What's happening at Falling Branch Elementary
Fifth graders in Mrs. Furman’s class at Falling Branch School participate in an after-school science club. Students who choose to participate, work on a two-part program: bird watching and gardening. Throughout the year students learn to identify birds, count birds and contribute the data to a research database used by professional scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in New York, and learn to analyze and interpret data to answer their own questions. In the spring, students prepare a garden bed for planting, grow annuals that attract birds and butterflies by planting seeds, caring for seedlings indoors under grow lights, and transplanting seedlings outdoors. This project was funded by a grant from the Jacobs Family Fund, a component fund of The Community Foundation of the New River Valley.
“Exercise Your Body, Exercise Your Brain!” Fourth and fifth grade students at Falling Branch Elementary have the opportunity to participate with Mrs. Pace (PE Specialist) in the Morning Walk/Run program. Students arriving before 8:55 may choose to walk or run around the school track (4 laps = 1 mile). This program is optional. Therefore children who do not take part report to their classroom. Mrs. Pace and classroom teachers are finding this program is improving not only their physical fitness but keeps them alert, energized and ready for learning!
Falling Branch Elementary students and staff collected 2171 food items to donate to Montgomery County Emergency Assistance program during the month of November. This was a collaborative, community service project with the Christiansburg Rotary Club. The class in PK-2nd and 3rd-5th grades that collected the most food earned a pizza party donated by the Rotary Club who also presented each student at our school a pencil and sticker in thanks for helping with this important service project.
