School news roundup

Canterbury Woods Principal Diane Leipzig (second from left) appears on ‘Wheel of Fortune.’

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

New classrooms – When students return to Annandale Terrace Elementary School after winter break, they’ll be in new classrooms. The school’s new addition is expected to be completed in a few weeks, at which time the renovation of the existing building will begin.

During the winter break, the pre-K, multi-age, kindergarten, and first-grade classrooms, along with the after-school childcare room and library, will be moved from the existing building to the new addition. Second and fourth-graders will move into modular units.

Fourth-graders at Weyanoke Elementary School work on a coding activity.

Wheel of Fortune – Diane Leipzig, principal of Canterbury Woods Elementary School in Annandale, appeared on the TV game show “Wheel of Fortune” on Dec. 4.

Leipzig didn’t win, but said in an interview with WJLA News before the show aired: “I just felt so fortunate to get selected. Apparently about a million people try to get on the show every year and only about 600 people get on. So I already feel like a winner!”

She used to watch “Wheel of Fortune” every evening with her dad, but stopped after he died when she was 15, she told WJLA. “But my husband and I were driving past the mall where we live and we saw a Wheelmobile event and he said, ‘oh my God, you should totally try out!’”

On Dec. 4, she wore her Wheel of Fortune nametag and the same outfit she had worn for the taping. “I thought the kids would get a kick out of seeing me in this today and then go home and see me wearing the same clothes tonight on the show,” she said. “I feel like it’s really brought our community together. The kids are ridiculously excited!”

Student leaders – Sixth-graders at Westlawn Elementary School’s Student Leadership Academy (SLA) took a tour and visited science classrooms at Northern Virginia Community College’s (NOVA) Annandale campus. SLA members meet once a week to formulate personal achievement goals and engage in coding activities.

In January, a panel of Westlawn alumni from Virginia Tech, James Madison University,  George Mason University, Georgetown University, the University of Virginia, and NOVA will join the sixth-graders to discuss college preparation and experiences.

The Spanish Honor Society at Justice High School hosts a holiday appreciation dinner for school custodians.

Purple Star schools – Woodson High School is one of 18 military-friendly Fairfax County schools recognized by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children as 2019 Purple Star schools.

The Purple Star designation is awarded to schools that have demonstrated their commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families. To qualify, a school must provide resources and programming on issues important to military families and designate a staff member as a point of contact for them.

Laundry at school – Loads of Love, a charitable foundation of the Washington Redskins, approved a grant for a washer and dryer at Annandale Terrace Elementary School. The laundry facility will be installed as part of the school’s renovation and expansion project currently under way.

THC oil for students – The Code of Virginia was amended to authorize the possession, storage, and distribution of cannabidiol oil and THC-A oil to students at school. FCPS has amended its policies and regulations to reflect the change.

CBD and THC-A oils are derived from the cannabis plant; however, neither have an intoxicating effect on the user. Licensed practitioners may prescribe those oils to treat various conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, migraines, and seizures.

Excellence in Equity – Sleepy Hollow Elementary School has been honored by the school board and Superintendent Scott Brabrand with an Excellence in Equity Award. The school earned a Level 1 performance rating on the Standards of Learning for all student groups in both English and math for the 2018-19 school year.

Book donations – Students at Luther Jackson Middle School are developing a better understanding of how to incorporate gratitude and giving as part of the Positivity Project. On Dec. 9, students wrapped a brand-new book for a student at Graham Road Elementary School and enclosed a personal a note of kindness to the recipient. The books were donated by the Dewberry company.

A new design lab at Congressional School.

Design labs – Congressional School, a private school serving infants through the eighth-graders, celebrated the opening of two new state-of-the art design labs last week. The labs have the latest software, hardware, and fabrication equipment, including 3D printers and laser cutters. The labs are aimed at promoting creativity and critical thinking and are part of Congressional’s STEM and arts program.