In the first week of the new school year, The Connection asked area school principals to respond to three questions:
1 - What are the most exciting developments in your school in the new school year?
2 - What would be your, one-sentence, message to parents, community?
3 - Any upcoming events, activities?
Here are their responses:
Frank A. Tranfa, Jr., Principal, Burke School:
“Burke School is excited to open the 2018-19 school year with a brand new elementary program. We will be supporting students with IEPs from across the county in our small public day school program. With the addition of the new program, Burke is home to a K-6 alternative learning center, a K-6 special education public day school, and a seventh and eighth grade special education public day school.
At Burke School, we love the support of the Burke Community and our partner schools in the Lake Braddock Pyramid. We are excited to serve our entire district with the work that we do to help all students achieve. Burke School is a special place where we are Unique and United!”
Rebecca Gidoni, Principal, Terra Centre Elementary:
1 - We are very excited about some new things here at Terra Centre for the 2018-2019 school year. We are incorporating STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), Mindfulness, and Technology in our master schedule along with our Spanish, Art, Physical Education, and Music programs. A new shade structure will be installed up next to the playground using funds that were raised last year during our PTA Boosterthon fundraiser. Our Art teacher is working closely with a local artist to design, create, and install a beautiful glass mosaic mural in our front lobby, which our PTA is funding. The students will be involved in the creation of the mural, which will carry the theme “Planting Ideas, Growing Minds.” Last but not least, students and staff alike are excited that we have built two 20 minute recesses into our master schedule for each grade level.
2 - Here at Terra Centre we believe that “Every Tiger has a Tale”.
3 - Here are some upcoming events at Terra Centre
9/14 – PTA Movie Night
10/10 – National Walk to School Day
11/6 – PTA Election Day Bake Sale
11/12 – Veteran’s Day
11/28 – PTA Boosterthon Fun Run
Michael Mukai, Principal, West Springfield High School:
1 - West Springfield High School is excited to be in the final phases of the renovation. We have opened 65 new classrooms and the temporary trailer classrooms will no longer be used. We want to thank all the students, teachers, parents, and community for making West Springfield High School a top 10 school in Virginia in US News and for the Virginia Department of Education.
2 - At West Springfield we continue to Dream Big, Work Hard, and Be Proud … Spartan Strong!
3 - Our Homecoming and Hall of Fame Week will be Sept. 24 – 29, 2018. It will culminate with the Football game on Friday, Sept. 28, and the Hall of Fame Inductions on Saturday, Sept. 29.