Silverbrook Elementary School

Here follows a history of the school as published on the Fairfax County Public Schools website:

Silverbrook Elementary School opened on September 6, 1988. The land on which our school rests has been inhabited by human beings for centuries. Archaeological findings in nearby South Run District Park reveal artifacts that date back some 5,000 years. The inhabitants at the time of European contact were probably members of the Taux (Dogue) tribe, an Algonquin-speaking group of American Indians.

Silverbrook Elementary School was built to replace the aging Lorton Elementary School. Lorton had been built in 1934 under the school consolidation plans of Superintendent W. T. Woodson. Because of the age of Lorton’s facility, its location adjacent to I-95, and its small grounds area, the Fairfax County School Board decided that instead of refurbishing the existing facility a new school would be built. Because of anticipated growth as well as traffic and demographic patterns, the Silverbrook site was proposed and accepted.

The old Lorton Elementary School closed in 1988 with the opening of Silverbrook. The building now houses transportation offices for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

On December 5, 1986, ground was broken on eleven acres of land surrounded by parkland in the Crosspointe subdivision. Take a moment to explore some photographs taken during the construction of Silverbrook Elementary School:

The contract for the construction of Silverbrook was awarded by the School Board in December 1986. Silverbrook was built by the V. F. Pavone Construction Company. Silverbrook was built at a cost of $5.2 million. Silverbrook was built to replace the aging Lorton Elementary School. It was anticipated that approximately 390 students would be enrolled at Silverbrook on opening day in September 1988.

"I remember visiting over the summer watching the final prep for the opening of a new school. Most of the staff was new to the area. We were all excited to open a new school and meet everyone."
~ Suzanne Frederick, Instructional Assistant, 1988-2018

A New School Opens
When Silverbrook opened, it had the capacity for 850 students. The school included a large carpeted gymnasium, a fully equipped cafeteria, and an expansive automated library. The building officially opened its doors on August 16, 1988, to a staff of 16 classroom teachers, two special education teachers, six specialists, seven itinerant teachers, seven instructional aides, 12 support staff members, three School-Age Child Care staff members, and S. Yvonne McCall, principal.

Principal S. Yvonne McCall (1988-1995) taken during the 1988-89 school year. In 1993, Principal McCall was the recipient of the U.S. Department of Education’s National Distinguished Principals Award for Virginia.

"I remember the building being brand new with a comfortable, “home” atmosphere. The staff members were caring with a warm attitude. My favorite memory is playing what sixth grade teacher Mr. Curtis labeled “Battle Ball” in P.E. class."
~ Corrie M. Frederick, Class of 1989

"I was part of the first sixth grade class. The school was brand new. The principal made sure we took care of things in the school. All of the teachers were fun to be around and they handled all the kids professionally with care."
~ Nikita Mack-Robinson, Class of 1989

Silverbrook’s Mission
The original mission statement for Silverbrook read: To implement a strong and well-balanced instructional program for all students. To create a well-disciplined, warm, and nurturing environment. To recognize and value the diverse needs of all students. To utilize community support in fostering high expectations for all students. To “Make It Happen” for Our Community, Our School, Our Staff… and most importantly, Our Students.

The 1990s Bring Changes
During the 1990s, steady student population growth in southern Fairfax County led to overcrowding at Silverbrook Elementary School.

"I remember during my time there that we started implementing trailers. Strings was moved to a trailer. Art was moved to a trailer. Even some P.E. classes were moved to a trailer. My sixth grade year was completely in a trailer. Due to the loss of field space, I also remember having to do the mile run for our Presidential Fitness testing on the blacktop where we ran back and forth between a set of cones."
~ Aaron Woo, Class of 1994

The seahawk has been Silverbrook’s mascot since the founding of our school.

In 1995, Robert Holderbaum was appointed the second principal of our school. Bob Holderbaum had previously served as the principal of Greenbriar West and Newington Forest elementary schools before coming to “The Brook.”

Principal Robert F. Holderbaum (1995-2008)

The Lellinger Reading Garden
The Lellinger Reading Garden at Silverbrook was created in honor of librarian Linda K. Lellinger. Ms. Lellinger was born in Illinois and moved to northern Virginia in 1963. She worked for many years as a librarian at Bush Hill and Lorton elementary schools before joining the staff of Silverbrook. She passed away in February 1996, and the garden was created as lasting memorial in her honor to inspire future generations of readers.

In the News
In the spring of 2001, Silverbrook third grade teacher Edward Heffernan was named the Fairfax County Public Schools Teacher of the Year and was a recipient of The Washington Post’s Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award. Take a moment to watch a video about Mr. Heffernan that was produced for the FCPS Red Apple 21 television series Insight, as well as some additional news stories featuring Silverbrook. The other topics covered include a Snapshot profile of our school in 2005, the Read Aloud Program, the implementation of full-day kindergarten, and donations to Haiti.

The Mod
Student enrollment at Silverbrook continued to rise in the first decade of the 21st century, reaching a peak of 1,253 students in April 2007. In January 2003, the School Board authorized the construction of classroom modular buildings at Silverbrook. The modular classrooms replaced eight classroom trailers, and came equipped with interior hallways and bathrooms.

"I started kindergarten at Silverbrook in 2000. There were a lot of renovations while I was at Silverbrook. We got a new playground, the rock wall was installed in the gym, and the Mod was built! My fourth and sixth grade classrooms were both in the Mod. I remember we had our sixth grade carnival along the covered path that connected the Mod to the school. Silverbrook is very special to me. The incredible staff made me love school and love learning. There are so many people from Silverbrook who made me feel special and valuable; one of the most important gifts anybody can give a child.”
~ Patrick Hulse, Class of 2007

In August 2006, the Connection Newspaper reported that a new four-room modular classroom had been installed at Silverbrook Elementary. “To help accommodate the school's 1,205 students, the school now has 22 outdoor classrooms, housed in a 10-room modular, two four-room quads, two single-room trailers and what Principal Robert Holderbaum calls a "duplex." New faces will abound at the school this year, as a total of 14 new teachers have been added to the staff. "We've expanded our English for Speakers of Other Languages program to help meet the growing need in our area for this service," Holderbaum said.”

Principal Melaney Mackin (2008 - 2020)
Principal Holderbaum retired in 2008, and was succeeded by principal Melaney Mackin. Relief to the overcrowding at Silverbrook finally came in the fall of 2009 with the opening of Laurel Hill Elementary School.

New Leadership
Principal Holderbaum retired in 2008, and was succeeded by our current principal Melaney Mackin. Relief to the overcrowding at Silverbrook finally came in the fall of 2009 with the opening of Laurel Hill Elementary School.

The Spirit Rock
In October 2011, the Vulcan Materials Company in Lorton donated the large granite rock that rests in our school’s front garden. The “spirit rock” weighs 14,000 pounds, and was personally chosen by Principal Mackin when she went on a tour of the company's quarry. Every year, the rock is freshly painted with a new design by students.

What’s in a Name?
Have you ever wondered how Silverbrook Elementary School got its name? Find out in this video produced for the Fairfax County Public Schools cable television channel Red Apple 21.

The Silverbrook School was located on Silverbrook Road next to Silverbrook United Methodist Church. The schoolhouse was built between 1896 and 1904 on land donated by the Rosenhammer family. It burned down around 1919 and was never rebuilt.