Sumus Leones

Year I, Issue 3 Washington Latin April, 2012

LikeourFacebookpageatFacebook.com/Sumusleones

Sigh of Relief: The DC CAS is Over

ByCuneytDil Sophomore
WithDCCAStestingnow overfortesttakersatWashington Latin,studentsareexpressinghow thetestshavegone. Themathpartwasveryeasy, thereadingaftertherstsectionIjust startedguessing,reectedDawit Deres,sophomore.Ihatedthatwe hadnobreakafterthetesting...also therewaslunchdetention,onavery hecticschedule. Lookingbackatprevious yearsscores,boththeUpperSchool andtheMiddleSchoolDCCASwent upfromthepreviousyearsinboth ReadingandMath,accordingtoMs. LacyPeale,DirectorofData ManagementandCompliance,when askedhowlastyearsscoreswent.In fact,inreadingscores,Washington Latinsmiddleschoolhadthehighest percentagescoresamongpublic charterschoolsinWashington,D.C. Thehighschoolreadingscorescame insecond. Ithinkitsimportantforthe schooltohaveahighscorebecauseit makestheschoollookgood throughoutD.C,andifwehadabad scoretheschoolwouldgetshut down,notedNahuelGodoy,junior, whotooktheDCCASBiologyexam.

College Bound Senior Class

SeniorsmarktheircollegeacceptancesonthismapoftheUnitedStatesoutsidethe collegecounselorsoceattheAllisoncampus(PhotocreditEmilyHall).

ByMustafaaNuraldin Senior
ItisnowApril,andatthis pointnearlyallseniorshavereceived atleastonecollegedecisionofsome sort.Someoftheseniorsfoundout fairlyquicklyabouttheiradmission status.Others,likeCharlo@eHoman waitednervouslyforanacceptance le@erfromatoppriorityschool. Itwashorrible!recalls Homan.Icheckedthemail,and searchedforthemailmanforliketwo weeks!ButonceIgotit,Iwasso excited,anditwasworththewait.

WillTiwari,anothersenior, saysthatwaitingisthehardpart.The stressbuildsoncetherealizationthat youcangetrejectedsetsin.The agonyofanticipationwouldbeworth ithowever,asthegoodnewssoon begantopourin,withabout98 percentoftheseniorclassgainingat leastoneacceptance,accordingtoMs. CrysLatham,DirectorofCollege Counseling. Alsosignicantistheamount ofnancialaidseniorsreceivedin meritbasedscholarships,whichis about$1.5million.Theseniorclass canallgivethemselvesacollectivepat

(Con5nuedonpagetwo)

(Con5nuedonpagetwo) InPictures:AWeekInRomePage ve FrisbeeTeamGoesDownInString ofToughHomeDefeatsPagefour

Featured
CollegeBoundStudentsPageone andtwo

CommunityCalendar:SchooldatesandeventsPageSix

April, 2012

Sumus Leones

Page 2

College Bound Senior Class

(Con5nuedfromfrontpage)
onthebackforasuccessfulclosingoftheirhighschool careers. Astheseniorsgootocollege,thoseleftbehind maywonderwhereexactlytheyaregoing.Accordingto Ms.Latham,mostoftheacceptancesareintheNew England/MidAtlantic/EastCoast,withahealthy sma@eringofMidwest.Soforthemostpart,itwould appearthattheseniorsarentstrayingterriblyfarfrom home.

Withthelengthyapplicationprocessover,some seniorsarereectingonwhattheyhadtogothrough, withsomeadviceforrisingseniorslikeAkaylaastohow tomakeeverythinggosmoothly. ListentoMs.Latham,anddoeverything muchearlierthanyouthinkyouneedto,saysHoman. Itwassomuchbe@erge@ingtheapplicationsinbefore theduedatesoyoudonthavetoworryaboutifyouare goingtomakethedeadlineornot.Also,haveatonof peoplereadyouressay! SeniorsJonathanMillerandWillTiwarigave similaradvice,withTiwarisuggesting:ListentoLatham andstartoneverythingearly.Getgood[Junioryear] gradesanddontstress;applyasearlyaspossible. Earlybirdgetstheworm,advisedMiller. ShouldtheJuniorsheedthesetips,their applicationswillgoswimmingly,andtheywillindeed gettheworm.

Andalthoughtheworstisoverfortheseniors, thepressurehasonlybeguntomanifestitselfinthe Juniorclass.Whenaskedabouthowhercollegesearch wasgoing,JuniorAkaylaBraceysaid:Itisstressful! Readingaboutwhichschools[Im]interestedinand wonderingif[Im]goodenoughtogetintothatschool makesmesupernervous!

Sigh of Relief for DC CAS

(Con5nuedfromfrontpage)
Inorderfortheschooltodoeven be@erthisyear,lastDecemberassessments weregiventostudentsingrades510in ReadingandMath.Theseassessments wereusedtohelpstudentsimprovetheir weakareasandchallengetheirthinkingin theirstrongerareas,saidMs.Peale. Teachershavealsobeentutoringstudents inneedofextrahelptoimprovetheir gradesandtheiracademicperformance. AlexJones,asophomore,who tookamathtutoringclassfortheDCCAS hadmixedfeelingsaboutitseectiveness. MyscoresshowedIdidworsewiththe testpreponthepracticeDCCAS,thanthe practicetestwithoutit. Thefreshmenclasshastakenthe Readingsection,forthersttimethisyear, whilethe10thgradetooktheReading, Math,andCompositionsections.The11th gradealsotookaBiologysection.The scoreswillbebackduringthesummer,for administratorstodecidewhatnexttodo forthe2012/2013schoolyear.

Author Adam Ross Visits Book Club

ByCuneytDil Sophomore
OnFriday,Mr.Sam Leonardsbookclubhadthe pleasureofwelcomingauthor AdamRosstoWashingtonLatin. Thegroupofstudents,whichare comprisedoffreshmentoseniors, havebeenreadingRossbookLadies andGentlemenforthepastseveral weeks. Rossansweredquestions regardinghiswritingcareerandhis book,andspokeaboutwherehis inspirationcamefromtowritethe sevenshortstoriesinLadiesand Gentlemen.Ienjoyedthestories abouthowherelatedtheshort storiesinthebooktohislifewhile hewaswritingit,remarked AnthonyBrown,junior. Rossexplainedthatalotof hisinspirationforhisshortstories camefromreallifeexperiences, includingthedysfunctional relationshiphehadwithhisbrother,

whichtheshortstoryWheninRome wasbasedoof.Inspirationfrom otherauthors,hesays,wasalso inuentialtohiswriting. ThebookLadiesand Gentlemenisacollectionofseven shortstories,allofwhichexplore thedarksideofhuman relationships.Thebookintroduces youtoaquotebyGeorgeElliot Cruelty,likeeveryothervice, requiresnomotiveoutsideofitself; itonlyrequiresopportunity. whichbuildsyourappetiteforthe restofthebook. JuniorDesmondMillergave histakeonRosswriting,Ithink thatoverallRossstories communicatedtheirmeaningvery clearly.Unlikemanyauthorsand storytellersbeforehim,AdamRoss

(Con5nuedonpagesix)

April, 2012

Sumus Leones

Page 3

First Time Success for Arts Department

ByCuneytDil Sophomore
LastMarchmarkedanothersuccessfulconcertfor WashingtonLatinsyoungartsdepartment,intheirrstever BenetConcert. Thejazzband,choir,anddancegroupallhad performancesduringthenight,withChristianaBockari, Senior,beginningtheconcertwithasaxophonesolo. PhotographywasalsoshowcasedthroughouttheUpshur campusauditorium. Ms.MelissaNevola,headoftheMusic&Arts department,praisedtheeortherstudentsputintomake thenightapossibility. Wehavebeenplanningforthisfundraising concertsinceDecember.Ittakesalongtimetoacquirethe (Above)WashingtonLaMnschoirperformingattherstever skillandcondenceinordertosoloinfrontofanaudience BenetConcert(PhotocreditEmilyHall). andtheyallaredoingthatfrequentlynow,sheremarked therearenosecondtriesinalivemusicperformance.I earlierthisweekinaninterview. reallyenjoygivingthesestudentstheopportunityto TheJazzbandperformedjazzcombos,twoofwhich perform;Ithinktheyevenenjoyitabit. wereSummertimebyGeorgeGershwin,andCryMea TheimportanceofgrowingtheArtsprogramat RiverbyArthurHamilton.Highlightsoftherestofthe WashingtonLatinwasreiteratedduringthenight,andwith nightincludedthewomenschoirperformingBlackbirdby theconcertpamphletsremindingtheaudiencewhyArts LennonMcCartney,andthedancegroupclosingthenight programsarecrucialtoachildsgrowth.IngridMedia,a withaperformancetoTurningTablesbyAdele. Seniormemberofthedancegroup,believesthattheArts Thenerveskickin,onceyoureinfrontofthe departmentbringstheLatincommunitysomecreativity people.Youjustwanttodoyourbestanditfeelsamazing, andtalent. saidJoeStarnes,Junior,whowasapartofthedancegroups AportionoftheArtsdepartmentsetoforNew performances. YorklastFriday.Highlightsforthemincludedperforming Ilovetheactofperformance,butnotallthekids incentralpark,seeingaplayonBroadway,andstayingin sharethatsamesentiment,saidMs.Nevola.Some thebigappleuntilSaturdaynight. studentsgetnervousabouttheactofperformancebecause

MLK Streets Movie: The Project

ByAlistairAndrulis Sopohmore
OnMarch7th,amoviethatMs.LisaPegram helpedproducewasscreenedattheDecaturcampusafter schoolexclusivelyforWashingtonLatin.Themovieis titledTheMLKStreetsProjectitsbasedonajokethat ChrisBrownmadeaboutMartinLutherKingJr.streets beingtheworststreetsthatexistinanycity. Therewereapproximately15studentsand teacherswhowatchedthelm,fromtheopeningcredits totheofa10minutetalkabouttheinspirationthatfueled thedrivetoproducesuchalm. ThedirectorofthelmwasCharneice Richardson,anindependentlmmaker.Whenasked

TheMLKStreetsProjecthasbeenfeaturedonCNN,BBC America,andtheWashingtonPost.(Visit themlkstreetsproject.com) aboutherinspirationtomakeherlmsheanswered,I livedrightoofMLKandIalwayswonderedevenasa li@legirlhowcomethesouthsidelookedsodarkand

(Con5nuedonpagefour)

April, 2012

Sumus Leones

Page 4

MLK Streets Movie: The Project

(Con5nuedfrompagethree)
howcomewhenIwenttoschoolitwassobrightandclean. Later,whenChrisRockdidhisHBOspecial,Iwasincollege andIremembersayingRIGHT!!!Whydoesitalwaysseem likeKingStreetsareinthehood?WhenIstartedteaching mediaempowermentclassesIcamebacktothisideabut withatwistlookingbeyondthedreamIgetreallytired ofKingsmemorybeingboxedintoanactionthatrequiresin somecases,sleeping.SoIaskmystudentswhattheyknew aboutKingandtheyallsaidhehadadream.Theycould notnameoneotherspeech!Thatissosad.Iwantedmy studentstowakeupandreadotherspeechesbyDr.King andtorespecthislegacybeyondtheMarchonWashington. Sothatstheinspiration...plusIamalwaysdownforaroad trip. ThiswasevidentwhenMs.Pegramheldasmall Q&AafterthemoviescreeningatLatin.Theinspirationthat Charneiceexhibiteddeantlyowedinthebloodof everyoneinvolvedintheproductionofthelm;everyone seemedtotrulybelieveinthepositiveaectofthelm. Charneicerealizedthisaftertherstshowingof200high schoolstudents,shesaidthatafterthe46minutelonglm cametoaconclusion,thatstudentsstayedandasked amazingquestionsaboutgentrication. Shesaysthat,overallshebelievesthatthelmhas enrichedpeopleslives,andisasuccess,butthebigpicture isIhavewatchedteenagerslookliketheycouldcareless whenweintroducethelmandthenremainengagedforthe

MarMnLutherKingJr.AvenueandMarMnLutherKingJr. DriveinWashington,D.C(PhotocreditDavidGarberfor anacosManow.com) full46minutes,andreadytotalkaboutit...asateacher thatworksformethatisasignofsuccess. Charneicealsosaidthatshewantedthelmto startamovementtoprovethatthegoodpeoplelivingon andaroundMLKstreetsarelookingforchange.Thisis becomingarealitywiththehelpofMs.Pegram.Were workingwiththeMayorsoceinBoston,Massachuse@s, topaintamuralandscreenthelmontheMLKStreet there.Werealsoworkinginconjunctionwiththe NAACPandRocktheVotetostartastreetsweeping campaigntoengagepeopleinthecommunitiesaround MLK.IfthisissuccessfulinBostonweregoingtotryto dothisalloverthecountry.

Frisbee Team Goes Down In Tough Home Defeats

ByDeionSpeaks Senior WashingtonLaEnvs.FieldSchool:313 (L)

Last 5 Games

WashingtonLaEnvs.Sidwell: 713(L)
InarguablyLatin Ultimatesbestgameofthe seasonsofar,theLionstookon SidwellatCarterBarononApril 17.Althoughthegameendedina 713loss,theexcitement throughoutthegameiscredited totheeortshownbytheplayers andtheamazingdefensethey played.WashingtonLatinnext playsEdmundBurkeonTuesday, April24.

3/20:913(L)vsTheFieldSchool AnuninspiredWashingtonLatin performanceledtoa133lossinfrontofa homecrowd.Thegamesbrightestspotwas 3/28:159(W)vsEdmundBurke therecorda@endancetosupporttheteam. Thosewhoshowedupincludedmanyrst 4/12:313(L)vsFieldSchool yearstudentswhohaveneverseenaFrisbee game.Alsoina@endancewererstyear teachersMr.EddyandMs.Lopez.Therewas 5/15:415(L)vsAnnandale alsoaspecialguestappearancebyMr.Boyds 5/17:713(L)vsSidwell son,Dwight.EvenMs.Giord,aformer HistoryteacheratLatin,cameallthewayfrom Californiatovisittheschoolandstayforthe game.

April, 2012

Sumus Leones

Page 5

InPictures:A Week In Rome

LaMnVsSpringBreakRomeTrip

FriendlyNeighborsFirstMmeintheapartments, meeMngourneighbors,theTurtles.

PapalBusinessThisstore,Gammarelli,iswhere thePopebuyshisclothes.

toeverygodThePantheon(front) ColossalIlColosseo,nusaid. Didsomeonesaycrepes?CampeoDiFioriisRomes oldesteamarket;thestatueisthespotwhereseveral execuMonstookplace.(Lei)

PhotographyandcapMonsbyFredSailer.

Sumus Leones Community Calendar

April & May ...
TuesdayMonday,April1723,2012 DCCASTesMng Monday,April23,2012 UlMmateFrisbeegame,WashingtonLaMnvs.School WithoutWalls(Cancelled) Tuesday,April24,2012 NACACCollegeFairfor10thand11thGrade UlMmateFrisbeegame,WashingtonLaMnvsEdmund Burke Thursday,April26,2012 Thursday,April26,2012

4thAnnualMulEculturalNight

Culturalexhibits,performances,andfoodwillallbe there.Emailcwilliams@laMnpcs.orgtocontribute withfood,dance,poetry,orperformances. 6:30p.m8:30p.mUpshurMiddleSchoolCampus Friday,May4,2012 4thQuarterInterims Sunday,May6,2012 Frisbeegame,WashingtonLaMnvsWTWoodson SatSun,May1213,2012 FrisbeeteamcompetesintheMDChampionships Tuesday,May15,2012 Frisbeegame,WashingtonLaMnvsSchoolWithout Walls.

PoetryNight

Studentsandfacultyarewelcometosharepoems. SignupbeginsApril23rd.Decaturcampus.

Author Adam Ross Visits Book Club

(Con5nuedfrompagetwo)
doesntwastetimelayeringhisphilosophyandbeliefs underdeepgurativelanguage.Hehasavery straightforwardwritingstylethatIthinkcharacterizes modernliteratureasawhole. Theexperienceofmeetinganauthorwas excitingtomany,andhisvisitprovedtoenticegreat conversationaboutthebook. Inliterature,andespeciallyction,itispossible tooverthinkoroverexamineaspectsofastory.Having thewriterofastoryyouarereadingactuallycomeinand talktoyouclearsupsomeofthatconfusion,saidMiller. Ross,whopublishedLadiesandGentlemenon June2011,alsohasanotherbookout,namedMr.Peanut. Findhisworkonetheinternet,oratalocalbookstore. (Orperhapsaskamemberofthebookclubtoborrow AdamRoss,right,signingcopiesofhisbookduringhisvisitofLaMn. one). (PhotocreditAlistairAndrulis).