Education

Helping Teens Bounce Back From Adversity

It’s not easy being a teenager. And in today’s world—where a fragile psyche can be crushed by thoughtless, callous and hurtful words by an online bully—it’s important to endow teens with the tools they need to have confidence in themselves, shake off the insults and bounce back.

Potomac School Notes

The following local students graduated from Gettysburg College on May 19:

WES Campers Raise Funds for Pet Shelter

Campers at Summer at WES in Bethesda, have a knack for business, and for philanthropy, as well. In five camp sessions this summer, they will donate hundreds of dollars to House With A Heart senior pet sanctuary, located in Gaithersburg.

NSA and DHS Honor NOVA for Excellence in Cybersecurity Education

Local students interested in a career in cyber security now have an academic option that has been lauded by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

Young Students Tackle Real-World Problems

Rocky Run eighth-graders learn via their science projects.

To the untrained eye, they looked like science-fair projects. But Ileana Rodriguez, eighth-grade science teacher and Science Department chair at Rocky Run Middle School, said her students created experimental-design displays.

Alexandria School Notes

Eric Costantino has been accepted as a violist into the Credo Chamber Festival, to be held at Oberlin Conservatory this summer.

Mount Vernon School Notes

Nathaniel Chester and Julia Larsen have been named to the dean’s honors list at Connecticut College.

Alexandria Leaders Consider Lawsuit Challenging Takeover of Long-Troubled School

Unless courts intervene, new statewide division will take control of Jefferson-Houston next year.

Is Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell's effort to take over Jefferson-Houston School constitutional?

Westfield Preps for Parade in Pasadena

Tournament of Roses president speaks to students

Sure, the students in Westfield High’s marching band are enjoying their summer. They’re also busy learning new music and practicing their drills. Besides marching on the Bulldog football field come fall, they’ll be participating Jan. 1 in the Tournament of Roses Parade. And before school ended, Parade President R. Scott Jenkins came here to officially extend the invitation to Westfield’s band. During the band’s awards banquet at the Westfields Marriott, he gave each member an autographed “Dreams Come True” poster. In return, the band performed a concert for him at GMU’s Center for the Arts. First, though, Jenkins came to the school to meet the students and tell them a bit about the parade. He discussed its history, gave them specifics about what to expect and told them how happy he is that they’ll be participating.

Arlington School Notes

Monica Lozano and Juan Peredo have been named Connect With Kids Champions by The Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families, which acknowledges Arlingtonians who are making a difference in the live of Arlington youth. Lozano, a Minority Achievement Coordinator at Swanson Middle School, and Peredo, the Family Liaison at Yorktown High School were recognized at the June 18 Arlington School Board meeting.

Smith Named Principal of Drew Model School

Jacqueline Smith leads melting pot of school in Montessori training.

The students know her for her engaging smile. And after serving as interim principal for more than a year, Jacqueline Smith, 53, is the new principal of Drew Model School, a Montessori school in South Arlington. It helps that the Arlington View resident speaks fluent Spanish and French. She also has two master’s degrees in curriculum and instruction, and education leadership, with a focus on multicultural bilingual education – a necessity for leading the melting pot that is Drew.

St. Mark Offers ESL Classes

St. Mark English as a Second Language Program Summer Session continued with "Sports" on July 9, "Iconic Places" on July 16, and "The Art of Conversation" on July 23.

Children ‘Dig Into Reading’ at Lorton Library

The library launches summer reading program.

The Fairfax County “Dig Into Reading” Summer Reading Program is currently in full swing at Lorton Library, where many children and young adults’ names hang on the wall indicating that they have met their reading log goal and received their coveted coupon book.

FACETS Holds Academic Achievement Party

Some 32 youth honored for getting A’s and B’s on report cards.

FACETS held an Academic Achievement Party last Thursday, June 27, at Old Town Hall in Fairfax City to honor 32 youth who earned A’s and B’s on their report cards and for the 13 students who graduated from high school, 12 of whom are moving on to higher education. After a potluck dinner, Mike Collins from Rep. Gerry Connolly’s office (D-11th) distributed awards and goodie bags.

Eline Leaves Rocky Run

He’s named new principal of Robinson Secondary School.

Under Matt Eline’s leadership at Rocky Run Middle School, several teams of math and science students have won state and national championships, and the school, itself, received the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence, three years in a row.

The Connection