringthechoironly meetsonceaweekonanearlyThursdaymorning.”
Berserker,apirateshipthatflipsyouupsidedown.Theridemalfunctionedand theywerestuckupsidedownforaboutaminutebeforetheycouldcomedown.
Afterthatincident,thechoirkidsfeltliketheyweredoneforthedayandleft. Thechoirreturnedtoschoolaround6:30pmafterawonderfuldayofsingingand fun!
SECOND GRADERS’ OPINIONS ON THEIR FIRST COMMUNION
ByFredKerpen
SecondgradestudentscelebratedtheirFirstHolyCommunionat TheWoodsonMay31.“ItisfunandbringsyouclosertoGod“said CharlieKerpenwhenaskedabouthisFirstCommunion.
Therestofthedaywasspenthavingfunandridingrides.Oneride allofthekidsrodewascalledtheTwistedTimbers,awoodenroller coasterwithlotsofloops.TheyalsowentonIntimidator,the eighth-highestrollercoasterintheworldwithanastonishing307ft. drop.SixthgraderDylanManriqueJohnsonsaid,“Ilovedatthe beginningoftheridewhentheannouncerscreamed, “GENTLEMENSTARTYOURENGINES!”Afterlunch,mostkids wentonaridecalledtheFlightofFear,arollercoasterinthedark. SixthgraderZalinaGormleysaid,”Ilovedthestartandwhenmy headgotknockedbackontheheadrest.”Theirfinalridewasthe
Asyouallknow,it'stheendoftheyear,sothatmeansitistimefor thesecondgraderstoreceivetheirFirstHoly Communion.Thesecondgraderstechnically celebratedtheirFirstCommunionatvarious churchesalready,butthistimetheycelebrated itinfrontoftheschool.
Mrs.Phelps,oneofthesecond-gradeteachers, hadthistosayabouttheevent.“Ifeelsoblessed tohavetheopportunitytopreparemyfirst communioners.”
8
Somesecondgradersat theirchurchceremony.
Interviews with Upper School Teachers
ByLillyKerpenandLizzieBasil
Mr.
Kalas-
5th/6thSocialStudiesTeacher
Q:Whatinspiredyoutobecomeateacher?
A:“Myfatherwasacollegeprofessorsogrowingupitwasalwaysinthe backofmyhead. Comingoutofcollege,Ididn'tknowwhatIwantedtodo. I didayearofJesuitAcademyservicewhereItaughtatanintercitycharter schoolinNewark,NewJerseyandIjoinedandmovedbacktothisarea.Igot ajobteachingatLittleFlowerandjustkeptongoingfromthere.”
Q:Wasyourmajoreducationordidyoujustpickitup?
A:“Iwasahistorymajorincollegeandafilmminor.Igotmyteaching credentialsabout10orsoyearsagowhileIwasworking.”
Q:Whatisyourfavoritepartofteaching?
A:“Myfavoritepartofteachingisimpartingaloveofhistory,aloveof learning,andaloveofthepast. TherearesomanyinterestingstoriesthatI liketoshare,coolstoriesaboutgenerals,aboutbattles,justlookingathowlife was5,000yearsagoandwhatwearedoingnowadays.I’mlookingforwardto nextyear.I'llbeteachingmysonforthefirsttimeandsothatwillalsobe exciting.”
9
Mrs.Mullally-5th/6thGradeScienceTeacher
Q:Whatinspiredyoutobecomeateacher?
A:“Iwasdefinitelyinspiredtobecomeateacherbymyfamily memberswhowereteachers. Bothofmyparentswereteachers,and 3ofmy4grandparentswereteacherssothatinspiredmetofollow intheirfootsteps.”
Q:Whathasbeenyourfavoritepartofteaching?
A:“Myfavoritepartofbeingateacherisconnectingwiththe students. Ilovetoseenewstudentseverysingleyear.Icontinue learningfromthemandseeingthemlearnisanexperienceaswell.”
Q:Whatisyourfavoritememoryteaching?
A:“MyfavoritememoryteachingwaswhenIusedtoteach4th gradeattheWoodsAcademyandwewouldhaveread-aloudtime afterrecessandtherewereseveraltimeswhenwewouldgettoa cliffhangerinthebookandthe kidswouldbegthatIwouldkeep readingandweendedupskipping awholeperiodofsocialstudiesto continuereadingourreadaloud bookbecauseitwasjustthatmuch funandwejusthadtofinishit.”
Mr.Mclaughlin-UpperSchoolAideandSubstitute
Q:Whatinspiredyoutobecomeasub?
A:“That’saveryinterestingquestion,Lillian.So,lastyear,ldid extendedcare,becausethatwasanopenposition.Iwaswiththe three-year-olds.Butljustkindofwantedtobewitholderkidsbecause likemyidealjobwouldbeareligionteacher.So,thiswaylcanmeetthe upperschoolersandalsospendmoretimewithMr.Bednarwatchinghim teachreligion.So,itjustkindofworkedoutbetterthanmedoing extendedcare,eventhoughllikedextendedcare.”
Q:Whatisyourfavoritepartofbeingasub?
A:“Anotherexcellentquestion,Lillian.Ibelievemyfavoritepartof beingasubhasbeengettingtoknowsomanypeoplearoundtheschool, likeLuca,whosebirthdayitistoday.See,lwouldn’thavebeenableto knowLucaiflhadn’tbeenasubforhisclasswhenhisteacherswere missing.So,lreallygottoprettymuchknoweveryoneintheschool, whichhasbeennice.IevenstillgettoseetheMontessorikidson Fridays.”
10
Mrs.
Golforth-
ArtTeacher
Q:Whatinspiredyoutobecomeateacher?
A:“Forstarters,Ineverwantedtobeateacher.Ihad aspirationsforbeinganartist;however,asyouguysknow frommybasketballcoachingtheparentswereimpressedand askedifIwantedtoteach.Isaidsurebecauselhad availabilitytoteachanditwaseasy,oneatthetime.Sowhen Istartedteaching,IrealizedIwasgoodatitandgottoteach whatIloveaboutart.
Q:Whatisyourfavoritepartofteaching?
A:“MyfavoritepartofteachingiswhenIhaveastudentthat claimstheydon'tlikeartandaftertheytakemyclassthey realizethattheyloveartmorethantheythink.”
Q:Whathasbeenyourfavoritememoryteaching?
A:“Ihaveafew.Myfavoritememoryteaching.Ihaveatop three.Myfavoritememoryisteachinghighschool,theAP studioclass,andthekidsmademefeellikeanartist.Itwas themostamazingstudioplace.Wewouldblastmusic,they wereresponsible.Itwasonlythetopfivestudentssoitwasa funplacetobe.
LOCAL FOOD REVIEW—HOW GOOD IS KIM’S YIRASAI IN POTOMAC?
ByMariaManzano
Whenyouwalkin,anemployeewillgreetyouandsityoudown. Theywillthenbringoutthemenu.Onceyouknowwhatdrinksyou want,theywilltakeyourorder.Overalltheserviceisdecent.Oneof thedishesweorderedwastheshrimpgyoza.Thegyozahadatoasted outsidebuttheshrimpwassoftanddelicious.Theteriyakichicken wassoftandtheteriyakisaucewasperfectlymadeanditwas absolutelydelectable.
Nowforthestaroftheshow,thesushi.Bothmeandmysister orderedtwokindsofsushieachsotheyaskedusifwewanteditall ononeplateandweagreed.Ididn’tknowwhattheymeant.Isimply thoughtitwasgoingtobealargeplate,butwhenthesushigottothe table,itwasplatedonawoodenboat.Thedetailsontheboatwere absolutelystunningandthesushiwasjustaspleasant.NowIdidnot expecthowgoodthecrabimperialrollwasgoingtobe,butwhenthe flavorhitmytongue,Ifellinlovewithhowgooditwasandit becamemyfavoritesushithatI haveevertried.
Overalltheexperiencewasveryenjoyableandtheinteriordesign waslovely, andIhadalotoffunoverall.Iwouldgiveita4.7outof 5.Idowishtheywouldhaveattendedtousfaster,butthefoodmakes upforit.
12
Kim’s Yirasai at Park Potomac
STUDENT ART & COMICS
All artwork by Sara Holmes, 7th grade
13
