. family life .
SCHOOL NOTES by Susan Braun Johnson
Payne Elementary Hundreds of parents and students gathered for the Payne Saturday Arts Academy spring showcase on June 4 with performances in violin, guitar, piano, drums, Tae Kwon Do, ballet, yoga, and preschool circle time music. Culinary arts students hosted a reception, and robotics and basketball students demonstrated what they’ve learned this spring. Every Saturday, 172 students from Payne and other Capitol Hill schools take up to three classes as part of the ambitious and unique extracurricular program that lets kids have fun while helping them make academic gains. The Payne Saturday Arts Academy is bringing affordable, accessible music and arts education to the Capitol Hill community. Classes will start up again in September, and registration will begin over the summer. Payne, 1445 C St. SE; www.paynedc.org.
Northeast Stars NES Summer Camp students are having great fun learning about plants and developing scientific observation and prediction skills! One of the experiments included germinating seeds. The students will observe the beans sprouting and eventually will transfer the beans to small pots of soil. Northeast Stars Montessori Preschools, 1325 Maryland Ave NE; nestars.net.
Maury Elementary On June10, Maury Elementary held its first MARCH for the MIND, a rally in support of mental health awareness. Students and teachers have been having age-appropriate conversations on this topic -how to identify someone who may be suffering, and whom to ask for help -but recent tragedies left them wanting to do more. So, they created signs to express their thoughts and feelings and carried them around the block, publicly sharing their desire for a more optimistic and safer future. Maury ES, 1250 Constitution Ave. NE, mauryelementary.com.
Friends Community School
Van Ness Elementary Prekindergarten students from Van Ness Elementary School welcomed the warm weather with a “splash day” on the oval. Children donned their swimsuits to enjoy the pools, water balloons, bubbles, and other activities in the sun. Van Ness, 1150 5th St SE; www.vannesselementary.org 94 H HILLRAG.COM
Friends Community School eighth-graders ended the year with beloved traditions in June. The whole school lined up to usher them into their next adventure with a tunnel that every graduate runs through to cheers and affirmation. Graduation took place outdoors in front of the school and each eighth-grade student shared a personal “offering” in the form of words, songs, art, and reflection. Friends Community School, 5901 Westchester Park Drive, College Park, MD; www.friendscommunityschool.org.
