Gunston Middle School - Communities In Schools of NOVA

Partnership Highlight: Arlington Food Assistance Center

The Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) has been serving Arlington County residents in need of supplemental groceries for over 25 years. With the weekly assistance of a small army of volunteers, AFAC distributes nutritious food to over 2,200 county residents each week. About 35% of those who receive food from AFAC are children. Barcroft Elementary is the most recent school that AFAC has partnered with to provide students in need with supplemental meals. Through the Backpack Buddies Program, students may receive a bag of groceries to take home with them on Friday afternoons. Each bag contains two days worth of nutrition (six [...]

Madelon Brennan2020-03-08T14:20:14+00:00June 20th, 2016|0 Comments

Teaching Sportsmanship & Responsibility through Soccer & Literacy

The Real Madrid Foundation leads a weekly after-school soccer program at Gunston Middle School. This program brings experienced and foundation-trained coaches to Arlington Public Schools to teach students not only soccer skills, but also important life values such as good sportsmanship and responsibility. At Gunston, Communities In Schools has partnered with the Minority Achievement Coordinator and school faculty to tie the soccer program with a once-a-week literacy session, where students get extra help and strategies in reading and English. The students are excited to play soccer in organized teams outside, where they are developing personal responsibility by having their daily actions and [...]

Madelon Brennan2020-03-08T14:24:54+00:00April 11th, 2016|0 Comments

Empowering Students through STEM & Robotics

The Robotics Club at Gunston Middle School, part of the Emerging Leaders Program through Edu-Futuro and in collaboration with the Minority Achievement Office, entered two teams in their first competition this past Saturday, February 27, at the Arlington Career Center. The Adam Nesbitt Robotics Challenge, named in honor of the late technology teacher at Gunston, included morning workshops for the students and an afternoon of completing challenges against three other Arlington schools. As the date of the competition drew closer, the two Gunston teams competing in Saturday’s Challenge dedicated every single afternoon to practicing with their robots. One seventh grade student named Tania, who [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-15T15:07:31+00:00March 4th, 2016|0 Comments

African-American Read-In Coming To Gunston Middle School

The African-American Read-In will be held in the Gunston Middle School Library from February 17 through 19, 2016. The African-American Read-In is held during Black History Month, and there is a special focus on encouraging young people of color to read and enjoy literature. At Gunston, classes from all grades throughout the day will visit the library for a special reading by visitors, administrators, faculty, and staff. Readers can choose from a selection of books by African American authors, or choose their own book that is special to them. To make this great event even better, Gunston’s partnership with Reading Is Fundamental [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:26:15+00:00February 10th, 2016|0 Comments

CIS of NOVA Accepting New & Gently Used Winter Clothing

As the weather is getting colder, many of our students are in need of extra articles of clothing to keep warm and arrive to school in proper attire. Communities In Schools of NOVA is in collaboration with their four partner schools to collect new and gently used clothing as a way to allow the community to give back and donate to students in need. CIS of NOVA Site Coordinators will be collecting the winter accessories, which will then be donated to our middle school, high school, and adult students for the cold weather. Examples of clothing that may benefit students are: Jackets Scarves Warm sweaters Gloves Ear [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:25:30+00:00January 18th, 2016|0 Comments

Science Fair Judges Needed for Gunston Middle School!

If you are passionate about helping students fulfill their potential and help them develop leadership skills, and you have time on January 12 and/or 13 from 2:30 to 4pm, the Gunston Middle School Science Fair needs your help! We need adults to judge the Science Fair - you will be evaluating four to six science fair projects by our 7th and 8th grade students in the course of one or two hours. You will be given a rubric on which to evaluate the students’ presentations. Gunston students started working on their projects in October, and finished recently by creating a presentation and [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:25:16+00:00January 6th, 2016|0 Comments

International Night 2015 at Gunston Middle School

Gunston Middle School held a magnificent International Night on Wednesday, December 16, 2015. From 6:30pm to 8pm, the Gunston community explored different countries and cultures through student projects, international dishes brought by families, and student-led performances. The outstanding performances included a Fashion Show planned by an enterprising group of 7th grade girls led by Gunston drama teacher, Caitlin Chapuis, which had 30 students model their cultural clothing. There was an amazing example of Bolivian Tinkus dancing from the famous Tinkus Cochabamba Bolivian Dance Troupe, where two students participated. A pair of Gunston 8th grade girls gave a sample of Irish dancing and [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-01-08T14:54:19+00:00December 18th, 2015|0 Comments

Gunston Middle School To Host International Night

Gunston Middle School is hosting the return of their International Night on Wednesday, December 16, from 6:30 to 8pm! International Night is an event that celebrates all countries and cultures represented in the Gunston school community, and the surrounding neighborhood community. Students will prepare projects, create a fashion show of traditional dress, and share dishes from their cultures with guests. There will also be performances by area dance troupes representing Southeast Asia and Central America, as well as a musical performance representing the Caribbean.

Madelon Brennan2015-12-08T04:07:57+00:00December 8th, 2015|0 Comments

Middle School Girls Get Empowered At The Color Of Leadership Conference

This past Saturday, November 14, over 200 middle school girls from across Arlington gathered at Wakefield High School for the Color of Leadership Conference: A Female Perspective, “Get Moving with STEAM!” through the Office of Minority Achievement. Girls participated in two career talks with STEM professionals and the afternoon was dedicated to the arts through martial arts training, dance and step lessons, and vocal exercises. Many girls enjoyed the nuclear and materials engineers’ presentations, where they got to create fizzy bath bombs and imagine new construction uses for everyday materials. After a recharging lunch, the girls had the opportunity to learn amazing [...]

Madelon Brennan2015-12-08T04:11:11+00:00November 16th, 2015|0 Comments

Partnerships In Service to Community: Gunston Middle School Site Coordinator Alessandra Domestici

I’m a listening ear that has the time. I know their teachers would love to be there for them, and want to be there for them. But sometimes their plates are full and they have too much to do. For me to be able to be in that school all week, all day, and be there and be like, “I’m going to listen to you. I’m sitting here, I’m ready, I’m waiting. Tell me everything." I think that’s what really opens up a whole new door to these kids. —Alessandra Domestici, Site Coordinator, Gunston Middle School

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:21:22+00:00June 4th, 2015|0 Comments