“The More Things Change”

SNAPSHOTS: INDEPENDENT STUDIES

• Solana Torres ‘22 engaged in a three-year-long independent study in Chinese, from 2019 until graduation, as she prepared to move abroad for college. This fall, Solana matriculated at Duke Kushan, a partnership between Duke

University and Wuhan University

• Ten students in 10th-12th grade pursued independent studies in computer science this past school year, including

Liam Widnell ‘22, who proposed building a Wordpress website from scratch and creating a custom theme. He first created a Ubuntu Linux server by installing the necessary software, then moved on to installing Wordpress and a

MySQL database before focusing on Wordpress customization.

• Twelve students participated in the teaching assistant (TA) program last year, providing classroom, field trip, and project support in math, science, history, health, visual arts, and instrumental music.

In May, Lena Streitwieser ‘22 checked in from her past hometown (Berlin, Germany), where she spent her senior project period on a multimedia portfolio, writing:

SPOTLIGHT: SENIOR PROJECT

“My senior project is a multimedia artistic portfolio surrounding the theme of “belonging.” I have explored this theme through creating various mini sketches, a collage, a drawing, a pen drawing, a watercolor painting, and a short film.

“My objective was to examine the ways in which belonging” is naturally represented in Berlin, the way I see it. Naturally, art is subjective, and may require some explanation at times if the artist wants their audience to fully understand the purpose and intention behind the work. That is why I have crafted descriptions for each of my art pieces that may help contextualize the pieces and ground them in the theme.”

The collage “Woher kommst du wirklich” (English: “where do you really come from”)

The pen drawing “My heart hurts” Following a canceled Founders Day in 2020, a hybrid Founders Day in 2021, and a delayed event this past spring, Founders Day was back at last on May 27, 2022. Needless to say, the energy and the volume were high – and even parents were invited to join the festivities.

Early in the spring, students and faculty divided into inter-grade teams, each with a delectable cereal-themed name (“Fruity Pebbles” and “Frosted Flakes”), in line with this year’s theme. On the day, teams alternated between relay races in the Gym and lip syncing battles in the Atrium, complete with choreographed dances and props.

Relay components included “transport the 6th grader carrying a balloon” and “complete a three-legged race while falling only slightly less than one’s opponent.” Lip sync judges included faculty, administrators, and one of the numerous Class of 2021 alums who kept popping up.

YEAR-END PERFORMING & VISUAL ARTS

Vocal Music Concert featuring Advanced Chorus, Chorus & Singing in the Spotlight

Burke Bands at Blues Alley featuring Advanced & Intermediate Band at Blues Alley jazz club in DC

“High School Musical Jr.” featuring the Burke Middle School at American University’s Greenberg Theatre

Community Art Show featuring mixed media, photography, sculpture, ceramics, and painting from students, faculty, staff, and alumni; organized by Allen Jackson (Visual Arts, Chair) and alumni Etienne Jackson-Jones ‘20, Kalea GeorgePhillips ‘21, Nick Crews ‘20 & Sofie Shore ‘20

YEAR-END EVENTS:SPRING 2022

SPECIAL EVENTS

Fair for Languages Against Gun Violence:

On Wednesday, June 1, students and faculty from the World Languages Department celebrated French and Spanish-speaking countries through games, presentations, and food – and raised funds to support antigun violence measures. Students gave lessons in merengue, painted patterns from zapotec rugs, served cuisine marocaine, wove bahía bands, and presented on Aztec numbers and Mayan glyphs – as well as spoke passionately about reducing gun violence here in the District and sold 1,375 carnations to support their cause.

GOVERNING & COLLABORATING

2021-22

Recognizing this past school year’s leaders and grade representatives:

Co-Presidents: Ingrid G. and Jay S. ‘22 Secretary: Lena S. 22 Treasurer: Aidas P. ‘22

Grade Reps - High School Hunter H., Shelby W., Sophia R. ‘22 Gabrielle B., Catherine R., Sanja O. ‘23 Carrie J., Jonah D., Riley D. ‘24 Aaron H. Miriam K. G., Nora S. ‘25

Grade Reps - Middle School Lina B., Sydney J. ‘26 Jane P., Wyatt J. ‘27 Gabriel D. ‘28, Henry B. ‘28Winter 2022 // 11