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:
Yusef Azimi, Principal, Thoreau Middle School:
1 - We have welcomed 250+ additional students to Thoreau this year as a result of a boundary change designed to relieve Luther Jackson’s overcrowded student population. I am thrilled to have all of our new students join the Thoreau community. This comes on the heels of the completion of a multi-year renovation and expansion which has left us with a beautiful new school for our 1,200+ students now.
2 - There is not a day that does not go by where either a student, employee, parent, or community member tells me the positive experience and sentiments he/she feels about Thoreau and that is a direct result of our staff, students and parents working together to create this remarkable environment.
3 - I encourage our parents/guardians to please come meet our wonderful teachers and staff at Back-to-School Night on Wednesday, Sept. 5 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. I am looking forward to our supportive parents meeting our dedicated teachers.
Ron James, Principal, Kilmer Middle School
1 - We are integrating more intentional technology use into our everyday activities. For example, teachers are using Flipgrid to introduce a little about themselves to their students.
We have an added focus on student recognition and reinforcement of positive behavior. As a school we are taking a proactive approach to reach students to help them become successful here at school through our P2 program.
We are growing our teams and community by adding in more team based activities.
2 - The development of an additional outdoor learning space to maximize learning while meeting the needs of all students
3 - Kilmer Middle School is pleased to announce its sixth Annual Kilmer Community Night to be held on Monday, Sept. 17, from 4-6 p.m. This exciting event is open to KMS students and their families. The Kilmer After School Program is hosting an activities open house with learning opportunities for both students and parents. Information booths and presentations are hosted by Fairfax County Neighborhood & Community Services as well as local program vendors. The goal is to develop relationships and foster connections through engagement by sharing a number of resources and activities available not only at Kilmer Middle but within the community. This event is a part of the Afterschool Alliance’s Lights on Afterschool initiative to shine light on the importance and impact of purposeful, targeted and engaging after school programming. During the 2017-18 school year an estimated 1,130 students stayed after school at least once at Kilmer alone. Aligned with FCPS’ Portrait of a Graduate, KMS activities also seek to address needs identified in the Fairfax County Youth Survey.
John Carmichael. Principal, Vienna Elementary:
1 - We are looking forward to implementing classroom yoga and mindfulness into each day to help relieve stress and anxiety.
2 - Encourage the students to be curious, love learning, and display kindness everyday.
3 - Back to School Night is on Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m.