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Teachers at St. Jude Catholic School hope two pieces of history from George Washington's Mount Vernon estate will help instill a greater sense of leadership in students.

The Aspen Hill school last week received an American flag that had flown over the Virginia home of the nation's first president and a full-sized framed replica of the painting "Porthole Portrait of George Washington" by Rembrandt Peale.

Third-grade teacher Deborah Hannan won the items in a drawing during a December leadership assembly and candlelight tour of Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens.

"We're very excited about having the flag and the portrait brought here," she said. "To inspire leadership, we're going to fly the flag over the school one day and then bring it down and put it in a case. The portrait is also very special because it's inspirational and invokes this idea of leadership."

Hannan added that she hopes students will feel compelled to become more active leaders at school and in their communities.

"We are also working on leadership in the classrooms and throughout the school — how to be a good leader and responsible citizen and doing good for others," she said. "George Washington presents a very good example of that."

The presentation also included a "visit" from one of Washington's friends. Striding around the room in breeches and a long coat, Mount Vernon actor Tom Plott took on the role of Dr. James Craik, Washington's physician.

"I met my friend George Washington during the French and Indian War," he said to the students.

He regaled them with tales of how Washington and his Virginia militiamen were overwhelmed by the French army at Fort Necessity, but continued to fight. Washington and his men were eventually forced to surrender to the French, but it showed that Washington was a strong leader, Plott said.

He also recalled a tale known as the "Indian Prophecy," which tells of a time when Craik and Washington met with a Native American chief who said Washington would not be harmed in battle and would go on to become a "chief of many nations."

Plott said the prophecy later proved to be true during the Revolutionary War when Washington had horses shot out from under him and his coat was pierced by bullets, but he did not die.

Plott said Washington was not only a great leader, but he was always willing to put his country first. He added that Washington's actions were admirable considering he had aspired to be a farmer, not the nation's first leader.

He urged students to look at Washington's portrait and not see just a celebrated man, but to also recognize that he had qualities they are all capable of possessing.

"Think that George Washington was a great person and I can be a great person, too," Plott said.

Kelly Kuzma, an eighth-grader, said she was excited about the school receiving the flag and portrait.

"I think it's going to be a wonderful reminder of how great Washington was and everything he accomplished for this country," the 13-year-old Rockville resident said. "It will also remind us that we can be great leaders, too."