School History

White Oaks Elementary School opened on January 28, 1980. For the first five months of the school year, our students were housed in at least three separate elementary schools, namely: Burke, Hunt Valley, and Keene Mill. Our first principal, Ronald West, travelled daily between all these schools, overseeing the instruction of White Oaks’ 623 students. Our building was not quite finished when it opened to students in January 1980, because the cafeteria, kitchen, and gymnasium were still under construction.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to moving into a new school. We didn’t want to leave the building empty for half a year after it was completed, so we moved as soon as the classrooms were ready. But it certainly will be pleasant here when all the facilities are useable, and the grounds have been landscaped. It takes a while to acquire the resource equipment and materials that an established school would already have. To fully stock the library and install such things as television sets and gym equipment will take some time yet.
~ Principal Ron West

White Oaks opened with three “pods” consisting of seven classrooms each. Each pod had an open classroom space in the center with a “wet area” for messier lessons and craft projects. The three pods surrounded a central library. All of the floors, with the exception of the cafeteria and gymnasium, were carpeted. Learn more about the founding and construction of White Oaks Elementary School in the following slideshow.

White Oaks Elementary School began construction in October 1978. Our school was modeled after Clearview Elementary School near Herndon.

White Oaks Elementary School began construction in October 1978. Our school was modeled after Clearview Elementary School near Herndon.

During the planning and construction process, White Oaks was referred to as Rolling Valley West Elementary School. Our school was officially named White Oaks by the Fairfax County School Board on May 24, 1979, one day after this photograph was taken.

During the planning and construction process, White Oaks was referred to as Rolling Valley West Elementary School. Our school was officially named White Oaks by the Fairfax County School Board on May 24, 1979, one day after this photograph was taken.

White Oaks Elementary School was built by Hill and Kimmel, Inc., at a cost of $2.46 million.

White Oaks Elementary School was built by Hill and Kimmel, Inc., at a cost of $2.46 million.

White Oaks Elementary School was overcrowded the day it opened. 11 portable facilities, called Parkos, were brought to White Oaks to serve as classrooms.

White Oaks Elementary School was overcrowded the day it opened. 11 portable facilities, called Parkos, were brought to White Oaks to serve as classrooms.

Shortly after White Oaks opened, the School Board approved the construction of a ten-classroom addition. The School Board awarded the project contract to the N. S. Stavrou Construction Company at a cost of $1.28 million.

Shortly after White Oaks opened, the School Board approved the construction of a ten-classroom addition. The School Board awarded the project contract to the N. S. Stavrou Construction Company at a cost of $1.28 million.

Martin Mounier, a 3rd Grade Teacher, poses during the construction of the addition. The N. S. Stavrou Construction Company was given six months to complete the project.

Martin Mounier, a 3rd Grade Teacher, poses during the construction of the addition. The N. S. Stavrou Construction Company was given six months to complete the project.

The Eagle Takes Flight

White Oaks Elementary School was dedicated on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1980. A student-prepared celebration, which featured musical performances and a ribbon cutting ceremony, was held that evening. Some of the children gave guided tours of the school, and others sang and played in the orchestra in the library for the entertainment of visitors. Duane Barber, president of the student council, cut the ribbon, officially opening the school, and sixth graders unveiled a paper-mâché statue of our mascot, the eagle.

This is a celebration in honor of the concept of the neighborhood school. A school is a community, a place where education is made to happen. 
~ Principal Ron West
Photographs of White Oaks’ eagle mascot as depicted in various yearbooks.
Our school mascot and colors were chosen by students in October 1979. The look of our mascot has changed several times. Pictured left to right are the eagle in 1980 (original student design), 1988, and 2016.

Fun Fact

Did you know that since the founding of our school students at White Oaks have participated in Jump Rope for Heart? In 1982, White Oaks Elementary School was the top money-earner in Virginia in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart Marathon. 500 students jumped rope for three hours, and raised $13,039 for the association. The high-profile win garnered the attention of the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, resulting in an opportunity for White Oaks students to meet Washington Redskins placekicker Mark Moseley.

Photographs of the cover of the Journal showing Mark Moseley jumping rope with students; and a second picture of Moseley posing with the students.

School Traditions

White Oaks Elementary School has several long-standing school traditions, such as our Multicultural Family Night and our 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony. Many other popular traditions over the years have included Market Day, Medieval Day, Pioneer Day, Pirate Day, and field trips to Hemlock Park and Jamestown.

Photographs of two students pulling a Red Flyer wagon decorated to look like a Conestoga wagon.
Students created their own Conestoga wagons on Pioneer Day.

One tradition that has not changed is our school song. Though we don’t sing it as often today as in the past, our school song remains the same as when it was first composed.

Black and white photograph of the school song lyrics from a yearbook.

Distinguished Guests

From astronauts to playwrights, White Oaks has had the privilege of hosting several prominent visitors over the years. In the fall of 1989, White Oaks students with special needs viewed a performance of “The Princess and the Pea” at the Kennedy Center. The following spring, special education teacher Wendy Papalas wrote to the playwright, Paul Lavarakas, and asked for permission for her students to stage their own production of the play. Mr. Lavarakas agreed, and visited White Oaks in June 1990 to see the performance. 

Black and white photograph from a newspaper article showing Paul Lavarakas shaking hands with White Oaks students.
Courtesy of the Connection Newspaper.

Distinguished Staff

Many of White Oaks Elementary School’s staff have been honored with regional and state awards. In 1986, physical education teacher Bonnie G. MacCallum was a finalist for the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Teacher of the Year award. In 1989, Principal Carolyn S. Buckenmaier was the recipient of The Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award and the FCPS Principal of the Year award. In 2002, 4th grade teacher George Weiner was named one of three Milken Foundation Educator of the Year award winners in Virginia. The following year, Mr. Weiner hosted the nationally cablecast television series Universal Words. Created for elementary-aged students, the series explored the roots of English vocabulary by investigating word meanings, origins, prefixes, and suffixes. These fun, fast-paced programs included basic vocabulary lists, science experiments, and a Jeopardy-style quiz show. 

Leading the Way

At White Oaks, students have the opportunity to participate in many extra and co-curricular activities, such as our Dynamic Band, Strings, and Chorus programs, Peer Mediators, Girls on the Run, Eagle Fitness Club, Junior Great Books, and the WUWO Morning News Crew. Many of the activities and student-groups found at White Oaks today have been around since the founding of our school.

Photograph of White Oaks’ Safety Patrol marching in a parade in Washington, D.C.

Throughout the years, many of our student groups have competed in state and national competitions. In 1998, White Oaks students took home the top prize in the State Chess Tournament. More recently, in 2016, White Oaks fourth-graders competed in the World Finals for Odyssey of the Mind in Ames, Iowa.

Photograph of the championship-winning chess team posing with their trophy.
On March 14, 1998, the K-6 Chess Team from White Oaks Elementary School won the state championship.

A Glimpse Back in Time

Take a moment to look through this small selection of class photos from 1988 to 2003. The clothing styles change, but the academic excellence of the students remains the same.

Mrs. Patty’s 2nd grade class, 1987-88.

Mrs. Patty’s 2nd grade class, 1987-88.

Mrs. Varner’s 4th grade class, 1987-88.

Mrs. Varner’s 4th grade class, 1987-88.

Mrs. Kittock’s 5th grade class, 1988-89.

Mrs. Kittock’s 5th grade class, 1988-89.

Mrs. Foster’s P.M. kindergarten class, 1994-95.

Mrs. Foster’s P.M. kindergarten class, 1994-95.

Mr. Weiner’s 4th grade class, 1997-98.

Mr. Weiner’s 4th grade class, 1997-98.

Mrs. Howick’s 3rd grade class, 2002-03.

Mrs. Howick’s 3rd grade class, 2002-03.

In April 1997, White Oaks Elementary School was the subject of the FCPS cable television channel series Profile. The Red Apple 21 crew spent several days at our school, gathering interviews with teachers and classroom footage. The resulting 30-minute documentary provides a fascinating snapshot of White Oaks in the late-1990s.

Something Old, Something New

The most recent change at White Oaks Elementary School has been the modernization of our building. The $17.2 million renovation project got underway in the fall of 2016 and was completed in 2019. The renovation included a 20,000 square-foot building addition with several classrooms, a band room, and two art rooms. The library, cafeteria, and kitchen were all enlarged as well. Outside the building, White Oaks received a new playing field, baseball field, and basketball court.

Photograph of the new playground that was installed in 1993.
Students of the 1990s also had something new to rave about. Check out this playground that was the talk of the town when it was installed in 1993.
Photograph of a Kids Post article from a March 2006 edition of the Washington Post about a White Oaks Elementary School. The school received a flag that had flown over Camp Taqaddum, a U.S. military installation in Iraq.

What’s in a Name?

Did you know that the name of our school was inspired by the name of a historic home in Burke that used to be an elementary school? Learn more in this video from the FCPS Red Apple 21 series What’s in a Name?