School news roundup

Members of Annandale High School’s Lady Atoms basketball teams read weekly to students at Braddock Elementary School.

The news items and photos here about schools in the Annandale/Mason District are from Fairfax County Public Schools or individual schools.

Electric buses – Fairfax County Public Schools is adding eight electric school buses to its fleet. Dominion Energy selected FCPS as part of its initial deployment of 50 buses across the commonwealth.

Dominion is covering the difference in cost so that school districts pay no more for electric buses than they would for diesel models. Dominion will also subsidize the cost of necessary charging infrastructure.

The buses will help the region reduce carbon emissions and are consistent with the FCPS goal to implement sustainability initiatives.

Healthcare Fair – The Falls Church Academy and Health Occupations Students of America are hosting the second annual Healthcare College and Career Fair Jan. 27, 9 a.m.-noon, at Falls Church High School.

This event is open to all FCPS high school students interested in learning about healthcare certification programs and college and career options. Representatives from medical college programs, the healthcare industry, and the military will participate.

Justice High School graduates now in college offer advice to current Justice students.

Joey pouches – Drama tech theater students at Woodson High School will be making “joey pouches,” wallaby bags, and bat wraps for animals rescued from the Australia fires. The project, to be carried out in February, is being done with the support of the Animal Rescue Craft Guild.

The students are seeking donations of used and clean flannel items (sheets, pillowcases, pajamas), fleece blankets, fleece fabric, 100 percent cotton T-shirts, old sweatshirts, and sewing items (thread, seam rippers, irons). Donations can be dropped off in the box marked “Animal Rescue Woodson Drama” in the main office. Contact: Terri Hobson, [email protected].

Help for birds – Second graders in Indiana Obando’s Spanish immersion class at Bailey’s Elementary School engaged in a project-based learning unit on migratory birds.

Mary Deinlein, an ornithologist from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center at the National Zoo, helped the students respond to a request from Nicaraguan students to raise global awareness to protect migratory birds.

The Bailey’s students researched the role of ornithologists, learned why birds migrate and the dangers they face during migration, and brainstormed ways to help them. They created posters, postcards, and pencil cases with messages about birds and shared their findings at a PTA meeting.

Bailey’s students answer questions about their research on migratory birds.

Snow camp – The Fairfax County Park Authority is offering Snow Day Camp at four locations, including the Audrey Moore RECenter, for children ages 6 to 10 when the public schools are closed two or more school days in a row, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. It’s $65 per day.

Culinary grant – The Annandale-based Twinkling Eyes Foundation donated $5,000 to support Annandale High School’s Culinary Arts program. The foundation is also interested in establishing culinary scholarships for seniors interested in continuing in the field.

An author mentor – Beech Tree Elementary School students developed a connection with children’s book author Angela Dominguez. Second-grade teacher Nadya Abu-Rish joined #KidsNeedMentors, a program that matches authors with educators with the goal of enriching young lives through the power and love of reading and books.

Dominguez has written several children’s books including, Stella Diaz Has Something to Say, Let’s Go Hugo, and How are You?/Como Estas? and has illustrated several others. After visiting the classroom, she has continued to communicate to the students through letters, videos, and Google Hangouts.

Socratic Seminar – Fifth-graders at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School participated in a Socratic Seminar on the topic of whether the parents of a 16-year old girl should allow her to circumnavigate the globe on her own. They created open-ended questions, analyzed arguments, and discussed a full range of viewpoints.

Civic engagement – Students in grades 7-12 are now allowed to take off one partial school day each year to participate in civic engagement activities. The term “partial” means that the student is expected to attend school for some portion of the day.

Civic engagement could include a wide variety of activities, such as meeting with elected officials, volunteering for a campaign, or participating in other community activities. Students and parents must complete the appropriate prearranged absence form and include documented evidence of participation in an organized event or activity.