Kendall Demonstration Elementary School - KDES

The KDES Early Childhood Education classes hosted a fun Spring Festival.

Students explored nature through hands-on play with elements from nature; encouraging curiosity, creativity, and a connection to the world we live in.

A fun event that brought families together.

Mario Hernandez, also known as MannyASL, is a professional American Sign Language storyteller. He is a natural performer who loves sharing stories with children and making learning fun.

Originally from Brooklyn, MannyASL connects easily with students of all ages through his expressive and engaging storytelling style. He brings stories to life by connecting ASL, pictures, and English text in ways that are easy to understand.
He also teaches children and adults how to create their own ASL stories using movement, emotion, rhythm, and clear expression. His goal is to inspire confidence and a love for storytelling. MannyASL has been teaching at The Catholic University of America for over 20 years, just a mile from Gallaudet University.

He created Manny ASL: Stories in American Sign Language to help preserve and celebrate Deaf culture. He earned his degrees from Gallaudet University and continues to lead ASL storytelling workshops.

He lives in Maryland near Washington, DC with his wife, Senda Benaissa, who works at Gallaudet University, and their two daughters, Mia and Emma, who are proud CODAs.

His motto is:
“Storytelling ignites the power of knowledge.”

As we celebrate the last day of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we are thankful for ChunJiEum (translated as Korea Pure Sound) percussion group for visiting KDES.

Based in Virginia, ChunJiEum introduced students to traditional Korean folk music, Poongmul, through hands-on experience with a variety of percussion instruments.

Students learned how different drums and gongs represent elements of nature and explored the unique sounds produced by each instrument, from deep-toned gongs to resonant barrel drums.

Thank you to ChunJiEum for sharing these rich cultural traditions and providing our students with such a meaningful learning experience.

Congratulations to the KDES Pre-Kindergarten graduates.

Show our Pre-K students some love in the comment section. We look forward to celebrating with you all at the promotion ceremony on June 4.

Swipe to meet our graduates

Congratulations to the KDES 5th grade graduates.

Show our 5th graders some love in the comment section. We look forward to celebrating you all at graduation on June 9.

Swipe to meet our graduates

Congratulations to KDES 8th grade graduates.

Show these students some love in the comment section. We look forward to celebrating you all at promotion on June 10.

Swipe to meet our graduates

KDES will close at 3:15 p.m. on Friday, May 22. School will not be in session on Monday, May 25.
Classes will resume on Tuesday, May 26.