ACDS

Welcome to the Library!

Elizabeth Lockwood

Library Media Specialist, Service Learning Coordinator, Festival of Learning Coordinator

Staffed by a full-time librarian, the ACDS library is open at all times that school is in session. K-5 students visit the library once or twice per week to hear stories, pursue research, and develop information and media literacy skills.

Library

Tarek Hbeichi

B.A., George Mason University

M.Ed., American University

Katie Grasso

Bachelor of Psychology, Brooklyn College

M.Ed., James Madison University

Teaching and Learning Center

Teaching and Learning Center

Recognizing that children learn in many ways, progress at different rates, and sometimes need extra instruction, reinforcement, or enrichment, the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) staff work to ensure that students’ educational needs are met. TLC staff members collaborate with teachers to develop classroom strategies, provide small group or individual instruction, and differentiate learning as needed.

Physical Education

Physical Education: Our goal is to equip each student with the knowledge and skills needed to lead a physically active life.

• K-2nd Grade: Students learn locomotor, manipulative and non manipulative skills.
• 3-4th Grade: Games to develop teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship.
• 5-8th Grade: Skills based curriculum. Middle School students learn not only the rules of the games, but the strategic concepts to become successful.

Ty Hart

Athletic Director

B.A., Shepherd College

Evan Jackson

Associate Athletic Director, PE Teacher

B.A., Washington University in St. Louis

M.Ed., University of Georgia

Physical Education and Athletics

Valerie Issembert

Drama (K-8)

Director of Theatre Arts

B.S., Skidmore College

M.A., New York University

Performing Arts Center

Performing Arts Center

The Drama program has a process-focused curriculum designed to encourage students to step outside their comfort zones, build confidence, and learn about the art of theatre. Skills learned in drama class can assist students not just in future theatrical endeavors, but also in public speaking, interpersonal communication, creative project work, and self-confidence. Drama classes begin in kindergarten. Beginning in third grade, students have the opportunity to perform in one or more of our five annual theatrical productions.

3rd Grade Highlights

• Math: Math in Focus
• Science: Units of study include earth systems, coding, simple mechanics, body systems, light and sound waves, and more.
• Language Arts: Reader's and Writer's Workshop
• Poetry reading at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub
• Social Studies: Students use the Social Studies Alive! Regions of our Country curriculum to explore the five regions of the United States through the lens of four social sciences–economics, geography, political science, and history.
• Half lockers

Learn more: https://acdsnet.org/our-program/lower-school/

Elizabeth Holland

B.A., Gettysburg College

M.A., Manhattanville College

3rd Grade

Brian Stockless

B.S., Lesley University

M.Ed., Cambridge College

4th Grade Highlights

• Math: Math in Focus
• Science: Units of study include density, electricity and magnetism, and flight
• Language Arts: Reader's and Writer's Workshop
• Social Studies: Students study early American history using Social Studies Alive! America's Past.

Learn more: https://acdsnet.org/our-program/lower-school/

Gretchen Komnik

B.A., Franklin and Marshall College

4th Grade

Photo coming soon

Molly Gartland

B.A., University of San Diego

K-5 Spanish

Students are introduced to Spanish language and culture in Kindergarten in order to make use of the maximum potential that young children have for learning a foreign language. Each year students strengthen and broaden their comprehension and expression skills, as well as their knowledge and appreciation of the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.

• K-4th Grade: Spanish 2x per week
• 5th Grade: 2x per week, longer class time

Ada Vargas

Spanish K-5

B.A., Seaton Hall University

Lower School Spanish

5th Grade Highlights

Math & Science Classroom

Fifth grade marks the beginning of Middle School. Fifth grade students transition classes between two teachers and three advisories.

• Standing desks
• Full size lockers
• Language Arts: Reader's and Writer's Workshop
• Speeches and Sweets- Personal narrative
• Social Studies: Focus on ancient civilizations
• Science: Units of study include study of matter, simple mechanics, climate and more.

Learn more: https://acdsnet.org/our-program/middle-school/

5th Grade

Language Arts & Social Studies Classroom

Jennifer Street, Head of Lower School

B.S., James Madison University

M.Ed., University of Virginia

Head of Lower School

Head of Lower School, Jennifer Street, is an Alexandria native who previously served as the Talented and Gifted Specialist for MacArthur Elementary School.She oversaw the TAG placement, advocates for the program within the city, serves on school district committees, and lead professional development efforts, while teaching 75 fourth and fifth grade talented and gifted students in language arts and math. Jennifer has also been a 3rd grade teacher, working with students at a wide range of levels. She earned her B.A. from James Madison University, and her M.A. at the Curry School of Education at UVA. She was named 2016 Teacher of the Year at MacArthur and the 2016 Talented and Gifted Teacher of the Year for ACPS. In 2019, she was selected by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce as one of their 40 under 40 honorees.

Kindergarten at ACDS

Kindergarten

Ellie Hall

Kindergarten Teacher

B.A., The College of William & Mary

At ACDS, kindergarten is a place for joyful learning where academics and play are blended seamlessly. Too often, kindergarten programs will talk about balancing play and academics—categorizing them as disparate ideas. We see play as essential to the learning process, not only socially, but academically as well. Our challenging curriculum allows our students to engage in playful inquiry, where they have opportunities to be curious, take risks, and discover and take pleasure in surprises.

Learn more: https://acdsnet.org/our-program/lower-school/

Lynne Godek

Kindergarten Instructional Assistant

B.A., University of Michigan

M.A., University of Chicago

First Grade Highlights

• Math: Math in Focus
• Science: Units of study include sound waves, patterns and cycles with butterflies, Earth and its place in the universe.
• Language Arts: Reader's and Writer's Workshop
• Authors Tea
• Social Studies: Thematic units include developing good citizenship, building community, biographies of famous people, world communities, and more.

Learn more: https://acdsnet.org/our-program/lower-school/

Ashton Hellmuth

B.A., University of Mississippi

M.Ed., University of Virginia

First

Grade

Christine Opperman

B.A., Cornell University

Second Grade Highlights

Second

Grade

Sarah Lapointe

B.A., Lynchburg College

• Math: Math in Focus
• Science: Units of study include matter, force and motion, health: germs and nutrition, ecosystems and Earth systems.
• Language Arts: Reader's and Writer's Workshop, with an emphasis on phonics, vocabulary and parts of speech.
• Social Studies: History, geography, map skills, economics and civic themes including communities and heroes.
• This year, our 2nd Graders became published authors and illustrators! Their book, A Bird Walk in Monticello Park, is available on Amazon.Photographs in the book were taken by ACDS alumni parent, Michael Pollack.

Learn more: https://acdsnet.org/our-program/lower-school/

Innovation Lab

Scott Lieberman

Director of Technology

B.S., Pennsylvania State University

Evelyn Chaleki

LS Technology Integration & Support

B.A., Columbia University

Innovation Lab

Cafeteria

For students who wish to participate in the lunch program there are three plans available:

• Daily Hot Lunch
• Pizza Friday Only
• Milk Only

Cafeteria

Music

The Music program is based on three pillars: Creation, Rehearsal, and Performance. These contexts are the basis for learning as many musical styles and genres as possible in the early childhood program, while the later elementary years use a gradual refining of each student’s style through the music-theory concepts of rhythm, harmony, and melody.

• K-3rd Grade: Students enjoy a combined music and drama class. Students are introduced to voice and instrumental music, and explore how they tell stories with their voices, bodies, and instruments.
• 4th Grade: Students begin to study music and drama separately. They begin to play orchestral instruments in music class, and learn pieces they perform.
• Middle School students are trained in the use of musical instruments and play as a band.

Sarah Boyce

K-8 Music

B.M., James Madison University

Music

Art

The Art program at ACDS prepares students to become competent and confident visual thinkers. The scope of the program includes art criticism, aesthetics, art history, and art production. At each consecutive grade level, student artists are challenged to add another level of mastery of materials and intuitive sophistication to their work.

• K-4th: 2x per week
• 5-6th: 4x per week for one trimester
• 7-8th: 4x per week per trimester if selected as Arts course.

Art

Rachel Samuels

K-8 Art

B.F.A, Corcoran College of Art and Design

M.A.T., Corcoran College of Art and Design

BJ Ketchem, Head of Middle School

B.S., Slippery Rock University

M.Ed., George Mason University

Head of Middle School

Prior to ACDS, BJ Ketchem served as the Assistant Principal at Ferdinand T. Day School in Alexandria, where he was recruited to help launch that new STEM-based school. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Principal at Patrick Henry School, where he helped lay the foundation for that school's expansion from a K-5 to K-8 structure. He also served as Assistant Principal at Hyde-Addison Elementary and taught at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School for many years where he worked with Jenn Street.

Before working in schools BJ served as a counselor for middle and high school aged children. His academic specialty is math, including training in Singapore Math, and he has served as a math coach, where he has gained extensive experience training and supporting teachers in math instruction. As an Assistant Principal, he has also supported curriculum development in multiple subjects and been responsible for supporting faculty growth across disciplines.

ACDS has a licensed counselor on staff four days a week to support students individually or in small groups, offer consultation to teachers, and provide guidance for parents as needed.

Amy Lehman

Counselor

B.A., Eastern Mennonite University

M.A., George Washington University

School Counselor

Social Emotional Learning

We believe that the social and emotional well-being of all our students is a prerequisite of effective learning. The values of integrity, kindness, respect, civility, and caring for others infuse daily life at ACDS and form the foundation for our work together as a community.

Learn more: https://acdsnet.org/our-program/social-emotional/

6th- 8th Grade Spanish

• 6th & 7th Grade: Spanish 3x a week
• 8th Grade: Spanish 4x a week. By eighth grade, students complete the equivalent of high school Spanish 1.
• Capstone experience in Puerto Rico or Costa Rica

Learn more: https://acdsnet.org/our-program/middle-school/

Middle School Spanish

Tammy Gomez

Spanish 6-8

B.A., University of South Florida

Chris DiPiazza

7&8 Science

B.S., Rutgers University

Alison McDonald

6 Science

B.S., Lafayette College

M.S., University of Delaware

Science Lab

Middle School Science

The science program at ACDS incorporates studies of earth, physical and life sciences as well as health, biology and beginning chemistry. STEM concepts are incorporated at each grade level.

• 6th grade: Focused entirely on STEM integration and design
• 7th grade: Units of study include atomic structure, populations and ecosystems
• 8th grade: Focus on body system (skeletal, muscular, circulatory, etc.), chemical reactions to nuclear energy, weather and more.

Learn more: https://acdsnet.org/our-program/middle-school/

Chip West

6 & 7 Math

B.A., Tufts University

M.A., Tufts University

M.A., George Washington University

Cahlan Mazur

7 & 8 Math

B.A., University of Virginia

Math

Middle School Math

Students in fifth through seventh grade continue to learn through the Math in Focus program

• 6th grade: Core concepts that strengthen number sense, number theory and problem solving skills.
• 7th grade: Students progress to pre-Algebra
• 8th grade: All eighth graders take Algebra 1
• For Middle School students with exceptional mathematical abilities, there is also an opportunity to receive additional challenge through one of several online math programs.

Learn more: https://acdsnet.org/our-program/middle-school/

Becca Kohlhagen

6 & 7 Language Arts

B.A., University of Colorado at Boulder

M.Ed., University of Colorado at Boulder

Language Arts

Middle School Language Arts

The Middle School Language Arts curriculum is anchored in developing the thinking & communication skills that students will need in order to tackle any text or genre they encounter as they move forward into high school.

• Reader's Workshop
• Writer's Workshop
• Speeches & Sweets

Learn more: https://acdsnet.org/our-program/middle-school/

Monica Escobar

7 & 8 Language Arts

B.A., Georgetown University,

M.A.T., American University

Sophie Johnson

5 & 6 Social Studies

B.A., Davidson College

M.Ed., Lesley University

Jim Girard

Director of High School Placement, Director of Alumni Relations,

7 & 8 History

B.A., Dickinson College

M.A., George Mason University

History

Middle School History

6th Grade: Students focus on world religions & cultures

7th Grade: Students study world history

8th Grade: Students focus on American history from the Constitution to modern America.

Learn more: https://acdsnet.org/our-program/middle-school/

Front Lawn

Front Lawn

Sport Court

Sport Court

Athletic Field

Athletic

Field

Back Playground

Back

Playground

Building Skills for Civil Discourse

Communication skills are also taught through our social-emotional curriculum, where engaging in respectful discourse and expressing your feelings and opinions thoughtfully and sensitively are frequent topics of conversation during morning meeting (lower school) and advisory (middle school). While doing project work in teams, students learn to negotiate, resolve differences, listen respectfully, and advocate appropriately for their ideas. Throughout each day, teachers continuously coach students to use their communication skills to advance understanding, convey their ideas effectively, navigate conflicts peacefully, and engage others respectfully.

Public Speaking?

No Problem!

Public Speaking

Beginning in fifth grade, students give a speech each year to assembled parents, teachers, and peers. This annual capstone experience, called Speeches and Sweets, provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their writing, speaking, and presentation skills in progressively sophisticated ways, until their speech resembles a TED Talk in Eighth Grade.

Interdisciplinary Integration

Interdisciplinary Integration

The teaching of communication skills is not limited to language arts class, where writing, reading, and public speaking are the central focus. In science, social studies, math, and Spanish, students are expected to use effective communication skills to work in small groups and demonstrate their understanding of a topic through presentations, essays, videos, visual models, and more. Drama, music, and art classes challenge students to use artistic expression as another powerful form of communication. Library classes in fourth and fifth grade focus on information literacy, how to evaluate sources, and how news, advertising, and commentary influence views.

Examples of Kindergarten Distance Learning

Examples of Distance Learning at ACDS:

Kindergarten Lesson

#Bobcatskeeplearning

#StartStrongStartHere #ACDS

How to Write a Personal Letter

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Write a Letter to a Health Care Professional

Double click above to play

In social studies, the kindergartners have been studying community and earlier in the year received a visit from a nurse who talked to them about how health care professionals help people. They are currently learning about letter writing in Writer's Workshop. In their first online writing lesson, they learned about writing a personal letter, and wrote a letter to a health care professional thanking them for helping people. Watch the lessons from Ms. Hall and Mrs. Godek above.

Fifth Grade Reading Workshop Mini Lesson

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Examples of Distance Learning at ACDS:

5th Grade Reading Workshop Mini Lesson

Lower School: Zoom Schedule for Whole Class Events

Middle School:

Live Sessions with Teachers for Students Schedule