Independent Studies & Senior Projects

To ensure a final curtain call for graduating seniors, The Wedding Singer premiered in late May and incorporated performers from school and from home.

Graduating seniors and principal actors rehearsed and recorded at locations around campus – and even traveled to The Black Cat on 14th Street for on-location filming. These performances were then edited together with at-home singing and dancing from a dozen ensemble members to create a full-length show, available via streaming and on-demand through mid-June.

YEAR-END EVENTS: SPRING 2021

ARTISTICALLY LIVE

While student artists (and their work) were in the building, our capacity to welcome guests remained limited last spring.

Needless to say, creativity prevailed. With some help from Zoom and a handheld iPad, seniors and Visual Arts faculty provided a tour around the campus, complete with artist interviews and live musical performances.

Pictured: work by Izzy G. ‘21, Kalea G. P. ‘21, Luca C. ‘23, and Rachel Z. ‘22

GOVERNING & COLLABORATING

Our thanks and recognition to the students who served their classes in 2020-21 as grade representatives to the Student Government Association:

6th Grade Ayosa S. ‘27 Sylvie C. ‘27

7th Grade Taylor S. ‘26 Jack J. ‘26

8th Grade Jaya T. ‘25 David G. ‘25

9th Grade Carrie J. ‘24 Jack S. ‘24 Jessica C. ‘24 10th Grade Angel J. ‘23 Dakari T. ‘23 Chloe R. ‘23

11th Grade Anya W. ‘22 Ingrid G. ‘22 Max O. ‘22

12th Grade Peter A. ‘21 Dylan V. ‘21 Jonah C. ‘21

GRADUATION & MOVING UP

On the first Sunday in June, in the shadow of the Washington National Cathedral, the 57 members of the Class of 2021 received their diplomas from the Head of School and the Chair of the Board of Trustees and joined the ranks of Edmund Burke School alumni.

The ceremony, while remaining atypical, offered a refreshing breath of normalcy. Dressed in burgundy, graduates could gather all together, surrounded by close family and friends, give personal speeches and musical performances, and process in person to the chords of Pomp & Circumstance.

Still, to comply with local guidance, the School hosted an outdoor graduation for the first time in recent memory and families sat in small groups all around the spacious amphitheatre – and picked up a catered “reception in a box” on their way home.

Representative James Clyburn (D - SC), House Majority Whip and the third ranking Democrat in the US House of Representative, provided a recorded keynote address – one that emphasized perseverance and tenacity, along with good manners.

Sixteen members of the graduation class were “lifers,” or students who have attended Burke since 6th grade. The Class of 2021 included a 3rd generation graduate, Anatiyah Worthy-Stewart, daughter of Kimberly Worthy ‘92, and a 2nd generation graduate, Skye Nicole Garrett, daughter of Ebony Fortune ‘98.

Class of 2021 Graduation

Photos courtesy of Freed Photography

Student Speakers Helen Jentoft-Herr, Julia Parachini, Sidney Howlett

Student Performers Alice Crafford, Isabela Cividanes, Kyra Layman, Maya Cole, Nathan Weisbrod