WHEREAS, in 2013 Stratford Landing Elementary School in Alexandria will proudly celebrate 50 years of providing a quality education to its students in its building; and

WHEREAS, Stratford Landing Elementary School, built on land once owned by George Washington, officially opened its doors with Principal Eleanor N. Hollandsworth on September 3, 1963, after a year of school children being housed at a local elementary school as the new building was constructed; and

WHEREAS, the initial school enrollment of 301 community students in grades one through six increased to an enrollment of 887 in the 1964 - 1965 school year; and

WHEREAS, Stratford Landing Elementary School underwent its first renovation in 1966 to add an additional hallway of classrooms in response to the rapidly growing community and heavy military family presence; and

WHEREAS, as schools across the nation also began to implement kindergarten classes in response to the federal Head Start initiative, Stratford Landing Elementary School opened its first half-day kindergarten program in 1968; and

WHEREAS, during the 1970s, Stratford Landing Elementary School opened one of the first Gifted and Talented Centers in Fairfax County Public Schools, developed to offer a unique academic program to qualifying students in grades three through six from multiple local elementary schools; and

WHEREAS, Stratford Landing Elementary School expanded to include two preschool programs to support early intervention for young children identified with autism and developmental delays; and

WHEREAS, over the years, Stratford Landing Elementary School underwent other renovations to add a gym, music room, day care facility, playground, 10-classroom modular unit, and seven learning environment trailers; it also created an English as a Second Language program to better meet the needs of students; and

WHEREAS, in 2009 Stratford Landing Elementary School developed and continues to refine a Discovery Garden to support environmental and science studies; and

WHEREAS, Stratford Landing Elementary School began offering a full-day kindergarten program with the last phase-in by Fairfax County Public Schools for the 2011 - 2012 school year; and

WHEREAS, Stratford Landing Elementary School continues to stay abreast of technological changes by adding Smart Board technology to all classrooms, increasing the number of mobile laptop carts, investing in hands-on voting systems, and using other technology tools to support 21st century learners; and

WHEREAS, Stratford Landing Elementary School, the parent-teacher association, and the school community continue to work in partnership to benefit student success and achievement both in the classroom, on the school grounds, and through diverse after-school programs; and

WHEREAS, while the school mascot has changed over the years to Dolphins and student fashions have changed, Stratford Landing Elementary School has remained committed to providing an academically challenging and positive learning environment in which all students thrive; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Stratford Landing Elementary School on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Stratford Landing Elementary School as an expression of the General Assembly's congratulations, admiration for the school's commitment to its students, and best wishes for its future.