Welcome to Cardinal Forest!

Karen Kenna, Principal & Lenata Scott, Assistant Principal

We welcome you to Cardinal Forest Elementary School home of the mighty Red Birds.  The parents, staff, and community work together to provide a positive, supportive, and caring atmosphere to assure that every child reaches their potential.  Students thrive in the culturally diverse population with general education, special education, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs.  Instruction is provided through a continuum of services integrated for the varying degrees of learning challenges and exceptionalities.  The strength of our academic program is coupled with the school-wide behavior initiative called Positive Outcomes Program (POP) that focuses on positive outcomes of student behavior. POP and the Olweus Bully Prevention Program provide a strong foundation for personal citizenship and expectations for developing social skills for a global community.

High academic expectations for student learning are rooted in solid instruction provided through teacher use of researched, best practices and strategies that support the individual needs of our students.  Ongoing student assessment and continuing staff development provide a winning combination that keeps student success at the forefront. In addition to classroom instruction, students welcome the opportunities to participate in activities such as band, strings, chorus, Patrols, SCA Spirit Days, Challenge 24, Scratch Programming, Strategies Lab and various after-school clubs.  Regular parent communication through conferences, newsletters, Keep in Touch and the FCPS 24-7 Blackboard site keep parents informed as partners in their child’s education.

Technological prowess is important for active citizenship in the twenty-first century.  Our state-of-the art computer lab is outfitted with high end computers with the most current applications to facilitate learning.  An upgraded infrastructure supports technology integration. Portable SMART Boards enhance teacher instruction and engage interactive student participation.  Mobile laptop computer labs supplement classroom computer stations which are used extensively for research, science labs and ESOL classrooms. Students K-6 have an opportunity to experience the fundamentals of computer programming through Scratch weekly enrichment sessions.  We have developed a partnership with Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology to assist with the development the Scratch program. Our library/media center is equipped with computer stations, a closed-circuit broadcasting studio, and computerized checkout.  Wireless access to the World Wide Web exists throughout the school building.

We encourage our parents and community to be involved in all our school programs.  Cardinal Forest is a great place to learn!