April and May Accolades 2023

Chess

The GDS Chess Team took home first- and third-place individual medals in the DCSAA Chess State Championships as well as second place overall. Congratulations to the winner, Sebastian ’26, third-place finisher, Leo ’23, who capped off his last week of classes as a GDS senior with the tournament, and the rest of the team.

Outperforming Arts

So much to celebrate in the performing arts this spring! Congratulations to students and their teachers involved in the following programming…

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• The cast and crew of Oliver gave six great performances and honored retiring theater director Laura Rosberg.
• Jazz and Creative Music gave a spring concert with seven bands at the end of April, a performance at Blues Alley in early May, a parade show for Janney Elementary, and a showcase at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, Virginia just last week. They also welcomed visiting artists for lunchtime concerts and masterclasses. These student musicians are practically pros!
• The student-run Cabaret featured more than 15 acts of student musical talents from a capella to rock band.
• Theater Lab presented girl. by Megan Mostyn-Brown. Congratulations to the creative team and cast!
• Middle School Community Production presented Night at the Museum, an original, student-conceived show. 
• Congratulations to the dancers of Fata Morgana, who gave three inspired performances.
• 7th and 8th grade chorus and band participated in the Music in the Parks competition in Richmond, Virginia. Both were awarded first place. The chorus received a “Superior” rating, the highest possible rating.

Congratulations to students and teachers on these studio/visual arts accolades…

• The 7th/8th Grade Art Show exhibited pieces from ceramics and still lifes to skateparks and pop art. 
• The quality of pieces on display in the High School Studio Art Spring Show is simply stunning. One week left to visit! Some student artwork was also on display in Coffee Nature, a neighborhood coffee shop.

Poets

April was National Poetry Month and seven GDS student poets were honored for their writing. 

Six were named winners in the Parkmont Poetry Festival Contest. Middle School students Naomi ’29, Viktor ’27, and Rowan ’27 as well as High School students Isabel ’25, Priya ’24, and Navin ’24 received awards.

Also, 8th grade student poet Arielle was the runner-up winner in the national Hāpara 2023 Student Voice Poetry Contest Winner as well as the runner-up in the 8th-grade division of the international contest. Her poem To Tell The World was inspired by the various feelings she was experiencing in her last year of Middle School. 

Congratulations, Parkmont Poetry Festival Contest Winners!

Fast Over Water

Arjun Pathiyal ’23, who cross-trains with the GDS cross-country team during the fall season, made the U.S. National Under 23 Team in Whitewater Canoe/Kayak Slalom. He’ll represent Team USA at the World Championships in Krakow, Poland, and an International Canoe Federation Ranking Race in Bratislava, Slovakia.