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Sean F. reports, "6th graders took their capstone trip to Virginia to visit historical and scientific sites and wonders from May 16-18." First stop was the Science Museum of Virginia, where they experienced "Speed," saw live chemistry demonstrations, and learned about about how engineering builds the world around us.
On Wednesday, May 17, Burke welcomed Liz Kleinrock for the annual Grace Mann '12 Speaker Series. Honoring the memory of a Burke alum who was passionate about social justice and advocacy, the speaker series reflects those same passions. At Wednesday's assembly, Liz took questions from a panel of student affinity group leaders, discussing identity, student activism, and how to foster inclusive environments.
We are thrilled to announce that Kevin Forde has been appointed the next Director of Athletics, starting on July 1, 2023. Kevin first came to Burke as a coach in 2012, and has served as the Assistant Director of Athletics since 2014.
In Steve's words, "Kevin's strong record of leadership in the athletic department and in the PVAC, his unwavering commitment to our student athletes, and his deep and abiding understanding of Burke's mission made him the clear choice to build on the foundation that J.D. and his predecessors have laid."
Following an appearance in the PVAC quarter-finals, the Bengals secured three spots on the All-Conference team, including 1st team awards for dynamic duo Fin T. '23 and Stella T. '24 and a 2nd team award for 8th grader standout Sunniah S. '27. Congratulations!
Varsity Baseball
The Bengals put together an excellent season, progressing to the PVAC semi-finals in May and now earning All-Conference awards for Max G. '25 (1st team), Ray W. '26 (1st team), and graduating senior Georgie M. '23 (2nd team).
Congratulations to Niki P. '24, who led a DC-based fundraising team for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2023 Mid-Atlantic Student Visionaries of the Year campaign. With dynamic team members Alex B. '24, Mia D. '24, and Owen G. '24, she raised more than $80,000 and earned the Hero Award designation – which enables students to connect their names to an LLS research portfolio. In the Head of School's words, these team members "have been real leaders and advocates for this cause."
In early May, numerous affinity groups celebrated their final meetings with seniors, including the Latine / Hispanic Student Union (LHSU) – whose seniors requested a going-away dance party, paired with Peruvian alfajores, thanks to affinity leader Maite B. G. '24. Special shout-out to beloved seniors Julia V. B. '23, Sam S. '23, and Valentina C. '23, who couldn't attend the celebration due to AP testing.
At the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference Championships on May 15-16, the Bengals recorded numerous podium finishes, including two individual and two relay championships. Overall, the boys' team finished in 2nd place and the girls' team took 5th. Congratulations!
Last week, the 3rd-seeded Bengals took on Washington Waldorf in the quarterfinals of the PVAC Championships. Following a suspenseful seventh inning, Burke pulled ahead (3-2), thanks to a game-tying double from Max G. '25 – securing the walk-off win and spot in the semifinals this week!
In the semifinals, the Bengals couldn't hold off the 2nd-seeded Sandy Spring team, but still finished their season with incredible determination and spirit. Will H. '24 led the team on batting average and OBP in the regular season, with Max leading in RBIs and Ray W. '26 in strikeouts and ERA.
For the first time since 2019, the 8th grade traveled to Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma, Alabama, for a four-day immersion in the Civil Rights Movement in the American South. On the first day, students and teachers visited the 16th St. Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park, and Bethel Baptist Church, before meeting with Civil Rights speakers Dr. Martha Bouyer and Dr. Carolyn McKinstry, who survived the 1963 bombing.
Continuing a long spring tradition, Burke's Advanced and Intermediate Bands played to a packed, energetic house on Monday, May 8, at Blues Alley, "the nation's oldest continuing jazz supper club."
An opera singer and concert soloist, Faith S. '12 appeared on the cover of Washington Jewish Week (April 12, 2023), which highlighted her performance as Agnes Smith Lewis / Leah in Geniza: Hidden Fragments by composer Rabbi Arnold Saltzman.
Next year's theatrical season will open with Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. A modern riff on the 15th century morality play Everyman, the play follows Everybody (chosen randomly from amongst the cast by lottery at each performance) as they travel down the path toward life's greatest mystery, encountering Friendship, Kinship, Stuff, Beauty, and Love along the way.
The annual high school musical will be Mean Girls (book by Tina Fey, music by Jeff Richmond, lyrics by Nell Benjamin), a ferociously funny musical based on the hit film. Cady Heron tries to find where she belongs while experiencing the wild and vicious ways of her new suburban high school. When Cady and her friends devise revenge on The Plastics, a trio of frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.
The Bengals recorded a decisive 6-0 win over Model last week at St. Anselm's, highlighted by an impressive no-hitter by Ray W. '26 and a clutch play by Amir A. '24. Starting the week in similar fashion, the team won 7-0 over McLean School, with Max G. '25 pitching seven shutout innings. (Follow along at the student-run @ebsvarsitybaseball)
On Friday, April 21, each Middle School grade engaged in trips and excursions tied into a component of the curriculum – ranging from ecology to 3-D art to the Civil Right Movement.
Amy successfully applied to a US Fish and Wildlife Service program and received a Laysan Albatross bolus (indigestible material from the bird's gut) for the 7th grade to examine in Life Science class.
Coach Tamika reports, "Owen G. '24 and Jackson M. '28 competed in PVAC Varsity Golf Mid-Season Championship at Northwest Golf Course." They played 9 holes, and Owen scored 44 for a 3rd place finish and Jackson scored an excellent 54. Congratulations to both!
Varsity Baseball
Following a tough loss to Sandy Spring Friends (pictured) this weekend, the team rallied with a decisive win over Washington Waldorf School on Monday!
Varsity Softball
Coach Amy reports, "This just in … Burke beat Model, 26-6!" At yesterday’s game, highlights included "nine strikeouts by Sunniah S. '27, a homerun by Lailah B. '25, two triples by Stella T. '24, a double and a double play by Fin T. '23, a hard single and great fielding at center by Emily R. '25, a beat dropped third throw down by Stacia S. M. '28, a hard single and great throw from third by Bea C. '24, plus multiple plate crossings and crafty base running by Pan L. '23, and Ava M. '24." Amy gives a special shout-out to Kyla B. '27 and Roshan M. R. '26, team photographers yesterday.
Still energized by the 2022 World Cup, our Founders' Day student leaders drew inspiration from cities around the world. Our inter-grade teams, each named for a capital city and led by 11th and 12th graders, gathered for their initial meetings right before Spring Break – primarily to get acquainted, play some games, and enjoy some snacks. (Pictured: Team Rome meets in the gym with leader Hazel B. '23)
What's "so much better" than this awesome middle school cast? Not much! 23 actors from 6th-8th grade will present the delightful, uplifting Legally Blonde Jr. this coming May 12-13 at 7 PM. Legally Blonde Jr. "follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams."
Throughout the school year, the 9th grade explores food justice in the DC region, including through direct service with longtime partner Capital Area Food Bank – where 9th graders spent a full day on the Wednesday or Friday before break.
Before Spring Break, Alice C. '21 (Carnegie Mellon '25) visited the Science Club to talk about majoring in Astrophysics and minoring in Math. A Burke "Lifer," Alice started in 6th grade after relocating from Alaska. She made room for six science classes in High School, dubbing AP Chemistry with Bob K. an "absolute favorite" (which enabled her to jump to Chemistry 2 in college).
High School Track & Field launched their season with a strong showing at the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School Early Bird on March 15, facing off against nearly a dozen independent schools from DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Congratulations to Lena S. '22, whose short film "Unprompted" was among the winners in the 2023 Japan International Film Festival (Student Film / United States)! Featuring Ellen C. '23, the film follows a high school student reflecting on her life as she struggles to write a college essay.
Lena is currently a first-year film student in the Dual BA program with Trinity College Dublin and Columbia University.
Each summer, the Professional Development Committee awards Combustion Engine Grants, which enable our faculty to enrich teaching and curricula in innovative ways.
On February 27, 2023, Mustafa N. (History) presented on his funded projects from Summer 2022.
Congratulations to Bailee C. '24 and to Miriam K. G. '25 (pictured), who were named 3rd Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention respectively for Girls' Basketball in the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC). Overall, the team finished the season with a winning record and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Conference Championships.
On Thursday, February 16, students from Black Student Union, Black Girls Meet, and Young Black Men mounted the annual Black History Month assembly, with a specific focus on DC's Black culture and historical figures with roots in the District.
On Friday, February 10, the Girls Varsity Basketball team took on rival Field School, winning 39-33 in a closely-fought home game. Bailee C. '24, Daria S. '24, Fiona C. '25, Mae G. '24, Miriam K. G. '25, Noelle T. '25, and Zora T. '26 wrapped up a strong regular season, wrapping up with a 7-6 record – before heading to the post-season! On Tuesday, February 21, the team took on Spencerville in the quarter finals of the PVAC Championship Tournament.
In Addie H.'s Earth Systems Science, students are exploring the geosphere, including the rock cycle, geological timeline, and plate tectonics. As they wrapped up their unit, each student created an artifact to illustrate the elements of the geosphere.
On Friday, February 3, the 9th grade gathered at UDC's Student Center for their full-day leadership retreat. Stacy S. (Co-Director, Leadership Program) reports, "On this retreat we introduce them to our definition of leadership, play lots of games, have them think about themselves as leaders and how they would like to lead inside and outside of Burke."
In short, this team rocked it, posting an 8-3 record this season – which included double-digit victories over Washington International and Washington Waldorf to close out the season. At the final home game, Coach Ryan L. acknowledged our 8th grade athletes (pictured). See you on the court in high school, Class of 2027!
Burke's 2022-23 affinity groups meet on four different rotations, enabling students to participate in up to four different groups at a time. In January, several groups looked beyond campus and raised funds for DC-based organizations serving the community.
Last school year, our students could once again travel and explore our region's resources – and those excursions have continued to proliferate in 2022-23:
From November 30 to December 2, a delegation of four Burke students attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in San Antonio, TX: Izzy M. '26, Rose D. '25, Sophia H. '25, and Chloe R. '23.
Each summer, the Professional Development Committee awards Combustion Engine Grants, which enable our faculty to enrich teaching and curricula in innovative ways.
On January 9, 2023, Morgan G. (Science) and Matison H. D. '14 (English) presented on their funded projects from Summer 2022.
Last week, Coach Kevin reported a "wonderful start to the season," including a 4-2 record. Competing against teams with much larger rosters, the season has been a "full team effort" for these athletes.
An irreverent Burke tradition, "grade competitions" involve battles of wit and whimsy throughout the year – resulting in eternal bragging rates for the grade that accrues the most points by May.
In the Winter trimester, 9th-11th graders in the Build Your Own Computer elective are discovering the ins-and-outs of computers from a physical perspective.
Co-ed, progressive, college prep school in Washington, DC featuring a challenging curriculum in an inclusive environment for grades 6-12.