Forestdale Elementary School Activities

School Activities

SCA:

The purpose of the Student Council Association (SCA) is to teach leadership skills, human relation skills, encouraging pride and fostering respect. The SCA maintains an outlook on our community by assisting agencies such as Echo and Koinonia. With the support of administration and faculty the SCA is truly a successful orginization.

Safety Patrols:

School Safety Patrol membership is an honored position. Millions of boys and girls have served since the program was started in the 1920's. Today, more than 500,000 members are on duty each day of the school year, helping classmates in hallways and at hazardous crossings near schools. Some of our 5th and 6th graders serve as our Patrols. They work to keep the school a safe place. From Patrol Handbook

Erika Jann and David Welch manage the Patrol Program at Forestdale. Feel free to email or call them at 703-313-4300 if you have questions.

Just Say No:

The club members, fifth and sixth graders, participate in interesting activities that promote and reinforce the concept of "Just Say No" to drugs, tobacco and alcohol. These activities support the members in their commitment to lead drug-free lives.

Strings:

Ths strings program at Forestdale Elementary School consists of 60--4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. Each year, students have the opportunity to study the violin, viola, cello, or string bass. Strings lessons are offered during the school day, once a week, in a class setting, for 45 minutes. Strings studies begin at Forestdale in the 4th grade. However, students may begin studies in the 5th and 6th grades as well. First year strings students are currently learning how to hold their instruments properly, developing both left and right hand skills, while learning to read music. Intermediate/Advanced strings students are learning more advanced music while refining skills for ensemble performance. In addition to regular studies, each Spring, all Intermediate/Advanced level strings students are offered the opportunity to participate in Solo/Ensemble Festival. For this event, students perform a solo with piano accompaniment for a judge, and earn a rating and medal based on his/her individual performance. Each school year, Forestdale celebrates our music department by presenting an annual Spring music concert for friends and family.

Chorus:

The Forestdale Elementary School Chorus is made up of 90-100 fifth and sixth grade students. The Chorus rehearses each Monday morning and is an important part of the music program at Forestdale. Under the direction of Mr. Stansbery, Forestdale's General Music teacher, the Chorus is featured at the school-wide Winter Program in December and at the Band, Strings & Chorus Program in June. The Chorus also participates in a choral event for the Lee High School Pyramid, usually held in February. Each spring, eight chorus members are selected by audition to participate in the F.C.P.S. Sixth Grade Choral Festival. Through the performance of musical selections from a variety of historical periods, styles, and cultures, chorus members develop beginning choral-singing techniques, including age-appropriate vocal production and the ability to read a vocal score.

Girl Power:

Girl Power is a national public education campaign sponsered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to encourage 9 to 14 year-old girls to make the most of their lives. It is designed for girls that are in 5th and 6th grade.

Challenge 24:

Students in grades 5 and 6 participate in class, grade level and county competition playing Challenge 24, which reinforces computation skills and critical thinking.

Doubletree/Fairfax County Partnership:

A community program between the Doubletree hotel and 3rd graders. The purpose is to honor caring people in the community. Doubletree visits and conducts a lesson on what Caring means with the 3rd grade students. The students select who they think should receive 2003 cookies. The hotel, students, and honored guests are invited tot he presentation of the 2003 cookies.

School-wide Reading Incentive:

Students are encourages to read at home each night. Students whp meet their goal for a month are recognized at the grade level meetings, have their name published in the newsletter and their reading counts towards the class percentage for the month. The grade level that has 100% of their students reading for a month is recognized for "Getting on Track for Reading". The grade levles who do this particiapte in watching the reading teacher and others run a mile in their honor. Students who read all year are recognized with an end of year party.

Reading Is Fundamental:

The RIF program at Foerstdale is a locally funded program that is supported by the PTA. the Administration and the Cluster V office. Three book distibutions are held throughout the year with a motivational activity to encourage reading.

Grade Level Meetings:

Through our monthly grade level meetings, counselor lessons and discipline plan, students are encouraged and rewarded for displaying the characteristics set forth by the Community of Caring. Each month a new character trait is highlighted and students are recognized for demonstrating the trait during the month.