All Roads Lead to Severn

Four of the five Queen brothers and sisters are either alums or current students. And while the siblings have started their Severn experiences at different points, there is one primary reason why they chose Severn: academic rigor. “We appreciate that it’s a community where academics come first, and everyone is there to learn,” said Rashida Queen, mom to Jaden ’20, Justin ’22, Josh ’25, Sasha ’30, and Jonah.

The oldest Queen brother, Jayden, started at Severn in the seventh grade. He was a good student, but his parents, Rashida and George, knew he could do better, mainly regarding his writing skills. They had talked as a family about enrolling him in an independent school for high school but decided to make the move sooner. Thanks to his lacrosse network, Jaden already had friends at Severn and had his heart set on going.

“I used to read his writing assignments and think, ‘It’s good, but it could be better. Once he was at Severn, I would read things and think, ‘Wow, this is really good!’ I could see the progress,” said Rashida. “He had a great experience at Severn, which prepared him well for college.” Jaden recently graduated from Cornell. He is now working as a Research Assistant at Columbia University while applying to medical schools.

Justin had a different experience. He attended ninth grade at a different independent school and then transferred to Severn as a sophomore. A 2022 graduate of Severn, Justin went to NAPS (Naval Academy Preparatory School) for one year and is now in his second year at the United States Naval Academy, where he is on the men’s lacrosse team.

Pleased with their experience at Severn so far, Rashida and George enrolled Josh in sixth grade, making him the first sibling to go through all three years of Severn Middle School.

“Josh has found a really welcoming community there,” said Rashida. “Between Middle and Upper School, he found his people. When you’re comfortable, you can be at your best, and that’s where he is.”

Now in his senior year, Josh appreciates Severn’s competitive yet supportive culture. “Students will stay after class or when they are free during the school day to meet with teachers, and teachers are always willing to offer assistance because they want to see their students succeed,” he said. “Everyone at Severn carries a sense of pride when it comes to academics.”

The only girl in the bunch, Sasha is also the only Queen sibling to attend the Lower School. She started at Severn in second grade and is now in seventh grade. “Initially, a big reason to send the kids to Severn was to improve their writing skills, but I’ve been impressed by the public speaking opportunities that are available to students,” said Rashida, noting that Sasha was invited to give a presentation to the Severn Board of Trustees last year. “I can see the increase in Sasha’s confidence as a result.”

Sasha echoed that sentiment, sharing that “Severn has increased my confidence by giving me a chance to thoroughly understand what I’m learning. The small classes make it easier to ask questions, and I can always get a couple of minutes of one-on-one time with my teacher. All of this makes me more confident in my schoolwork and my overall place at Severn.”

Being an Admiral Family has been an excellent experience for the Queens, who will consider Severn for Jonah when the time comes. “We have found the Severn community to be incredibly welcoming, and all of our children have been challenged in positive ways,” said Rashida.

This story originally appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of The Bridge, Severn's alumni magazine, as part of a feature on legacy families. To see the digital issue, click here.