Vikings Return From Winter Break Ready for the New Year
Recent weather transformed the Sullivan Family Playground into a winter wonderland, delighting Prekindergarten and Kindergarten students as they returned to King following winter break. Bundled up in waterproof coats, pants, and boots, students enjoyed exploring the snow and ice during the chilly days at the beginning of the week.
The Innovation Lab is a dynamic environment where students collaborate, experiment, and refine their work through iteration. Students have the opportunity to explore emerging technologies while developing mastery in problem-solving, collaboration, and technical fluency. The Upper School Robotics Team is currently working to enhance the conveyor system of their VEX robot as they prepare to compete this winter against other area schools.
In their Life Skills class, Grade 6 students engaged in a debate about the comments on a mock social media post. The lesson was part of their digital citizenship study, which aims to teach students about staying safe online. The class discussed how drama can escalate quickly online and provided tools for handling difficult digital interactions. Future lessons will focus on navigating the internet, texting with friends, and responsible use of social media.
As part of their study of membrane transport, Honors Biology students cut and weighed potato samples before placing them in solutions of varying sucrose concentration. The resulting mass changes helped students investigate osmosis and the movement of water across cell membranes. This lab serves as a foundation for upcoming lessons on membrane potential and cellular energetics, with a focus on how mitochondria and chloroplasts drive respiration and photosynthesis.
This year’s visiting artist, James Ransome, met with students from all divisions in preparation for a cross-divisional art project. Over the next week, students will work with Ransome to paint and collage three 48-inch square canvases detailing the three phases of the Great Migration of African Americans in the 20th century. The King community is invited to view the completed work in the Performing Arts Center Lobby during an opening reception on Friday, January 23, from 3:00-5:00 p.m.
After Spanish teacher Ivana Farina wrote a three-digit number on the board, Grade 6 students raced to spell it in Spanish correctly on their whiteboards. Once they have mastered numbers, the students will fine-tune their food vocabulary before putting everything together by ordering food at a market or restaurant and managing the relevant prices.
As part of their study of Earth's landforms and bodies of water, students in Grade 2 illustrated maps of fantasy lands. Each map featured a legend with key landforms, including mountains, forests, oceans, lakes, and rivers. Students enjoyed personalizing their maps with imaginary characters, including mermaids, monsters, and hidden treasure.
American Politics students learned about navigating the political landscape during a visit with State Rep. Tracy Marra P'21, '24, '27 and Communications Specialist Jamison Bazinet. Marra shared tales of her journey from pharmacist to politician, explained the major issues she is working to change, and revealed the realities of working in local government. Bazinet detailed the technical aspects of media relations in politics and the complexities of communicating a wide range of issues to numerous constituencies. Both urged students to remain aware and active in politics and encouraged them to register to vote when they turn 18.
The first Viking Connections gathering of 2026 brought students together across divisions for reflection, creativity, and community. Clinker Buddies shared action-based approaches to New Year’s resolutions by discussing their goals as they wrote them out on winter-themed cutouts. As they shared strategies for success, they decorated cookies and indulged in the sweet treats together. To help them follow through, the cutouts will be displayed throughout the school, serving as a reminder of their conversations and strategies for success in the new year.