Expansion of Full-day K among Other Highlights of New School Year

Board of Education President Patricia B. O'Neill and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jerry D. Weast will join other officials and community partners on the first day of school at a news conference at the new A. Mario Loiederman Middle School, one of three middle schools in the Middle School Magnet Consortium (MSMC), making its debut this year.

The news conference will take place on Monday, August 29, at 9 a.m. in the media center of Loiederman Middle School.

Each of the MSMC schools offers an innovative and challenging theme-based curriculum. Argyle Middle School focuses on advanced information technology, Loiederman offers a creative and performing arts focus, and Parkland Middle School provides a focus on aerospace technology and robotic engineering. The primary goal of the consortium, which is funded by a $7.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, is to increase student capacity for higher-level instruction and for advanced study in high school. Students from throughout the county are eligible to apply.

Community partnerships play a strong role in providing opportunities for MSMC students. Representing these partnerships at the press conference will be Kenneth Reightler, Jr., NASA astronaut and current president of Lockheed Martin Space Operations; Lucy Stribley, a principal at Booz Allen Hamilton; and Eliot Pfanstiehl, president and chief executive officer of Strathmore Center for the Arts.


NOTE: Astronaut Kenneth Reightler will visit with students at Parkland Middle School from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. on August 29 as part of the school's opening activities.


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