Sometimes we forget about the variety of work that goes on at Terraset. Most of us can probably imagine the hours teachers spend preparing lessons and how many meetings the Principal needs to attend to keep things on track. But, what is it like to maintain a school built underground? Who do you get to do that job?

Terraset has four people on it's custodial staff and one of them, Leon Pritchett, is relatively new to the team. He first came to Terraset back in September and his very "approachable" style has helped him fit right in!

"I come in at seven o'clock to open the building so the teachers can come in and give the kids a good education!" Leon said with a smile. Of course, he does a lot more than that... he sets up the cafeteria and he does "A little sweeping, mopping  and taking out the trash at the end of the day" he joked, "that's pretty much my week... meeting and greeting."

Leon was living in NY, working with kids as a director for the Police Athletic League. He taught kids to play basketball, arts and crafts, kickball, hockey, plus board games. "Most important, [I thaught them] to be friends and how to play together."

Wanting to be closer to his family, he applied for a position at the Boys and Girls Club in this area, but the position was filled. So, he just went online and researched the school system. He submitted his resume and a week later Mrs. Cury responded to his e-mail. An interview was set up and "since that day I was a Terraset employee! I like working with kids!"

Since returning to northern Virginia, he has continued that work with kids, and not just the kids at Terraset. "I'm a basketball coach at the Boys and Girls Club now. My team won the championship last season and didn't loose one game --  ten for zero! No pets, three kids and I love to play ball."

Leon's into sports! His favorite is basketball but he also plays football. "I watch both! [My] inspiration comes from wanting to teach the kids. To put a smile on a child's face. I have three children of my own: a daughter 23 years old, two sons -- 13 and 8."

"The biggest challenge [now] is getting up at five in the morning!"

Leon... keep getting up! The kids love you! It's great that you have joined the Terraset family.

Terraset's Got Talent! And it has been on show since 2007 thanks to the efforts of the Student Council Association (SCA). Mrs. Golden, the SCA sponsor, has helped the kids to organize a talent show for the past three years, and it has been announced that the show is set to happen again this year.

If your child is interested in performing, they will need to submit and application, then attend an audition. Successful acts will perform on March 24th. Watch the Tuesday Pack for more information.

Some of last year's 2nd graders in action!

Based on a series of articles at www.education.com

Ok, if your child is in 3rd grade or above, they have probably brought home a Science Fair preparation pack. Do you feel daunted? Of course, it is supposed to be an independent educational activity for the students, but our kids need to talk to someone about what they are doing, and we are there!

The idea is to find that perfect balance between being helpful and supportive without actually doing the project for your child. That's quite a challenge. Then again, you could just think about it being a good learning experience for you too!

A science fair project gives hands-on experience and knowledge in a selected field of study involving science, math, or engineering. It's a challenge!  What a great opportunity for a child to use their own ideas to investigate a problem or question that interests them. They will also be getting to know what it would be like to work in that field as an adult. It's also a great opportunity for us to spend some time with our kids -- in a supporting role -- and to observe first hand how they go about working on a problem.

Tina Lanese, director of Science Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting hands-on science learning, suggests asking the following questions to help your child decide whether a project idea is a good one to pursue:

1. Is the project interesting enough to work on for the next couple of months?
2. Are there at least three sources of written information on the subject?
3. Is the experiment safe to perform?
4. Are all of the materials needed for the experiment readily available or can they be obtained to the complete the experiment?
5. Is there enough time to complete the project by the due date?

If you are... I mean if your child is... really desperate, you might find Science Fair ideas online! Further, the teachers have been offering advice sessions after school. The last session will be this Thursday, February 24 from 4:00-6:00pm in the Library.