Honoring yesterday, inspiring tomorrow. in this issue: - Winchester ...

Members of the Class of 2012 with General Colin Powell in Washington, D.C.
SENIOR’S REFLECTION ON RACISM
EARNS HER LITERARY HONOR
In her senior year at WT, Lauren
Burroughs ’07 won the Frank E. Bolden
Literary Contest for an essay she
wrote about her experience placing
a wreath at the
Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier.
This citywide
contest,
sponsored by the
Commission on
Racism of the
Episcopal Diocese
of Pittsburgh, was
Lauren Burroughs ’07 open to all high
school students.
Writers were asked to “describe an
example of where the ‘Walls of racism
have come a-tumblin’ down.’” As Lauren
placed a wreath at the tomb honoring
our fallen soldiers, she reflected that
the reverence paid to those who died in
service of our country was not contingent
on race; she anticipates a day when we
are as respectful of the living.
Lauren was awarded a $100 U.S.
Savings Bond at the annual Absalom
Jones Day Celebration.
EIGHTH-GRADERS VISIT WITH
GENERAL COLIN POWELL IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
This fall, WT’s 49 eighth-graders
traveled to the nation’s capital and
garnered a personal meeting with former
Secretary of State, General Colin Powell,
who is a cousin of WT trustee and
parent, Victor Roque.
General Powell spent about 30
minutes with the group, speaking with
them about life skills and his own
personal journey, which has included
public service under four presidents.
Students eagerly asked questions that
ranged from what his biggest achievement
was (driving in the Indy 500 race)
to who was his favorite president (he
tactfully declined to choose).
“I thought it was really interesting
that when he was asked what he was
most proud of, General Powell was quick
to reply,” Lauren Nakamura commented,
“his children.”
Peter Frischmann, WT science
teacher and eighth-grade trip coordinator,
remarked that the trip was a “truly
great experience” that not only provided
wonderful opportunities for experiential
learning, but that also helped students
develop relationships with each other
and with the faculty that “make the
classroom experience more meaningful
throughout the year.”
The students were accompanied
by eight faculty members who used
Washington, D.C. as a “road classroom”
— guiding the students through the city
and continuously making ties between
what they were witnessing and what
they learn in the classroom. The group
visited a number of different museums
and national attractions, including
the National Aquarium, the Holocaust
Museum, the Smithsonian Museums, the
Old Post Office, and the National Zoo.
They also toured the national monuments
on bikes and on foot.
Each day, faculty members provided
journal “prompts” to help shape the
students’ thought processes as they
visited the exhibits, monuments,
and museums; and students were
given extensive journaling time in the
evenings to reflect on their experiences
throughout the day.
28 Thistletalk Autumn 2007