On the day after Spirit Day, the community gathered at the Athletic Fields for FallFest and Homecoming games.

We are so excited for NCS’s 125th graduating class, the REVOLUTIONARY Class of 2025!

The skies may have been gray but the Close was all purple and gold, as the entire school community participated in an exuberant Spirit Day.

In the lead up to Spirit Day on Friday, Sept. 27, student leaders selected daily themes for Spirit Week.

On a beautiful September day on the first day of Spirit Week, the community gathered in the All Hallows Guild Amphitheater for an outdoor Cathedral Service.

Do you know why some things float and others sink?

The Class of 2025 headed to a ropes course for a day of teamwork and adventure under the leadership of Class President Camryn D. and Vice President Melina K.

Did you know that narwhals are a species of toothed whale?

Students connected by varied aspects of identity—including race, ethnicity, religion, family structure, and more—joined with their peers for the first Affinity Group meetings of the year.

Sophomore Anna D. was featured for her avid volunteerism at Bikes for the World in a blog post.

The Class of 2025 launched the school year with a fun tradition: Sticker Day! 

Opening Day kicked off our 125th academic year!

In August, our newest Eagles in Grades 7-12 enjoyed two days of getting to know NCS and each other at our annual Prep for Success event.

NCS welcomed several new energetic and experienced educators and staff members to campus.

Members of the NCS Visual Arts Club created a mural that is now permanently on display at St. Thomas’ Parish in Washington, D.C.

The spring season was full of individual and team achievements.

At Commencement, the MONUMENTAL Class of 2024 received their diplomas from the Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington, and Head of School Elinor Scully.

Under clear skies on June 7, the NCS community gathered for Flag Day, the end-of-year awards ceremony.

The Class of 2024 and their guests enjoyed the traditional year-end Baccalaureate service in the Cathedral.

To mark the end of the year and their time in Lower and Middle Schools, respectively, Grades 6 and 8 gathered for Closing Ceremonies.

Stephanie D. '24 earned a National Gold Award in the 2024 Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards for an essay she wrote.

Tenth grader Chloe L. was accepted into the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Youth Fellowship Program at the Kennedy Center.

Isabel K. ‘27 finished in the top three in the District of Columbia State Athletic Association girls golf championship.

Skylar R. ’32 met with several members of Congress about Type 1 Diabetes research, screening, and technology.

Fencer Kat Holmes ’11 and track athlete Sydney Barta ’22 will compete on Team USA at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, respectively.

The Class of 2032 presented their version of several classic fairy tales to audiences of Lower School students and Grade 4 parents and guardians.

To end the year in English 9, teacher Mark Bland asked his students to write, film, and produce silent short films focusing on the idea of “a hyphen,” a transition between two moments or intersectional identities.

At a ceremony this spring, Natalie G. ’24 signed a letter of commitment to swim at Bowdoin College.

To cap off three seasons of effort, competition, and achievement, all Upper School athletes convened in the Athletic Center for the end-of-year Athletics Banquet.

Chloe Conaghan ’19, captain of the Ivy League championship Yale women’s lacrosse team, was selected as an All-Ivy Honorable Mention.

The MONUMENTAL Class of 2024 held the final Cathedral Service of the school year — Senior Service.

Congratulations to Addie C. '25, Brittany E. '25, and Adele M. '26 who received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their work in raising support for Families4Families.

Twenty alumnae returned to the Close in-person and virtually for Upper School Career Day 2024.

Participants in the NCS-STA performing arts program gathered for the annual year-end Performing Arts Celebration in late May.

Each division held a year-end NCS-STA Spring Music Festival concert at Washington National Cathedral.

AAPI+ seniors were honored at the inaugural AAPI+ Stole Ceremony, sponsored by two Upper School affinity groups.

The annual NCS Art Show showcased the breadth and beauty of student work from each division.

At an event organized by the Parents Association Community Service Committee, a group of Middle School students helped bag and sort food at the Arlington Food Assistance Center.

Juliana Canfield ’10, who starred in HBO’s Succession, was nominated for a Tony for her role in Stereophonic on Broadway.

Senior Ingrid K. was awarded the gold level Graduating Seniors Award by U.S. Figure Skating.

Senior Isabel F., an accomplished equestrian, came in second in the recent USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby. 

The Class of 2031 visited the National Portrait Gallery and the National Archives for a field trip.

At the annual Writers Assembly, the Middle School celebrated the creativity and achievements of the division’s writers.

At the Student Awards Assembly, the Upper School awarded prizes for leadership, citizenship, and academics.

Fifth graders demonstrated their innovative solutions to Potomac River pollution at the annual Lower School Beta Day.

Fifteen members of the Class of 2024, representing the top academic performers, were inducted into the Cum Laude Society at a ceremony in May.

At Reunion, we celebrated Archivist Elna Clevenger, Theater Department Chair Mark Bishop, and French Teacher Sylvie Bouvier as they retire.

Students of NCS's Arts Club and Green Board helped set up a booth at Flower Mart that featured student art.

Reunion Weekend kicked off with the 30th annual Kente Cloth Ceremony.

On May 1, the community gathered in the Cathedral to celebrate NCS faculty and staff.

Three NCS alumnae, Mikayla Harris ’13, Sararose Gaines ‘14, and Jeryne Fish ’15, are all attorneys working at the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City. We're thrilled that these Eagles are reunited and working together.

Dawn Myers ’03 is the founder and CEO of Richualist, a Baltimore-based hair care company. The company’s signature product, a tool for curly hair called The Mint, has attracted significant attention.

In honor of Arab American Heritage Month, the members of the Upper School Middle Eastern Student Union led a chapel service and read the words of Yunus Emre, Kahlil Gibran, Rumi, and Mahmoud Darwish.

The annual NCS-STA Dance Gala was aptly named MONUMENTAL.

In front of a sold-out crowd, Upper School thespians from NCS and STA presented student-directed one-act plays.

A student choir from Roedean School in Johannesburg, South Africa visited NCS for a few days in late April.

Head of School Elinor Scully shared her State of the School presentation with NCS parents and guardians on April 24.

The Classes of 2024 and 2025 organized the first NCS ring ceremony to mark the beginning of the passing of the torch.

Several Upper School students won prizes and were awarded fellowships at the annual Upper School Writers’ Assembly.

NCS community members participated in a Blood Drive for Children’s National Medical Center.

On April 17, NCS held its annual Diversity Forum to delve into the theme of "Science FAIR?"— exploring topics related to equity in STEM.

A team of 33 Upper School students competed in the “We the People” national finals, facing off against teams from across the country.

NCS and STA 10th graders dispersed around the region for their annual joint service trip.

NCS families and students in the Class of 2028, joined by their counterparts from St. Albans, headed to the Athletic Center for the annual Prevention Convention.

In a Middle School Chapel centered on the theme of “Appreciating the Moment,” Head of School Elinor Scully shared wisdom and insights from her own middle school years.

On April 11 and 12, NCS and STA Middle School students presented A Wrinkle in Time.

Members of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) led a meaningful Upper School chapel service, delving into the beauty of Islamic poetry and prayers.

NCS students, faculty, and staff donned special glasses, provided by the Science Department, and headed outside to witness the April 8 near-total solar eclipse!

NCS welcomed students from St. Paul’s Girls’ School (SPGS) in London as part of the NCS/SPGS Exchange Program, now in its 39th year.

The Class of 2030 headed to the Chesapeake Bay for three days of adventure, camaraderie, and hands-on learning.

The goal for this year’s Lower School Readathon, which kicked off with a dress-as-your-favorite-book-character day, was for all students in the division to read a total of 150,000 pages in the month of March.

Three seniors, Maddie R., Hayley S., and Vivi W., were joined by family, coaches, and teammates as they signed letters of commitment to play college sports.

At Writer’s Day, students in each division heard from authors who read excerpts from their books.

Groups of students headed to different countries and continents over spring break to learn and bond with their peers and teachers.

NCS Varsity teams traveled around the country during spring break to practice their skills and build team camaraderie.

Marjorie Rollinson ’80 was confirmed by the Senate as the first female chief legal counsel at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

NCS hosted a vibrant Holi celebration on the East Terrace, sponsored by the South Asian/Middle Eastern Union, bringing a vibrant rainbow of colors to the Close.

Naomi W. ’30, one of three top finishers in the NCS Spelling Bee, competed in the Washington, D.C. regional Spelling Bee.

Delaney P. ’27 qualified to compete in the World Championships of Irish Dance in Glasgow, Scotland.

At the final Lower School chapel service before spring break, the program celebrated the theme of love.

Artist Stefanie Stark ’88 had a solo show, “The Strength of Her,” at Addison Ripley Fine Art this winter.

Lower School students marked International Women’s Day and demonstrated the power of young women with spirited marches around the Close.

Members of the Upper and Middle School student governments helped plan and lead an all-school service in Washington National Cathedral centered on the theme of role models.

Eagles scored, swam, dove, climbed, and swung their way to a productive and fun winter sports season.

Evelyn P. ’25 is now a nationally registered Emergency Medical Technician.

Over two weekends, the NCS-STA Thespian Society transformed Trapier Theater into a creepy and spooky setting for a wonderful production of The Addams Family musical!

On Feb. 29, members of the MONUM2NT4L Class of 2024 kicked off their last 100 days at NCS before graduating.

Charlie R.G. ’29 qualified for Zone Finals for her Interscholastic Equestrian Association Riding team and will be competing at the Lexington National Horse Show in August in Lexington, Va.

Two NCS participants in Voyageur were honored this season by the Washington Area Interscholastic Climbing League (WAICL).

Guy Brandenburg, president of the National Capital Astronomers and a retired math teacher, spoke to the Lower School during a special assembly.

The NCS community came together for a wonderful evening of camaraderie and generosity at the annual Spring Benefit, held in Washington National Cathedral with the theme “Curiosity Sparks Opportunity”.

A group of Upper Schoolers headed to Langley High School for the Virginia Invitational Model United Nations Conference.

On Discover D.C. Day, students in Grades 4-6 took a day to explore the region.

Isabel F. ’24 excelled at the Venice Equestrian Tour.

Team "Close Conquers Cancer," led by Sarah P. '25, Sofia H. '26, and Peter K., an STA student and son of Middle School science teacher Caroline King, was awarded second runner up for 2024 Student Visionary of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of the National Capital Area.

Middle School students in the Artistic Collaboration elective, part of the Performance Art program, designed installations inspired by songs.

Okorie Johnson returned to NCS for a workshop with the Middle School Chorus and Orchestra.

The NCS community gathered in Washington National Cathedral for the annual Black History Month service.

Karis Felton ’17 volunteers as a mentor through the TEAK Fellowship, a free program based in New York City that helps talented students from low-income families achieve their potential.

The Class of 2031 headed to Accokeek, Md., to visit the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s Hard Bargain Farm and learn about sources of water pollution and environmental conservation.

Ophelia C. ’27, Jackie C. ’24, Amelia H. ’24, and Molly S. ’27 joined students from STA and other area schools to serve as the honors orchestra for the Cathedral Choral Society’s D.C. High School Choir Festival held at National Presbyterian Church.

The Honors Art History class, made up of seniors, headed to the West Building of the National Gallery of Art to select works of art for formal analysis.

An academic article by Upper School Social Sciences teacher Julia Lopez Fuentes was awarded the First Article Prize by the Council for European Studies.

Each grade in Lower School gathered for a class party filled with cards, hearts, love, and candy!

The Lower School Guild joined hundreds of Lower School singers from St. Albans, Georgetown Day School, Holton-Arms, Landon, Maret, and St. Patrick’s for the annual Independent Lower Schools Treble Choir Festival, held at Washington National Cathedral.

NCS’s three Lower School Spelling Bee winners, Naomi W. ‘30, Lulu M. ‘30, and Marigold R. ‘31, participated in the intermediate Spelling Bee, competing against other Washington, D.C. students in Grades 3-8.

The NCS and STA communities celebrated the Lunar New Year at a joint chapel service in the Athletic Center.

James Whitehead, parent of Chloe ’28, has spent his career as a public defender and met recently with Grade 8 to discuss the process of appealing a criminal case.

Leyla G. ’27 was one of three performers from Brown Ballerinas to dance on Fox’s Good Day DC on Friday, Feb. 16.

Salincya A. ’27 was selected as one of 12 participants in the Arts and Social Justice Fellowship, sponsored by Strathmore and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.

As part of their science curriculum, teams of Grade 9 students designed and built contraptions to protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a stair landing.

Upper School students in David Sahr’s Politics class have had informative and inspiring presentations from several NCS alumnae.

Student Government President Sage S. ’24 and Junior Class President Camryn D. ’25 represented NCS at a Parents Council of Washington Student Leader Breakfast.

Five students were honored at a recent Upper School Assembly with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, bestowed for completing significant hours of community service.

The seniors and sophomores in David Sahr’s Politics in America class headed to the U.S. Capitol for sessions with Bridget Morrison ’11 and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R.-Alaska).

Audrey L. ’26 won overall first place among Level 2 senior soloists (ages 15-19) with her solo dance, “Flame,” at the Revolution Talent Competition in Maryland.

Under the leadership of Natalie E. ’28 and Rheya L. ’28, the Middle School Service Club contributed funds at the end of February to the Humane Rescue Alliance through a candy gram fundraising effort.

The NCS Swim & Dive Team won its third consecutive District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) Championship!

Junior Addie Carter competed in the Eastern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships in late January in Durham, N.H.

Thirteen Upper School students headed to Carlisle, in the English Lake District, to participate in a peacebuilding program with the Rose Castle Foundation.

Congratulations to the NCS climbing team for its second place finish in the Washington Area Interscholastic Climbing League!

The NCS community headed to Schifter Court in the Athletic Center for a service while the Cathedral organ undergoes renovation.

Helen Chao, parent of Chloe Xie ’32, gave a presentation to 4th graders about Chinese New Year.

The NCS experience instills a sense of curiosity in students that continues to shape them after they leave the Close. Read about seven NCS alumnae for whom curiosity is a guiding principle. These women demonstrate a drive to discover, a passion to learn broadly and deeply, and an openness to reimagine who and what they are.

Upper School French students kicked off the year with an enriching session featuring Christophe Kohl, a French-speaking journalist and foreign correspondent.

After the D.C. region had its first measurable snowfall of the year, Lower School students enjoyed fun in the snow at play time!

The Class of 2027 gathered recently in the Athletic Center to test their physics skills at the 20th annual Physics Olympics.

Camilla Nord ’08 presented a talk at Politics and Prose-Wharf on her book titled The Balanced Brain: The Science of Mental Health.

The NCS community is one month into a year-long recycling challenge and has already collected about 100 pounds of plastics!

After reading Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl, the Class of 2029 visited the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in early January.

Professional juggler Laura Dirksen Shub ’69, who performs under the name Miz Tilly, was featured on a recent episode of CBS Sunday Morning.

Despite the snow, the 10th annual NCS-STA Day of Service honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a success!

The NCS Swim Team has had a very successful season, with an overall third place finish in both the Independent School League and Washington Metropolitan Prep School Swimming and Diving League. Team members excelled broadly, setting new school records in relay and individual events.

The Middle School Service Club spread the joy of the season at Seabury at Friendship, a residence for seniors.

In January, Audrey Kinter ’79 met virtually with students from the NCS Science Journal Club to discuss her work in HIV research and the experience of being a woman in science.

NCS’s literary-arts magazine, Half-In-Earnest, won first place in the 2023 American Scholastic Press Association annual contest.

Cross-country coach Jim Ehrenhaft received the 2022-2023 District of Columbia Coach of the Year award.

Girls Who Code hosted guest speaker Alexa Schaeffer Quintero, who shared details about her path to becoming a coder.

Lower School students purchased grocery items at the local Giant supermarket for delivery to the Women's Collective, a local health and human service agency.

The NCS Business Club/Girls Who Start welcomed Talley Snow '15 as the year's first speaker.

AP Biology students made their own genetically modified organisms (GMOs)! Students inserted a jellyfish gene into bacterial cells, causing the bacteria to glow under UV light.

The NCS and St. Albans communities gathered for the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols.

Ninth graders in Mr. Bland's classroom shared with peers and interested visitors their visual projects depicting aspects of Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Upper School students participated in various community service projects in December.

NCS's It's Academic team recently competed in a match against Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and Dominion High School.

Just before winter break, the Lower School held the finals of its division-wide spelling bee. Two representatives from each homeroom competed before an audience of students and families of the participants. Congratulations to Naomi W. '31, Lulu M. '31, and Marigold R. '32, who tied for 1st place!

Sixth graders and 4th graders bonded at the first Big/Little Sister event of the year.

NCS and STA Middle School students presented a delightful production of Frozen Jr.