Admissions Events

"Mean Girls:" Cast & Crew Announcement
12/7/2023
Our Performing Arts department is excited to announce that 67 students in grades 8-12 will come together to perform and produce Mean Girls: The Musical this winter. Rehearsals are now underway, so the dates: March 1-2 and 8-9. It shall be fetch.

For the uninitiated, Mean Girls is based on the iconic, and absurdly quotable, 2004 comedy of the same name. After years of homeschooling with her zoologist parents, Cady Heron (Sienna M. '24) starts 11th grade in Illinois, where she swiftly befriends Janis and Damian (Stella T. '24 and Charlie W. '25) and crushes on Aaron Samuels (Ian M. R. '24). But before long, she falls in with The Plastics: Karen (Lana P. '26), Gretchen (Cary T. T. '25), and the queen bee Regina (Carrie J. '24).
Read More
Faculty Spotlight: Musical Notes
12/4/2023
In mid-November, John (Performing Arts) and Eugenio (World Languages) played at the Emerson Avenue Salon in McLean. They performed ten jazz tunes in duo format, with an emphasis on the conversational aspects of performing and improvising. You can still enjoy the performance online.

Read More
In Memory of David Shapiro
12/1/2023
We are heartbroken to share that David Shapiro, Edmund Burke School's Head of School from 1999 to 2011, passed away on Thursday, November 23.
Read More
Fall Choral Concert
11/28/2023
On the final Wednesday of the 1st trimester, friends and family packed the Samara Studio Theater for the year's first concert.

The 7th & 8th Grade Chorus and the Fall High School Chorus, accompanied by students and faculty from Advanced Instrumental Music, treated the crowd to six songs, including "Hello" by Adele and "XO" by Beyoncé (with a guest senior soloist).

Interspersed were performances from Singing in the Spotlight, a vocal music class for soloists, which included classic rock, contemporary hits, and musical theater songs. The concert concluded with a combined performance of "New Soul" by Yael Naim, featuring all three classes.
Read More
Grandparents & Grandfriends Day
11/25/2023
On November 10, nearly 140 grandparents brought their energy and enthusiasm to Burke – gathering in the theater for remarks and presentations, attending 2nd period classes along with their grandchildren, and then filling the Gym for an assembly, concluding with dancing and music by Band 8 and Advanced Band.
Read More
Bengal Beat: Fall Conference Awards
11/22/2023
Varsity Cross Country concluded their season and Varsity Soccer and Volleyball earned thirteen Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC) honors.
Read More
Class & Class Spotlight - Part 3
11/19/2023
Building Up Stonehenge
12th graders in Advanced Art History recently participated in the Ancient World Building challenge. Teams worked together to remember the building plans of various structures from Stonehenge to the Pantheon. After the plans are approved, they created the structure with any materials in the room (including these durable hardwood blocks).

Did you know: Stonehenge's early construction likely began 3000 years before the Pantheon was built in 120-128 AD?
Read More
Día de los Muertos
11/16/2023
During their October unit on the Day of the Dead in Mexico, Mónica's Spanish 7/8 class learned about the "Calaveritas Literarias" or "literary skeletons," a type of poem shared among friends and family leading up to the Day of the Dead. Mónica writes, "it's both a loving and a humorous poetry style that has to rhyme on every even verse." Students had a blast writing the poems, often dedicated to their classmates or family. Corin M. '29 wrote for "mi perrita loquita - y crees un gato."

On November 8, 7th grade traveled to the Mexican Cultural Institute of Washington on 16th Street to visit this year's Day of the Dead ofrenda and take a tour of the building's murals, which include a three-story mural by Roberto Cueva del Río.
Read More
Belated Halloween 2023 Report
11/13/2023
Spooky Town Hall
This year's Halloween Assembly served a dual purpose. First, costumed SGA leaders, along with school administrators, hosted a panel-style discussion, responding to questions from student-constituents.

Haunted Showdown
Next up, the Annual Costume Contest, judged by a most esteemed faculty and staff panel, showcased the creativity, humor, and whimsy of students and adults alike. Each grade had two entries (group or individual), and delightful garments included Jafar (6th grade), Jake from State Farm (9th grade), the Despicable Me family (11th grade), and a fluffy blue shark (12th grade). Ultimate winners were:
1st place - Owen F. '24 as "Barbenheimer"
2nd place, tie - Beatrix F. '27 as a Clown and Elijah S. '24 as Costco
Read More
Everybody: Final Shows on Nov. 10-11
11/10/2023
Everybody Will Be There ...

By "there," we mean the closing performances of Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, brought to life by a wildly creative (and sometimes sardonic) ensemble of high school actors and crew. Final shows are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM.

A modern take on the 15th century morality play, Everybody follows "Everybody" as they navigate the journey of Life with help (or lack thereof) from friends, family, stuff, love, and more.
Read More
Class & Club Spotlight - Part 2 - Middle School
11/7/2023
Pictured: students in Principles of Art craft ambitious land art at Peirce Mill

Read More
Class & Club Spotlight - Part 2 - High School
11/4/2023
DNA and PCR
Students in Morgan G.'s Advanced Research in Molecular Biology class are wrapping up the experimentation portion of their research with gel electrophoresis. This lab allows students to visualize DNA that was amplified in their PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and to determine whether their arthropods are infected with Wolbachia. Wolbachia are bacteria that alter the reproductive cycles of the arthropods that they infect. Next, students will send DNA samples to Penn State University for sequencing.
Read More
Bengal Beat: Fall Post-Season - High School
11/1/2023
Volleyball (JV and Varsity)
Both squads had an excellent season, each making it to the PVAC Championship semifinals this past week. The JV team wrapped up the season strong against Model Secondary School, going 2-1 against the eventual PVAC champs. In the last regular season match, Varsity Bengals bested McLean's Mustangs (3-1), with stellar serving by Sienna M. '24, Lucy M. '24, and Lailah B. '25. Thanks to a high ranking, the team punched their ticket directly to the PVAC semifinals, where they concluded their season against Hebrew Academy (3-1). Shout-out to Sienna, Lucy, Niki P. '24, Erin R. '24, Marissa W. '24, and Mani Y. '24 on a superlative senior season!
Read More
In Memory of David Shapiro
11/1/2023
David Shapiro, beloved Head of School from 1999-2011, passed away on November 23.
Read More
Bengal Beat: Fall Post-Season - Middle School
10/29/2023
Girls Soccer (MS)
The Bengals wrapped up the regular season with a 7-1 record, winning the final season game against Spencerville 9-0, with the final goal scored by Zari R. T. '30. From there, the team fought all the way to the PVAC Conference Championships ... where they brought home the banner! Congratulations to this stellar squad and coaches, and to Lihi C. '28, Yanet G. '28, Grace G. '28, Leona K. '28, Izzy M. '28, Marli N. '28, Amy T. '28, Arsema T. '28, Natalie W. '28, and Jayla Z. '28 on an awesome finish to their middle school soccer tenure. We are excited to see you on the field in high school.
Read More
Alum Spotlight: Adam Lerner '09
10/26/2023
Congratulations to Adam Lerner, an Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts - Lowell, on receiving the 2022 Furniss Book Award from the Mershon Center for International Security Studies at The Ohio State University.
Read More
Bengal Beat: Fall Season - Part 2
10/23/2023
Girls Soccer (MS)
They fought long and hard ... and the team notched a 2-1 victory over Berman Hebrew Academy on September 28 and closed out September undefeated (5-0). While the team could not quite hold off Washington International in early October, they shut them out in the 2nd half, ending at 4-2.
Read More
Class & Club Spotlights - Part 2
10/20/2023
History On Trial

In Modern World History, a special tribunal (pictured: Steve, Mustafa, and Judyth) convened to determine who was most responsible for crimes committed against the Taínos and the other indigenous peoples in the Caribbean basin under Spain's oppressive rule in the late 15th century. Students presented different arguments for Christopher Columbus, his crew and men, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, and the system of empire itself, and the judges assessed the evidentiary material, artifacts, and presentations.
Read More
Hooray for Homecoming!
10/17/2023
A wonderfully spirited crowd packed the fan buses and filled the stands at the Fields at RFK as the varsity soccer squads took on rival Field School.
Read More
Spirit & Pep
10/14/2023
Spirit Week

The week of October 2 brought a veritable parade of zany and creative garb, as students and adults alike embraced the Spirit Week themes. If you have not already, be sure to hop to Burke's Instagram for reel recaps of each spirit day.
Read More