Dranesville Elementary principal Kathryn Manoatl in front of the school mascot and the "Kids at Hope" box. Photo by Alicja Johnson/The Connection
September 8 is fast approaching for Fairfax County Public Schools, and Dranesville Elementary School is ready for the new school year. The biggest change that will occur this year is the school’s start time, and fortunately this is not a drastic one. Starting this fall, Dranesville will start at 9:20 a.m. and go until 4:05 p.m., only ten minutes earlier than last year. According to Principal Kathryn Manoatl, the decision was made this past spring and implemented very smoothly.
Dranesville’s focus for the coming school year will be on programs like Green Schools and Kids at Hope. As Manoatl explains, “Green Schools is teaching kids to get involved in things to save the planet.” Students are taught the importance of recycling and food rescue under this program.
Kids at Hope is a program based on three cornerstone beliefs. “It’s a framework within which you look at students,” says Manoatl, “it’s believing that every child – every single child – is capable of success.” Manoatl and her staff at Dranesville are focusing on implementing this belief that there is no child who cannot succeed, which is the first cornerstone of Kids at Hope.
The second cornerstone belief for this program is that all students should have connections with adults, whether they be a guidance counselor, a teacher, or a leader within a student’s community. The final element of the Kids At Hope program is called Time Traveler, which aims to give students “the ability to see into the future and to work towards that future,” in Manoatl’s words. Manoatl stresses that this aspect of the program does not recommend a specific future, like college, but simply provides students with an information they need to determine which future is ideal for themselves.
In preparing for the school year, Dranesville feels that it’s important for students and families to be able to interact with teachers in advance. One of these opportunities, “Teachers in the Park,” has already occurred. However, if you missed this chance to mingle with the school’s staff, Dranesville will be having an open house on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 11 a.m.