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Monday, Aug. 27, 2012 by Laura Peters, Times-Mirror Staff Writer | 0 comments | Email this story

Times-Mirror StaffPhoto/Beverly DennyKindergartener BraydonJohnson, 6, gets agoodbye kiss from hismother Melanie as hearrives for his first day atFrederick DouglassElementary School inLeesburg Aug. 27, alsothe first day for the newschool.

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Inaugural year for two schools in Loudoun


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The pencils are purchased, the lunches are packed and the anticipation was high for somestudents Monday morning. The start of the school year is a fresh start, especially for two newschools in Loudoun John Champe High School and Frederick Douglass Elementary.

The Knights

John Champe, in Aldie, welcomed a year of firsts. John Gabriel, the principal, says hes alreadybegun instilling tradition within the students and provides a sense of inspiration within theschool. Throughout the halls, there are inspiring quotes and he plans to have a wall dedicated tostudents who strive for the best. Students are also welcomed by two metal decorative knights,their mascot, in the foyer.

Times-Mirror StaffPhoto/Beverly DennyPrincipal John Gabrielgives announcements,introduces the teachersand welcomes studentsto John Champe HighSchool in Aldie Aug. 27,the first day of the schoolyear for the new school.

Every single thing about starting school Im looking forward to, Gabriel said last week as heprepared to open the school. Whether it be our first pep rally, our first game, first dance, the

very first class they go to on Monday, this is an inaugural year, a year of firsts and you dont getto do that a second time.

More than 600 students filled the halls of John Champe, which has the capacity for 1,800students. According to Gabriel, John Champe is taking some of the burden off Freedom High

School, which has been overcrowded for several years. Other feeder schools include Mercer andStone Hill middle schools.

Times-Mirror StaffPhoto/Beverly DennyCounselor ChristineMeehan and AthleticDirector Joseph Breinighelp a student figure outwhere he needs to go atJohn Champe High Schoolin Aldie Aug. 27, the firstday of the school year forthe new school.

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Im looking forward to growing the program. When band camp started to see how excited thekids were and now that theyre all here, thats the part I look forward to, Jonathan Phillip, the

band director at John C hampe said. When I was at Park View there was a lot of tradition. Andnow we get to create our own tradition.

Phillip and other staff members were able to compose the fight song together. He said the bestpart about starting at a new school is taking things done in the past and being able to mold itright from the beginning.

John Champe was a native of Aldie, most known for being tasked by Gen. George Washington tocapture traitor Benedict Arnold.

Times-Mirror StaffPhoto/Beverly DennyEmployees of JohnChampe High School inAldie walk to the entranceAug. 27, the first day ofthe school year for thenew school.

But what makes this school different than other schools in Loudoun? According to Gabriel, theentire layout is flipped, much like Tuscarora High School. Also, he said, instead of studentsgoing downstairs, they go upstairs. The school strives to be as green and energy efficient aspossible. John Champe is the first high school in the area to have solar paneling to help provideelectricity.

Gabriel also provided students a chance to perform a dry run of the first day Aug. 24. Studentswere able to g et their schedules, g o to their classes and get everything situated prior to the

opening bell. There was a carnival party for all students, with moonbounces, DJs and food topartake in after the dry run.

The Stars

The little pitter-patter of tiny feet off the school bus could be heard echoing throughout thebrand new elementary school in Leesburg. Frederick Douglass, the new two-story school sits onthe site of the old Frederick Douglass Elementary School, which was the African Americanschool in Loudoun during segregation.

The historical significance of the school is well beyond the name of Frederick Douglass. Thathas a significant meaning in history anyway for what he did. But then when you look at ourschool and 10 years after schools were integrated it was still segregated, Principal TimothyMartino explained. Now we come to a place where it doesnt matter what your race is, yourgender, your age, you come. The history of this is very significant when you think about thedifferences. But, all of schools have a unique connection to their community in general, for us we

et to connect now and connect in the past.


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Times-Mirror StaffPhoto/Beverly DennySuperintendent EdgarHatrick shakes handswith a first grader beingled to class by PrincipalTimothy Martino atFrederick DouglassElementary School inLeesburg Aug. 27, alsothe first day for the newschool.

The schools mascot is significant in two different ways. The Stars symbolize the three schoolsthat have come together to make Frederick Douglass Cool Spring, Catoctin and Tolbertelementary schools. Also, Frederick Douglass, their namesake, published a newspaper TheNorth Star.

The school was built with recycled materials from the previous school. The outdoor lights areLED and each room inside the building has motion sensors that will turn off lights if no one is in

the room.

The school has a full baseball field and soccer field combination for students to use and burn offextra energy, Martino said.

According to Martino, the school will also ha ve a wall memorializing the history of the school.The significance of the school will be part of the students curriculum, Martino said.

Its something we will help them become more aware of. We do have plans for the first week ofschool to take them down to the wall and [explain] the history to them, he said. Were going tohave a memorial wall that documents the history of the school and the events of the time. Thatscertainly something very unique to us. Were excited to get that up its going to be very neat forus.

The county

This year, more than 68,170 students are expected to fill the halls of 82 Loudoun County Public

Schools, according to Public Information Officer Wayde Byard.

In total, there are 53 elementary schools, 14 middle schools and 13 high schools in the county,with two instructional centers Monroe Technology Center and Douglass Community School.LCPS also welcomes 13 new principals for the 2012-2013 school year.

Belmont Station Elementary - Lori A. Mercer John Champe High School - John G. Gabriel Creightons Corner Elementary - Christopher L. Knott Frederick Douglass Elementary - Timothy J. Martino Emerick Elementary - Dawn E. HaddockForest Grove Elementary: Monique X. Martin Freedom High School - Douglas B. Fulton Harper Park Middle School - Elizabeth A. Robinson Hillside Elementary - Garett E. Brazina Liberty Elementary - Paul A. Pack

Pinebrook Elementary - Paul G. Thiessen Jr. Sycolin Creek Elementary - Derek A. Racino Woodgrove High School - William S. Shipp

With the earlier start in school, classes will end June 6, 2013.

Times-Mirror StaffPhoto/Beverly DennyFrederick DouglassElementary School inLeesburg Aug. 27.


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