Fairfax County Public Schools Surpass State, National SAT Scores

Fairfax County Public High School students in the class of 2008 have outperformed others in Virginia and across the nation on the SAT with an average of 1654 on the three-part test, according to figures released by FCPS Superintendent Jack D. Dale.

This is the highest average score for FCPS since the SAT expanded from two to three sections in 2006 with the additional test in writing. Several FCPS schools showed significant increases in their average SAT scores.

“The increase in scores at these schools is noteworthy and deserves recognition,” said Dale. “It shows dedication on the part of the students who are headed toward college as well as the teachers who help prepare them for higher education.”

For more information, contact Kathleen Oliver, director of the FCPS Office of Student Testing, at 703-208-7776 or visit www.fcps.edu.

School Board to Meet at New Time

The Falls Church City School Board voted Aug. 15 to change its schedule format to strive to make meetings more efficient. The school board will continue to meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month in the chambers of city hall, but the boards work sessions will begin at 7 p.m., closed meetings will take place at 8:15 p.m. and regular meetings will begin at 8:30 p.m. The new schedule took effect Aug. 26. Work sessions on alternate Tuesdays at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School will be held only when needed. Board meeting times, agendas and materials are always available to the public under the school board section of their web site: www.fccps.org/board.

Fairfax County Public Schools Releases Preliminary 2007-08 SOL Data

Students in Fairfax County Public Schools improved their results on the Virginia Standards of Learning tests with higher pass rates for all subgroups this year compared with 2006-07 results, and more than 40 percent of all tests taken received a score of pass advanced, according to 2007-08 preliminary data released August 27 by the Virginia Department of Education. Based on this data, the school division made adequate yearly progress (AYP) under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) this year. SOL tests are part of a long-standing Virginia program of educational accountability and, since 2002, have been used to determine AYP for schools and school divisions under NCLB. In addition, 134 of the 190 FCPS schools made AYP this year, up from 119 schools last year. For more information. visit www.fcps.edu.

ESOL Placement Testing and Registration

Fall classes are now enrolling for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) through Fairfax County Public Schools Adult and Community Education programs. Placement Testing is required of all new students and begins Sept. 2. Please do not bring children to testing, registration, or class. Please arrive on time to start the test and allow two hours for completion. Only 75 students can be tested at each site. After finishing the tests, you will be given an appointment to come back for placement and registration. Individuals with F1 or F2 visas (student visa holders and their spouses) are not eligible for literacy through high advanced classes. The following fees are due at registration: $15 registration fee, book fee, and tuition. Pay with money order, check, or credit card. No cash will be accepted. For more information, please call 703-714-5560 or 703-506-2200.

Volunteers are also needed to assist ESOL teachers at registration and in classes. In addition, volunteers are needed for administrative assistance at major sites. Call Carolyn Kulishek at 703-227-2380.

Bishop O’Connell Soccer Coach Goes for Victory

Head Coach Alberto Starace played for his 500th career victory on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at Flint Hill High School. Starace has been the girls head coach since 1985. During that time he has won 1 National Championship, 10 WCAC Tournament Championships and 15 WCAC Regular Season Championships. His teams have been ranked in the nations top 25 at least one-time over the past 15 years.
Starace has built his program not on winning but rather on developing players. Since 1990, Starace has coached 6 players that have been named Washington Post Player of the Year and 4 All-Americans. He has lead over 30 girls that went on to play at the Division 1 college level and over 80 more that went on to play in college at the division two and three levels. Visit www.bishopoconnell.org for more on the game.

Everyday Green Lecture Series

Money tight? Come learn how to save money for your home or business by taking steps to be more energy efficient, as Adult and Community Education (ACE) offers this lecture series, Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 7 – 9 p.m. Tuition is $15. For more information, visit www.fcps.edu/aceclasses/.

Increasing Children’s Awareness of F.C. Government

A field trip on photography proved to have a hidden point on a student trip Wednesday Aug. 27. Laura Hull from “Creative Cauldron,” brought 19 students from her summer class (grades 3-9) to meet with me Shaun van Steyn and receive an introduction to digital and film photography. The trip took students to City Hall to view the exhibit “Without Walls.” At the end of the trip, the children had the chance to meet Tom Clinton, and hear about his role as Commissioner of the Revenue. Most children’s attention span is usually 20 minutes, but they were still asking questions an hour and 20 minutes later. Steyn spoke with Mayor Robin Gardener and others, and all agree that this idea could be developed into an official program.