Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and in other Latin American countries to honor and to remember deceased loved ones through festive traditions that celebrate life. In Lower School Spanish class each year, our students learn lessons about the day’s cultural significance, history, and traditions, including creating ofrendas (altars), crafts such as papel picado (cut paper decorations), cempasúchiles (marigolds), and paper skulls, and exploring related vocabulary. Our activities this year focused on comparing the holiday to Halloween and discussing themes such as family, memory, and community.

On Halloween, the NCS Lower School celebrated the day with an annual parade and parties. Parents were invited to join the festivities. The parade took place outside in beautiful weather in Curran Courtyard, and then families enjoyed the parties immediately following. It was great to see the students show their spooky spirit in their adorable costumes as they had a blast being with their friends.

The Middle School Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Group recently gave a presentation on Diwali during their morning meeting. Former NCS Middle School History Teacher Rita Rajen joined them via Zoom as their VIP guest! The NCS-STA AAPI Groups also held a joint Diwali celebration, where they shared sweets and stories during lunch. Students additionally created a Diwali "Light Wall," where they posted words that represent light over darkness.

For five weeks this fall, students in Artistic Collaboration and in Digital Filmmaking worked in groups to research stop-motion filmmaking. They then created their own films by planning, filming, and editing them, using a variety of materials in the process. This collaboration between Grades 7 and 8 is in its third year. During the Stop-Motion Film Festival, the students, their teachers, Middle School Art Teacher Jennifer Zee and Technology Teacher Megan Prichard, and Head of School Elinor M. Scully watched the films and discussed the students' reflections. These films will also be shown to the Middle School community at the Performing Arts Showcase in June.

NCS 10th Graders hosted Excel Academy 3rd Graders for a day of fun and connection. Excel Academy is the first DC public school serving girls in PK3 through 8th Grade. The students from both schools enjoyed a tour of Washington National Cathedral and time in the Athletic Center with their pen pals and buddies. They had a wonderful experience connecting and playing together, with joy. We look forward to having an ongoing partnership between our two schools.

The NCS community gathered in Washington National Cathedral for the annual All Saints Cathedral, during which the names of loved ones in the community who passed on this year were read by the NCS Chaplains. Upper School Math Teacher Jason Goodwin, Elizabeth H. '30, and Academic Technologist Frances Cortez O'Connor shared heartwarming stories about their family members who they recently lost. Dr. Harmon offered a thoughtful homily on the importance of lamentation in the grieving process. During the Offertory, which benefited the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing, the Cathedral Girl Choristers sang "Pie Jesu," from The Requiem by Gabriel Fauré.

Following informative introductions by Nora C. '30 and Eleanor P. '30, two accomplished alumnae journalists presented to the Class of 2030.

The Hester Fellowship, created in 1988, provides grants for summer travel and study to rising seniors.

Grades 4 through 6 had sunshine and perfect fall weather for their excursions on the first Discover DC Day of the year.

All Middle School students headed to Calleva campsites for a day of outdoor team-building activities and a ropes course.

To commemorate NCS's 125th anniversary, 10 bell ringers completed a full peal on the afternoon of Oct. 17.

The NCS community gathered in Washington National Cathedral for a culminating evening celebration of NCS's 125th anniversary.

On Oct. 17, the NCS community honored NCS's milestone anniversary with reflection, creativity, spirit, and fun!

Groups of Lower School students studied Native American tribes, delving into how the environment shaped an aspect of the tribe's experience.

The Science Journal Club met to discuss an article by Kylie Taylor '21, a research specialist at the Emory School of Medicine, on "A 3D Bioprinted Cortical Organoid Platform for Modeling Human Brain Development."

The Class of 2029 headed to Terrapin Adventures in Savage, Maryland for a daylong retreat.

As part of their study of the physics of forces and Newton's Laws of Motion, Grade 6 scientists were challenged to design a car with modern structural safety features for people experiencing moderate mobility challenges. 

Students in Chinese Language participated in a Terracotta Warriors Workshop at the Chinese Embassy.

NCS’s literary arts magazine, Half-In-Earnest (HIE), won first place in the 2025 American Scholastic Press Association annual school magazine contest.

Students and families gathered for a meaningful and joyful celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, complete with smiles, tail wags, and purrs.

From service organizations to creative and academic clubs, Upper School students had a lot to pursue at this year's Club Fair. Recruiting efforts looked to be successful, as students signed up to pursue a broad range of interests and passions.

On Oct. 7, the Lower School had a visit from Sandra Nickels, author of Making Light Bloom, a non-fiction book about the woman who designed Tiffany lamps.

Aya B. '26 and Sophia H. '26 both took humanities courses this past summer at Pembroke College at Oxford University, courtesy of John S. Koch Fellowships.

The Class of 2030 headed to Harman Hall to watch a Shakespeare Theater Company production of Merry Wives.

The NCS community gathered outdoors for the annual Cathedral service in the beautiful All Hallows Amphitheater.

Grades 4, 5, and 6 gathered for a chapel service to mark Hispanic Heritage Month.

Representatives from the Bionic Project, whose mission is to build empathy through education, story, and sport, presented to Lower School students about four concepts: disability, empathy, ally, and universal design.

On Sept. 26, NCS celebrated Spirit Day.

Movie Monday morphed into Toddlers & Tiaras Tuesday, which transformed into Wig Wednesday, wrapping up with Throwback Thursday!

On three successive Thursday evenings, parents and guardians in Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools met their students’ teachers, learned about their schedules, and heard about the goals of the curriculum. Thanks to all for attending these informative Back-to-School Nights!

Loris Adams, Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Ethical Leadership, has been named one of 16 2025 Byron Fellows. The Byron Fellowship has a stated mission “to activate emerging leaders, engaging their unique abilities to cultivate generative efforts within their own communities.” Adams is NCS’s first representative to join this select cohort of 16 social and environmental entrepreneurs, founders, and community leaders from around the world.

Congratulations to Sofia H., Emily J., Miranda L., and Cecilia W.!

McKenna Dunbar ’19 returned to the Close to deliver a powerful homily on NCS’s core value of courage, as part of NCS’s 125th anniversary celebration.

With the leadership of Class President Alexia M. ‘26 and Vice President Sammy A. ‘26, seniors gathered for a daylong outing at the Bishop Claggett Center in Adamstown, MD.

Seniors greeted underclass students at morning drop-off with a smile and a sticker on Sticker Day!

On Opening Day, teams of 9th Graders had 25 minutes to solve a series of clues planted around Gray Library to unlock a treasure chest filled with candy.

Continuing a tradition many decades in the making, Grade 4 students learned about their class animal, the dove, at an Opening Day gathering!

NCS kicked off the 2025-2026 school year on a beautiful Monday morning with an all-school Cathedral service and the traditional raising of the American Flag.

In honor of NCS’s 125th anniversary, 11 teams of faculty and staff faced off in a fun and exciting NCS Trivia Night.

With guidance from their peers, faculty, and staff leaders, new students in Grades 7-12 gathered in August for two days of exploration and connection.

Bringing fresh ideas, experience, and a passion for education, our new faculty and staff arrived on campus in mid-August for a multi-faceted orientation program.

This year, NCS students earned a total of 64 recognitions on the National Spanish Exam, taken by over 80,000 students nation-wide.

NCS held its 125th Commencement in Washington National Cathedral and honored 82 graduating Seniors in the #REVO2UTION5Y Class of 2025.

Despite forecasts of stormy weather, NCS celebrated its time-honored tradition of Flag Day on the East Terrace.

The Lower School held its Closing Ceremony, celebrating the Class of 2031 as they mark the end of their time in Whitby Hall and move on to Grade 7 next school year.

Under beautiful blue skies, our Lower Schoolers closed out the school year with a fun-filled and action-packed Field Day.

Our Middle Schoolers wrapped up the year with an unforgettable end-of-school celebration led by the MS Student Government.

The Classes of 2027 from NCS and STA headed to Marvin Gaye Park & Greening Center to meet their Grade 3 buddies from school partner Excel Academy for a final day of connection, mentorship, and service.

Duchess J. '25, Quinn V. '26, Layla H. '26, and Ariana C. '27 attended the Student Civic Leadership Conference sponsored by the National Association of Independent Schools.

Yuhan L. ’26 gave a wonderful advanced piano recital at Levine Music in Washington, DC.

The Lower School participated in an engaging Geography Bee hosted by the National Presbyterian School.

Bridget Read ’08 is a reporter and a features writer with New York Magazine, and she has written and published a book entitled, Little Bosses Everywhere.

The Class of 2033 took to the stage in the Lower School Assembly Room to deliver a wonderful performance of Fractured Fairytales.

NCS Senior Neha K, who currently serves as the DC Youth Poet Laureate, led workshops in May for Middle and Upper School students.

Awards for specific academic achievements were bestowed on deserving Upper School students this spring.

At the annual Upper School Performing Arts Celebration, Head of School Elinor M. Scully and Headmaster Jason Robinson announced the winners of the Outstanding Performing Artists Awards, elected by ballot by Upper School students of both schools.

The annual NCS Art Show showcased creativity across all grades and a range of different media.

The Class of 2033 hosted a celebratory 4th Grade Publishing Party in the Lower School Library to showcase their storytelling.

Students in Mr. Goodwin’s Accelerated Geometry class studied blueprints and then applied key geometry principles to create plans for dwelling units to fit within an apartment building.

The Revolutionary Class of 2025 arranged a beautiful Cathedral service, their last as NCS students.

NCS and STA earned the Support Music Merit Award from The NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation.

Rain? No problem! No college gear? No problem.

NCS and STA students in each division shared beautiful music at the three Spring Music Festival Concerts.

Throughout May, NCS celebrated AAPI Heritage Month with division- and school-wide events.

Congratulations to our athletes who received All-League recognition in the Independent School League.

NCS hosted the annual Prevention Convention, focused on drug and alcohol prevention, for NCS 8th Grade and for STA Form II, as well as for their parents and guardians.

Congratulations to Zena B. ’30, Katie G. ’29, and Alma R. ’29, winners of the Middle School Writer’s Prizes.

On Beta Day, the Class of 2032 shared their creative ideas to combat urban wildlife problems with Lower School peers and their parent/guardians.

The NCS community gathered in the Amphitheater for a special outdoor Cathedral service to mark faculty and staff service anniversaries in five-year increments.

On the first day of Flower Mart, students in each division performed in and outside of Washington National Cathedral, sharing their music and dance talents with attendees.

At the 31st annual Kente Cloth Ceremony, seniors in the Black Student Union received their stoles and were officially welcomed into the BAA.

The crew team gathered to dedicate and bless two new boats in honor of Day Porter/Bus Driver Karl Hempel and in memory of Custodian/Bus Driver Edward Magoba, who worked at NCS for 47 years before his passing in 2019.

Student-directed One Acts brought talent, humor, and bold storytelling to the Lower School Assembly Room.

The NCS-STA Dance Gala featured vibrant work in many styles.

The Classes of 2025 and 2026 held a Ring Ceremony, continuing a new NCS tradition begun last year.

The Mid-Atlantic Episcopal School Association (MAESA) held its annual Scholars’ Fair at St. Albans.

Seventeen members of the Class of 2025, representing the top academic performers, were inducted in the Cum Laude Society at a ceremony in May.

Head of School Elinor Scully presented a 360° view of NCS at the State of the School address at a Parents Association meeting in April.

Thirty NCS Upper School members of the "We the People" team competed at the national finals in early April, and did extremely well.

Grade 6 students in Kat Wesley’s Science class tracked the growth rate of Wisconsin Fast Plants, some planted in sandy soil and some planted in regular loamy soil.

Congratulations to seven members of the Revolutionary Class of 2025 who signed commitment letters to play sports in college.

The NCS Upper School Chorale joined with its counterparts from seven other local independent schools for a Choral Festival.

Claire H. '29, Christina H. '29, and Caitlin T., a current Grade 8 student who will start at NCS in the fall, competed in USA Artistic Swimming's National Youth Championships in Ohio from April 24-27, as members of the Northern Virginia Nereids (NVN), the region's largest artistic (synchronized) swimming team.

The Class of 2027, with their counterparts from St. Albans, headed to Marvin Gaye Park in NE DC to remove trash, plant seedlings, and remove invasive species.

NCS and STA Middle School students delivered a whimsical performance of Alice in Wonderland.

Dr. Eliza Harrington Myers ’95 spoke with members of the Science Journal Club about her article “Improving Early Colostrum Administration to Very Low Birth Weight Infants in a Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Initiative."

NCS students participated in LLS’s Student Visionaries of the Year campaign, with Senior Sarah Pan co-hosting the grand finale at the Washington Hilton.

The NCS team competed in the DC State Science Olympiad, earning second place.

This year’s Diversity Forum delved into the theme of “fLAWed,” chosen by students.

Seventh grade students in Rita Rajen’s Medieval World History brought feudalism to life–with the help of Jolly Ranchers!

French teacher Annie DeSaussure arranged for graphic novelist Jessica Oublié to visit with her French 3C students.

Fourth Grade Spanish and French students celebrated the publishing of their iBook projects about their families.

The Upper School welcomed author and writing educator Vicki Valosik for its annual Writer’s Day.

The Class of 2031 headed to the Chesapeake Bay for three days of immersive, hands-on learning about the Bay’s unique ecosystem.

In her first year as a swimmer at Bowdoin College, Natalie Garre ’24 had a fantastic season!

During spring break, the crew team headed to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to get an early start on the rowing season.

During the month of March, Lower School students had a goal of reading more than 150,000 pages.

Four NCS students and three STA students spent six days of spring break on a backcountry paddling trip in the Everglades.

During their PE classes, Grade 4, 5, and 6 made signs in support of girls and women, then walked around the Close to share their messages.

Eaddy H. '27 and Marie M. '28 are NCS’s first singers to be accepted to the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Honor Choir.

Fifty NCS Middle School students, along with their STA peers, joined their counterparts from other local independent schools at Georgetown Day School for the Independent Middle School Choral Festival.

Students, parents/guardians, faculty, and staff rolled up their sleeves to contribute to a Close-wide Blood Drive held at NCS.

In honor of Holi, the Festival of Colors, the Close was filled with vibrant festivities, laughter, and lots of color.

In mid-March, violinist Julia Angelov ’19 stopped by an Upper School Orchestra rehearsal to offer a musical send-off to the students before spring break and to answer questions about her career.

In celebration of NCS’s 125th anniversary, Jocelyn Moore Gailliot ’99 and Madeline Moore Grayson ‘05 delivered the second in a series of four homilies focused on the school’s core values of excellence, courage, conscience, and service. 

Admitted applicants and their families gathered on the Close on a beautiful afternoon for a variety of activities, capped off by some sweet treats.

At the all-school Cathedral celebrating NCS’s 125th anniversary, 48 members of the Lower School Guild performed "Metsa Telegramm" by Estonian composer Uno Naissoo.

Members of the community gathered in the Athletic Center for a festive celebration on March 8. 

Each Lower School grade embarked on a stimulating and multi-faceted Discover DC Day.

The NCS-STA Upper School Thespian Society performed “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” in Trapier Theater over two weekends.

Students in Grades 5-12 attended this year’s Hackathon, led by members of NCS’s Girls Who Code.

During February, NCS students served the local community in several meaningful ways.

The Cathedral Climbing Team placed first in the Washington Area Interscholastic Climbing League Championships.

Students in Artistic Collaboration, a Middle School class taught by Ms. Zee, worked in teams to create two-dimensional images to represent a variety of abstract ideas, including the concepts of of justice, hope, and courage.

The NCS-STA Madrigal Singers gathered in National Presbyterian Church for the 18th annual High School Choral Festival.

Four students attended the Student Civic Leadership Summit in Washington, DC.

The Revolutionary Class of 2025 marked the occasion of 100 days until they graduate!

The 25 NCS Upper School members of the We the People team claimed the DC championship title, qualifying for the national competition in April.

NCS’s 8th Grade Vestry, in conjunction with St. Albans’s Form II Vestry, led a special joint chapel service in Grace Chapel.

The Upper School Model UN team hosted the fourth annual conference for middle schoolers.

The NCS community enjoyed a Cathedral service in honor of Black History month.

Seniors Melina K., Kelsea P., and Julia W. have been named 2024 National Merit Finalists.

Three NCS students participated in the D.C. intermediate spelling bee in Southeast DC.

Before heading out for the Presidents Day holiday, Lower School students enjoyed grade-level Valentine’s parties, with games, sweets, and card exchanges.

Hannah Larn spoke at an Upper School Assembly about strategies to build peace. 

Students in Upper School French headed to the National Portrait Gallery to view “Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris from 1900-1939.”

The Class of 2029 had the privilege of hearing from Isabel Marin ’08 about her experiences serving as a U.S. Marine Corps logistics officer and platoon commander in Afghanistan and Kuwait. 

Dr. Noelle Trent ’99, President and CEO of the Museum of African American History for Boston and Nantucket, delivered the first in a series of four 125th anniversary alumnae homilies scheduled across this spring and into the fall. 

James Ponti, a prolific author of popular book series including City Spies and The Sherlock Society, presented to a rapt audience of Lower School readers.

Sydney Featherstone ’20 connected recently with her NCS advisor, Art Department Chair Amy Sinbondit.

Leaders of Upper School Affinity Groups and the Equity Board organized the first-ever potluck for all affinity groups members.

Our Grade 7 students recently read The Diary of a Young Girl and engaged in meaningful ways to deepen their understanding of both the book and its historical context.

Aya B. and Sofia H., both members of the Class of 2026, are recipients of the 2025 John S. Koch Memorial Fellowship.

Two seniors and two juniors were acknowledged by the National African American Recognition Program.

Gaye Danley, a celebrated poet and international Poetry Slam winner, once again shared her works, approaches, and insights at Middle School Writer’s Day. Danley met with faculty and staff for coffee.

Upper School students received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for performing more than 100 hours of community service in a 12-month period: Ani G. ’25, Malia S. ’25, Lilah W. ’26, Mila Z. ’26, Scarlett M. ’28, Elham S.,’25, Cybil S. ’26, Daphne L., ’25 and Evelyn P ’25.

The Student Arts Board hosted the inaugural DMV Student Arts Mixer.

NCS’s It’s Academic team of Jane P. ’27, Chloe L.’26, Babiha B. ’26 (with Annika D. ’27 as an alternate) beat teams from two local schools on a recent local television broadcast.

The NCS-STA AAPI Affinity Groups hosted a wonderful Lunar New Year Festival, with help from parents and faculty.

The Science Journal Club met over Zoom with Dr. Shoshana Woo Ambani ’00 to discuss her article on “Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interfaces (RPNIs) for the Treatment of Postamputation Neuroma Pain: A Pilot Study.”

Several recent alumnae returned to the Close to participate in a College Life Panel, hosted by the Alumnae Office.

The NCS and STA communities gathered in Washington National Cathedral for a service to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., focused on the theme of “who is my neighbor?”

Congratulations to the players on the Varsity Squash team who emerged victorious at this year’s Mid-Atlantic Squash Organization tournament.

With snow blanketing the Close, Lower Schoolers built snowpeople and thoroughly enjoyed one of the largest accumulations in the last few years.