Here are some highlights from this past week—November 11 through November 15—in the Upper School.
Over the weekend, several students competed in the Harvard MIT Math Tournament. The Harvard MIT Math Tournament is one of the most prestigious high school math competitions in the world, drawing in nearly 1,000 students each year. Participating students included Chloe Peterson ’25, Mia Kelley ’25, Milin Chhabra ’26, Andre Gordon ’26, Miguel Luengo ’26, and Ethan Chau ’27.
A group of students in Advanced Theater attended the French play La femme à qui rien n’arrive over the weekend, expanding upon the various French plays read in Ms. Ibourk’s class this term.
In Advisory on Monday, students completed a survey focused on belonging at Beaver. Created by Mr. Egwuatu, Beaver’s Chief Engagement & Inclusion Officer, the survey will assess how Beaver is honoring students’ sense of dignity through acknowledgement, acceptance, affirmation, and access.
On Tuesday, students in the Advanced History course Theories of Punishment presented their research on criminal justice reform in an exhibition on the R-Level. Families, faculty, staff, and students attended the presentations, rotating between presenters and hearing about topics such as healthcare in prison, policing, and second chance employment. The presentations come after weeks of preparation and an entire term of rigorous inquiry into the criminal justice system, including a visit to MCI Norfolk earlier in the year.
Later in the day, students in Foundations of A Cappella, B-side A Cappella, and Select Singers performed in an US choral concert. The concert featured a diverse array of performances, pulling from a variety of composers and styles.
Students in Neuroscience kicked off Wednesday with some yoga in the Roger’s Room. Led by Yin Yoga expert Laura Kathrein, students worked through various yoga poses that have been shown to help access and calm the nervous system.
Forensic Science students created a fake crime scene for 6th grade students to investigate. Students led the 6th graders through evidence collection, fingerprint analysis, and even speculation on suspects and a potential motive. To read more about the work of Forensic Science students this term, click here!
During Wednesday’s Upper School meeting, three students shared their work made possible through the Alex Cohn Grant. Maya Bitton ’25 detailed her work designing adjustable baby clothing that can adapt to different sizes as a baby grows. Claire Truesdale ’26 and Leili singer ’26 discussed their initiative to create custom sensory boards to donate to children with special needs. All three students plan to continue their work in the months to come.
Later in the meeting, Cha Cha Cohen ’26 spoke to her peers about the importance of Veterans Day. Cha Cha opened up about her takeaways from an interview she conducted with veteran Ed Liebzeit. Inspired by this connection, Cha Cha planned a letter writing event on the R-Level for students to express their gratitude and thank service members for their work.
Students in the English elective Storytelling met at 245 Woodland–Beaver’s brand new space–to host a “Storytelling for Change” event. Having spent the term learning how to share key aspects of identity and experience through storytelling, the event was a chance to share short stories that touch on students’ experiences at Beaver. In one story, a student shared how being isolated at the height of the pandemic altered their attitude towards others. In another, a student detailed their first week at Beaver and how their perspective shifted after getting settled on campus.
On Thursday, students in Advanced Engineering presented their work to an audience of teachers and peers. Each group shared products they designed to improve the lives of residents at a local senior center. After being assigned a resident and getting to know them over the course of several visits, students designed, prototyped, tested, and produced custom items to deliver to their residents. Final products included a rotating art display, a mini bowling game, and more.
View this post on Instagram
Beaver Athletics hosted an event to honor Caroline Kulka ’25 as she signed her national letter of intent to row at Duke University. Caroline’s friends, family, and teachers attended the signing to celebrate the moment.
Journalist Katelyn Umholtz vistited students in Media and its Influences to discuss her work with crisis coverage. Umholtz shared her experiences covering a hotel collapse in New Orleans as well as several hurricanes in the same area. She touched on how readers consume news related to crises and what work occurs behind the scenes to ensure accuracy, ethicality, and timeliness in a journalist’s reporting.
Senior actors took the stage for an Actors’ Showcase on Thursday afternoon. The showcase displayed a challenging and diverse lineup of audition materials prepared by seniors, with each student performing a monologue and scene.
During a 9th grade Wellness class on Friday, students played games, made slime, and enjoyed homemade treats. This moment of connection and belonging was the perfect way to finish out their first term as Upper School students.
Friday marked the final day of Term I in the Upper School. Term II will begin next Monday, November 18.