The students of Grace Episcopal School helped feed families in need by creating a gigantic, canned-food “Bountiful Tom Turkey” on November 15, 2007.  Measuring 28 feet by 32 feet this turkey-shaped structure was entirely made of boxed and canned foods contributed by Grace Episcopal School families.  This outreach project took two hours, with every child from Preschool through Grade Five helping with the construction. 

Over 250 cans, jars and boxes of food were used in the construction. All of the food was donated to the Grace Episcopal Church Food Pantry, which works in conjunction with the Alexandria Department of Human Services to feed Alexandria families in need.  

“As we plan for our Thanksgiving feasts with family and friends, it is vital that we share our bounty with others” said Chris Stegmaier Byrnes, Head of School.  “This project was a fun way to help others and to reflect on how truly blessed we are.”

Grace Episcopal School hosted a “Help the Homeless Mini-Walkathon” on Thursday, October 25, 2007.  Sponsored by the Grace Episcopal School Parents Association, every student and teacher in the school participated in the 15-minute walkathon.  All proceeds will be donated to Alive! House, a shelter for women and families in Alexandria, Virginia.

“Community service is an integral part of our mission at Grace Episcopal School” said Chris Stegmaier Byrnes, Head of School.  “It is vital that all students, even our youngest preschoolers, learn the importance of helping their neighbors in need.”

For more information on the 20^th annual “Help the Homeless Walkathon” to be held on November 17, 2007 please refer to www.helpthehomelessdc.org.

The Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) has approved the continuing full accreditation of Grace Episcopal School.  VAIS' evaluation and accreditation program, designed to promote excellence within Virginia's independent schools, is approved and recognized by the Virginia State Board of Education and, at the national level, by the National Association of Independent Schools.

In a letter (dated July 6, 2007) to Head of School Christine Stegmaier Byrnes, VAIS Executive Director Sally K. Boese wrote the following:

"We greatly value the priority that Grace Episcopal School has placed upon the evaluation review process.  Your superb preparation for this is commendable.  We are very appreciative of your leadership and of the professionalism demonstrated by the faculty, staff and trustees in working together toward a successful conclusion to this process. 

"It is evident once again from this visit that the spirit of Grace Episcopal School is very special.  We are proud to count your School among the fully accredited members of VAIS.  Again, we extend our congratulations to you, your faculty, staff and trustees on the successful culmination of the interim review process.  We wish you all the best for the coming year!"

For further information about VAIS, please visit www.vais.org.

Congratulations to Pamela Clark, Grace Episcopal School's Physical Education teacher!  Mrs. Clark is one of the 2006-2007 recipients of The Washington Post Grants in Education* for her project A Fitness Walk Around the World. 

This interdisciplinary project involves fitness, math, geography and nutrition.  Students in Grades 1-5 will track their steps using a pedometer and will calculate how far they walk each week.  Each grade will combine their totals to see how far the have walked as a class.  Next, each grade will select different geographical locations, anywhere in the world, and plot their progress as they "walk" to their final destination.  For example, the First Grade may decide to start in Amsterdam and "walk" to Brussels, Belgium. At the end of the year, our students will celebrate their success with a banquet of foods from their respective destinations.

*The Washington Post Grants in Education program awards grants annually to full-time teachers in grades pre-kindergarten through 12 in our area's public schools and accredited private schools.  Grants are awarded for creative and innovative projects that enhance the standard curriculum.  For more information about this program, please visit www.washpost.com/education.