10 Reasons Why Woodburn Shines Bright

Woodburn is built on a strong sense of community, where each student is valued and supported. We empower students to be responsible citizens, creative thinkers and passionate life-long learners. Woodburn is ever focused on moving toward its vision of its ideal, best school community, an inclusive and safe environment in which learning is the primary focus, both for students and adults.

Caring Culture, Collaborative Teams, Quality Instruction

Woodburn's mission is grounded in three fundamental pillars: a caring culture, collaborative teams, and quality instruction. We strive to create a supportive learning environment, foster collaboration among educators, and deliver high-quality instruction that meets the individual needs of each student.

Igniting a Love of Reading

At Woodburn, students dive deep into literature through small-group reading instruction and book clubs. In small groups, they receive personalized attention to develop essential reading skills. Book clubs foster a love of reading as students share their thoughts, challenge each other's ideas, and learn from one another. Teachers guide this process by teaching students the tools they need to become critical thinkers and skilled readers.

Together We Grow

Woodburn is committed to working closely with the community and families! Events like PTA meetings, Parent Coffees, Welcome Walks, Trunk or Treat, Fun Runs, Bingo Nights, Math and Literacy Nights, and partnerships with Fairfax Symphony Orchestra foster a strong connection between our school and families. These events create opportunities for parents to participate in their child's education, build relationships with other families, and support our school's unique phrase: Together We Grow.”

Teachers are Always Learning and Growing

Staff at Woodburn have a variety of opportunities to participate in professional development. Teachers participate in labsites, a model of professional learning in which teachers observe model lessons, student data, and design and implement lessons in a classroom together. Staff have also attended Project GLAD (Guided Language Acquisition Design) training, WISSIT (a week-long summer conference at the Washington International School), and AVMR training (Advantage Math Recovery).

A Make Space for Creativity

The Maker Space is a hub of creativity and innovation. Here, students have the freedom to design, build, and explore. Equipped with a variety of tools and materials, they can bring their ideas to life. Whether it's building Legos, creating artifacts, or crafting unique art pieces, our Maker Space encourages students to think critically, problem-solve, and collaborate.

Discovering Passions, Building Skills

Woodburn provides a unique variety of extracurricular opportunities for elementary students to explore their interests. From academic challenges like Science and Math Olympiads to creative outlets like Lego/Coding and Crafts, there's something for everyone. Girls can join Girl Scouts or Girls on the Run, while boys in grades 4-6 have the chance to play on the Woodburn Soccer team, sponsored by the McLean Soccer Club. All clubs are open to students, with the option of sponsorship.

Collaborative Coaching Team

Woodburn is dedicated to providing the best possible education for all students. Our coaching team (two math coaches, two literacy coaches, an advanced academics coach, and a technology coach) play a vital role in achieving this goal by supporting teachers in their instructional practices. Through labsites, coaching cycles, and professional development during team planning time, math, literacy, advanced academics, and technology coaches help teachers develop the skills needed to meet the diverse needs of their students. By collaborating on instruction, supporting Collaborative Learning Teams (CLTs), and providing intervention support, coaches contribute to improved student outcomes.

Advanced Academic Placement Clusters

Our school's Advanced Academic cluster model provides a challenging and supportive learning environment for all students. Through differentiated instruction and enrichment opportunities, students are encouraged to think critically, problem-solve, and explore their passions. Our program fosters a love of learning and prepares students for future academic and personal success.

Teacher Excellence 

Our faculty is motivated to provide the best possible educational experience. Our students are recognized in-house and outside of Woodburn for their efforts and our teachers are published authors, sought-after presenters, and recipients of prestigious awards, including the Individual Excellence Award and the 2023-24 Region 2 Outstanding Teacher Award.

A Co-teaching Model

Woodburn is dedicated to fostering professional growth and collaboration among teachers. Through co-teaching opportunities with content area coaches, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers, and special education (SPED) teachers, we empower educators to refine their skills and enhance student learning. By working together to plan, teach, and reflect, we believe in the transformative power of collective expertise.

Woodburn Elementary is more than just a school - it's a community where we empower students to learn and grow by setting high standards, work collaboratively to provide excellent instruction, and meet the unique needs of each student #TogetherWeGrow