At Marshall Road Elementary School, something powerful is happening. It starts with a simple but life-changing habit: showing up.

Just months ago, nearly 1 in 5 students at the school were chronically absent. For many, the barriers were complex. Housing instability, lack of consistent support at home, or simply not feeling connected to school all played a role. Thanks to the Individualized Inclusive Incentive (III) Program, those barriers are being met with creativity, care, and consistency. Today, that absenteeism rate has dropped from 17.6% to just 8.0%.

Behind that statistic are stories of transformation. One of those stories belongs to a fifth-grade student who, for years, struggled just to get to school. His challenges were not about motivation. They were about circumstances. With inconsistent adult supervision and an unstable home environment, even getting on the bus felt overwhelming. That is where the III Program stepped in.

Together with school staff, a plan was built just for him. It started small. Setting alarms on his phone, creating manageable attendance goals, and celebrating each win along the way. When asked what would motivate him most, his answer was simple: pizza. He chose Domino’s gift cards. Not because he loved pizza, but because he had never experienced it outside of school. He had never had food delivered to his home. It was something new and exciting. School administrators say it worked.

He began earning incentives. Then more. Each day he showed up, he was not just attending school. He was building confidence and a sense of possibility. His story is just one of 75 students who have been supported through this program so far.

In December, the school celebrated perfect attendance with a full school-wide event in the cafeteria, turning attendance into something visible, joyful, and worth celebrating as a community.

Inside Vienna Elementary School, curiosity and creativity are coming together in a powerful new way. The school’s I Lab has quickly become a hub for exploration where students experiment, build, and discover how technology shapes the world around them.

According to Fairfax County Public Schools, the Vienna I Lab is a first-of-its-kind learning environment, which David Reynolds, School-Based Technology Specialist, originally envisioned as the next level of STEAM learning.

Introducing Cubelet technology has been a game changer for both students and educators. Through hands-on learning and active play, students are beginning to understand complex concepts like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and generative AI in ways that feel approachable and exciting. The technology encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and problem solving while helping students develop a deeper understanding of STEM and emerging AI tools.

The impact has been remarkable.

The program reached 100 percent of the student body, benefiting all 360 students through weekly engagement with advanced STEAM tools such as Ozobots, drones, Microbits, and Cubelets. Students quickly moved beyond simply using technology and began creating with it. Many developed stronger technology literacy and confidence as they experimented with coding, robotics, and AI-powered systems.

The flexible and hands-on design of the program also supported a wide range of learning styles. Students with intellectual disabilities were able to fully participate alongside their peers, creating an inclusive environment where every student could explore and build.

Through the I Lab, students are learning that AI is not something distant or abstract. It is something they can explore, understand, and even create themselves.

In classrooms across London Towne Elementary School, learning looks a little different these days in the best way possible.

Thanks to support from the Northwest Federal Credit Union Foundation’s N.E.E.D.S. Project, students now have access to sensory tools that are helping them focus in their learning environment. What may look like small additions to a classroom, wobble stools, kick bands, and chair feet, are making a big difference for students who need movement to succeed.

In one second grade classroom, these tools have become a natural part of the school day. When students begin to lose focus or feel restless, they are given options that meet their needs without disrupting instruction. A wobble stool allows a student to move while staying engaged in a lesson. Kick bands and chair feet provide quiet, consistent outlets for movement right at their desks.

For teachers, the impact is immediate and practical. Instead of redirecting behavior or pausing instruction, educators can proactively support students in a way that keeps learning on track.

This initiative reflects a larger goal at London Towne Elementary: creating a learning environment where every student has what they need to thrive. By expanding access to sensory support across classrooms, the school is working to ensure that these tools are not limited to a few students or spaces.

Too often, educators know exactly what would help their students but lack the funding to make it happen. Through the N.E.E.D.S. Project, that gap is being closed.