Specialists'
Corner
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Media
Center 
Welcome to the Orange Hunt Media Center. Our collection contains more than 30,000 books, both fiction and non-fiction, as well as magazines, books on tape and many computers. We also have a wonderful collection of German books. All students have a scheduled library time each week, and many teachers allow their students to come to the library with a buddy at other times during the week. Classes can be scheduled for additional time at the teachers’ request.
Our goal in the library is to have students become lifelong library users. We want them to enjoy coming to the library. We help them acquire the skills they need to locate materials they want on the library computer, and then find the books on the shelves. We will help them learn research skills, parts of a book, and copyright regulations.
We hope to inspire our students to love reading by exposing them to the best of children's literature. Some classes in Grades three through six have a "Library Passport" to encourage them to read a wide variety of genre. Sixth graders may choose to join the Newbery Club which meets one Tuesday morning a month before school.
Volunteers are a wonderful help during the school day. They check out and renew books for students. They check-in and shelve materials. They process new materials so students have access to them on a timely basis. Many of our volunteers have gone on to become library secretaries or enroll in library school. We could not run our library as efficiently without them. |
 Art
At Orange Hunt, art education is a core discipline, essential to the growth and development of the creative and expressive mind of all students. Through instruction in all four of the disciplines of artistic study: art production, art history, art criticism and aesthetics, students are provided with the opportunities to: recognize the role and importance of art and artists in society, culture and history; critically assess works of art from many aesthetic and cultural perspectives; express their own ideas and feelings; think visually and creatively; and enhance their self-image. It is assumed that each student has a natural creative ability that can be nurtured.
In the art program, we work within the broad conceptual framework of the Enduring Idea of “A Sense of Place”. The goal is to give insight and understanding to what it means to be human, to live alongside others, and to live in the natural world. The Enduring Idea is the lens through which each lesson is filtered. Each grade level has a big idea that spirals out from “Me” in kindergarten, “Family” in first grade, “Community” in second grade, “Culture” in third grade, “Time” in fourth grade, “Globalization” in fifth grade to “Identity” in sixth grade. These are aligned with the other curricular areas of study at each grade level. Through this approach, our hope is that our students will leave elementary school with more than a handful of art projects. The goal is to bring greater meaning to the students’ lives, giving them a greater understanding of themselves and their sense of place in the world.
Students will:
- learn about safety in the art room and how to use safe procedures when handling art materials and tools
- learn to use a variety of artists materials and tools
- learn to think creatively and critically when talking about art, looking at art and creating art
- see how art is integrated with other curricular areas of study
- have the opportunity to make connections among concepts, processes and content learned in art and other subject areas
- learn about the history of art including the cultural, social and historic context of art
- learn about and learn to recognize great works of art
- learn to create personally meaningful works of art
- learn to form and express opinions about their art and the art of others, using art vocabulary.
The curriculum content covered in the four disciplines of artistic study fall into the categories of drawing, painting, collage, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, fibers, and architecture. |
Music
Music at the elementary
level is part of the total educational experience of every
child. Children participate in singing, listening,
improvising, moving to music, reading music, and playing
instruments. The recorder is introduced at the third grade
level and incorporated throughout the entire elementary
music experience. Students in grades 1 - 6 receive music
instruction with the general music teacher. Students in
fifth and sixth grades also have the opportunity to
participate in chorus. The music teacher provides the core
of musical skills and concepts, and, when possible, assists
the classroom teachers to use music as an integrated
activity with other disciplines.
Instruction in band
and strings is
available to students in upper grades. These classes are
held during the school day. There are a limited number of
instruments for school use available for rent through the
Fine Arts Office. |
Counselors 
Orange Hunt has two
counselors who provide a multi-faceted program. They offer
guidance lessons, small group discussions, and individual
counseling to enable students to be in a state of readiness
to learn. In addition, our counselors frequently consult
with staff members on school-related concerns. Parenting
classes and conferences are offered to assist parents in
understanding the normal developmental issues children face.
Please direct questions or comments to Mrs. Julie Brannon
(Grades K, 1, 3, 4, and 6) at 703-913-6822 and Mrs.
Katrina MacWhorter (Grades K, 3, and 5) at
703-913-6819. |
 Reading and Writing
The language arts program in grades K-6 follows the FCPS Program of Studies for a Balanced Literacy Program. During reading workshops students receive direct instruction in reading skills and strategies, then have opportunities to apply those skills and strategies while reading a variety of texts through guided and independent practice. During writing workshop students learn mechanics and elements of writers’ craft through a circular process of planning, drafting, conferring, revising, editing, and publishing. Students receive direct instruction in writing skills and strategies, and have time to apply them to their own writing through guided and independent practice. Instruction in reading and writing occurs in large groups, small groups, and individually. The Orange Hunt Spelling Program teaches spelling by equally emphasizing word study, spelling strategies, and high-frequency words. Teachers use the FCPS approved spelling textbook to guide instructional planning for word study units at each grade level. Spelling is taught as a skill used for good writing and is often integrated into writing workshop. |
