Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys
A Sense of Belonging
OUR MISSION
The Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys (BWS) is a tuition-free Episcopal school for children from historically underserved communities. The school nurtures the spiritual, intellectual, socialemotional, artistic, and physical development of its students in a Christian community of learners that welcomes boys of all faiths and beliefs. Working in close partnership with students and families, the school strives to create an environment where each boy is challenged to reach his full academic potential and receives the structured support necessary to develop his unique gifts. BWS seeks to foster a love of learning, intellectual curiosity, a spiritual foundation, and the moral character that each boy will need as a student, a citizen, and a child of God.
To learn and excel, children need to feel secure, understood, and loved. In these pages, we offer a glimpse of how, in everything we do at BWS, we show each student that he belongs and he matters.
Connection and Commitment
dr . angelina arrington , head of school
The start of a new school year brings a renewed sense of hope and purpose to Bishop Walker School. Each morning, our boys arrive filled with curiosity and possibility, carrying the dreams of their families and the promise of a brighter future. It is our privilege— and responsibility—to provide them with a foundation strong enough to change not only their lives, but the lives of generations to come.
Decades of research, including the groundbreaking HighScope Perry Preschool Project, confirm what we witness every day: High-quality early childhood education changes lives. Students who receive a strong educational foundation are more likely to graduate from high school, succeed in college, earn higher incomes, and become engaged members of their communities. These positive effects ripple outward, influencing the next generation and creating lasting change.
At BWS, we see this impact every day in our classrooms. Our boys are not only mastering reading, math, and problem-solving, but they are also learning to lead, serve, and envision new possibilities for themselves and their communities.
This year, we strengthened our presence in Wards 7 and 8 by taking part in community events such as the Juneteenth Parade and the MLK Holiday Peace Walk. These opportunities have allowed us to
share our mission more widely and deepen relationships with the neighborhoods we serve, making BWS a more visible and recognized partner in Southeast D.C.
Inside our school, we remain deeply committed to fostering stability and excellence. I am proud to share that we continue to maintain a high teacher retention rate, ensuring that our boys benefit from consistent, meaningful relationships with the educators who guide and inspire them each day.
This year also brought profound loss with the passing of our beloved founding librarian, Catherine “Mrs. M” Marquardt, whose 10-year legacy at BWS—entirely as a volunteer—lives on in every boy who discovers the joy of reading and learning in the space she so carefully nurtured.
None of this progress would be possible without you. Your support directly fuels our boys’ growth and success, providing the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to thrive. Every lesson learned, every moment of discovery, and every step toward a brighter future is made possible by the generosity of you and others who believe deeply in our mission.
As I enter my third year as head of school, I am deeply grateful for the families, faculty, staff, and supporters who make this work possible. Together, we are proving that a strong start changes everything—not only for our boys today but for the generations they will one day lead.
A Strong, Supportive Community
andrew clarke , governing board chair
As I write this, the boys of Bishop Walker School are settling into a new school year, welcomed back by faculty, staff, and community leaders. The newness and joyful rituals of this time of year remind us of the possibilities before each child—and of the foundation BWS provides for their future.
The strength of that foundation will be especially apparent in 2026, when we celebrate the first college graduations of young men who began their educational journey at BWS. Their stories affirm the importance of our daily work. At our 2025 Annual Dinner, alumnus Maxwell Bratcher ’18 spoke of the academic grounding, sense of family, and enduring community he found here. That same evening, Jeffrey Wright—award-winning actor, St. Albans alumnus, and Southeast D.C. native—spoke of the powerful influence of Bishop John T. Walker, who served as the Episcopal bishop of Washington during the years Wright was growing up.
Our community also experienced a great loss this summer with the passing of Catherine Marquardt,
who built our school’s library from the ground up, entirely with donated books, and with her tireless team of fellow volunteers created the enriching and culturally expansive library program that supports the BWS curriculum in myriad ways.
In May, Dr. Arrington completed her second year as head of school, further deepening our ties to the communities of Wards 7 and 8 while ensuring fidelity to BWS’s founding mission. Thanks to Brian Harris, our director of outplacement and alumni support, our 2025 graduates received more than $230,000 in tuition assistance for the next stage of their education. Our boys brought home the DC SCORES citywide soccer championship, a joyful reward for their determination and teamwork.
As we celebrate these milestones, I thank you for your commitment to the school and invite you to join me in redoubling our efforts to secure a stable, sustainable future for BWS—a future that will give a generation of boys the opportunity to grow, thrive, and become strong leaders.
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
African proverb
All BWS students are served three nourishing meals a day—breakfast, lunch, and 3pm supper—as well as an afternoon snack.
“Kinder Kings” ready to learn with Mrs. Atmar.
“Everyone supports everyone. They are all about the common good of that school.”
Kecia Troy, BWS fourth grade parent and Parent Association president
The BWS Village: Where Everyone Matters
Villages are defined by their size—small enough that everyone can know everyone else, including their capabilities and when they might need a hand. When you walk into Bishop Walker School, the village atmosphere is unmistakable.
Ms. Palmer, our school receptionist, is one of the first adults students see when they come to school in the morning. While managing phones and paperwork, she still manages to greet each boy by name. “Good morning, Ms. Palmer,” they respond as they walk past her desk. She might even beckon to a student she knows is struggling and give him a quick word of encouragement for the day ahead.
Every adult at BWS knows, loves, and takes pride in every boy who walks through our doors. Even our development team knows the students by name, because in a village, everybody matters. Teachers and staff are invested in the success of their colleagues and the parent community because it all
Mr Evans (left) greets students and their father on the first day of school.
“That was the first time that my son saw teachers— educators—that looked like him.”
Crystal Day, parent of BWS alumnus
A Culture of Trust and Respect
Trust grows when students are supported by adults who look like them and believe in their potential. At BWS, 100% of our educators are Black and Brown. Nationwide, fewer than 2% of elementary school teachers are Black men. At BWS, it’s 30%. This representation matters deeply: When boys see themselves reflected in their teachers, they can better envision their own possibilities.
Respect flows both ways at BWS. Teachers respect students as whole individuals, listening carefully and responding thoughtfully to each child. Respect also shows up in the BWS approach to discipline: Rather than employing a consequences-based model, BWS uses restorative practices, turning a moment of conflict or disruption into an opportunity to understand choices and responsibilities.
Boys learn to support one another, as brothers, in a predictable environment where everyone’s confidence can grow.
“Their goal is not just to produce children that are super-duper smart. They’re teaching them about life. They want them to be respectful young men.”
Wendy Christmas, parent of BWS alumnus
Flexibility and Diversity: Meeting Each Boy Where He Is
We have a notable amount of diversity in our student body. Our students come from a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, and they each bring unique experiences, challenges, and gifts to the BWS village. This diversity contributes to a rich learning environment in which boys can see and experience many equally valuable ways of being.
Flexibility is essential when supporting a group of children with different learning styles and needs. Our high expectations are carefully calibrated for each student based on what he is ready for and how he is most likely to learn and thrive.
Ms. Jacobs, our assistant dean of students, observes each boy carefully as he arrives in the morning. She might notice a change in how he is dressed or see that he looks preoccupied. If she senses that a student is struggling, she’ll take him aside for some extra attention. “A lot can happen between the end of one school day and the beginning of another,” she notes.
That individual attention continues in the classroom, where for certain subjects the teacher will divide students into small groups based on their learning needs. Not all students receive and process information in the same way, and these small groups allow for important differentiation.
Outside of class time, teachers and staff share information and ideas about individual students and discuss how best to support them.
Mr. Wingate, our dean of students, looks for ways to help boys start the day right—sometimes by fixing a necktie.
Faculty and Staff Voices
Yvonne Wilson K-2 LEARNING SPECIALIST AND K-5 ACADEMIC PLAN COORDINATOR
“It would be much easier for a teacher to just teach the whole class one way. Differentiated learning means modifying instruction and teaching differently to multiple groups of kids who need information delivered in different ways. It’s hard, and they’re doing it. I am very proud of what they’re doing in the classrooms, and it’s working!”
Ashlynn Edgecombe ART TEACHER
“Art is an important tool for kids to use to express themselves. Freedom of self-expression is important, especially for young Black and Brown boys. They need to see that their viewpoint matters, their perspective matters, how they think matters, their voice matters.”
Austin Weatherington
DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
“In order for us to do the work of changing the trajectory of many of the kids’ lives here and allowing them to get the most out of their academic experience, the home and school partnership needs to be very, very strong....We try to get parents inside the building—even if they just come in every now and then.”
On
day
the first
of school, family members cheer on BWS students as they walk the blue carpet into the building with their teachers.
“When you walk in, there are hugs.”
A Mother’s First Day
fourth grade parent and association president
don’t know if you’ve ever been there on the first day, but I was almost in tears in the parking lot watching my son because I had all this anxiety. I’d already sent him to a school for two years that wasn’t the right fit, and now I’m sending him to this other school in an unfamiliar neighborhood where he doesn’t know anybody. And I’m waving at him and he’s being brave. He goes off and finds the little second grade line, and you can tell he’s nervous because he doesn’t know anyone.
Later, I saw a video of him walking into the building, and I saw the biggest smile on my son. It was like a weight lifted off of me because I saw that he walked in feeling protected— something he’d never felt before at a school. Then I knew that this community, the school, and all the people who were surrounding me in the parking lot are going to be here for him.
Dr. Arrington, our head of school, greets a returning student.
A parent with a “Kinder King” on the first day of school.
SCHOOL PRAYER
Grant O Lord,
That in all the joys of life, We may never forget to be kind.
Help us to be unselfish in friendship, Thoughtful of those less happy than ourselves, And eager to bear the burdens of others; Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen
Catherine Marquardt Beloved Librarian and Inspired Educator
Visitors to BWS’s big, sunny library—filled with 10,000 books that reflect our multicultural world and highlight a broad range of Black stories and Black voices—would be astonished to learn about its humble beginnings in a tiny church choir loft. That’s where Catherine Marquardt, a BWS volunteer and former teacher, began sorting the school’s first batch of donated books into milk crates and wooden cubbies.
Over the ensuing decade, until she became ill with cancer last year, “Mrs. M.” led a team of dedicated volunteers in building the rich collection we have today, as well as the comprehensive library program that adds wonder and depth to the learning that happens at BWS.
Catherine passed away on August 7, at age 70. As our school community mourns her loss, we will be reminded every day of her kindness, creativity, and passion for learning. Whenever students come into the library to see a puppet show, meet a visiting author, or sample food and music from a culture they are learning about, they will benefit from Catherine’s legacy and her expansive vision.
Catherine believed in creating a space for students to feel welcome and be inspired to follow their curiosity.
“On a really deep level, the library is a place where they can take a breath and relax and feel free,” she once said.
Catherine taught at the Lenox School in New York City, lived with her family in Europe for several years, and then taught at Trinity School in Menlo Park, California. She brought her talents to the BWS village soon after she and her husband, Scott, moved to Georgetown in 2013.
Dance.
BWS wins the 2024 DC SCORES citywide soccer championship!
Highlights of 2024–25
Hydroponics in Ms. Bogle’s Urban Ecology class.
BWS alum Maxwell Bratcher speaks at the 12th BWS Annual Dinner.
Amina Luqman-Dawson, author of the book Freewater, visits BWS for a workshop.
BWS parents, faculty, staff, and students represent the school at the MLK Holiday Peace Walk.
Where Are Our Graduates Now?
Middle Schools
The Fessenden School
Maret School
Riverdale Baptist School
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
St. Columba School
St Francis Xavier Catholic Academy
St. Peter School
St. Thomas More Catholic Academy
Sandy Spring Friends School
Templeton Academy
Washington Episcopal School
Washington Jesuit Academy
High Schools
Archbishop Carroll High School
Arundel High School
Bard High School Early College
DC
Ballou High School
Bishop Ireton High School
Bishop McNamara High School
Bishop O’Connell High School
DeMatha Catholic High School
Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
The Living Water School
Milton Hershey School
North Pointe High School
Ron Brown College Preparatory High School
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
St. Mark’s School
St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes
Sidwell Friends
Colleges & Universities
Bowie State University
Catholic University of America
Fayetteville State University
Georgia State University
Juniata College
Morehouse College
Morgan State University
Mount St. Mary College
St. Mary’s College of Maryland University of Maryland
Armed Forces
U.S. Air Force
U.S. Marines
Skilled Trades
Commercial Driver’s License
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning License
Number of BWS Graduates
Class of 2025: 14
Total: 130
“My
son went to an amazing middle school that I wouldn’t have found on my own, and I definitely wouldn’t have had the confidence to apply to such a prestigious institution…. When it was time to transition to middle school, Mr. Harris did a phenomenal job identifying my son’s strengths and weaknesses, and just his personality, and placing him or suggesting schools that would enhance those qualities.”
Wendy Christmas, parent of BWS alumnus
Enduring Ties: BWS and Beyond
Even after graduation, our students remain valued members of the BWS community. Brian Harris, who directs our alumni program, stays in touch with every graduate—130 so far, some of them in college and others in the military or the workforce. (Members of the first BWS graduating class will finish college in 2026.) He keeps in contact with alumni families, too, and continues to get calls from parents seeking his advice long after their sons have graduated from BWS.
Mr. Harris also runs the school’s outplacement efforts. To do his job well, he needs to really know each student. He begins by observing and interacting with boys in the classroom, to understand what each one needs in order to do his best work. He conducts workshops and meetings with parents of fourth and fifth graders to explain the options for middle school, how the school cultures and communities differ, and how to navigate the admissions processes.
You’ll find Mr. Harris cheering for our alumni at their middle school and high school athletic events and attending their performances and graduations. He offers the juniors and seniors workshops on college and career readiness. He invites alumni middle schoolers back to BWS to chat with our fifth graders over lunch. He also presides over BWS Homecoming Weekend, an annual gathering of alumni and their families that strengthens connections and gives current students the chance to meet and learn from older boys and young men who have come through BWS.
Kings
Mr. Harris with BWS alum Aiden Christmas, who is now a freshman at Rutgers University.
Mr. Harris with BWS alumni who are middle schoolers at St. Thomas More Catholic Academy.
2024–25 Governing Board
2024–25 Advisory Committee
Thank You!
Volunteers
Thank you to so many who have generously given their time, energy, and talents, ensuring that our students learn in a warm and stimulating environment.We especially want to thank our parents and community volunteers who participate in various projects throughout the year. Your role is critical to the success and continued growth of our community.
VOLUNTEERS
Susan Crudgington
Anne Forster
Olivia Hilton
Barbara Ochmanek
Margie Ware
Washington Winter Show Young Collectors
LUNCH BUDDIES
Oliver O. Harris
Vernon Holleman
Jeremiah Myers
James Tyree
In honor of Rev. Jordan Rippy
and Mr. Ryan Baugh
Mr. Austin Branson
Mr. and Mrs. Barlow Burke
Ms. Sheryl Dolan
Mr. and Mrs. Bart Hall
The Rev. Susan C. Thon
Mrs. Cheryl Daves Wilburn
In honor of Malachi Robinson
Mr. and Mrs. Rich Lindahl
In honor of Madeleine Rwanka
Ms. Janet Barsy
In honor of the Children of Erica Southerland
Ms. Regina Fowler
In memory of Helen Steinberg
Ms. Elissa Oshinsky
In memory of Hope Stephons
Mr. and Mrs. Austin Weatherington
In honor of Laura and Hugh Steuart
Mr. and Mrs. John Buntin
In honor of Derek Sykes Jr. and Elijah Sykes
Mrs. Deborah Sykes
In honor of Thaddeus
The Rev. Dr. Olivia P.L. Hilton
In memory of John T. Walker
Mr. Michael Harman
Dr. and Mrs. Jean Paul Marachi
In honor of Mr. Weatherington
Mr. Joseph Ross
In honor of Hilary C. West
Ms. Pamela A. Jenkinson
In memory of Barbara Whiting-Wright
Mr. Jeffrey C. Wright
In honor of Mary Ann Wilmer
Ms. Nancy J. Kirby
In memory of Walter T. Winslow
Mrs. Diane B. Winslow
In memory of Paul Wolff
Mr. James T. Fuller III and Ms. Catherine Porter
In honor of James R. Woody
Mr. C. Raymond Marvin
In memory of Naheem Worley
Anonymous
In memory of Philip Zabriskie
Ms. Beverley Zabriskie
SUPPORTING PARISHES
Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria, VA
All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church, DC
Christ Church, Washington Parish, DC
Christ Church, Georgetown, DC
Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, Alexandria, VA
St. Alban’s Parish, DC
St. Andrew’s Parish, College Park, College Park, MD
St. David’s Parish, DC
St. James’ Episcopal Church, Potomac, MD
St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square, DC
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Norwood Parish, Chevy Chase, MD
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, DC
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Trinity Parish, Bethesda, MD
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Arlington, VA
St. Matthew’s Church, Hyattsville, MD
St. Paul’s Rock Creek, DC
Trinity Church, New York, NY
Trinity Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, IN
Washington National Cathedral, DC
Women of All Saints Church, Chevy Chase, MD
Ways to Give
As a tuition-free independent school, BWS relies entirely on philanthropic support. To fulfill our mission of offering an independent education to boys east of the Anacostia River, our governing board determined that the inability to pay tuition should not be a barrier to attendance.
For information on planned giving, stock transfers, or wire transfers, please contact: Eva Headley, Development Manager 202-678-1515 eheadley@bishopwalkerschool.org
Gifts can be made by check mailed to the school or by credit card online at: www.bishopwalkerschool.org/onlinegiving
Bishop John T. Walker school for boys
