Summer comes heralding the start of school vacation. It’s not only the end of the school session, but the start of pool season, biking adventures, and later bedtimes. But for many students across the county, this year’s end of session will be much more. For those marking the end of elementary, middle, or high school, the last days of school also mark significant milestones in their life journey. So it is for the sixth graders of White Oaks Elementary School in Springfield. And this year, thanks to the efforts of parents, staff, and community contributors, they have a new way to mark that milestone — a “spirit rock.”
Standing by the rock on their last day of school on June 17, Principal Josh Douds spoke to the students about their role in establishing the new tradition for their elementary school graduation. Each White Oak sixth grader had written their name on the rock the day before. Douds reminded them of what the rock represents. “Some of you have been here for seven years. Next year you travel. Now a symbol of what you have done here remains at White Oak. Your names will be painted over next year, but will always be here. As rocks are formed layer by layer, so will your names be a legacy at the base layer, where your names will stay together.”
Douds’ words about staying together on the rock struck a chord with friends Mikael Abraham and Gabija Kouck. Because students at White Oak travel to two different locations for their middle school years, Lake Braddock and Robinson. Next year the friends will be separated and travel different roads, to different schools. Abraham shared that it “… would be tough. We’ve been best friends all year; since fifth grade.”
The girls’ reaction reflects one of the reasons Doud and parent organizers May Kang and Libby Smith wanted to support the project and create a tangible reminder of students’ White Oak time. So students could “have a sense of belonging, and leave a mark.”
A spirit rock project is a heavy effort, literally; in this case, three and a half tons of effort. Organizer Kang said, “This event would not have been possible without the generosity of our community and our local businesses.” The stone itself was donated by Luck Stone Quarry, of Chantilly. The quarry has been in operation at their location since 1928, providing rock, chips, and dust for county and state roads. Transportation of that tonnage required the professional handling of Aaron’s Towing, of Gainesville, and a tow truck larger than one typically used for cars. A random axle rollback, with a crane attachment for precision unloading and setting, did the job. How did a Gainesville company come to deliver a Chantilly rock to a Springfield school? Principal Doud had involved the two companies with a spirit rock project during his tenure at a Centreville school. Both Luck Stone and Aaron’s Towing management remembered and wanted to help again. The local Burke Nursery & Garden Center will assist with identifying plants to beautify the area around the rock. Over the summer, Capital Murals, which specializes in school murals, will create custom art around the rock’s side edges. For the mural and other items not donated, the school’s parent group held several fund raisers, including bake sales; a fundraising day with local restaurant Five Guys; a Coin Wars game; and their annual basketball contest between 6th graders and the teaching staff.
Their new spirit rock creates a tradition already practiced at other schools in the area. The rock is a typical igneous rock in the granite family. It might otherwise have been destined for crushing into small pieces to be included in an asphalt or concrete mixture, perhaps to become an indistinguishable part of a highway. Now it will command notice as the embodiment of the school’s spirit. White Oak always rocked the spirit: “Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.” Now they have a spirit rock too.