Even if you’ve never been taught by Topher Dunne, you’ve seen him around. Maybe it was in the hallway, or maybe it was through a window into one of his history classes. And when you saw him, you saw his outfits. He sports the most unique look at GDS– among both students and teachers. Topher’s wardrobe is an institution at this school. Sophomore Zach Blank enthused: “Topher’s sense of fashion is really unique. When I had seminar with him last year, some of the first things I noticed were [the] plumed hats and colorful ties.” The history teacher primarily dabbles
If you are interested in the brain and how it works, then listen up! Next year, Neuroscience will be one of the new courses offered at GDS. Taught by Bobby Asher and Bill Wallace, this new science course will be a whole year and will include things like field trips, projects, labs, and tests. Asher, who has taught AP Psychology for twenty years, says he is passionate about picking things kids enjoy and digging a little deeper. He wants the class’s structure to allow for off-topic and in-depth discussions relating to neurology. “If a kid comes into class with a
The last print edition of the Augur Bit contained information about campus planning that was out of date by the time it went to print. We regret this error. For the most up to date information on the project details, please see https://www.gds.org/page/about/gds-planning/campus-planning/project-details#.
GDS alumna Sarah Stillman ‘02 is a genius. That is what her teachers thought years ago when she was a student at GDS. Now it is official: the MacArthur Foundation awarded Stillman a “Genius” grant this year, recognizing her writing on social justice issues in The New Yorker and elsewhere. This grant is a prize awarded annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to 20 to 30 individuals, working in any field, who have shown “extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction,” as described on the MacArthur Foundation’s website. Fellows
If you are living in the 21st century United States, knowing how to use technology and how to operate computers is essential to becoming successful. Students will never learn these important, technological skills without being given the opportunities to take classes taught specifically to learn about computers and coding. There are hundreds of programming languages used today around the world. But before this year, there were only three classes offered at Georgetown Day High School for specific programming languages: C++, Java, and R Programming. As well as the already mentioned courses, a class based on Python and a new, more
Wear it Blue is a club at GDS that funds local services for kids who have autism and their families. Headed by Frankie Galli, Eleanor Wartell, Zoe Dockser, Drew Morris, and Owen Killy, the club raises money to provide autistic kids and families with necessary therapy and focuses on raising awareness and educating the public on autism. Originally founded by Frankie Galli’s oldest sister, Bella Galli, a few years ago, Wear it Blue partners with a school targeted specifically for children with autism called Kennedy Krieger Institute. Frankie and Bella’s sister, Camille Galli, is seventeen years old and has autism,
Have you ever been daydreaming in class and wondered what your teacher was like when they were in high school? Have you ever had an embarrassing high school experience you felt like nobody could relate to? High school is a time that can include many awkward scenarios ranging from first crushes to mortifying sport moments. We interviewed GDS faculty members to share their own funny experiences in high school that they will always remember. Here are their stories: Adrian Loving, Studio Arts Teacher Q: What high school did you go to? “I went to Fairmont Heights High School in Landover,
On Saturday, January 22, 2017 many GDS students participated in the Women’s March in downtown Washington, D.C. An estimated 500,000 people marched in D.C. alone to show solidarity among women from all backgrounds the day after President Trump’s inauguration as the 45th president. “We stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families – recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country.” -Women’s March mission statement Here are some photos of students at the march! The Augur Bit would like to hear
On November 10, 2016, shortly after President-Elect Donald Trump met with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., nearly 100 Georgetown Day School students marched from the White House to Trump International Hotel to the Capital building. Students chanted “Love Trumps Hate,” “This is what democracy looks like,” and “Immigration built this nation,” among other mantras.
Maaike Laanstra-Corn and Ana Sosa-Ebert Georgetown Day School prides itself on being a creative and inventive school environment, so it’s no surprise that fashion is a go-to outlet for student individualism. Walking down the hallways at GDS, we always see outfits that catch our eye. From cutting edge, to bold prints, to monochromatic looks, there are many forms of style that GDS students make their own. We decided to use this column to give a voice to those students with distinct fashion perspectives. Simone Liu ‘18 Q: In a couple words how would you describe your style? A: My style
Lulu Feldman As you walk down the hallway at GDS, you may be passing famous DC foodstagrammers without even knowing it. Freshman William Goldberg’s Instagram food blog, @thetufftruffle, has 6,299 followers. Sophomore Hannah Plotnek’s @the_foodgram has 11,500 followers, while seniors Almira Akyatan, Jessie Granader, Michaela Karam and Hannah Smulson’s @dceatss has a whopping 29,400. To put this into perspective for those who do not use Instagram, my last picture of my grandmother and I got 118 likes, while @dceatss picture of a three-layer cake with pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles got 3,410. Goldberg began @thetufftruffle about two years ago when
Isabel Boyer Georgetown Day School has a long history of social and political activism among the students and faculty. Last year, when a case challenging the Defense of Marriage Act was brought before the Supreme Court, a crowd of middle-schoolers begged to be taken to a rally in front of the court’s chambers in support of marriage equality. In the 1990s, Lower School Principal Gloria Runyon led over a hundred GDS students to gather in front of the South African Embassy in a spirited protest against apartheid, an action for which she was actually arrested. This year, 30 students affiliated