Name Game Begins For Middle School

Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School? Tripps Run Middle School? The Falls Church School Board was presented Tuesday with a list of six final options for naming the new middle school now under construction on the George Mason High School campus. A School Naming Committee narrowed names submitted from the community to 29 last month, and then trimmed the number to the six it forwarded to the School Board this week.

The six names are: Nellie Henderson, Dolley Madison, Anne Mason, George Mason, Eleanor Roosevelt and Tripps Run. The middle school is currently called George Mason, but that was a result of sharing facilities with the high school by the same name. With the new building now under construction, the middle school will have the option for a distinct identity for the first time, although the School Board may still decide to hold onto the George Mason name. The final decision is not expected before the New Year. Excerpts from the written justifications for the six finalist names include:

1. Dolley Madison. One of the more memorable First Ladies, she was very kind and compassionate to those less fortunate and she lived in Virginia for most of her life. Known as the first person to serve ice cream in the White House, she started the White House Inaugural Ball and Easter Egg Roll traditions.

2. Eleanor Roosevelt. As First Lady, a humanitarian and civic leader who worked for the welfare of youth, black Americans, the poor and women at home and abroad. She helped develop the United Nations and became a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly specializing in humanitarian, social and cultural issues. In 1948 she drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She revolutionized the office of the First Lady.

3. Anne Eibeck Mason. Wife of George Mason and mother of his 11 children, it was said of her upon her death that she "led a blameless and exemplary life, was never heard to utter one peevish or fretful complaint, was blessed with clear and sound judgment, was an easy and agreeable companion, kind neighbor and steadfast friend."

4. Tripps Run. The watershed of this creek drains two-thirds of the City of Falls Church and drains into the Potomac River at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. From there, it feeds into the Chesapeake Bay. The name reflects on the school system's dedication to the environment.

5. George Mason. By holding onto the same name it shares with the high school on the same campus, the name choice would not overcomplicate the matter with totally different names, but preserve the connections between the two schools, as they will share playing fields and many other facilities. Having two schools on the same property with different names will be confusing and a waste of tax dollars.

6. Nellie (Mary Ellen) Henderson. An educator and civil rights activist for over 50 years, Ms. Henderson taught at the first school for African Americans in Falls Church and led a campaign that resulted in the construction of the James Lee School for African American students. She was principal at that school for over 30 years and worked with her husband for over 60 years to improve race relations in Falls Church.

The School Naming Committee consisted of 16 members from different school and community-based organizations.