News and Notes

Mustangs Set to Jazz Up Kennedy Center

The George Mason High School Jazz Ensemble was selected by audition to perform at the Kennedy Center on Monday, March 7. Friends, family, and fans are invited to attend and may ride on the fan bus, leaving at 3 p.m.

Those performing are: Stephen Donnelly, Matt Dorr, Tina Parson, Emily Perry, David DeLeon, Bailey Walton, Yusof Becker, Alex Nette, Ben Greenberg, Rachel Taylor, Andrew Walden, Adam Gann, Daniel Thielman, Nathan Ballou, Jeff Williams, Mike CamperBerry, Maggie Person, Seth Ensign, Del Hendersen, Corey Sites and Tina Parson.

Haycock Student Wins Letter-Writing Competition

Congratulations to Natalie Kim, a sixth-grade student at Haycock Elementary School, for winning first place in the 2004-2005 Level I Letters About Literature writing competition. Students in grades four through 12 were invited to write a letter to the author of their favorite book. Kim wrote her letter to Christopher Paul Curtis, author of The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963. More than 1,200 students entered the contest.

Kim has been invited to appear at the March 16 Opening Ceremony of the 11th Annual Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville. She will also receive a cash prize, a Target gift card and will be entered in the competition at the national level.

Curling, Anyone?

Former Falls Church residents, Derek Sutra and Charrissa Lin, will be competing in the U.S. Mixed National Curling Championships to be held from March 13-19 in Laurel, Md. Tickets can be purchased online at www.2005mixednationals.com. Go support the home-town favorites, or just go to find out why on Earth people from the Mid-Atlantic got involved in curling! Good luck to Derek and Charrissa.

Heads of the Class

Congratulations to Romano lowing students of University of Mary Washington who were recognized by the Dean’s List for the Fall Semester of 2004: Jessica D’Alessandro, Litza Amurrio, Ryan Jenkins, Philip Newton, Bryan Reynolds and Anne Wanlund. Congratulations to Kimberly MacDonald who was recognized for the President’s List for the fall semester of 2004.

T.J. Receives Honor

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School was recognized as a Title 1 Distinguished School by the Board of Education. Thomas Jefferson was one of only three schools in Northern Virginia to raise the achievement of economically disadvantaged students and meet or exceed the objectives of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Henneberg Named to FCEF Board of Directors

Congratulations to Molly Henneberg, a 1991 graduate of George Mason High School, for joining the Board of Directors of the Falls Church Education Foundation.

McCray Dubbed Director

Paul E. McCray has become the Director of Park Operations for the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority after being the long-time manager of the 45-mile Railroad Regional Park Trail.

Get Well Soon

Last, but not least, the News-Press wishes a speedy recovery to former Falls Church Mayor Betty Blystone, who underwent neck surgery in February.