Sumus Leones

Year I, Issue 2 Washington Latin March, 2012

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97 Percent Participation For 100 in 10

ByCuneytDil Sophomore

Latins First Poetry Out Loud Competition

Thesecondannual100in 10campaign,whichaimstoraise $100thousandintendays,hasbeen announcedtohaveraisedan amazing$118thousand. Ms.SomerSalomon, DirectorofDevelopment,whohada leadingroleinorganizingthis campaign,remarkedearlylastweek thatitisanamazingratefora schooltoreach97percent participation.Thisisalarge improvementfromlastyear,which JoaquimYoung,le/,andTyrikDedrick,right,posingforcameras.Bothfriends had92percentparticipation. representedWashingtonLa@nattheWashington,D.C.PoetryOutLoudcompe@@on. Everyonewasinvolved; students,parents,theschool,all classesinwhichrecitationhadbeen ByAmalRiley workingtogether,sheadds. Sophomore incorporated. Themoneyraisedfromthe 100in10campaignisvitalforthe Mr.NathanDay,atenthgrade LastThursdayattheDecatur school.Thedonationsgotothe Englishteacher,introducedthe campus,studentsinthesophomore generaloperatingbudget,forthe afternoontotheDecaturlibrary classperformedinthersteverPoetry schooltodoallthethingsitneeds, packedwithstudentsandteachers. OutLoudcompetitionatWashington Ms.Salmonsaid. ChazMixonstarteditowithLetIt WashingtonLatinsbudgetis Latin.Thestudentswhoperformed BeForgo[enbySaraTeasdale. largelycomprisedofpublicfunds, hadvolunteeredtodoso.Overone andthedonationsfromthe100in quarterofthesophomoreclass Thereweremanystrong 10campaign.Ataschoolwherethe participated,allofwhomhadjust importanceofcommunityis performancesthroughouttheevening, nishedapoetryunitintheirEnglish expressedoften,thecommunity butitsfairtosaythattherst,second,

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Featured
PoetryOutLoudCoveragePages oneandthree

The/InOurCommunityPagetwo andsix

WashingtonLa@nsEverExpanding CurriculumPagefourandve

CommunityCalendar:SchooldatesandeventsPageSeven

Year I, Issue 2

Sumus Leones

March, 2012

Theft Plaguing Our Community

MustafaaNuraldin Senior
Ithappenstomanyofus. Yousetyourbelongingsdownina classroomtogooutsideforbreakor sportsafterschool,andreturnto ndyourbagriedthrough,your propertymissing.Noneedtosearch theschoolbecauseyouknowyou didntmisplaceyourphone,bus pass,orwhateveritwasthatisnow gone.Itsevidentfromthesecond youcheckyourbagthatyouve beenstolenfrom. Theftisacommoncrime commi[edinhighschools,and WashingtonLatinisnoexception.In fact,Mr.Ma[hewBoyd,Deanof students,notesthatinthefouryears thathehasbeenDean,thefthas remain[ed]apersistentchallenge. Yearafteryearstudentshavecome forwardwithcomplaintsofstolen phones,iPods,jackets,buspasses, smarttripcards,andevenlunches. iTouchesthreeofthem, saysfreshmanJuliaGuidry,when askedofherpersonalexperience withtheftatschool.Otherstudents likeJuliahavevoicedtheirconcern anddiscontentwiththeamountof stealingthatgoesonatLatin. Ithinktheftshouldntbe somethingwehavetoworryabout inourcommunity,butitsabig issue,saidAnakaOsborne,a12th graderandmemberofthe CommunityCouncil.Ithappens waytoomuch,anditssadthat peoplehavetheaudacitytosteal fromsomeonetheyseeeveryday. Anotherfreshman,KaylaShuler hadthistosay,Ithinkitssad becauseatLatin,weprideourselves onbeingasmall,familylike community,butfamilymembers dontstealfromeachother. Latinstudentsarenotthe onlyvictims,however.Anumberof facultymembersfromtheupper schoolhavehadmoney,food, suppliesandotherpersonalitems stolen,inmanycasesfromtheir ownclassrooms.Manyofthestolen suppliesarepaidforbytheteachers themselves,whichmeanseachtime afacultymemberisstolenfrom, theymustreplaceitbypayingout oftheirownpockets. Itputspeopleinabad place,saidupperschoolBiology, Dance,andHealthteacherMs. DorianLamb.Weusealotofour ownmoneyinordertoeducate students,andwhenwearestolen from,itputsusinabadplace. Ms.Lambwentontosay thatstudentonteachertheftcreates anenvironmentofdistrust,a sentimentsharedbyseveral membersoffacultyattheupper school.StealingisthethingIhate most,becauseitdestroysa communityveryquickly,said AssistantHeadofAcademicsMs.

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100 In 10 Has Been Amazing

denitelyshowstheirsupportthrough eortslikethis. Everyyearwebaseour budgetonthis.Werelyonour communitytogiveaevenbe[er educationthanwhatourpublicfunds give,Ms.Salomoncontinues. Withtheincreased participation,itwouldbewisetomake thejudgementthatstudentsare increasinglyrealizinghowimportant thesedonationsarefortheschool,and thussupportingthesecampaigns more. TessaTorgovitsky,afreshman, agreesthesedonationcampaignsare

CuneytDil Sophomore (Con3nuedfromfrontpage)

Numbers Recap
5% increased
participation from 2011

vital.Ithinkthataslongaspeople arewillingtogivemoneytothe school,theyshouldhaveeventslike thiswherethedonatingisvery straightforward. Torgovitskybelievesafair shareofthemoneyshouldgoto creatingmoreeldtrips.Wehavent hadasmanyeldstripsthisyear...just awaytogurestuoutthatweare learninginaclassinawaythatisnta lectureorareading. Regardlessofhowexactlythe moneywillbeused,Ms.Salomon remarksthatshehope[s]tomakethis acultureofourschool.

$118 thousand raised

in 10 days

$109 thousand raised

in 2011

Year I, Issue 2

Sumus Leones

March, 2012

Poetry Out Loud Coverage

(Con3nuedfromfrontpage)
andthirdplaceawardswerewelldeserved. KaelinFields,whorecitedBlackBoysPlaythe ClassicsbyToiDerrico[e,wonthirdplace.Therstand secondplacewinnersbothrecitedthesamepoem,We WeartheMaskbyPaulLaurenceDunbar,andalso happenedtobefriends.TyrikDedrikwonsecondplace, andtherstplaceawardwasgiventoJoaquimYoung. Thetwohaddierentreasonsastowhy theychosethepoem.Dedriksaidhelikedthe backgroundofthepoemandhowitisconnected tothecivilrightsmovementandracism.Young lookedatthepoeminadierentcontext,and saidthatitreectedhimself.Headmitsthathe didntthinkhehadachancetowinrstplace. Imstillshocked,hesaid,afterlearning hewonthecompetition.Youngmentionedthat hewascondentthathehadallhislinesand

gesturesmemorizedbeforeperformingI recordedmyselfonmyphoneandlistenedto myselfwhiledoingdaytodaythings. Bothofthemhavealreadyperformedat theWashington,D.C.PoetryOutLoud competition.Thewinnerofthatwillmoveonto thenationalnals.Youngsaidthathewas nervoustomoveontothecitynals.[Im]very nervous,Iknowtherearealotofverytalented peopleinDC,hesaid. Attheendofthenight,Ms.Martha Cu[s,HeadofSchool,wenttothefrontofthe roomtospeakafewwords.Ittakessuch couragetogetupinfrontofanaudienceand recitepoetry.Theaudiencehasbeenvery respectfulandIapplaudeachoneofyou,she said. Ms.Pegremannouncedthattherewillbe anotherpoetrynightattheendofApril,andat leasttwomorepoetryfunctionsbytheendofthe year. partofWashingtonLatinscurriculum.Theonly problemtheArabicprogramfacesisthatthey havenoguaranteemorethan15peoplewouldbe willingtojointhecourseifit weretobecomeaclassduring theday. Mr.AlexanderPorcelli, oneoftheArabicteachers, said,Iwouldliketobeable toconvinceMs.Seidtomake Arabicapartofthe curriculum,butIcantaskher todothatifonly15people showuptoclass consistently. However,Mr.Porcelli

Arabic for the Language Curriculum

ByKellyRivera Sophomore
Arabichasbeenoeredasan afterschoolacademicprogramforthe pastthreeyearsatWashingtonLatin. Throughoutthattimeperiod,many studentshavecometojointhe program,withapproximately15 studentsthatshowupconsistently rightnow. Thesestudentshaveenjoyed learningArabic,whichhasbeen possiblewiththeQatarFoundation Internationalssupport(above).Now,students wouldliketoincludetheArabicprogramasa

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Year I, Issue 2

Sumus Leones

March, 2012

Latins Expanding Curriculum

AsWashingtonLatin continuestogrow,withtherst everseniorclassthisyear,new classeshavebeenintroduced, anddepartmentsarebeing expanded. Atthebeginningofthe 20112012schoolyear,15new classeswereintroduced,seven ofthosewereAPclasses. Manyofthesenew classeswerecreatedfora familiarreason,tosetupthe curriculumfortheclassof 2012Latinsrstever graduatingclass.However, somearealsoelectives,that studentsallfromgrades912 cantake.Anexampleofthis wouldbedigitalphotography, whichcountsasanartcredit. Mr.CarlLyon,who beganteachingWashington Latinsrsteverastronomy course,anexampleofanew scienceelectivecreatedthis year,talksabouthowhisclass gotaboutforming. Ms.Smithfoundout thatIreallylikedastronomy. Wouldyoureallyliketoteach aclassonit?Itsthesameway Ms.Lambgottoteachmarine biology,hesaid. Torstunderstandthe needformoreclasses,and electives,onemustbefamiliar withLatinsgraduation requirements. FouryearsofEnglish, math,science,andhistory,are allbuiltintoeveryones schedule.Inaddition,students arerequiredtocompletethree yearsofLatin,twoyearsof eitherFrenchorChinese,anda

Arabic Class

ByCuneytDil Sophomore

ByKellyRivera Sophomore handfulofotherclassessuchas (Con3nuedfrompagethree)

nancialliteracy,health,music, etc.Thatsnotall,though. Mr.Lyonadds,Once youtotalallthoseup,your schedulestillhasalotofroom forclasses.Thisiswhere electivescomein.Classesthat donttinthemath,orhistory, orforeignlanguages...fallunder thegeneraltitleofelectives. Studentsarerequiredtotakeat leastthreeandahalfelectives (half=onesemester). However,some studentswouldhaveto disagreewiththatstatement. ForFredSailer,ajunior,nding roomforalltherequired electivesinhisschedulecanbe demanding.Imcuriouswhy certainelectivesarerequired, likemusic,art,D.C.History, nancialliteracy.Iamali[le aggravatedabouttheArtissue becauseIdonthavetimetot itinmyschedule,Sailersays. andMs.Seidwouldbesurprisedathow manypeoplesaidtheywoulddenitely jointheArabicclassifitwereavailable duringtheschoolday,andhowtheyfelt aboutonlybeingabletogotoclasstwicea week. FredSailer,ajunior,whohasbeen intheclassforoneyear,hadthistosay, Yes!IdothinkthatArabicshouldbea class.Ithinkthathavingtheclassestwicea weekisbe[erthannothingbutitsnotthe mostbenecial.TimHursen,another junior,whohasbeentakingtheclassever sinceitstarted,said,Yes!Itshouldbea class.Iwoulddenitelyjoin.Idontthink thathavingtheclassonlytwiceaweekis benecialbecauselanguageshavetobe workedondaily;youcantjustexpectto learnorrememberalanguageifyoujust takeitafewdaysaweek.Languageswill goawayiftheyarenotpracticedevery day. Theadministratorswouldalsobe surprisedtoknowhowmanypeoplewho havenevertakenArabicbeforewouldbe interestedintakingitifitwereprovided duringtheday. ExpansionforNextYear Afterbeingaskedifhewouldjoin Arabicifitwereapartoftheschool curriculum,ShakibKhan,ajunior,said,I Rightnowthe thinkitshouldbeaclass.Iwouldjoin.Its AcademicCommi[ee,headed byMs.DianaSmith,whoisalso notgoodtohaveitafterschoolbecauseits hardtoconcentrate.ElianaDuran,a AssistantHeadofAcademics, areinthemiddleoftheprocess sophomore,alsoadded,Iwasgoingto takeArabicthisyearbutsinceIwasaco fordesigningcoursesfornext captaininsoccer,Icouldntdoit.Ifitwould year. havebeenapartoftheschoolcurriculumI Inaninterviewwith Ms.Smith,shegaveinsightinto wouldhavedenitelyjoinedtheclass. Thisisonlyafewofthepeoplethat whatisbeingworkedon.The saidtheysupportArabictobecomeaclass AcademicCommi[eewillbe duringtheschooldayandthattheywould consideringthereturnof HonorsHumanitiesandanew joinifoered.Theprogramdenitely wouldliketoincorporatetheclassinto WashingtonLatinscurriculum,itmaynow (Con3nuedonpageve) justbeuptotheadministratorsofLatin.

Year I, Issue 2

Sumus Leones

March, 2012

Latins Expanding Curriculum

APEnglishcourseAPLanguage.In addition,ahandfulofotherAP coursesarealsobeingdiscussed, includingAPUSHistory,AP Geography,APMusicTheory,and APChinese.Anewhistorycourseto beoeredasanalternativetoDC History,agovernmentcourse,a dramacourse,andmorearts electivesarealsobeing considered,saidMs.Smith. Theimportanceofpublic speakinganddramahavealsobeen expressed.Weretalkingabout howbesttopreparestudentsfor publicspeaking.Whetherornotifit shouldbeaseparateclassorifit shouldbeincorporatedinthe English/historycurriculum,she says.Dramaandpublicspeakingis importantforustoimprove.Were goingtoworkonthat.

ByCuneytDil Sophomore (Con3nuedfrompagefour)

Mr.Lyoniskeenonhaving atechnologycoursenextyear.He says,Wedliketooertechnology nextyear.Ms.SeidandIhavebeen workingonit.Itcoversabroad rangeoftopics.Obviousstulike Word,andPowerpoint;makingsure studentsknowhowtousethose programseectively.Butalso ge[ingintoissueslikeusingsocial mediaresponsiblyandtouse technologytolearnbe[er. Ms.Smithsaystechnology isdenitelyalsounder consideration. Mr.Lyonalsoseemsfullon ideasforotherclasses. Idlovetoseeaphilosophy class,andacomparativereligion class.Theywerejustsuch interestingandfascinatingclassesto me.

Healsomakesnoteonthe factthatoeringsomeclasses wouldrequirefacilitieswedont haveatthistime,forexample,a cookingclass. Saileroersthepointthat WashingtonLatinalsohasa separatelanguageprogram oeredafterschool,andthatthe schoolshouldtakethechanceto addthattoLatinslanguage curriculum.Thisisaschool basedonaclassicaleducationand isverylanguagefocused.Arabic wouldbeaverygoodaddition, hesays.TheArabicprogramis certainlyatalkingpointoflate (seepagethree). Goingforward, WashingtonLatinhasalottobe excitedfor,andalottobeproud offorwhatitwasachievedinjust sixyears.

Ultimate Frisbee Season In Preview

ByDeionSpeaks Senior

SpringSportshasarrived! PerfectweatherfortheUltimateFrisbee team,whowaseagertostarttherst practiceonMarch5. Therearesomehighhopesfor theteam,withsixoflastyearsteam

returning.Fourofthem(SalimRiley, WillTiwari,AndrewWilliams,and DeionSpeaks)willbeplayingtheir nalseasonwiththeteamastheywill graduatebytheendofthisschoolyear. Asfarasgames,therearenone scheduledasofnow.Rumor isthattherewillbeaseries ofgamesagainstSidwelland rivalTheFieldSchool. Expecttohearfromcoach BillClausenatlunchforany suchevent.Ifyouwantto watchtheteampractice,they leaveschoolat3:40for CarterBarronFieldevery MondaythroughThursday.

TimHursen,above,Junior,willbe playinghisfourthyearofUl@mate. (Photocredit/EmilyHall)

Year I, Issue 2

Sumus Leones

March, 2012
them,andtorequestoneif theydont.Ifyoufeelthat somethingisespecially valuable,youshouldkeepit onyourpersonatalltimes. Iftheitemissomethingyou value,butdontreallyneed atschool,leaveithome. Theresnopointinrisking havingsomethingstolenat schoolwhenyounever neededitthereintherst place.Whileitmayormay notbepossibleforevery upperschoolstudentto havealocker,thesearestill precautionsyoushouldtake ifyouwouldliketobe[er protectyourproperty. Ifwewanttostop theft,andpreservethe communityenvironmentso cherishedbymanyofusat theschool,wehavetobe smarterandmorewillingto shunthosewhoareruining thatenvironment.Forthose ofusthataretooscaredto snitch,thesetheftswill happenaslongasyouhelp toletthemhappen.

Theft Plaguing Our Community

MustafaaNuraldin Senior (con3nuedfrompagetwo)
DianaSmith.Itturnseveryone againsteveryoneanditishardfor theadministrationtostop. Whoisdoingthestealing though?Withmanycrimescome criminalswhoaresomehow predisposedtocommi[ingthem. So,arethesetheftsthatweseeand hearoftimeandtimeagainspecic toagender,grade,orage?Not accordingtoMr.Boydwhosays thatthetypicalthiefissimply,one whohastheopportunityand motivationtotakesomethingthat doesnotbelongtothem. Obviously,anyonecouldfallunder thatdescription,whichiswhyitis sodiculttocatchathief. Thievesareusually nondescript,strikewithout warning,andworkbehind everyonesback.Therefore,its nearlyimpossibletoknowwho stolewhatatwhichplaceand when. Whatmakesma[ersworse istheunwillingnesstosnitchif onewitnessesatheft.Thereismuch pressurefromsomewithinthe communityputonthosewhoseea crimeandwanttoreportit.This fearofanimosityfromthesepeople iswhatdiscouragesothersfrom le[ingadministratorsknowabout whothetrueculpritsare,andthatis partofthereasonwhytheftisso easy. Ihavehadmoneytakenfromme once,butitwasin8thgrade.Since thenIvecarriedallofmybelongings onmeallthe>me.It'sunfortunate thatIcan'ttrustpeoplefromthat oneincident,butIhavelearneda valuablelesson.AnakaOsborne Anotherpartofitis simplyalackofprecaution takenwithonesproperty.A bagleftuna[endedinan emptyclassroomisaprime targetforthelowlythief. Mr.Boydadvisesstudents touselockersiftheyhave

Facebook Poll Q.Duringthisschool year,wereyoustolen fromatall?

0 3.75 7.50 11.25 15.00

Yes No

29studentspolled. Datacollectedby MustafaaNuraldin

Sumus Leones Community Calendar

March ...
Friday,March16,2012 Na@onalLa@nExam Saturday,March172012 St.PatricksDay Tuesday,March20,2012 Springbegins Friday,March23,2012 Endof3rdAcademicQuarter WashingtonLaUnBenetConcert ComeouttosupporttheArtsDepartmentatLa@ns benetconcert.Featuringgirlschoir,jazzband,and danceteam. UpshurCampus.7PM. FreeDona@onsencouraged. Monday,March26,2012 Beginningof4thAcademicQuarter Friday,March30,2012 LastdayofclassesbeforeSpringbreak

RoadtoRome:FundraisingConcert

AperfectwaytospendaSaturday,rockingouttothe bandsTheSleeperPick,CatchYourFall,Ma@neeat Midnight,andPicturePerfect.TheLa@nVandIV studentswillbehos@ngtheconcerttoraisemoneyfor theirSpringtriptoRome. Preorder@cketsbeforeMarch17th(email crazyforconcerts@gmail.com)for$12. Ticketsatthedoorare$15. 7p.m11p.mat1525NewtonStreetNWWashington, D.C20010(AuditoriumofSt.Stephenandthe Incarna@onEpiscopalchurch)

Et Cetera
EditorsNotes
..

ThankYou
Iwouldjustlike totakeamomentand thankeveryoneinvolved withmakingSumus Leonesasuccesssofar. Firsto,Itipmy hatotoAlistair Andrulis,themanaging editor,forallhehas doneandcontributedin ourrsttwoissues.He overseesdeadlinedates

forarticles,isourlead photographer,recruits writersandevenwrites anarticlehimselffor eachissue. Next,abig thankstoMs.Breitman, forsponsoringour newspaperandmaking sureitiskepttoahigh standardbyproof readingforus. Now,without thehelpofourvolunteer writers,noneofthis

wouldhavebeen possible.Thankyouto everyonethathas wri[enforourrsttwo issues.Yourcommitment hasblownmeawayand hasbeenirreplaceable. Itwouldnotbe [ingifIdidnotgive thankstoourreaders. Yoursupportand continuedinteresthas been,andwillbe,a drivingforceforusto keeponpublishing.

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