What Did You Do on Your Summer Vacation?
Whether you’re a 10- or 11-month employee with time off over the summer or a 12-month employee taking a week or two off, many take time over the summer to rest, recharge, and get inspired for another year of teaching and supporting our students.
How did you recharge this summer? Let us know by emailing us at [email protected]. And don’t forget to share photos!
Read about your colleagues below.
Teaching Shakespeare Institute at the Folger Shakespeare Library
Dorothy Graves, English teacher at Falls Church High School, was one of 24 middle and high school teachers chosen from across the country to participate in the 18th Teaching Shakespeare Institute at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. (pictured above). The historic Shakespeare Library — which houses America’s first Elizabethan-style theater — was closed from 2018 to June 2024 for renovation.
During the two weeks, teachers participated in daily lectures from leading scholars, seminars, studio classes on performance, studying rare books and materials from the Folger’s collection, and curricular workshops on bringing all of this into their classrooms.
“Instructional activities helped us practice the nine Folger Essentials as students and explore how we would use it with our texts in the classroom,” Graves said.
“Performance was the most challenging aspect for me. I experienced firsthand some of the fear my own students have in the classroom. From this experience, I can help my students overcome some of those feelings of doubt when grappling with complex texts.”
The teachers explored the Folger’s new exhibition halls and operated the Folger’s printing press, a functioning replica of a 17th-century design that would have been used to print the earliest copies of Shakespeare’s works, in a printing workshop with a master printer.
“We had the pleasure of reading and interacting with primary documents from the 1500s and 1600s,” Graves said. “I have pictures of texts that I am taking back to my students so we can explore several concepts, particularly gender roles and power, during Shakespeare’s time.
“This program was a transformational opportunity and I am so glad to have shared this experience with 23 other teachers — now friends and long-distance colleagues,” she said.
Celebrations
Patty Granados (left), office manager in the Office of Communications, spent a whirlwind last few weeks of summer getting married and on a mini honeymoon.
After she and her husband Tommy got married in Paterson, N.J., the couple traveled to New York City and then Niagara Falls, Canada.
“My husband (wow, that still feels weird to say) had a surprise for me,” she shared. “We arrived and he upgraded us to the presidential suite. That’s right, we were living like royalty on the 30th floor with a full view of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.”
“Dinner at the Skylon Tower was another highlight. Imagine dining 775 feet above the falls while fireworks explode below. It was like they knew it was our honeymoon and decided to up their game. The meal was fantastic, and the view? Well, let’s just say it’s hard to beat a fireworks show when you’re literally on top of the world.”
After a speedboat ride on the river and a tour of the falls, they headed back through New York’s Central Valley and stopped at Cooperstown, N.Y., before heading back to Paterson on the way home to Virginia.
Jeanna Marie Squif (right) has been working for FCPS as a school counselor for more than 25 years. This summer, she and her husband celebrated their 30th anniversary by renewing their vows. Her five children and five grandchildren joined them. She currently works at Fairfax High School.
Kristin Salvato (who submitted the photo to the left), administrative assistant at West Springfield High School, also celebrated her 30th anniversary with her husband this summer. “We visited Oahu and Maui and had a wonderful time 🌺,” she said.
Family Fun
Anne Sill (right) is a third grade teacher at Wakefield Forest Elementary school, where her children are also going into 1st and 3rd grade. The family took a relaxing vacation this summer on a cruise out of Baltimore for 9 days to Bermuda and the Bahamas.
Lisa Barney (left), a pre-K teacher at Timberlane Elementary School, said she and her family “spent the summer attending many swim meets! My son is a senior at Lake Braddock and swims for the Ravens. We are at the pool everyday, and are always there to support his love of swimming!”
“We have spent our fun time outdoors even when the temperature was 100+ ❤️❤️❤️🌈🌈🌈🌈,” said Somsri Pholchuay (right), instructional assistant at Dranesville Elementary School.
