School News: Outdoor learning

The Annandale High Singers perform holiday music at the White House.

School News is an occasional series highlighting programs and activities at schools in the Annandale/Mason District area. The information and photos here are from Fairfax County Public Schools and individual schools.

Playground grant – Belvedere Elementary School was awarded a $4,000 grant from the Apple Federal Credit Union Education Foundation to improve the preschool playground. New features will include a mud kitchen, sensory tables, and outdoor seating.

Sleepy Hollow educators accept a grant from Apple Federal Credit Union to revamp the preschool playground.

Outdoor classroom – The outdoor classroom at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School is undergoing some improvements, including raised garden beds installed by Drainage & Erosion Solutions LLC  and benches built by Boy Scouts. Donations from Congressional School were used for garden tools. Parents and community members have been invited to purchase engraved bricks to be installed in the garden.

“We are excited to know that students will be able to begin planting in the spring and use the Outdoor Classroom space to enhance learning in the classroom,” says Sleepy Hollow Principal Eric Johnson.

Beech Tree Elementary School students celebrate at International Night.

Health alert – There has been a case of pertussis (whooping cough) at Justice High School, Principal Maria Eck says in an email to parents.

Pertussis is a highly contagious disease caused by bacteria. Early symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, fever, and cough. The cough becomes much worse over one to two weeks and includes bursts of uncontrollable cough that could be followed by a high-pitched whoop or vomiting. This disease can be serious for infants, young children, and pregnant women.

A child diagnosed with pertussis should be isolated at home during the first five days of antibiotic therapy.

Parents are advised to ensure children receive the pertussis vaccine at ages 1-18 months and ages 2, 4, 6, and 4-6. Older children and adults not fully vaccinated can get the Tdap vaccine to prevent pertussis.

FCPS Superintendent Brabrand (left) visited Weyanoke Elementary School, where he participated in writing conferences with small groups of third-graders.

Music teacher honored – Essel Linton, the music teacher at Annandale Terrace Elementary School, is the recipient of the Fall 2018 Spotlight Award from the American Center for Elementary Music and Movement.

Linton works with students of varying backgrounds, levels of English proficiency, and learning differences. As an immigrant from Korea, she says, “I place myself in their shoes and work hard to make music one class where students can be successful with limited English skills.” Music making and performances at Annandale Terrace are held all year long.

Native trees – Fairfax County urban forester Hugh Whitehead helped students and teachers at Mantua Elementary School plant native trees on school grounds. The school environment has been enhanced with three river birch trees, two black gums, two white oaks, one willow oak, and two American elms that are resistant to Dutch Elm Disease.

Students help plant native trees at Mantua Elementary School.

50 states – Sleepy Hollow Elementary School will host the third annual 50 States Challenge on Feb. 8. Students in grades 2-5 will be given a blank map and will have one hour to match a list of state abbreviations to their correct place on the map. Students who identify all 50 states correctly will have an opportunity to tape Principal Eric Johnson to the wall. 

Top teachers – Seven FCPS educators, including Lisa Choi of Annandale Terrace Elementary School, Caitlin Byington from Camelot Elementary School, and Michelle McKenna from Columbia Elementary School, earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

Achieving national certification is a lengthy, rigorous process that affirms a teacher has met five core standards and knows how to have a positive impact on student learning. 

Another 32 FCPS teachers have renewed their certification from NPTS for 10 years, including these teachers from Annandale/Mason elementary schools: Maria Diaz (Westlawn), Erin Fortenberry (Ravensworth), Heather Phythyon (Bren Mar Park), and Heather Walnock (Beech Tree).