Education

Swanson Middle School Keeps The Whole Child in Mind

At Swanson, a variety of opportunities.

"Middle school kids are rising to new challenges — travel soccer teams, taking courses in middle school for high school credits, taking risks and challenging to stretch themselves," according to Bridget Loft, principal of Swanson Middle School at 5800 N. Washington Blvd. "But," she added, "There is a real rise in anxiety, too, with schools and parents struggling to find a balance. You have to keep the whole child in mind."

Alexandria: Redistricting Starts for Public Schools

ACPS chooses J.R. Reingold & Associates Inc. as its redistricting partner.

With a whimper rather than a bang, redistricting has started for Alexandria Public Schools. On Aug. 24, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) selected J.R. Reingold & Associates Inc. as a partner for its redistricting process.

Mount Vernon: Vanderhye, New Principal at Whitman Middle

With international experience, Vanderhye brings 38 years of education to the job.

With 38 years in education, Roger Vanderhye, 59, of McLean was named new principal July 1 of Whitman Middle School, at 2500 Parkers Lane in Alexandria, replacing former principal Jean Bell.

Suffragist Memorial in Lorton Will be a ‘Site of Conscience’

Film brings to light torture, abuse suffragists suffered at Occoquan Workhouse.

The Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association held a viewing of the 2004 film “Iron Jawed Angels” directed by Katja von Garnier on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at Gunston Hall in Lorton. The 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote was ratified on this day 95 years ago in 1920. The date is designated as Women’s Equality Day.

Fairfax: 'Fall for the Book Festival' Returns Sept. 27-Oct. 3.

Book-lovers rejoice; the local treasure “Fall for the Book” is arriving for a week-long stay. This year’s celebration will feature over 150 authors representing a wide-gamut of genres.

Burke: Bruin Blast, Kick-off Picnic and More

Lake Braddock Secondary School is ready for the new beginning.

Administrative staff, faculty and students at Lake Braddock Secondary School – home for the Bruins - started returning, as the first day of school is right around the corner.

Potomac Event Brought in Supplies for the New School Year

More than 1,000 Montgomery County school children began the school year with new backpacks and school supplies thanks to the generosity of some Potomac residents.

Potomac: Animals Can Help Patients with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Animals can help patients with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders heal.

Wearing her long dark hair in pigtails and a backwards baseball cap, Leah Schuman peered curiously over a low fence into a pen of miniature llamas.

Potomac: First Day of School

Montgomery County Public Schools welcomed more than 156,000 students for the first day of the 2015–2016 school year on Monday, Aug. 31, the largest enrollment in the district’s history.

Arlington: Students at Gunston Middle Learn Life Skills

Elective wheel exposes students to variety of courses.

Handbooks are ready, supplies have been ordered and teachers have been getting acquainted with their new classrooms.

Citing Student Mental Health as a Priority

New student representative on School Board shares focus of his predecessor.

Dressed in a suit and tie to a casual meeting at Ted’s Bulletin, it’s not hard to tell that Ben Press, a rising senior at James Madison High School, is no ordinary teenager.

McLean: Inspiring Students to Speak Up

McLean High students work with the Longfellow Middle School’s debate team and D.C.’s Stanton Elementary to improve students’ public speaking skills.

Public speaking: these two words strike fear in almost anyone, whether 6 years old or 60. McLean High School senior Michelle Ma tackles this fear one child at a time through “The Speak Up Initiative.”

Alexandria: ‘Our Promise — That Every Student Succeeds’

Alexandria City Public Schools is quite literally on the move! Our students are showing clear growth based on our latest Standards of Learning (SOL) test data. The largest increases were seen in English and math, which were targeted focus areas during the past year.

Volunteer Literacy Tutors Still Needed

For 89 Alexandria kindergarteners and first graders.

Think about your favorite book as a child. Go ahead, close your eyes, and remember all of the feelings and memories that it evokes. Do you feel proud because it was the first book you read on your own? Was it the first time that you felt connected to someone? Did it make you laugh or giggle? My favorite book as a child was ”Stellaluna” by Janell Cannon. It was the first time I felt transported to another world, and ever since then, I've been hooked.

Alexandria Snapshot: Back-to-School Supply Drive

The local chapter of the National Forum of Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) participates yearly with Alexandria City Public Schools in collecting items for an annual back-to-school supply drive. James Hunt is the president of the Alexandria Metro Chapter of NFBPA.

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