School news roundup
The following news items are from FCPS and individual schools
Environmental education – Westlawn Elementary School was recognized as a Year 3 Virginia Naturally School by the state’s Department of Wildlife Resources.
The program recognizes the work done by Westlawn staff to increase students’ environmental literacy. “Helping students become socially and environmentally conscious is woven into every day,” says gifted education teacher Gretchen Maxwell. Classes are often held in Westlawn’s multiple outdoor learning spaces.
Students in Westlawn’s two preschool autism classes worked in the school’s gardens and planted spinach in biodegradable ice cream cones. First-graders learned about limited natural resources and earned certificates for understanding the 3 Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle).
The fourth-grade science program includes lots of hands-on learning. Students used FCPS’s “Enviroscape” kit to learn about the watershed and created models of the ocean in Westlawn’s mobile maker space.
This year Westlawn launched a “share table” at lunch where students could place unopened and unwanted food for others to take. Another new initiative is a program to collect soft plastics. A composting effort is in the works.
AI at school – Fairfax County Public Schools is launching an “AI Education Roadmap” outlining a strategic approach to responsibly integrate artificial intelligence in schools and classrooms. The effort is also aimed at preparing students for the demands of a rapidly evolving technology-driven workforce landscape.
FCPS is kicking off this process at an event, “AI & the Future of Learning, on Nov. 3, 6-8 p.m. Register here.
Educate Fairfax is seeking sponsors to support the full implementation of the AI Education Roadmap. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Lynette Henry, executive director of Educate Fairfax, [email protected].
Academic coaching – Annandale High School offers Saturday Academic Coaching sessions where students can review their grades, prioritize assignments, and connect with academic resources and support. More than 100 students showed up for the first session. The next Saturday coaching session is Oct. 25.
Food pantry help – Isabella Martinez, a fifth grader at Columbia Elementary School, and her friends organized a bake sale and raised $550 for the Annandale High School Food Pantry.
Since the food pantry was started by the Annandale High School PTSA seven years ago under the direction of AHS parent Norma Foti, it has become a vital resource for many local families. WUSA9 recently profiled Foti, who still runs the pantry even though her children have graduated.
This year, the PTSA is launching the Stock Our Shelves (SOS) Fundraising Campaign with the goal of raising $10,000 for the pantry.
Beyond the Bell – Four Annandale/Mason District elementary schools – Annandale Terrace, Bailey’s, Braddock, and Westlawn – are among the 20 FCPS schools participating in the Beyond the Bell pilot program.
Beyond the Bell is a before and after‐school initiative operating under an exemption from Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) licensure. According to FCPS, the program enables the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services “to expand enrollment while continuing to uphold best practices and the highest standards of childcare.”
The VDOE licensure exemption allows Fairfax County to operate Beyond the Bell without some of the staffing and enrollment limits set by the state. That means NCS will be able to hire staff more quickly and expand the maximum staff‐to‐child ratios from 1:18 to 1:22.
The pilot program offers the same sliding fee scale and subsidies available through the School Age Child Care program.
SAT success – The average SAT score for the FCPS Class of 2025 exceeded the state and global average scores, FCPS reports. The average score for Fairfax County public school students was 1183, compared to the Virginia average score of 1112 and the global average of 1029.
FCPS average SAT scores in the evidence-based reading and writing subtest and the mathematics subtest also beat the state and global average scores.
Parklawn market – Parklawn Elementary School provides a monthly market on Thursdays with free groceries for local families. The Capital Area Food Bank is offering fresh produce and pantry staples to the Parklawn community on a first-come, first-served basis.
EcoSchools – Eight schools that serve Mason District students were recently recognized as 2024-2025 Green Flag EcoSchools: Annandale Terrace, Beech Tree, Belvedere, Braddock, Mason Crest, and North Springfield elementary schools, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and Woodson High School.
These schools have earned the highest level of recognition from EcoSchools U.S., a program of the National Wildlife Federation, for their commitment to creating a healthier, more sustainable future. Each school developed and took action on a student-led sustainability action plan in collaboration with local partners.
Digital memories – Mike Roth, the director of communications at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, is digitizing everything in the TJ archive room.
The school now has a TouchPros website that has all yearbooks, nearly all copies of tjToday, photo galleries, videos of graduation ceremonies and talent shows, highlights from homecoming, prom, and athletics, and much more.
Vietnamese heritage flag – At-large school board member Ilyrong Moon wants to see the Vietnamese Heritage Flag displayed in schools.
He has been working with Long Đức Hoàng, president of the Vietnamese-American Community of Washington D.C., Maryland & Virginia, as well as school board members Ricardy Anderson (Mason) and Sandra Anderson (Springfield) and Del. Kathy Tran to make that happen.
Moon says Superintendent Michelle Reid has agreed that whenever the Vietnamese flag is displayed, the heritage flag should be, too.
“Displaying the Vietnamese Heritage Flag in our schools is more than a symbolic gesture – it is a recognition of the history, struggles, and contributions of Vietnamese Americans in Fairfax County and beyond,” Moon says. “The flag represents the values of freedom, resilience, and democracy that resonate deeply with the Vietnamese community, many of whom came to the United States as refugees seeking safety and opportunity.”
“Incorporating the flag into our school events and cultural celebrations helps foster a sense of belonging for Vietnamese students and families, validating their heritage and showing that their identity is respected and valued,” Moon says.
Global Citizenship – Annandale High School was awarded a Tony Cook Memorial Grant from the Academic Year in America program.
The funds will further the school’s commitment to “cultivating global citizens through the UN sustainable development goals” and empower students to engage in meaningful projects that promote sustainability, equity, and peace.
Exchange students Gagik (Armenia), Feras (Israel), and Vivian (Germany) delivered the award in person. “This grant will bring new opportunities as Annandale continues to build a culture of global citizenship, cross-cultural understanding, and responsible leadership,” says Principal Shawn DeRose.