School news: They’re off to a good start

First-graders hard at work at Wakefield Forest Elementary School.

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.

Healthy kids – Bailey’s Elementary School and Falls Church High School are among the 11 Northern Virginia schools awarded Healthy Kids grants for 2018-19 from the Community Foundation. The grants fund projects to battle childhood obesity through physical activity and nutrition improvements.

Bailey’s lower school received $2,000 for the Biking for Fitness program. Students will learn how to ride a bicycle safely in PE class and will learn how to use bike riding as a means to stay fit and healthy throughout their lives.

The $2,000 grant to Falls Church High School will be used to provide “wobble chairs” to promote better posture and build core muscles.

Pyramid meeting – The Falls Church High School PTSA is hosting a Falls Church Pyramid Meeting Oct. 10, 7-8 p.m., at the school. Anyone with children in prekindergarten through high school is invited. It’s an opportunity to meet principals from other schools in the pyramid and learn about the programs offered at Luther Jackson Middle School and Falls Church High School.

Free Metrobus rides – The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the board of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority approved a pilot program to allow Justice High School students to ride on certain Metrobus and Fairfax Connector routes for free using a specially designed and programmed SmarTrip card. To get a bus pass, students must complete a permission form in the student services office.

Community garden – Bailey’s Elementary School invites parents and local residents to support science education and healthy eating by joining its new Community Garden Committee. The group will create a master planting plan, coordinate volunteers, develop a vision for the garden, and apply for grants. The committee will meet once or twice a month. The next meeting is Oct. 3, 6 p.m., in the school’s science lab (6111 Knollwood Drive). For more information, contact science resource teacher Meredith Wyatt, [email protected].

Staff members at Weyanoke Elementary School show their enthusiasm for English language development goals.

Lunch with a cop – Fairfax County police officer Heather West, the crime prevention officer at the Mason Police Station, started a “lunch buddy” program with area elementary schools. She plans to join students for lunch with the goal of developing positive experiences, building trust, and creating lasting relationships. Students will have an opportunity to have a conversation with West and ask questions. Her first meet-and-greet with students was at Woodburn Elementary School earlier this month.

Former Bailey’s ES student Oliver Gladys made a bench for the school.

World languages – Students from other countries can get credit for knowing a native language if they pass an exam. The credits count toward the world language requirement for the advanced studies diploma.

The exam will be given three times, including Nov. 8 at Falls Church High School, 4-7:45 p.m. Students must register with their school counselor by Oct. 10.

Students can take an exam in 30  languages: American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali/Bangla, Chinese/Mandarin, Farsi/Persian, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit/Samskritam, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog/Pilipino, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinya, Turkish, Twi, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

Student winners – Three students from the medical assistant class at the Falls Church Academy received awards at the 2018 HOSA-FHC (Future Health Professionals) International Leadership Conference. Puja Punukollu of Woodson High School placed first in the job-seeking skills competition. Kelly Tran of Falls Church High School placed third in the extemporaneous poster competition, and Cynthia Hyunh of Falls Church placed in the top 35 for medical photography. More than 7,000 students competed in 60 events.

Reading time at Bren Mar Park Elementary School.

Honoring Hispanics – Each year the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors selects a recipient to accept its annual proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month. Based on her many contributions to the Hispanic community, the BoS nominated Lorena Cervantes, the creative movement teacher at Bailey’s Elementary School, to receive the 2018 proclamation and give brief remarks at the Sept. 25 board meeting.

Celebrate scientists – Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology invites students in grades 2-8 and their families to a Celebrate Scientists at TJ event, on Oct. 5, 6-8 p.m. Participants will learn about TJ diversity and outreach efforts, view student projects on diverse scientists, and do hands-on STEM activities. Register online.

FCPS Cares – The Region 2 “FCPS Cares” winner for the summer is Sherryanne Sooknanan, an administrative assistant at Braddock Elementary School in Annandale. The Cares program honors an employee in each region nominated by parents, staff, or community members for going above and beyond to help others.

Expunge a grade – Parents of ninth-grade students who took a credit-bearing course in middle school may request that the grade be omitted from the student’s high school transcript and that the student not earn high school credit for the course. Parents are advised to contact their child’s school counselor if they want to expunge a course.