On this fall evening, we wish all of our students and families a safe and fun-filled night.
I want to give you an update on the progress of our proposal to open an Advanced Academic Program (AAP) center at Lanier Middle School (LMS). As you may remember, this process began over a year ago with Board work sessions and conversations with our colleagues in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Earlier this month, we joined FCPS for an informational meeting to promote the successes at our middle school, provide information on AAP, answer questions, and seek feedback from meeting attendees. For those of you who were unable to attend, I invite you to review the presentation, the boundary map, proposed options, and other related materials at
https://www.fcps.edu/node/34603. This information can answer questions about the why it is time to open a center at Lanier, the proposed timeline, AAP vs. Honors, and the referral process. We are currently collecting community input and will work with our FCPS partners to make a recommendation to the FCPS board later this year.
We understand that opening an AAP center can make families experience a range of responses. The future changes can be welcomed as well as give a sense of uncertainty. We join Principal Lenart in giving our full commitment to all of our Lanier community members. We are dedicated to educating each and every child in our schools. The proposed opening of an AAP center at Lanier MS is an opportunity for more City of Fairfax students to attend their neighborhood middle school with their future Fairfax High School classmates. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the City of Fairfax Schools office or send an email to
[email protected].
Providence ES students have reached beyond their walls to speak with a Space Station Commander and Environmental and Educational Advocate from Chad.
In the spring, students from Ms. Zuidema's class participated in the National Geographic Explorers Festival. The students were matched with Hindou Ibrahim, an advocate from Chad. Throughout the spring, students learned about Ms. Ibrahim's work in environmental and education advocacy. Together they created a paper quilt (pictured above) based on her life. They were surprised by Ms. Ibrahim when she came to the school and spoke with the class and students. It was all captured by National Geographic
in a video.
Earlier this month Providence ES 6th graders participated in the Smithsonian's STEM in 30 program and joined other Washington area students for a live Q&A with Space Station Commander Randy Bresnik. You can see the
session on You Tube here.
For more information about the session with the space station commander,
please see here. To read more about the class work with National Geographic's Explorer project and get a link to the video,
please see here.
DRES WELCOMES COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS THROUGH VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX
More than 20 volunteers including School Board Chairman Jon Buttram and Virginia Delegate David Bulova took part in a VolunteerFest project organized by the nonprofit Lands and Waters at Daniels Run ES on Saturday, October 28 to help build the Literacy Garden. Photo courtesy of Rob Paine of Volunteer Fairfax.
