At Belmont Station Elementary School, all of the students are stars.

When the school opened in 2004, it took its mascot from the skies and incorporated the stars into its motto: “Shining stars today, brilliant stars tomorrow.”

Principal Patricia McGinley said she hopes her students keep reaching for the stars.

Each morning, students in kindergarten through fifth grade put together a five- or six-minute newscast complete with student news anchors and camera operators. “Good Morning Belmont Station” informs fellow students of the day’s top news stories and other items on the minds of students – including the lunch menu.

McGinley said her students are immersed in technology. Each classroom has four computers in addition to the school’s computer lab.

The school is also one of two Loudoun County elementary schools to participate in a pilot program that gives students the chance to learn from thousands of short educational video clips.

All 600 students at Belmont Station are part of a special project each year specific to their grade. Third-graders, for example, participate in an animal fair in which students learn about their animal by creating a presentation that culminates with an evening program for parents.

The programs – one for all grade levels at the school – are scheduled throughout the school year.

McGinley said the PTA and other parents are active in the school.

“Parents are very good supervisors in their education,” she said.

She said one of the school’s main challenges isn’t unique to Belmont Station Elementary. In a society where both parents have jobs outside the home, parents are increasingly relying on schools in their busy lives, she said.

“We’re trying very hard to let children be children,” McGinley said. “We make sure they’re safe without making them apprehensive.”

According to the school’s improvement plan, 96.3 percent of students passed all required SOL tests in 2005-06, which is well above the district’s goal of having 90 percent of students pass. The improvement plan indicates that 83 percent of first-grade students are reading at or above grade level, and 99 percent of students are satisfied with the school.

McGinley praised her students’ performance on standard assessment tests, crediting a talented teaching staff she brought with her when the school opened its doors.

“We try hard to be academically serious but child-friendly,” she said, adding that the school also teaches students to be “respectful and gentle.”

The school has two large annual events that serve to unite the students. A fall festival in late September or early October features a magician, outdoor grilling and carnival events, while the Winter Wonderland event celebrates the holidays.

In a school where students are known as stars, McGinley said the sky is the limit.

“So far, we have all good news to report,” she said.