2006-2007 School Year

Division 178 Champions 2007! Congratulations ladies!

Queen of Apostles Choir Wins Superior Rating At the
Kings Dominion 2007 Choral Festival

Spring 2007

As this school year finishes, I feel it is important to review this year’s Points of Pride and to take a peek at some plans for next year. What a year it has been! We have been very blessed and have lots for which to be thankful.

We started the 2006-2007 school year welcoming our new Pastor, Father Vander Woude, who immediately became a welcome visitor to the school – teaching, hearing confession, and even coaching. What are some of the highlights of this year? Thanks to our wonderful Miss Peiffer, we opened our new learning center providing special individualized and differentiated instruction. Use of the Kurzweil computer program in this center provides a multisensory approach which can aid comprehension and facilitate testing. I love the sign displayed in this room: Each new day is a miracle in progress. Another special, happy place is our Title I space where Mrs. Littlefield provides targeted remedial instruction and support to parents so that they are better equipped to help their students at home. Mrs. Dowden fondly remembers a “sweet” moment during the annual Dr. Seuss Day – she took the Kinders outside to read their chosen books and shortly the fifth grade also came out to enjoy the beautiful weather. (.Many of the fifth graders have given up recess time as part of our Student Volunteer Corps to read to the kinders.) Upon seeing the older students, the Kinders proudly showed them their books and thanked them for “teaching us to read.” Mr. Doxzen tells about talking to the first grade about the computer term byte and then having a student afraid to touch the keyboard because she did not know when it would bite her. Miss Killion shares how delighted she was with the 5th grade’s creativity on two special projects – the edible cell models and musical instrument projects. She loves this age’s mix of childhood and teen mentality. Miss Hohmen brags about the leadership shown by Student Council Officers in promoting their outreach projects, presenting learning activities such as Metric Week, and leading tours during Catholic Schools Week. And who can forget our first Grandparents Day when the eighth grade helped facilitate many of the day’s activities! We also remember the enthusiasm and fun of Spirit Day and Field Day. Miss Newman consistently remarks on the cooperation of the parents and leadership of the junior high students at our school. Our choir again received the highest rating in a Virginia choir festival and was invited to participate in world televised children’s holy hour at the National Shrine. Academic highlights included the exciting new reading series in third and fourth grades, wonderful new math textbooks in fourth through eighth grade to align with this year’s new diocesan math curriculum guidelines, one of our fifth grade students winning a national handwriting contest, and several of our graduates being honored by Bishop Ireton High School for academic excellence to name a few. We also can brag about the new interactive whiteboards that were funded by our PTO in many of the classrooms.

As we plan for next year, to what can we look forward? The 2007 – 2008 school year will be a busy year as it is our year to undertake a self-study under the diocesan school certification process. Our last self-study took place in 2002. This is an exciting process which includes much work but is extremely valuable – you will be hearing much about it in the future. We will also be reconfiguring our kindergarten and first grades by having one class of each with the addition of a second full time teacher’s aide and a wonderful new hands-on learning center. (Mrs. Dowden and Mrs. Adams are already thinking about new learning experiences for our students.) We will also be adding a Spanish language resource room.

As we excitingly plan there is always at the end of each year, a little sadness as we say a farewell to beloved people. Miss Lang will be leaving to go to graduate school; Miss Six will be moving to North Carolina; and Ms. Cochran will be relocating to Richmond. We wish them much success and owe each much gratitude.

Additional plans for next year include new Social Studies books in sixth grade, a new junior high science series to align with new diocesan science curriculum guidelines, and the new reading series added in second and fifth grades. Our seventh graders have already “stepped up to the plate” by ushering at our last school Mass and are planning for the traditional trip to Hemlock Overlook. Our eager fifth grade are excited about entering junior high and beginning a new aspect of their education. Our team of returning teachers are excited about the new technology additions and are planning new ways to make use of them in the fall. Many have summer course work planned and are eager to share newly acquired information when they return in August. We pray each day to find new ways to implement our motto of Faith, Excellence and Joy.

I wish each of you a wonderful and restful summer. As always, please feel free to contact me with any ideas or concerns. The school office will be open each day from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thank you. God bless.

Sincerely,

 

Mary L. West
Principal

Interactive White Boards for Five Classrooms Installed in Spring of 2007

Visit PrometheanPlanet.Com
for more information about this teaching tool

Computer Classroom Rejuvenation Project (2007)

Every three years the computer lab's computers must be retired from Lab-use, afterwhich they are moved to the classrooms until the next cycle three years later. In this way, no computer in the school will ever be older than six years thus affording the opportunity to use the most current programs available. This is the year so, thirty one new computers have been acquired and will be installed in the computer classroom over the summer. Thank you for your continued support of the Queen of Apostles Information Technology Program!

Our Fortieth Anniversary Year 2005-2006

A Year in Review

As this anniversary year draws to a close, it is worthwhile to look back and review our celebration of excellence – excellence in community, students, faculty, and faith.

Excellence in community : The events of this year truly celebrate the greatness of our Queen of Apostles community. Parishioners, alumni, PTO, school Development Committee (which includes the diocesan Assistant Superintendent of Schools), Technology Advisory Committee, faculty, students, Student Council Association, and parish priests worked together to celebrate and define the importance of our school. The year long celebration began with a student designed tee-shirt which highlighted both faith and pride in our school – a beautiful picture of our Blessed Lady and a soaring, torch-bearing eagle. Plans immerged with excitement from our Development Committee which includes Q of A alumni, parishioners, faculty, and members of our parent community. Our school year began with a beautiful opening high Mass. We celebrated our history and unity with the diocese when a member of Q of A's first kindergarten class presented a special NCEA recognition to the Superintendent of Schools and inducted him as an honorary alumnus of Q of A.

Throughout the year, former students and parishioners collected old photos and memorabilia to be used by the students for a 40 year retrospective presentation. Our Development Committee wanted to look to the future and, consequently, we are happy to announce the beginning of an endowment fund (On Eagle's Wings ) for the school. This fund already has $1,000.00 in donations and the PTO voted to donate $2,500.00 at its last Board meeting. This is accompanied by the birth of a new alumni newsletter which will build community and provide a supportive base. The culmination was a wonderful celebration where parishioners, alumni, former Q of A priests, faculty and two former principals gathered for Mass and a reception and our Student Council presented their outstanding retrospective to invited guests. In the afternoon, our students gathered for a celebration with the opening of a time capsule buried in 1987 and the presentation of new items to be added to the time capsule including a contribution from each student. The Student Council again presented their retrospective for the student body and faculty. Throughout the year our festivities were covered by the Arlington Catholic Herald three times.

This year our PTO held an incredibly successful auction which funded improvements in technology, totally renovated our Science Lab, began an innovative three day hot lunch program, and supported our award winning cultural arts assemblies. All this is in addition to traditional fund raising and the countless hours of volunteerism by our parents.

Excellence in Students: This year, as each year, we are so proud of our students, especially our graduating class. Achievements included:

•  one of our fifth grade students distinguishing herself in a diocesan-wide art contest;

•  our Student Council responding to the devastation of Katrina by sponsoring a cake raffle to fund raise for victims and presenting an assembly on hurricanes to the student body;

•  three of our 8 th graders winning three of the ten Bishop Ireton scholarships;

•  the two students out of our nineteen who took the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology entrance eligibility exam making the qualifying grade;

•  the many trophies garnered by our sports teams including both eighth grade boys and girls winning divisional trophies;

•  our eighth grade scoring eight to eleven points above diocesan average on the HSPT (the high school entrance exam for Catholic schools);

•  one of our students taking first place in the diocesan spelling bee and three of our students winning in the diocesan science fair;

•  our Children's Choir receiving the highest Superior rating in the Kings Dominion Choir Festival and being invited to sing for the televised Mass for shut-ins at the National Shrine in Washington, D.C.;

•  our band also receiving the highest Superior rating in the Diocesan Band Festival;

•  one of our students receiving third place in a diocesan-wide essay contest sponsored by the Catholic Daughters;

Excellence in Faculty: The excellence of our students mirrors the excellence of our faculty. Two of our teachers (one from the primary level and one Junior High) were distinguished by our local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for projects that promoted democracy, and our Junior High teacher was also honored at the regional level. Additionally, we are proud of all or our teachers as they continue to seek innovation and challenge in the classroom, and especially of the four who are working towards their advanced degrees. This year our Principal was also honored to be nominated to, and accepted into, the Heritage Registry of Who's Who which lists leaders in industry, business, philanthropy and education.

Excellence in Faith:

Lastly, we are proud of our excellence in Faith – the reason for our very existence. Our school is blessed with the weekly presence of our priests in the classroom teaching the faith. One has only to read the personal mission statements posted the lockers of our 8 th grade Confirmati to know that receiving the sacrament of Confirmation was a grace filled, life changing event. We see our students lined up in the hall during recess to receive the sacrament of Penance. How excellent that our students are moved to respond to the needs of others – supporting our troops, collecting food for the poor and toys for the needy, as well as a special appeal to support hurricane victims! Each Friday morning we bear witness as we celebrate the Lord in community at our all school high Mass with the beautiful music of our choir, the solemnity of our altar servers, and the leadership of our student ushers. We are proud also of the excellence of our student knowledge of their faith as evidenced in our school's report from the National Catholic Education Association's ACRE testing results. Finally, as we look back on the year we remember the Eighth grade's moving performance of the Living Stations with their own beautiful meditations; the serious, proud, angelic faces of our First Communicants; the inspiring saint presentations of our second graders on All Saints Day; and the joyful May crowning in which our entire student body and faculty participated. No wonder our Bishop chose to write his first pastoral letter on the subject of Catholic education! Our children are the church of tomorrow and we are proud to partner with our parents in this most wonderful evangelistic endeavor.

 

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Fall of 2005

Our students at Queen of Apostles Catholic School are privileged to have a well rounded education. The teaching and learning that goes on at 4409 Sano Street is something of which every parent and student is proud. Yet so much of their education happens beyond the walls of the classrooms, at extra- curricular activities, at sports events, at church functions, and particularly on field trips. We are proud of our educators here at Queen of Apostles who research and organize such challenging excursions for our children. We thought you might enjoy this itinerary of our traveling students...

Kindergartners, First and Second graders journeyed to Cox Farms in the fall, exploring pumpkin patches and partaking in Fall Festivities. Second graders are now preparing a trip to The Skating Rink and look forward to exploring the wildlife at our National Zoo with their 8th grade partners this spring.

Having acquired some travel savvy, Third Graders are ready to explore Virginia's rich history. Mrs. Tracy begins her year with a trip to Gunston Hall, the plantation home of George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. This field trip allows students to participate in the living history of early colonial America and gets them thinking about the Famous Person they will portray at their Tea Party in the spring. Recently, they went to the theatre and saw "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", produced by Theatreworks, USA. Students read the book in class and enjoyed the interpretation onstage.

Fourth grade curriculum includes an in-depth study of Virginia history. The study culminates with anall day journey to Jamestown. Students participate in the dynamic living history of all that occurred along the James River!! Recently, Mrs. Ault and her fourth graders spent the day at the Claude Moore Colonial Farm in McLean, engaged in such activities as sheep shearing, candle making, weaving, and playing colonial games.

Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth graders participated in the highly acclaimed NASA Simulated Mission Programs located in Alexandria, Virginia. The programs "Rendezvous with a Comet," (5), "Mission to Mars," (6,8), and "Return to the Moon," (7) challenged students to become actual scientists and astronauts. Mrs. Woods, Ms. Holman and Ms. Morin spent many hours in math and science class preparing their students for these challenging missions.

In junior high, sixth graders recently spent an entire day last week at the Smithsonian's NaturalistCenter, located in Leesburg. Guided by scientists from the museum of Natural History, Ms. Moran and her students studied rocks and minerals as well as specimens from the Life Science collection. Imagine being in a room with over 30,000 objects from the Smithsonian Institutions Natural History collection, having microscopes and tools to properly identify the specimens, and ultimately solving real life science mysteries!!! Sixth graders received an excellent preparation for their upcoming Science Fair! This spring, sixth graders will visit the Basilica and National Shrine in D.C. with their Religion and Social Studies teacher, a trip that will complement their studies of Greco-roman

architecture as well as Church history.

Seventh graders will visit the Walter Reed Museum of Health and Medicine and receive in depth instruction on the Human Body and Forensic medicine. As part of their American studies coursework,they will also visit the Civil War battle site in Manassas this spring.

Our Graduating Class began the school year with the traditional field trip to Hemlock Overlook Park, for a day of team building, bonding, and personal challenge on the obstacle courses! They have just returned from the Folger Theater's production of Measure for Measure. Mrs. Kharrazian and her 8th graders are beginning their intensive study of Shakespeare's King Lear . These students will then produce and perform King Lear for Queen of Apostles School and the Arlington Diocesan Shakespeare Festival!! Eighth graders recently participated in the inspiring Youth Mass at the MCI Center and the Right to Life March this past week. They were honored to be among 20,000 young Catholic School Students in attendance and we are so proud of them!

This overview is but a sampling of the learning beyond our classroom walls. Our Choir and Band havetraveled as well, representing our school at the Basilica, Diocesan Institutes and Festivals. Our Sports teams and Spirit Squad competed within Fairfax County, representing our school in Divisional competitions. We are so grateful to our teachers, coaches, and our chaperoning parents for their continued dedication to our children's ongoing education.

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Spring of 2005

Continuing this year's PTO focus on communicating how our school lives out its motto of Faith, Excellence and Joy, I have been asked to write the Principal's Points of Pride. In this season of Lent when we look at who we are and how we can better serve our Lord, it is a joy to respond to this request. To do this, I will take a virtual walk down the hall and visit each grade.

•  In Kindergarten, I see happy faces and busy hands as students excitedly prepare for the annual Kindergarten Post Office. On the walls outside their doors are displayed the family project of “Cradle to Kinder.” Many posters have pictures of Baptism and I think of Jesus welcoming the children and think how our teachers try so hard to nurture each child and make each understand how God loves each one specially.

•  I also see the 5 th grade members of our Student Volunteer Corps giving up their recess time to read to and give example to our Kinders. Other student volunteers are helping in classrooms - gaining leadership experience while giving of themselves.

•  First Graders are working hard and beginning to enjoy the satisfaction of reading on their own and writing their own stories. They are taking pride in their accomplishments and learning to practice their faith by being aware of “What Jesus Would Do.”

•  Second grade is so special as these little ones are being drawn closer to God through their first opportunity to receive the Sacraments of Penance and First Eucharist. They fondly remember their special saint chosen for their All Saints Day celebration and eagerly show me their beginning cursive..

•  Third Graders work diligently as they prepare for their Parade of States and Famous Persons Tea Party - not even realizing that these special events are teaching them the reading and writing skills of picking out important ideas and paraphrasing.

•  Fourth grade is a challenge as students are reading to learn more than learning to read and tackle new concepts in math. They look forward all year to their field trip to Jamestown and fourth grade play. What is especially moving is to hear them reciting the beautiful Angelus at noon and observing the Hour of Mercy at three o'clock before they leave school. This is also the year when students begin to have the responsibility of preparing Friday school Masses. I see these students out of the Primary and join band, choir and become Altar Servers.

•  Our Fifth Graders are in their “bridge year.”' They change uniforms, get lockers and change rooms for one class. This is the year when they take on school leadership by planning and presenting the school's annual Veterans' Day Assembly and leading the Lenten Stations of the Cross for the younger students. They are also able to join the Student Volunteer Corps and happily give up recess to read to the Kinders. They just effuse enthusiasm!

•  Sixth grade is a time of change. Students bring all their 5 th grade enthusiasm with them and perceive themselves as no longer children, but they still need guidance and help with organization, handling the new routine, and four different teachers' expectations. We see them develop and mature. The most beautiful sight, though, is each Friday Mass when they take on the responsibility of being Prayer Partners with the Kinders - gently leading them through genuflecting, standing, sitting and kneeling at Mass.

•  Our seventh graders are maturing and we see their social consciousness being awakened in literature, social studies and religion. They, too, show kindness and leadership as Prayer Partners and members of the Student Volunteer Corps.

•  Then, there is the Eighth Grade, whom I have the honor with Fr. Mode to prepare for Confirmation. In class I see wonderful young men and women developing with conviction and dedication. They worry about testing and high school acceptances while getting ready to say good-bye to friends and the security of familiar routines. I'm proud, too, of their academic performance and the two students who made the cut for Thomas Jefferson Magnet School , and our student ushers.

•  I remember with pride the wonderful Student Council tsunami relief project, student presented tsunami school assembly and the annual Whiz Kids Quiz - these give evidence of leadership and willingness to assume responsibility.

•  I visit the Faculty Lounge and hear the teachers discussing faith matters or problem solving about how to help individual students - these wonderful people truly have both a profession and a ministry and enthusiastically embrace both.

•  Lastly, as I enjoy the wonderful support of the priests for the school, talk with parents, meet with special groups like the PTO Board and the TAC Committee, and hear the choir sing at Mass, I realize how blessed we are - I am so proud to be part of this community.

 

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Queen of Apostles Catholic School Parent Teacher Association

April 8, 2005

On March 29th, I had the pleasure and honor of representing our school at the National Catholic Educational Association 23rd Annual Awards Ceremony and Banquet.

The Queen of Apostles PTO was awarded the 2005 Distinguished Home and School Association Award. The award is named in memory of Maxine Blader Donohue, the former Executive Director of the National Catholic School Parents Federation.

Our winning project, "Celebrating Heritage," highlights the annual International Festival, the dynamic Cultural Arts Program, our first ever Ethiopian festival and the upcoming Philippine Cultural night. To quote Mrs. West, " What a beautiful way to experience the catholicity of our church and give witness to the words of our Holy Father in his New Year's Day 2000 address '(Christ's) love is the foundation of universal peace…and stirs that desire for brotherhood.'" Ms. Elfenish Woldemariam, coordinator of our Ethiopian Festival, points out that through events like these children will learn to value and celebrate their own individuality and the uniqueness and talents of their friends.

Only eight schools from across America were selected. We were among the Dioceses of Raleigh, Philadelphia, Cincinnati , Los Angeles , Miami , Orlando and Grand Rapids . As I went up to receive the award, a photo of our students at the Ethiopian Festival flashed on the screen while Sister Joseph Spring, President of the Department of Elementary Schools, read a beautiful testimony to our PTO to an audience of 300 principals, teachers, PTO presidents and Bishops. What a proud moment for all of us!!!

On behalf of the Board, I want to thank all of you for your enthusiasm and dedication to our school. You make it all happen. You are the award!!!

I have enjoyed two very rewarding years as your PTO President and I am excited about our future. Continued success and fulfillment!

Respectfully,

Daniela Shumate
PTO President

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Fall of 2004

We are proud of the excellent tutelage each child receives here at Queen of Apostles School. Education of the whole child is each teacher's goal and indeed, no child is left behind…Please read on about the new and returning dynamic programs here at Q of A…

ACADEMIC
Newly renovated and refurbished Junior High Science Lab •  Updated student microscopes, stereoscope with computer programs and science tables	Johns Hopkins Talented and Gifted program •  Several junior high students qualified in 2003-2004 academic year for enrichment coursework
Full time Spanish language program, 1st-8th grades	9th grade algebra instruction for qualifying 8th graders
Implementation of the Kurzweil tutorial computer program •  Software is available for every grade level to facilitate classroom instruction, particularly addressing differing learning styles	Active participant in annual Diocesan events and inter-parish academic competitions •  Shakespeare Festival, Science Fair, Spelling Bee, Geography Bee, It's Academic and Quizbowl
Recipient of 2004-2005 Federal grant to launch a Parent Library	Continual enhancement of Art, Music and Physical education and computer programs
Title One Federal program for remedial instruction	Unique enrichment programs on each grade level : •  Kindergarten Post Office, Kindergarten Graduation, Saint's Day, Parade of States, Famous Person's Tea Party, Jamestown Field Trip… (more programs and highlights forthcoming)

EXTRA CURRICULAR
Award winning Choir: •  Participants at local competitions, past performances at the White House and Kennedy Center	Active Student Volunteer Corps •  Initiate both school and parish services, "Hat-mitten Drive," "Read to Kinder" program
Award winning school Band: •  Participant at Annual Diocesan Festival	Extensive sports program- K-8 •  Intramural Soccer, tennis, basketball, track, volleyball, baseball
Spirit Squad: •  Achieved state level recognition, Summer 2004	Student sponsored Yearbook “The Talon”
Annual publication of "The Quill," featuring student literary and art work	Student Council
Outreach programs in the metro area: •  Pennies for Patients, local charities, ETWN •  Received local recognition for high level of participation	Dynamic Multi-Cultural Arts Program: •  Monthly assemblies featuring guest speaker, performers from Nat'l Geographic, Smithsonian and around the world •  Masai Dance Troupe to perform this year
Extended Day Services •  Study halls with tutoring available; extra-curricular chess tournaments	Weekly Friday Mass, involving the student community

Faith, Excellence, Joy

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