Out-Of-This-World. Sixth Graders visit NASA!

The sixth grade class took a trip to outer space. Well, maybe not outer space, but they did travel to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center right here on Planet Earth in Greenbelt, Maryland. The future astronauts (I mean, sixth graders) were tasked with a plan to examine NASA exhibits at the Visitor's Center in order to prepare for their own scale model project of the Solar System.

As the exploration continued, the sixth graders had the opportunity to meet with NASA curators to figure out what brain power it takes to go into creating an appealing and informative space display. After learning from the curators and exploring the space center, the students applied the helpful information and put it to good use to create out-of-the-world displays for their Holton projects. They were also lucky enough to get a sneak peek on brand new exhibits that were just unveiled to the general public. 

Overall, it was a great trip for the sixth graders as they got to explore their creative, scientific minds! 

Grade 7 Outdoor Education at Camp Pecometh!

The seventh grade class spent the night at Camp Pecometh for the annual tradition of Outdoor Adventure. Outdoor Adventure is designed to bolster self-confidence; to teach the value of teamwork, compromise, and cooperation; and to develop an appreciation for one’s natural surroundings. The trip is planned for the beginning of the year because the overnight experience helps integrate new Holton students into their classes, as well as, play a critical role in fostering class unity. The biggest takeaway of Outdoor Adventure is that it helps set a positive tone for the entire year! 

Take a look below at the seventh graders journey at Camp Pecometh! Also, here is a link to the entire photo gallery!

Ashley Nobi ’16 Accepted to MIT's WISE Program

Ashley Nobi '16 recently attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Weekend Immersion in Science & Engineering (WISE) Program.

This three day program (Sept. 20-22) had a capacity for forty-five students and Ashley feels fortunate to have been selected. Only those who are invited are asked to apply. Ashley's perfect score in the SAT Math II Subject Test as well as the fact that she is one of the two top Holton scorers in the AMC 10 test in 2013 undoubtedly assisted in her being selected.

For three days, Ashley experienced life as an MIT Student, meeting MIT faculty and staff, attending classes, and participating in hands-on, lab-based activities.

"It was an amazing and unforgettable experience and I would encourage anyone with a strong interest in STEM to explore this opportunity," extolled Ashley.  

Lower School Collaborates in a Reading Celebration!

On September 18, Lower School participated in a reading celebration focused on one of the Lower School summer reading book, Sidewalk Flowers by Jon Arno Lawson and Sydney Smith.

Sidewalk Flowers tells a story about a little girl, who follows her busy father around the city, as she picks up wildflowers to share with the people and the animals surrounding her. Her father, who is constantly on his cellphone and unaware of those around him, ignores the simple act of his daughter giving the gift of love by handing out flowers to the world around her.

Lower School started the Reading Celebration with personal, quiet reading time in and around the School. Following the individual reading time, the girls lead cross-grade group discussions and activities, which explored the book's theme of compassion and love. The girls (as seen pictured) then proceeded to exchange flowers like the little girl in Sidewalk Flowers to show their love and appreciation for each other.

 It was a wonderful day for the girls to slow down, work collaboratively, and inspire others to be thoughtful!

11th Grade Retreat at Old Rag Mountain!

The 11th graders hiked to the top of Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park for a hiking retreat. It was a beautiful, clear day for the girls to hike and bond with one another and continue to build a strong foundation with their teachers as the beginning of a new school year starts. Upper School Director Lisa Pence shared her reflections with the community by writing a letter addressed to the 11th graders about the overall experience:

Dear Fellow Hikers,

You did a great job today. You tackled a challenging hike regardless of how you made your way to the summit, and you did it with a great sense of teamwork, spirit, and stamina.

I witnessed acts of kindness, friendship, and courage today. Had it not been difficult or even daunting at times, you would not have needed to muster your courage, nor would you have needed to reach out to each other as friends.

You were great companions on the trail, at the summit, and on the bus. Well done!

I hope you all enjoyed yourselves as much as you deserve to given all the good energy you brought to today’s retreat. Go 2017!

Thanks to Mrs. Acerra, Mrs. Case, Mr. DeJohn, Mr. Duan, Ms. Gajendragadkar, Mrs. Scherbel, Mr. Seltzer, and Mrs. Takis for being such great trail leaders, and to Mrs. Squeglia for planning such a great day (and ordering up perfect weather – she’s amazing).

Oh – one more thing J -- please take some time to do some good stretching before you go to sleep tonight. You might want to go online to find some good stretches for hikers. You should stretch your quads, hamstrings, calves, and shoulders/back/neck. Also, give your ankles a twirl or two in each direction. This all will make for a slightly less sore tomorrow. (Some soreness, of course, is always good, since it helps you remember the hike and feel proud).

Sleep well and have a great weekend,

Mrs. Pence

The Power of Padlet!

Mrs. King's Middle School math students used Padlet to share some of their mathematical experiences from their summer break. Padlet is a web application that allows users to post notes on a digital wall. From tales about space camp to collecting shells of various geometrical shapes to doubling cupcake recipes, the girls learned that mathematics is all around us - permeating every experience. When are we ever going to use this? Why is this useful? are no longer questions for these girls! Math is all around us!

Check out some snippets from the girls' Padlets below!

9th Graders Starting the Year with Community Outreach in Rockville

During the first week of September, 9th graders started their year with community outreach at the Community Ministry of Rockville (CMR). As stated on their website, Community Ministries of Rockville seeks to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable of Montgomery County residents by providing basic services including housing, healthcare, home-care, education, and emergency assistance, with the goal of achieving and maintaining client self-sufficiency, and advocating on their behalf. 

The girls socialized with members of CMR by playing games with the members, engaging in conversations. and sharing stories with one another.

Holton's connection to the CMR has been a long standing one when Kay Fenton, who formerly headed the business office at Holton simultaneously served on the board of the Community Ministry of Rockville as well.  It was noted that the connection is "strong and important relationship obviously remains alive and well." The community organizer shared sentiments of an enjoyable time and commended the Holton girls for a successful outreach with the community members.

What a wonderful way to engage with the local community and kickoff the school year!