Congressional Magazine 2020

SPRING 2020

DEDICATED TO YOUNG LEARNERS

DID YOU KNOW? Congressional School launched a new podcast this year featuring recordings by faculty and staff on topics of relevance to parents and life at Congressional School. We have many recordings planned in the coming months on a range of interesting topics.

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MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI, PARENTS, AND FRIENDS

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Check out our podcast online by visiting www.congressionalschool.org/podcasts.

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D E S I G N + B U I L D YO U R

lifestyle Our mission is to provide an inspirational and challenging student-centered educational experience within our diverse and supportive community where children question, collaborate, create, and lead.

Congressional School admits children of any race, color, creed, and national or ethnic origin.

CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM

Edwin P. Gordon, PhD Head of School Brent Hinrichs Associate Head of School and Director of Lower and Middle School Kim O’Neil Assistant Head of School and Director of Early Childhood and Primary School Chris Pryor Assistant Head of School for Advancement and External Affairs Lisa Singleton Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer Andrea Weiss Director of Innovation and Learning

Tinelle Davies Director of Human Resources Rebecca Ginnetti School Counselor Gretchen Herbst Director of Admission and Financial Aid Tavis Laws Director of Athletics and Physical Education Silvia Moore, PhD Director of Learning Center Dan O’Neil Director of Auxiliary Programs Alyce Penn Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications Ali Sheibani Director of Technology

ON THE COVER

First graders Ethan and Avery in our new Design Labs engineering a bridge for science class

Design: Catalone Design Co. LLC

8 TRIVISTAUSA.COM

P.

703.243.3171

21 Congressional Camp CAMPERS AGES 4-14 • JUNE 15TH TO AUGUST 28TH 40 ACRE CAMPUS SWIMMING, HORSEBACK RIDING, ARCHERY AND MORE...

FALLS CHURCH, VA LUNCH AND SNACKS PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE A DIVISION OF

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CONTENTS D E PA R T M E N T S

1

Letter from the Head of School

2

Academics

12 Arts

16

3

Around Campus

20

Colts Athletics

22

Alumni

F E AT U R E S

3 The Flow of Learning: An Interdisciplinary Approach

4 Inspiring Great Leaders

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8

I’ve Got the Power

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Living Music to the Fullest

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Always Growing—A Look at Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Congressional’s new Design Labs opened in Fall 2019

LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

When I accepted the position as Congressional’s Head of School this past summer, it was with the vision of moving our school to a state of perpetual excellence while raising awareness of our outstanding educational program in the local area and beyond. Eighty years ago, our school was founded as a place where young children could explore and engage the world around them, and we are just as committed to this endeavor now as we were back then.

“Creativity and

critical thinking are cornerstones in all

subjects, not just the

domain of science,

math, and engineering.

Our Design Labs are

places where subject

areas come together

to provide meaningful

experiences for our

students. Across the

grade levels, students

are inspired to explore

and create with limitless boundaries in our new

labs. If they can dream

it, they can build it.”

Connecting with our community is important to me. You will see me in the classrooms, interacting with students in the hallways between classes, mingling with parents at events, and connecting with teachers and staff throughout the day. During my many classroom visits, I’ve observed the unique way our teachers put each child at the center of the learning experience. Congressional teachers make decisions on how they teach and what they teach based on their students’ interests and curiosity. You can read one example of this in an article about second grade in this issue. Our teachers are creative, innovative and flexible, always ready to capitalize on the students’ excitement to turn any lesson into an even bigger learning opportunity. I’ve also observed the high level of engagement among our students, and I am impressed with how they balance hard work with play. Our students are not afraid to fully apply themselves to any task or problem presented, and the results are evident in the work they produce every day. It also makes me smile to see them put the same level of effort into playing. This perfect recipe of hard work and play strikes just the right balance for a healthy and productive learning environment.

Another aspect of life at Congressional School that has impressed me is the level of leadership among our students. Throughout this issue you will see examples of leadership in action. Our students know how to tackle challenges and lead important efforts to serve the community, their school, and their own learning.

In all grades, teachers provide opportunities for students to make real-life connections to what they are taught, making lessons meaningful and deep.

By the time they reach middle school, our students are ready and are given latitude to lead, organize, and take charge. In eighth grade, our students tackle their biggest educational challenge—the Capstone Project—in which they combine knowledge, skill, and passion to produce an impressive body of work.

You can read more about the Capstone Project in this issue.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the Congressional School Magazine and I look forward to seeing you on our beautiful campus soon.

Sincerely,

Edwin P. Gordon, PhD Head of School

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ACADEMICS

Leaders Among Leaders Congressional’s academic team leads assume a wide range of roles to support faculty and student success.

As head of their department, these teachers act as mentors for their colleagues and lead efforts to collaborate on ideas around effective teaching strategies, such as ways to differentiate instruction,

lesson planning, and coordination between the grade levels. Their regular meetings are an opportunity for them to brainstorm, innovate, collaborate, and share ideas to ensure the highest levels of teaching and learning within their respective departments. •

MEET THE ACADEMIC TEAM LEADS

Isabelle Rovinsky World languages Team Lead

Denise Yassine Social Studies/History Team Lead

Carlos Hernandez Science Team Lead

Andrea Weiss Math Team Lead

Sarah Philip Arts Team Lead

Tavis Laws Physical Education Team Lead

Maura Rice Language Arts Team Lead 2

Cameron Yassine Language Arts Team Lead

80 YEARS AND COUNTING! C O N G R E S S I O N A L S C H O O L . O R G

Evie Hinrichs Language Arts Team Lead

THE FLOW

OF LEARNING It’s 3:45 p.m. and the school day is over. Second grade teachers, Evie Hinrichs and Heidi Brunner are in the classroom sharing ideas about an upcoming unit of study and ways to reinforce the lessons. The ideas are plentiful and each one leads to another, and their passion and excitement for teaching is evident.

“Student interests often shape the lessons we teach,” says Mrs. Hinrichs. “For example, this year’s second grade loves to write, so I’ve leaned into that during our reading of the book My Father’s Dragon.”

The book by Ruth Stiles Gannett is the first in a trilogy, and the second graders have read all three.

“At the end of the third book the students had so many questions,” said Mrs. Hinrichs, “so the class set about to write the fourth story. It provided so many great lessons including character development, prediction, cause and effect, and fiction writing.”

An Interdisciplinary Approach

In fact, the trilogy offered bountiful opportunities for teaching and learning. In the story, the main character runs away to Wild Island to rescue a baby dragon, and second graders got to create their own islands. The activity incorporated geography, language arts, reading, and problem solving.

“The story even led to a math lesson,” says Ms. Brunner.

“The character’s father gathered tangerines and placed them in his backpack. In the book he eats seven tangerines, so I asked the students, ‘If he started with thirtyone tangerines, and ate seven, how many does he have left?’”

Last year, a social studies unit on ancient Egypt grew into an amazing interdisciplinary lesson incorporating multiple subject areas.

“We partnered with Ms. Philip who worked with the students in art class to create a sarcophagus,” said Evie, describing how the students created tombs for their sarcophaguses and placed items inside that their pharaohs might want to take to the afterlife.

“After discussing how the ancient Egyptians would use natron in their mummification process, the students conducted a science experiment to test three different types of salt—table, Epsom, and baking soda—to see which was most efficient in mummifying an apple,” said Evie. She went on to describe how the class applied salt to the apples and waited 10 days before examining the results.

The students wrote a hypothesis, detailed the process, recorded the data and their observations, and wrote their conclusions. The project was a multi-layered learning opportunity, and the class produced a magnificent project board, worthy of any middle school science fair.

Letting students shape lessons can also result in leadership opportunities. Ms. Brunner describes how a student in her class brought a shark’s tooth from home to show his classmates. “He had researched the tooth and brought the book he had used for his research. The other students were fascinated, so I stepped back and let him teach a lesson to the class about it,” she says. •

DID YOU KNOW? Congressional’s teachers are building curriculum maps, a master spreadsheet of curriculum that aligns skills to classes and grade levels. This master document offers a comprehensive view of a subject area’s requirements, and how those requirements are to be met. It is represented grade-by-grade for all disciplines. It’s a major undertaking that is expected to be complete by the end of the school year.

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Inspiring Great Leaders As we lean into our vision of creating great thinkers and leaders, Congressional School is intentional in its approach to student leadership at all grade levels. We focus on the soft

skills that are the essence of strong leadership such as collaboration, problem solving, and

responsibility. We also help students build a portfolio of hard skills such as public speaking, writing, and research with many opportunities for them to put their skills to the test. The following pages offer a glimpse into student leadership at Congressional School.

Preparing Young Leaders “Laying the foundation for leadership begins in the earliest years. One of the first places we start is by teaching independence—beginning with basic things like showing children how to put on their own coats and shoes and offering them choices, which builds confidence and gives them a sense of control. Small group work helps to build collaboration and cooperation skills and classroom jobs offer age-appropriate leadership opportunities for young children. As students move through the grades, the leadership opportunities increase in scope and responsibility. For example, during a second grade math unit the students became shopkeepers and invited first graders to shop in their store. Our youngest students are also encouraged to speak and perform in public in front of their classmates and larger audiences such as at morning gatherings, the spring musical, and concerts. Our goal is to lay a solid foundation throughout the Early Childhood and Primary grades, so students are ready to embrace the leadership challenges of Middle School.”

Kim O’Neil Assistant Head of School Director of Early Childhood and Primary School

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Student Council Student Council meets regularly to organize three middle school hangouts each year, plan spirit days, run the annual student talent show and a number of community service projects, including assisting the Congressional School Parent Organization to execute its events.

The Student Council also makes recommendations to the Division Directors on aspects of student life.

Student Council is an impactful activity for students, giving them a voice and a platform to represent the student body and to show good citizenship and civic responsibility.

The experience can also inspire and embolden them to run for similar positions in high school.

The Student Council is a leadership opportunity designed to give students real-world experience and understanding of the democratic process. Students in grades five through eight are eligible to participate and are chosen through an election process. Two eighth grade co-chairs are elected and hold office for the entire school year. Grade level representatives are also chosen through elections at the beginning of the school year and again in late-January so that representation is shared among as many students as possible. Eighth grader’s running for co-chair must have previously served as grade level representatives.

“I believe that in order to be an accomplished leader it is important to be able to empathize with the people you are working with and working to help. My favorite part of my role as student council co-chair is doing just that. My many conversations with students in different grades—putting myself in their shoes—opens my eyes to the diverse ideas of our school.”

ISABELLA GUAGENTI ‘20, 2019–2020 STUDENT COUNCIL CO-CHAIR

“It is important to know people.

In order to accomplish that, I must be an active part of the Congressional community.

It is also important that I stay open minded and listen to queries students might have.

I also try to make decisions for the Student Council with the desires of students in mind.”

BEN HINRICHS ‘20, 2019–2020 STUDENT COUNCIL CO-CHAIR

Sixth Graders Launch Shoe Drive as Global Service Initiative Sixth grade boys, led by Aaron Hjalmervik, Luke Pynchon, and Anderson Wexler, launched a school-wide shoe drive as a global service initiative.

The students invited families to donate gently used shoes over several weeks this winter. The students collected 80 large trash bags filled with shoes which they donated to Funds2Orgs. The shoes will be distributed to micro-entrepreneurs who will repurpose and resell them in developing economies to stimulate economic growth. Funds2Orgs pays 44¢ per pound for the shoes, and the students plan to donate the proceeds.

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Culmore Center Congressional School supported its local community this past fall with our annual Thanksgiving food drive. Now in its 12th year, the drive is led by 7th grade students in support of the Culmore Family Resource Center in Falls Church. On the Monday before Thanksgiving, the students traveled to the Center and delivered over 1,000 fresh and non-perishable food items donated by our school community for distribution to Culmore families just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Student Buddies Students in preschool through eighth grade participate in Congressional’s Buddies program to help students develop relationships across the grades and support community-building within the school. Every class has a buddy class, and every student has a buddy. The relationships forged across ages benefit both older and younger, mentor and mentee. Younger children delight in attention from older kids and see firsthand what they can become. Older students take the responsibility seriously and gain confidence. Students value the buddy program, and rightly so.

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Congressional Coffee House

Back for a second year is the 8th grade student-run Congressional Coffee House. Organized in partnership with music teacher, Ashley Spalletta, the Coffee House is an evening of middle school student performances in an ambient setting with light refreshments. The evening is fully planned and implemented by 8th grade students who do everything from marketing and promotion, reviewing audition videos, decorating the venue providing refreshments, ushering guests, and last but not least, end of evening clean up. This year’s event took place on Friday, February 28 in front of a packed audience.

Students Organize Aid for Dorian Relief When hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas in late August 2019 leaving behind immense destruction, Congressional’s Student Council quickly mobilized to raise funds for the relief effort. The students launched a Pennies for People collection of loose change, announced Free Dress Fridays with voluntary donations in exchange for dressing casually, and hosted a Middle School Snack Bar run by students during recess. Several fourth graders also set up a snack booth at the Fall Festival to raise money. Through these efforts, the students raised $3,000 which they donated to World Central Kitchen, a not-for-profit organization that provides meals to people affected by natural disasters. •

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I’VE GOT THE POWER Building the foundation of leadership skills begins at the earliest ages.

Preschool teacher, Mirella Gaines shares how she sows the seeds of leadership in her students, helping them navigate the complicated world of responsibility and choices.

By using the magic words “I’ve got the power!” I am empowering children to take responsibility for their actions and feel in charge of their world. These words help to enforce our classroom guidelines, three of which are “Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Honest.” It is amazing to me to see how young students understand the meaning of each of these phrases. These phrases might be “grown up concepts,” but with consistency and by demonstrating the meaning through my own actions, these words make a big difference in each child’s world.

One huge obstacle for children at the preschool age can be ‘honesty’ and how it impacts their character.

It isn’t always easy for a child to tell the truth when a wrong choice is made. Sometimes it is easier to put the blame on others or deny they did something wrong. I encourage them to be honest and be accountable for their actions. I let them know that no matter what, I love them and that will never ever change. It is important for them to know that when they make a wrong choice, they are still amazing kids, and it is the choice that they need to work on. At first they will choose to whisper in my ear to let me know what they have done. As time passes by, they become more comfortable speaking up.

I am always amazed how they respond to this. Recently I had a proud moment when a student raised his hand and said: “Ms. Gaines, I made a wrong choice in P.E. I 8

chose not to listen. I will fix it.” My response was: “I am proud of you for owning it, for being honest, responsible for your actions, and have a solution.” I asked the rest of the class to give him two thumbs up.

Kindness is one of our core values at Congressional School. I have a Kind Jar in the classroom. A marble is added every time a kind action is made or a kind word is said. I love hearing when a student points out a kind action. Acknowledgment of another’s kind gesture is encouraged in my class. These marbles are earned throughout the day and are for those amazing choices they make, going the extra mile. When the jar is full, we have a celebration. I remind them that this is something they are earning with hard work and dedication; it is not something we, their teachers, are giving them. It is important to emphasize that they are doing this together as a team and that they are working together towards a wonderful goal!

A lot of frustrations can occur with so many responsibilities. When students feel frustrated or they are not able to solve a problem, I ask, “May I make a suggestion?” By asking them and not telling them, they are still in control of the situation; they may agree or disagree with my suggestion. This form of dialogue allows for independence and success. Even with my suggestion; they are still responsible for solving the

80 YEARS AND COUNTING! C O N G R E S S I O N A L S C H O O L . O R G

IT IS KINDNESS AND BEING RESPECTFUL TO ONE ANOTHER THAT IS SO ESSENTIAL FOR OUR CHILDREN problem. It is a way of helping without them feeling a loss of control.

Imagination and creativity are essential in our classroom. When students feel frustrated, they can use the classroom broom and sweep away their frustrations out the door. Other times if they are upset, they can flush the anger down the toilet. After they do these things, they feel a release and I always get smiles. If two friends have disagreements and are unable to solve the issue, I listen to each of them and then I introduce them to each other as if for the very first time. They shake hands and I love that they always give each other a hug.

If a toy is causing problems, I suggest that it may need a “break” and I will be happy to help. I remind them the toy does not have feelings; they do. Usually I get the response, “I think it will be ok to stay with us.”

As an educator, reminding yourself about the definition of the word ‘impact’ is important. You remember that being flexible is a must. Every moment of everyday influences the lives of those in your class.

Planning each day is important; however, having the flexibility to let go when you need to is a skill every teacher struggles with. Lessons might not go exactly as planned, and some projects may take longer to finish, but when my students make kind choices and use their power wisely, it is a very successful day. When children

TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL ADULTS IN THIS FAST-PACED WORLD. feel successful and they are in charge of their choices, they feel they are responsible for their world and problem solving. They are not only leaders in my classroom but they are also teachers. They can lead and teach one another through their actions. Using the phrases and questions, “Let’s be proactive,” “I am responsible,” “I feel,” “No procrastination,” “loud and proud,” “I acknowledge,”“I’ve got this,” “What should I do next?” “I will try,” and “Being accountable” enriches my students’ vocabulary and teaches them the power and impact of words and actions.

Kindness and being respectful to one another is essential for our children to become successful adults in this fast-paced world. Next time you hear one of my students saying “I’ve got the power!” know that they are absolutely right! •

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Culminating with Capstones The Capstone Project was introduced to the 8th grade curriculum in 2017 as an opportunity for students to produce a major body of work that taps into many layers of intellect and skills. The project takes a full year with the students identifying an area of interest, exploring the topic deeply, taking action, and communicating about it to other members of the school community.

No boundaries are placed on students regarding the topic they choose to study. Instead, they are given latitude to develop their topic areas based on personal interest or passion. Some topics are borne from deeply personal experiences and others out of curiosity and wanting to explore an issue in depth. Some are chosen as a way to help educate others and spread the word about an issue that has troubled or excited them. For some students, their area of study has triggered an enduring interest and inspired them to continue with their project long after graduating from Congressional. •

Visit the capstone page on our website to watch short videos of students discussing their projects, why they chose them, and what they learned.

“Capstone is a great opportunity for our oldest students to take a deep dive into a topic or interest that they are particularly passionate about.

Capstone affirms their curiosity and allows them the opportunity to become experts in a topic that they otherwise would not have a chance to pursue in school. ” BRENT HINRICHS, ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL; LOWER & MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR

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2019–2020 CAPSTONE TOPICS Therapy Dogs for Epilepsy Coastal Erosion Gender Inequality in Sports Hunger and Food Insecurity Thyroidism Affect of Confidence on School Productivity Housing Designs for Disaster Prone Areas Disaster Relief for Earthquakes Global Immigration to the U.S. The Benefits of Youth Sports Cyberbullying Overpopulation Substance Abuse: E-cigarettes Why Girls Quit Sports and Why they Shouldn’t Social Media and Professional Marketing Children with Movement Disabilities How Robots Affect Humanity Women Entrepreneurs Chronic Tic Disorder The Model Minority of Asians— the Stereotype Equal Pay for Women in Sports Service Dogs for Children with Anxiety

Annabel ’19 ran a horse therapy workshop for children with autism as a part of her “A Therapy for Everyone” project.

Annika ‘19 led a genetics lab with a 6th grade class for her project entitled “The Ethics and Benefits of Genetic Editing.”

Alexis ‘19 researched “Institutional Racism,” and her project initiated our current LEAD (Leaders for Equity, Advancement, and Diversity) middle school group.

Kora ’19, inspired by the movie Captain Phillips researched the reality and cause of piracy around the world for her Capstone called “What We Should do About Piracy.”

Easton ’19 educated Congressional’s faculty and staff on the importance of investing in a 401(k) for his Capstone entitled “Investing in Your Future.”

Chris ’19 chose the topic “Living a Sustainable Life,” and for his project he picked up trash in parks near his home, put compost bins in our cafeteria, and designed an art installation out of single-use plastics.

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ARTS

That’s Debatable A NEW TEAM ON CAMPUS Congressional School proudly offers speech and drama as part of its middle school curriculum under the expert guidance of Derek Bowley, who started the program nearly a decade ago. Now, Derek is expanding its scope with a newly formed Congressional School Debate Team.

The Debate Team launched this fall with 15 students in grades 6–8 who regularly attend practices and meetings. The vision of the team is to provide an opportunity for students to think deeply, increase their skill and confidence in public speaking, and demonstrate our Core Values.

There are five debate tournaments the team is slated to participate in with topics announced four weeks in advance. “We meet a couple times a week for the first few weeks, and then daily during the week of the tournament,” states Mr. Bowley. “Students also put in extra time doing research and discussing arguments in preparation.”

“Debate is not a passive activity, it’s mental exercise,” states Mr. Bowley. “Debaters must be prepared to argue both sides of the announced topics. In order to successfully debate both the proposition side and the opposition side of a topic, students must do some deep thinking about that topic in advance. This thinking leads to research, fact finding, discussion, and more thinking. Debaters take all of this, formulate a framework, and develop contentions to support the framework. Debaters need to build out their contentions with anecdotes, evidence, and logical arguments for why their case is stronger than the other team’s case.”

Since launching, the debate team has gained

momentum with each tournament. Practice can be a juggling act between athletic schedules, musical rehearsal, and all the other activities both the students and Mr. Bowley have on their plates, but the team is working hard, gaining valuable experience, and developing critical skills that will pay dividends for years to come. •

The vision of our debate team is to provide an opportunity for students to think deeply, increase their skill and confidence in public speaking, and demonstrate our Core Values.

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The Debut of a Music Festival We are pleased to announce an exciting debut project launched this year by middle school students and faculty sponsor/music teacher, Mrs. Ashley Spalletta. The project is a music festival called Jams 4 Fams, Congressional’s Fight Against Hunger. Not your typical music festival, Jams 4 Fams is a unique community event, educational project, and fundraiser in which neighboring school groups, local bands, and professional musicians join together. The event will be held on Saturday, May 16, from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Congressional School and will be packed with live music, activities, food trucks, and of course, FUN—all for the sake of raising awareness, food, and funds for those struggling with food insecurity in our area.

A Music Festival Executive Board comprised of 28 middle schoolers is leading the planning efforts. The board has partnered with a local food pantry, Food for Others, to which the event proceeds will be donated. In addition, the students partnered with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts education program, and representatives from both Food for Others and The Kennedy

M U S I C F E S T I VA L E X E C U T I V E B O A R D

Center have committed to publicizing the event, will be in attendance, and will assist in bringing in musical acts that will round out the lineup for the concert.

In addition to the Executive Board, the entire middle school is involved in planning the event with the help of their teachers. Students SATURDAY, MAY 16 from 2:00–6:00 P.M. at CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL

composed the festival’s vision and mission statements in English class, balanced the budget in financial literacy class, wrote and rehearsed call scripts for potential donors in speech class, and designed the logo in art class. They’re even inventing and designing games during science class that will be played at the event.

Although this is the first time the students are hosting such an event, their hope is that the festival will grow and continue for years to come. All Congressional families, alumni, and friends are invited to attend. The middle school students invite you to, “help us to bring the success of this event to fruition.

Join us and continue building a culture of helping others in our community.” •

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Living Music to the Fullest

DID YOU KNOW? The Congressional Chorale will perform the National Anthem on April 18 at 1pm at the Washington Spirit Game at Audi Field. The game will be nationally televised so be sure to watch!

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Music teacher, Ashley Spalletta’s passion for music is contagious. Coupled with her love of teaching, her passion for music inspires students to pick up instruments, to explore music, and gain an appreciation for this form of artistic expression. Classically trained as a vocalist she chooses music that will get students excited and motivated. For many students, that means “popular” music—the kind they listen to every day. In fact, when walking past her classroom you may hear the sound of students performing a familiar melody together, and in warmer weather you might see them sitting outside on the patio practicing guitar chords.

Middle school students have music class for one trimester and take fine art and speech and drama in the other two trimesters. Mrs. Spalletta offers many supplemental musical options so students have ample opportunity to pursue their musical interests all year.

One of the choice electives she offers is Guitar Class in which students learn finger warm ups, scales, improvisation, and chords. “In this class, my students get to go a little deeper into learning the instrument,” states Mrs. Spalletta. Jam Sesh is another middle school choice elective, and it is extremely popular. “In Jam Sesh, students form a band, pick a name, and select two songs that they learn and perform. They pick their instrument and practice together,” she says. Chorale is another activity that is highly popular, and the Congressional Chorale has even performed the National Anthem on television in front of thousands of spectators at Washington Nationals and DC United games. This year, Mrs. Spalletta debuted a new singing group— Edge of the Clef, a 15-student ensemble whose participants were chosen through audition.

Music education at Congressional School has an interdisciplinary aspect to it also. Mrs. Spalletta describes one of the most memorable examples of this when two of her students, Gibson and Drake, put together an “epic hip hop song” that they wrote in honor of Newton’s 3 laws of physics. “They were demonstrating both musically and visually the content they were covering for science class. They performed it for the whole school and it was a hit,” she gushed. She aspires to offer meaningful learning experiences to students, not just in music class but in all subject areas. “Continuing to create real-world opportunities for students in which they can implement ideas and take on leadership roles is a powerful experience for students,” she says. Between the Jams 4 Fams Music Festival, the 8th Grade Coffee House, and the many other opportunities she provides for students to explore all aspects of music, it seems she is doing just that! •

80 YEARS AND COUNTING! C O N G R E S S I O N A L S C H O O L . O R G

DID YOU KNOW? Young minds are inherently curious, even at the youngest of ages. Infants and toddlers love to explore the world around them using all their senses as they learn and grow. We know that it’s never too soon to tap into that curiosity, and our Early Childhood Program is designed to nurture, challenge and inspire young minds as they discover and explore the world. We know our littlest Colts are the leaders of tomorrow and engage them early through learning experiences and social interactions that build skills and prepare them for the exciting challenges that lie ahead.

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AROUND CAMPUS

A Nurse Without Borders Leadership can come in many shapes and forms. For Congressional School Nurse, Leah Boemerman, it came as a trip to Africa where she put her nursing skills to work in aid of the residents of Eburru, a remote impoverished village in Kenya. Situated near the Great Rift Valley, several hours outside of the Keynan capital of Nairobi, Eburru is located in the countryside near the Ol Doinyo Eburru volcano.

After a fifteen hour flight into Nairobi, Leah and her colleagues traveled for hours by vehicle along rocky dirt roads to reach the village. The trip was a mission organized by Mclean Bible Church in support of David’s Hope Eburru, Kenya International and but many other people Camp Brethren we came in contact with Ministries in Kenya, a spoke Swahili and we had to partnership focused on communicate through translators. building long-term, sustainable solutions One of the main differences that addressing the educational, medical, and stood out to me during this trip was spiritual needs of communities in Kenya. the lack of technology. In Eburru, they Leah was one of several healthcare workers have to do everything manually.” partnering with local doctors and dentists to This is Leah’s first year at provide free medical care to village residents.

Congressional School. She previously After a grueling trek to reach the village, the worked as a preschool teacher, and after team wasted no time getting to work. “We receiving her LPN qualification, she took worked long hours,” says Leah. “We put in a job as a pediatric nurse. As for her role as 10-hour days during our visit. We saw many Congressional’s School Nurse? “I always wanted residents in the village, helping them with things to get back into education,” she says. “Working as a like back pain, blood pressure, and dental issues. school nurse gives me the best of both worlds.” • Most of the doctors we worked with spoke English,

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A LWAYS G R OW I N G

A Look at Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION COMMITEE It has been great to see a burgeoning interest in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC) this year. The committee, which meets monthly during the school year, has a mission to partner with the broader Congressional community—past, present, and future—to recognize, respect, engage, and celebrate the individual differences and identities represented in our community. Meetings are open to everyone, and Committee members have organized themselves into workgroups each with its own charter and goals. The students have also formed their own version of DEIC called LEAD, Leaders for Equity, Advancement, and Diversity and the group meets often to talk about student perspectives relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

DID YOU KNOW? The DEIC has four working groups. Curriculum, Recruitment and Retention, Student Experience, and Parent Awareness and Support.

Coordinating the committee’s meetings and work is Dr. Silvia Moore, Director of Learning Center and Tinelle Davies, Human Resource Director. They also facilitate a Moving It Forward (MIF) group made up of faculty and staff who meet regularly to plan the DEIC meetings. A discussion about Congressional’s DEI work featuring Dr. Moore and Mrs. Davies with four faculty and parent DEIC members was published as a podcast in February.

•••• You can find a copy of the discussion on our podcast page at www.congressionalschool.org/podcasts

“We need to prepare our students with the skills and knowledge to live and work successfully in a diverse and globally connected world. We need to include this knowledge and these skills as critical requirements in the hiring process, infuse them into our curriculum, demonstrate them in our demeanor and interactions and on a personal level.”

D R . S I LV I A M O O R E DIRECTOR OF LEARNING CENTER & DEIC CO-CHAIR

PEOPLE OF COLOR CONFERENCE In early December, two faculty members joined Dr. Gordon at the National Association of Independent School’s (NAIS) Annual People of Color conference in Seattle, Washington. The conference is described as the “flagship of the National Association of Independent School’s commitment to equity and justice in teaching and learning.” Over 7,000 students and educators attended the conference.

“The People of Color Conference was a great opportunity that allowed me “The conference was an energizing

to be in a community of other educators

experience. Speaker Valarie Kaur

with similar experiences. As a minority

(civil rights activist, lawyer, filmmaker,

in an independent school, I was able to

educator, and author) was incredibly

not only fellowship with other minorities

inspiring to me; she showed a lot of

who were accomplished in their

compassion and perseverance. I think

respective fields, but I was able to learn

about how as educators we can make a

more about how to implement equitably-

positive impact in the lives of our

based changes in independent

students, the importance of making

institutions. There is a real need for

everyone feel loved and welcomed, and

authentic, cultural sensitivity in our

how our heritage and values can guide

schools and this conference lit a fire in

the next generation. I was touched by the

me to press in that direction.”

powerful connections of teachers and faculty from independent schools across states who attended with one common goal. We need to constantly educate ourselves so we can provide the best education for the future leaders.

Remember, we never stop learning.”

MIRELLA GAINES PRESCHOOL LEAD TEACHER

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D E S M O N D M C G LO N E MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH TEACHER

LEAD

(LEADERS FOR EQUITY, ADVANCEMENT AND DIVERSITY )

“Students promoting diversity and understanding different cultures is crucial to any school environment, and that is exactly what LEAD does.

LEAD ensures that the students of Congressional are informed about different cultures and people who are different than us. In order for students to respect different races, cultures, identities, etc, they need to understand them first.”

VA B E E S Q U D U S ‘ 2 0 LEAD EXECUTIVE BOARD

“LEAD is important to our Congressional Community because it lets students be involved in actively making our community a better, more inclusive place.”

KAMRYN SAURI ‘21 LEAD EXECUTIVE BOARD

Newly formed this year is our middle school LEAD (Leaders for Equity, Advancement and Diversity) committee—the student version of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC). Lead members strive to educate and challenge each other as peers in the areas of understanding and inclusion. The purpose of the group is to collect middle school student perspectives to then share with the DEIC and the student body to make sure all perspectives are being considered.

There are about 25 middle school students involved in LEAD and they have autonomy to manage their discussions based on issues they want to discuss. “We work with the students to help them build listening skills,” says Desmond McGlone, middle school math teacher.” We encourage them to engage in dialog that is respectful. We want them to be change agents and social justice advocates and to see the perspective of different sides of society,” he says.

Rebecca Ginnetti, school counselor, says, “LEAD provides a safe space for students who are interested in social justice to engage in conversation around issues of diversity to promote respect and awareness. They are committed to making a difference here at Congressional.” •

“LEAD is necessary at Congressional because we are educating the future of this world, and must make sure that the future is bright.”

MICHAEL BICKSEL ‘21 LEAD EXECUTIVE BOARD

“LEAD means that we come together as a community and share our differences.”

K AT E K I R I A KO U ‘ 2 0 LEAD EXECUTIVE BOARD

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COLTS ATHLETICS

A Banner Year for Congressional So far, this has been a banner year for Congressional Athletics with the school reinforcing its reputation as a fierce athletic contender. Congressional continues to be a hub for Cross Country hosting two major tournaments each year including our flagship Think Pink Cross Country Invitational in October. With runners, coaches, and parents from 19 different schools in attendance, the 2019 Think Pink event was the biggest yet!

This winter, our Boys and Girls JV Basketball teams took home Capital Athletic Conference championship titles. The boys ended the season 12–0! “We are extremely proud of our 5th and 6th grade JV basketball players and coaches for working hard all season and winning two extremely competitive games,” stated Tavis Laws, Director of Athletics and Physical Education.

BOYS GIRLS

JV Soccer

Capital Athletic Conference Runner Up

Capital Athletic Conference Runner Up

Think Pink Invitational Champions

Capital Athletic Conference Champions

Varsity Soccer

Capital Athletic Conference Champions

Capital Athletic Conference Champions

Varsity Cross Country

Capital Athletic Conference Champions

Capital Athletic Conference Champions

JV Cross Country

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HOMECOMING

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ALUMNI

H I G H S C H O O L M AT R I C U L AT I O N S George Mason High School

Gonzaga College High School Flint Hill School

James W. Robinson, Jr. Secondary School Justice High School

Langley Grammar School (UK) Langley High School Madeira School Maret School

McLean High School

National Cathedral School

Santa Catalina School (CA) Sidwell Friends School

St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology W.T. Woodson High School

Washington-Liberty High School

Williamsville East High School (NY)

Yorktown High School 22

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Sofia Flores

You are in French Level 3. Do you have plans to keep studying French throughout high school?

I plan to continue French for all four years. Next year, I will be taking French 4 which is more of a French History and culture class. French 5 is a class that focuses on French Literature and French Dramas.

After French 5, there isn’t a designated class, so I will probably study French independently, or participate in a Seminar class.

I am also planning to get involved with volunteer work that involves speaking French over the summer.

CLASS OF 2019

FRESHMAN, SIDWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL

What made you run for student government in 9th grade?

I knew I wanted to run, even though my chances as a new student would be slim, because I really enjoyed participating in [Student Council] at Congressional.

I learned that middle schoolers at Sidwell did not have the leadership positions available at Congressional, making me the only candidate with relevant experience.

It became quickly apparent that I would be the only new student running for a position on the Student Government. I used this to my advantage because it made me stand out as a candidate. I was able to derive inspiration from my Congressional experience to the issues and proposals presented.

One example would be the Quaker Days that the Student Government is in charge of planning. Our upcoming Quaker Day will consist of a Talent Show that I suggested. The spring talent show at Congressional is one of my favorite memories and bringing that kind of community feeling to my new school is important for me.

Can you share some of your memories of Congressional School?

One memory that I am particularly fond of is my capstone project.

I really enjoyed the entire process and had a good time working on the project. Mr. Cavanuagh did a good job as my mentor. I also enjoyed all of the science fairs and felt that I learned a lot from them and especially the one I did in sixth grade where we built models of sustainable cities.

I thought that project in particular was really engaging.

You are on the Robotics team at Sidwell. How have you found that experience?

Robotics has honestly been the highlight of my year. I look forward to meeting every week and sometimes just go down to the lab during my school day.

Sidwell participates in the First Tech Challenge (FTC), which is a land-based competition. With a

pretty successful first experience I was quick to sign up for Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE). This is an aquatic robot competition, and I am quite excited to work with this new element.

Congressional’s science curriculum definitely helped me in terms of my knowledge of electrical engineering, as well as my experience in Chesapeake Bay because my trip there has given me background knowledge and inspiration for the game challenges.

It sounds as though you are in many other clubs and activities.

Is there one in particular that is your favorite?

Aside from Student Government and Robotics, my favorite club would be Investment Club, which is where we manage a real stock portfolio. I like this club because I have learned a lot about the stock market and applied what I learned from Congressional’s Financial Literacy Class. •

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Holland Cooper CLASS OF 2008

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“After graduating from Congressional in 2008, I attended Fairfax High School where I focused primarily on computer science. From there, I pivoted to become a Computer Information Systems major at the College of Business at James Madison University. Although DC will always hold a special place in my heart, I felt I needed to branch out after graduating. This led me to get a job as an IT Consultant on Wall Street in 2017. I have since been promoted and work as a Financial Analyst for Apollo Global Management in Midtown, where

80 YEARS AND COUNTING! C O N G R E S S I O N A L S C H O O L . O R G

I’m still learning to effectively incorporate Information Technology within the Financial sector.

Very often I think back on my time as a Congressional Colt.

I’m incredibly thankful to have been given such a comprehensive education that extended far beyond the scope of standard academia. I accredit a great deal of my personal growth to my teachers at Congressional and am eternally grateful for the skills acquired over my 8 year tenure. Go Colts!” •

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Maggie Lavoie

School, Maggie was the Senior Class President, volunteered weekly in the infant and toddler program and was a member of the girls’ softball team.

She attended high school at Georgetown Visitation in Washington, D.C. where she continued to be involved in many leadership and extracurricular activities. Today, Maggie is a junior at The University of Virginia in Charlottesville pursuing a double major in Global Justice and Security and Spanish. Maggie returned to Congressional last June as our commencement speaker.

In her Commencement Address, Maggie discussed how Congressional prepared her for high school and beyond. She said, “I will be the first to assure you that you will all ‘be okay.’ In fact, you will be more than ‘okay.’

Congressional has far prepared you academically for your high school classes and beyond. Yes, you will know every amendment of the

CLASS OF 2013

Maggie Lavoie joined the Congressional community as an infant and graduated in 2013. As the first winner of the Karen H. Weinberger Outstanding Student Award, Maggie was recognized for being a “model” student who made a significant contribution to the life of Congressional School.

Described by her classmates and teachers as a kind, caring, and compassionate student who always reaches out to others and is a friend to everyone, Maggie was always a great mentor and role model to younger Congressional students. She was the type of person who you never have to ask for help; she would just step up.

In her last year at Congressional

Constitution in your US History Class. Thank you to Mr. Cavanaugh!

Mrs. Lelchitski’s writing instruction is the reason that even in college, I am the friend that everyone asks to edit their papers. Ms. Philips’ and Ms. Miehls’ daily art classes inspired me to take summer school in high school so that I would be able to take Studio Art I and AP Studio Art my junior and senior years at Visi. Señora A’s enthusiasm about the Spanish Language is one of the driving reasons that has led me to take Spanish all throughout high school, study abroad in Cadíz and Valencia, and declare Spanish as my one of my majors at UVA. Congressional’s emphasis and pride in its international community and focus on creating great thinkers and leaders that will positively impact our world led me to apply to UVA’s Global Studies programs and be one of only 24 students to be accepted into the Global Security and Justice major.”

MAGGIE’S WORDS OF WISDOM TO THE CLASS OF 2019 “If you forget everything I say, I have one piece of advice that I would like you to

stay late, rise early and remain focused to help and assist classmates—old and new

remember. It may sound simple and

of all backgrounds. Be the friend that

trivial, but it’s to be a good friend. You all

others can confide in, whether their

know that it’s important to get good

concerns seem trivial or life altering.

grades and get involved, but with

I can assure you that being a good friend

amounting pressure to succeed and to get to college, it’s easy to forget what is important in life. Be the friend who sits with the ‘new’ people

and extending the extra effort to be witness to the unique talents and gifts of others not only exemplifies Congressional’s core

in the cafeteria that may seem different from you. Be

values of kindness and respect, but is very rewarding

the friend who offers a kind smile and directions to the

and produces far more personal growth and positive

transfer student from far away. Be the friend that will

relationships than you can imagine.” •

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ALUMNI NOTES

1964 Shirley Wheeler Maiden ‘64 visited us this year as she stopped by to drop off some Congressional memorabilia. While attending Congressional, Shirley was on the cheerleading squad and had held onto her sweater all this time and wanted to donate it back to our school!

1974 Bill Barns ’74 and Eleni Halstead ’74 both graduated from Congressional’s high school in 1974. Both came for a visit in the fall. Bill was our Founder’s Day speaker in 2016 so he was familiar with our recent campus updates.

However, this was the first time Eleni was back on campus since graduation. It was great to see her excitement about the school today.

26

Shirley Wheeler Maiden ’64

1981

1996

Following graduation from Congressional School, Victor Lawe ‘81 earned degrees from the University of the District of Columbia and his MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. Victor is currently the Rocky Mount Safety Officer after concluding a 10-year commitment in the United States Army. At Congressional, Victor was an active member of the football team.

Previously our Registrar and cross country/track and field coach, Jackie Rose ‘96 and her family completed their chapter at Congressional last summer and are now living in Montana. She accepted a job as a Blackbaud School Management System Implementation Consultant, and her daughter, Avery, attends a local private school but knows she will always be a Colt!

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2010

Kelly Anderson ‘10 says, “I did a semester abroad in Madrid before graduation, which led me to a year with the Spanish Embassy.

I double-majored in college in International Relations and Human Services. Afterward, I went on and am currently completing my master’s degree to be a child life specialist at a hospital. I have been accepted to do my internship at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, TN. I hope to work as a child life specialist and go on to do child advocacy work for an international, not for profit.”

Nelson Carr ’05

1999

2008

Liz McConville ’99 is a Elon University graduate with a focus on Creative Writing. Liz is currently a Marketing Solutions Manager at The Washington Post where she has worked for almost nine years.

When not at the Post, Liz is active in her community with the Rotary Club of West Springfield and volunteering at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Jessica Gandy ’08 became engaged to her fiancé Ryan Poitras this past August. Ryan proposed in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at the botanical gardens. Jessica and Ryan met at American University Washington College of Law as first-year law students. They bonded over their mutual interest in international trade law and policy.

She is overjoyed to begin this new chapter in her life. She looks forward to marrying the love of her life in front of her family and friends, which includes a few classmates she met at Congressional, some of Congressional’s staff members, and a couple of Congressional families, all of whom have become a part of her family over the years!

Congrats, Jessica!

2005 Nelson Carr ’05 married his long-time girlfriend Phoebe Windebank on October 12, 2019.

The wedding was held at St. Andrew’s Church in Corbridge, UK and the couple was surrounded by a large group of family and close friends. Nelson is a Development Manager for intu Properties, based in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Phoebe works as an Assistant Psychologist.

The couple just purchased their first home in the small town of Ryton, Tyne and Wear.

2012 George Odoom ‘12 attended Flint Hill School and Virginia Tech after Congressional. George is graduating in May from the School of Engineering, and has already accepted a position with Capital One Bank after an internship with them last summer.

2015 Tyler Yun ‘15 is an official high school graduate of Flint Hill School and is enjoying his first year of college at William and Mary in Williamsburg!

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2018 Melkim Schipke ‘18 visited us this fall all the way from Germany! After graduating from Congressional, Melkim and his family moved to Germany where he enrolled in the Kopernikus Gymnasium for high school. He says, “Germany has been really good. My grades are good and sports are hard but fun.

I miss my friends in the US and Congressional, but everything brings new experiences.”

2019 Kora Whelan ‘19 is having a great time at her new school, Madeira.

She participated in the fall play as well as several Glee performances, and is now a part of the literary magazine. She is thankful for all her new friends and visits Congressional often.

Omer Aziz-Quintana ‘19’s parents say he is an excellent fit at Flint Hill and is already being recognized for his camaraderie and character—a reflection of the Core Values Award that he received from Congressional. He still wears his Congressional camp shirts to school, and his parents’ car still carries the Congressional magnets, now in addition to the Huskies.

At school Omer is doing cross country and track and field. He is also in Environmental Club and the Student Council.

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Liz McConville ‘99 and John Tato ‘99 joined us for Founder’s Day 2020 to share with our students about their time at Congressional.

Annika Hermans ‘19 is enjoying life as a freshman at National Cathedral School in Washington DC where she is on the crew team.

Annika is also a member of the Girls Who Code and a student ambassador for Technovation, a coding competition.

Chris Haman ‘19 is a freshman at St. Stephens and St. Agnes School. Chris says, “High School is great. I am playing tennis and joined an art club.”

Eva Smith ‘19 is a freshman at Yorktown High School. Eva says, “I got honor roll for the first quarter and I played field hockey and we were undefeated.”

80 YEARS AND COUNTING! C O N G R E S S I O N A L S C H O O L . O R G

Aaron Thapa ‘19 is a freshman at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Aaron says, “I’m now talking Japanese and I’m in marching band and indoor drumline.

Devon Holloway ‘19 says, “I’m doing great. I performed in my school’s fall play and just finished working on my school’s performance of the musical, ‘Once On This Island.’” She is a freshman at Maret School in Washington, DC.

Chloe Agate ‘19 is a freshman at George Mason High School in Falls Church where she reports to have settled in well and is really enjoying school.

Xavier Johnston ‘19 is enjoying life as a freshman at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School where he has played soccer and wrestled and is getting good grades.

Max Kiriakou ‘19 is enjoying his freshman year at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. and is on the crew team. •

Transforming small ideas into daring visions and big dreams into once in a lifetime experiences...

CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL

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80 YEARS AND COUNTING!

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lifestyle Our mission is to provide an inspirational and challenging student-centered educational experience within our diverse and supportive community where children question, collaborate, create, and lead.

Congressional School admits children of any race, color, creed, and national or ethnic origin.

CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM

Edwin P. Gordon, PhD Head of School Brent Hinrichs Associate Head of School and Director of Lower and Middle School Kim O’Neil Assistant Head of School and Director of Early Childhood and Primary School Chris Pryor Assistant Head of School for Advancement and External Affairs Lisa Singleton Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer Andrea Weiss Director of Innovation and Learning

Tinelle Davies Director of Human Resources Rebecca Ginnetti School Counselor Gretchen Herbst Director of Admission and Financial Aid Tavis Laws Director of Athletics and Physical Education Silvia Moore, PhD Director of Learning Center Dan O’Neil Director of Auxiliary Programs Alyce Penn Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications Ali Sheibani Director of Technology

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SPRING 2020

DEDICATED TO YOUNG LEARNERS

DID YOU KNOW? Congressional School launched a new podcast this year featuring recordings by faculty and staff on topics of relevance to parents and life at Congressional School. We have many recordings planned in the coming months on a range of interesting topics.

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MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI, PARENTS, AND FRIENDS

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Check out our podcast online by visiting www.congressionalschool.org/podcasts.

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