The Owl Post - First Edition - June 2023

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.

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

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

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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.

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!

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.

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-

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.

Kim’s Yirasai at Park Potomac

STUDENT ART & COMICS

All artwork by Sara Holmes, 7th grade