School news
The following news briefs highlight happenings in Annandale/Mason District schools.
Purple Stars – For the first time, Bren Mar Park Elementary School and Columbia Elementary School have been designated as Purple Star Schools.
The Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children award the Purple Star designation to schools that have demonstrated their commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families.
To qualify, schools must have a staff member designated as the point of contact for military students and families. They also must have a peer-led transition team, such as student ambassadors, to welcome new military-connected students and help them adjust to their new school.
Green Flags – Beech Tree Elementary School, Belvedere Elementary School, and Woodson High School are among the 14 FCPS schools that earned Green Flag Awards for sustainability from the National Wildlife Federation’s EcoSchools USA program.
Another five schools received Silver Awards, including Annandale Terrace Elementary School.
This student-led program provides opportunities for youth leadership, raising environmental awareness, connecting students to the natural world, and driving positive environmental change.
The Atoms Games – Annandale High School is hosting the Atoms Games, “a school-wide competition designed to unite students and staff through friendly rivalry, school spirit, and a shared commitment to giving back to our community.”
Students are grouped into 14 “nations,” each represented by a unique color. The nations will compete in a variety of activities to earn points. The nation with the most points when the program ends on Dec. 20 will win the ultimate prize – a breakfast party.
Here’s how the nations can earn points: support families by bringing items for the AHS pantry, decorating classroom doors, wearing their nation’s color on designated days, donating toys and books for Annandale families, and participating in themed dress-up days.
Employee excellence – FCPS’s 2024 Excellence Awards honored several educators in the Annandale/Mason District area.
The awards recognize employees committed to excellence, equity, and opportunity. Their job performance produces exceptional results that support the mission and vision of FCPS. Among the honorees:
- Equity and Cultural Responsiveness – Aida Joranko, the family liaison at Glen Forest Elementary School.
- Student Achievement and Success – Kirsten Salonga, a biology teacher at Justice High School.
- Collaboration and Partnerships – The International Baccalaureate and Portrait of a Graduate Working Group, including Camille Burden, IB coordination teacher at Glasgow Middle School; Darcy Malone, IB coordination teacher at Poe Middle School; and Ellen Rogers, grades 1-3 teacher at Belvedere Elementary School.
Related story: Parents weigh priorities for FCPS boundary study
Saturday school – Justice High School offers Saturday School where students can get one-on-one assistance in any English, math, science or history class and prepare for the Virginia Standards of Learning exams.
The sessions are 9 a.m.-noon every other Saturday through the end of the school year. Teachers will be available to help students tackle assignments and strengthen their understanding of key concepts.
Happy anniversary! – The Fairfax County School Board approved a proclamation last month honoring Annandale High School’s 70th anniversary.
Annandale HS “has served as a cornerstone of education for the Annandale community for seven decades, providing generations of students with a strong foundation for success in academic, personal, and professional pursuits,” the proclamation states.
When Annandale HS was established in 1954, the school’s mascot, the Atom, was inspired by President Eisenhower’s Atoms for Peace program.
The school “has grown and evolved alongside the community it serves, adapting to changes in population, educational needs, and societal shifts,” the school board states. “Today, Annandale High School proudly reflects the incredible cultural diversity of the region, with students representing over 66 countries and speaking more than 59 languages.”
On Dec. 5, the school board will recognize the 65th anniversary of Justice High School.
Related story: Recruiting controversy roils FCPS football
Reading incentives – The Belvedere Elementary School PTA raised nearly $17,000 through a Read-a-Thon fundraising program. The program encourages students to read on their own. Parents and others donate funds to the school when their students meet reading goals.
The class that logs the most reading minutes by Dec. 3 gets a pizza party. Students in every class that hits 3,000 minutes get to bring a stuffed animal to school. Classes that log 5,000 minutes get to wear pajamas to school for a day. When the school reaches its goal of $20,000, the principal has agreed to an extra recess.
A winning teacher – Lauren Paz Soldan, a Spanish teacher at Annandale High School, received the David Cox Award for Virginia World Language Teacher of the Year from the Foreign Language Association of Virginia.
The award is presented annually to a K-12 educator who is recognized for their outstanding contributions to language education, innovative teaching practices, and commitment to student success in language learning.
School expansion – The renovation/expansion project at Bren Mar Park Elementary School is expected to start in January. The school will review and finalize the next steps in the project at its Dec. 5 meeting.
A two-story addition will increase the school’s capacity to 800. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2027.
