School news
Woodson High School rededicated – The Woodson community gathered at the school Oct. 23 for a rededication and renaming ceremony to honor the school’s new namesake, C.G. Woodson.
Last year, the Fairfax County School Board voted to change the name of W.T. Woodson High School to C.G. Woodson High School. When the school opened in 1962, it was named for a former superintendent. Historic documents later revealed the extent of Willard Tucker Woodson’s opposition to desegregation, prompting a grassroots effort to change the school’s name.
The school’s new name honors Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Virginian who is considered the “the Father of Black history.” Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, led the campaign to create what later became Black History Month, and served as dean of Howard University’s College of Arts and Sciences.
“His passion for the transformative power of education and his belief in the importance of diverse representation is as urgent today as it was during his lifetime,” said Superintendent Michelle Reid at the rededication event.
Special Olympics champion – Annandale High School has been recognized as a Special Olympics National Unified Champion School for its outstanding commitment to inclusion and the promotion of unified sports and leadership.
This recognition is awarded to schools that meet rigorous standards of excellence set by a national panel of leaders from the Special Olympics organization and the education community.
Annandale High School demonstrated its dedication to fostering an inclusive school environment by fulfilling 10 standards of excellence. These standards emphasize key activities, such as:
- Having students with and without disabilities train and compete together as teammates;
- Inclusive youth leadership, promoting student voices, and encouraging collaboration across diverse student groups; and
- Whole school engagement, ensuring that the entire school community actively participates in creating an inclusive culture.
Annandale’s Special Olympics program was started in 2017 with a unified basketball team created by former special ed teacher and current assistant principal Jae Lee. The program was subsequently expanded to include soccer and track and field involving 20 athletes.
There are 25 general education students in the program who help the special ed students get to practice sessions, help them with athletic skills, and cheer them on.
Civic education – Glasgow Middle School history teacher Juliette Adams feels so strongly about ensuring kids are knowledgeable about civics, she wrote a series of five books to explain the basic concepts of government, democracy, and politics in easy-to-understand language.
Adams describes the Gifted & Magical 95 Percent series as a political navigation tool kit that presents civic education “in a simple holistic way to energize and create a renewed empowered citizen leadership class.”
A native of Guyana, Adams gave a talk on the books at a reception at the Embassy of Guyana on Oct. 18, where she introduced Ambassador to the U.S. Samuel A.A. Hinds, a former prime minister and president of Guyana.
The series includes the following titles:
- “Energizing Your Phenomenal Power: Reclaiming the Incredible Strides of Women”
- “Presidential Legacies: What Are You Demanding?”
- “Democrats vs. Republicans and their Evolving Positions on Race”
- “The Economic Power of One: A Grassroots Perspective.”
- “From Whence We Came: A Fun Political Conversation”
The books are aimed at students in grades 7-12. They are available on Amazon.
Adams also runs an afterschool civic engagement club at Glasgow.
Falls Church on the AP Honor Roll – Falls Church High School is one of 17 FCPS schools named to the Advanced Placement School Honor Roll by the College Board.
Falls Church was named a “silver distinction school.” To achieve that honor, at least 50 percent of the graduating cohort took at least one AP exam, at least 30 percent of the graduating cohort scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam, and at least 5 percent took five or more AP exams.
AHS alumnus honored – Gen. James Clapper, a member of the Annandale High School Class of 1959 has been inducted into the Fairfax County Public Schools Alumni Hall of Fame. Clapper was the Director of National Intelligence under President Obama.
“Throughout his distinguished career, Gen. Clapper exemplified the values of leadership, service, and commitment – qualities that were undoubtedly shaped during his time at Annandale,” said AHS Principal Shawn DeRose.
Community theater – The Falls Church High School’s Spotlight Theatre Company is taking “The Phantom Tollbooth” on the road.
The play, geared for children of all ages, will be performed at 7 p.m. at these dates and locations:
- Nov. 18 – Westlawn Elementary School
- Nov. 20 – Fairhill Elementary School
- Nov. 22 and 23 – Falls Church High School
- Dec. 4 – Woodburn Elementary School
- Dec. 6 and 7 – Friendship United Methodist Church
The Falls Church drama students will also perform during the school day at Westlawn, Fairhill, and Woodburn.
A global leader – Annandale High School has been selected as a Global Navigator School by the Center for International Education and Exchange for the third year in a row.
Global Navigator Schools receive benefits and incentives for participating in CIEE’s summer abroad programs. Annandale students have received over $180,000 in scholarships to study abroad. Those experiences have given students opportunities to explore new languages, connect with diverse cultures, and address global and local issues.