School History: 2006-Present

Lake Anne Elementary School began its fifth decade with a new principal, a new mascot, and new school colors.

Photograph of Lake Anne's 2007 to 2008 yearbook cover. The cover is a student-drawn illustration of Lake Anne School with a dolphin leaping into the air above the building.
Lake Anne's mascot became the dolphin during the 2006-07 school year.

Activities and Clubs

Extracurricular and co-curricular activities and clubs have been a hallmark of the strong instructional program at Lake Anne since our founding. In addition to traditional offerings such as band, chorus, strings, WLAS, chess, and Odyssey of the Mind, Lake Anne students of the 21st century can participate in Girls on the Run, Jump Rope for Heart, and GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science). In 2009, the Bayscapers Environmental and Garden Club was established at Lake Anne. Students in the Bayscapers Club learn about the environment, how to garden, and create indoor and outdoor artistic projects.

Photograph of four female students who are members of Lake Anne's Safety Patrol. The picture was taken in November 2018.
Lake Anne's Safety Patrol was founded during our first school year, and more than 50 years later it continues to serve a vital role in keeping students safe on their way to and from school.

A Green Flag School

In June 2015, Lake Anne was the recipient of the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA Green Flag award. The Green Flag is the highest honor bestowed by Eco-Schools USA, and is given to schools for exceptional achievements in "greening" the school and its grounds, conserving natural resources, and integrating environmental education into the curriculum.

Photograph of five students holding up the Eco-Schools green flag. They are standing outside Lake Anne Elementary School in the courtyard garden. The picture was taken in April 2015, and behind the students flowers and trees are blooming with red, white, and purple blossoms. The garden is lush with new green growth.

Building Success

The 2012-13 school year marked the end of a two-year renovation project. We are excited about all the changes this brought. Besides a total facelift with new energy-efficient windows and doors, fresh paint, tiles, and floors, all classrooms now enjoy the latest equipment in educational technology. Classrooms are equipped with an Integrated Smart Board and an enhanced audio system. Our daily news show is broadcast by students from a small studio in our expanded media and technology center.

Post-renovation aerial photograph of Lake Anne Elementary School taken on September 29, 2012.
Lake Anne Elementary School, September 29, 2012. The two-year renovation project was completed at a cost of $8.6 million.

Happy Anniversary

On April 21, 2017, Lake Anne Elementary School held a 50th Anniversary Celebration. “We’re calling it the Lake Anne family reunion because we invited everyone to come,” Principal Jill Stewart told a reporter from the Connection Newspaper. “We have all come together to celebrate family and educational excellence. It’s great to have everyone come back.”

Lake Anne Elementary School students form a giant number 50 in the grass outside of the school while wearing blue t-shirts the parent-teacher association bought for them on the day of the celebration.
Lake Anne's PTA purchased special t-shirts for the anniversary and kept them a surprise until the day of the celebration. The anniversary celebration included live entertainment, a moon bounce, and food trucks. Students could take pictures in a special photo booth, get temporary tattoos, have their face painted, and make balloon animals. Photo by Bosko Matic/Strawbridge Studios, Inc.

Our Principals

Linda Hajj (2006-11)

Yearbook photograph of Principal Linda Hajj taken in 2008. She is holding a picture book entitled Silly Sally in her hand. Three children stand on her right, and three children stand on her left. Everyone is looking at the camera and smiling.
Linda Hajj was appointed principal of Lake Anne in May 2006, and took over the leadership of our school on July 3 of that year. Ms. Hajj previously served as a teacher and administrator at a bilingual school in Kuwait, and as a fifth and sixth grade teacher at Dogwood Elementary School in Reston.

Brendan Menuey (2011-15)

Yearbook photograph of Principal Brendan Menuey taken in 2014. He is standing in the school lobby with his hand on the Party Animal donkey statue.
Brendan Menuey was the 12th principal of Lake Anne Elementary School. Mr. Menuey got his first job teaching at Forestville Elementary School, then moved to Colvin Run Elementary School when it opened in 2003. He served as an assistant principal at Lake Anne and at Lutie Lewis Coates Elementary School, and became principal at Lake Anne in 2011. In September 2015, he became the FCPS Region 2 Executive Principal for School Improvement.

Jill D. Stewart (2015-Present)

Yearbook photograph of Principal Jill Stewart taken in 2016. She is standing in a hallway with a group of five smiling students of various ages.
Our current principal, Jill Stewart, joined the staff of Lake Anne in December 2015. Ms. Stewart began her teaching career in Fairfax County as a multiage teacher at Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences in 1996. She went on to serve FCPS as an ESY Principal, an assistant principal, a Reading Specialist, and was an Education Program Specialist for the U.S. Department of Education. In 2018, Ms. Stewart was named the FCPS Region 1 Outstanding New Principal.
Principal Stewart wants the community to see her school as a partner in raising well-adjusted and well-equipped children. She encourages Lake Anne staff and families to build strong relationships and sets an example with her involvement. Recently, she supplemented regular monthly parent coffees with a “Cafecito,” complete with translators, to help the school’s large Spanish-speaking population keep in touch. Known for hiring great teachers, Principal Stewart showcases them at events like the “Best of Reston” Awards and empowers them to take risks. “She never shies away from projects that will enhance instruction,” said one nominator.