FCPS Names Reed Smith LLP ‘Partner of the Year’
Providing backpacks filled with enough school supplies for an entire year to each Graham Road Elementary student is just one of the many public services Reed Smith LLP has offered the school. The law firm, one of the 15 largest in the world, was named by Fairfax County Public Schools as its “2007-2008 Partner of the Year.” By helping those in need, Reed Smith has been a decade-long force for the students, their parents and teachers at Graham Road Elementary. Several Reed Smith personnel go to the school each week to mentor students.
Area Student to Perform in 2009 Rose Parade
Shelley Gresko, a sophomore at George Mason High School, will have an once-in-a-lifetime experience as one of the 19 flutists performing in National Honor Band in the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade. Among hundreds of applicants across the nation, Gresko was selected by Bands of America to be part of a 300-piece national ensemble with winds, percussion and a flag and dance team. She will spend a week in southern California performing at the Tournament of Roses Bandfest and Disneyland. The 5.5 mile Tournament of Roses Parade, “America’s New Year’s Celebration,” will kick off at 8 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
Student Performances Win 3 Medals
Fifth grader, Tobias Schneider, did not leave the 2008 Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association’s Solo and Ensemble Festival empty-handed. Instead, the 10-year-old left with three medals after receiving superior ratings for his violin and baritone performances. He received an excellent rating for several pieces with the Folk Fiddle Club. Tobias attends Timber Lane Elementary School.
Two FCPS Students Win Awards of Merit
Sara Crossland of Westfield High School and Alexander Park of Kilmer Middle School both received an Award of Merit for their participation in the National PTA Reflections program, which offers students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition. Crossland was recognized for dance choreography in the senior division while Park was recognized for visual art in the middle-junior division. Both students will have their works featured on the National PTA web site during the summer.
Eco-Friendly Club Hosts Fair
The Stratford Landing Elementary K-Kids Club will host the school’s first Environmental Fair on Friday, June 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Stratford Landing café. The fair will feature demonstrations by the following: Te Raptor Conservancy, Friends of Huntley Meadows Park, Cool Neighborhoods, and the American Geological Institute. The National Wildlife Federation and Fairfax County Water Authority will also be in attendance. Fair attendees can learn how to live greener, check out a Smart Car, play environmental games, and enjoy healthful snacks. An environment-friendly prize will be given to the winner who can guess which car present has the dirtiest engine. The event is free and open to the public. Contact Maura Caulfield at 703-619-3600.
Approval of New Day Care Fee Schedule
The Falls Church City School Board has approved a two percent increase in day care fees for the 2008-09 school year or roughly six dollars more per month at the top end of the scale. The increase reflects rising operating expenses and follows a careful review of last year’s major fee restructuring. Last summer, fees were restructured and set at 3.5 percent of household income, far less than the national average for school age child care fees of 5 to 9 percent of household income. Reduced fees are still available for families meeting certain income eligibility requirements. And for all families, there is a sibling discount of 25 percent, after the first child.
Mason Musician Selected for Vermont Competition
Morgan Moscati, a George Mason High School International Baccalaureate student, was one of 18 U.S. students who traveled to Vermont to have her original music composition performed by professional musicians at Chandler Music Hall in Randolph, Vermont. Morgan’s original composition, "Sassy Strut", scored for woodwind quintet, was chosen from forty-four other entries in a composition contest sponsored by the Vermont MIDI Project.
Gr8s enjoy the great outdoors
On June 2, the Gr8s of George Mason descended on the Hemlock Overlook Center for Experimental Education in Clifton, Virginia for a day filled with team building activities including balance beams, wire crossings, the peanut butter pit, and the zip line. Students and their teachers were able to bond while participating in partnered events. Students were forced out of their comfort zones, the theme of the day, in order to complete given tasks and achieve the goals set by their Hemlock guides.
All Night Grad Night Underway
The All Night Grad Celebration is gearing up for its 20th year and organizers of the event are seeking enthusiastic parents to volunteer to make this the wonderful occasion it has been for years. The celebration follows the graduation ceremonies on June 11, from 11:30 a.m. until 5:30 a.m. the following day. There are three shifts, with various jobs for each. Volunteers can contact a committee member by visiting, gmhs_angc_volunteers@yahoo.com.
Yorktown’s Arts Festival
As part of Yorktown High School’s first “Arts Festival, the school’s art, music, and theater departments will be represented, giving student the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents and abilities. On June 15, the festival’s finale will be Yorktown’s Madrigal Singers’ Recital at 4 p.m. at the Memorial Baptist Church (3455 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington).
