Grant Provides Support for High Schools of the Future

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A partnership with Fairfax High School Academy and Apple FCU Education Foundation was officially recognized on May 28, 2008. The three-year project is focused on preparing students to meet the challenges of the 21st century work environment.

Seniors Complete Rigorous Signature Projects

Key to Fairfax Academy’s vision of preparing students for a future that requires very different skills than those needed by past generations is the senior project (Signature Project). In preparing their projects, seniors model the attitudes, skills and knowledge that are representative of their two years of work at the Academy. The final products are a tangible demonstration of the successful integration of 21st century skill sets.

Projects are rigorous and require seniors to be actively engaged and self-directed learners, key features of learning for the 21st century. Students collaborate with teachers, mentors and others. Both the classroom teacher (internal review) and a panel of professionals (external review) in the field review projects.

Each class has ONE signature project recognized at an annual awards program with a special Outstanding Signature Project award. This honor is determined by an external review team.

Signature Projects 2009:

• Chinese & Korean students presented research on a topic related to a current environmental or economic issue. The final project included a paper written in both English and the language and an oral presentation to two panels of reviewers – once in English, then in the Language.
• Fashion Design students designed a collection of three garments from a thematic point of view. They worked with a team of first year students who assisted them with presentation boards and runway presentation. A team of professional designers (including one from New York City) reviewed the collections. Each student gave an oral presentation to the team. The collections were presented to the public during a fashion runway segment of the Academy’s annual award event in May.
• Professional Photography Studio students developed a digital portfolio of eight to 15 pieces of their work with thematic connectivity. Professional photographers, including two New York City photographers, reviewed DVD digital portfolios.
• Music & Computer Technology students wrote compositions for full orchestra. A professional musician and composer reviewed them in progress, and then scores were played by the Northern Virginia Community College Orchestra at a full rehearsal in May for feedback and review.
• Dance students had the option to choreograph a dance or teach a dance class. The choreographers chose an ensemble of students to work with, taught and rehearsed the steps, and finally performed the piece: first at a choreographers showcase and then for review by professional dancers. The dance educators had to research a choreographer and teach a class a representative piece using that style. They demonstrated their teaching to the professional dance reviewers.