Fairfax Public Schools Hires New Staffer

Susan Quinn, a 14-year veteran of Fairfax County Public Schools, was named the new assistant superintendent for financial services and chief financial officer Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Quinn assumed her new duties on Sept. 8. She has replaced Deirdra McLaughlin, who retired from the school system. Quinn, who is a certified public accountant, most recently served as FCPS acting assistant superintendent for financial services.

A graduate of Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Quinn is a member of the Association of School Business Officials, the Government Finance Officers Association and the Virginia Government Finance Officers Association.

Spring Hill Composts Cafeteria Wastes

Students are working to reduce trash by composting their cafeteria waste at Spring Hill Elementary School in Fairfax.
Instead of throwing away all their leftover food, the students now sort their lunch leftovers. Each class fills a small container at the lunch table as the students clean up after lunch. Two students from each class then take the scraps to the compost bin outdoors.

Once the compost has decomposed and is finished, the compost will be used as free fertilize the gardens and habitats in the Spring Hill outdoor classrooms.
Spring Hill’s science teacher, Alison Bauer, has been helping the students with their project and has received a great deal of guidance and support from Carol Hunt, a kindergarten teacher at Westlawn Elementary School. Westlawn students have been composting their cafeteria waste for the past two years.

Graham Road Elementary Wins Blue Ribbon Award

Graham Road Elementary School has been named a 2008 Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Graham Road, is one of 10 Virginia schools honored as either academically superior or having demonstrated dramatic gains in student achievement, specifically focusing on the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act.
All of the public Blue Ribbon Schools earned awards earlier this year through the Virginia Index of Performance, at which time Graham Road also received the Virginia Board of Education’s VIP Excellence Award.
The U.S. Department of Education will honor Virginia’s Blue Ribbon Schools during an awards ceremony in October. Principal Molly Bensinger-Lacy and one teacher will be invited to the ceremony to receive a plaque and a flag signifying their school’s Blue Ribbon status.

Bishop O’Connell Crew Holds Car Wash

The Bishop O’Connell High School Crew Team will hold a car wash fund raiser for new oars on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Two Sisters Coffee Co. (255 W. Broad St., Falls Church).

Fairfax County Students Earn Semifinalist Title

One hundred and ninety-four Fairfax County Public Schools students have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for 2009. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, which also serves as the Governor’s Regional School for Northern Virginia, is home to one hundred and forty-three of the semifinalists.
The semifinalists are eligible to compete for 8,200 National Merit Scholarship awards worth $35 million that will be awarded in 2009. For more information and names of the semifinalists, visit www.fcps.com.

F.C. Schools Celebrate New School Year

Hundreds of Falls Church City Public School employees celebrated a new school year together during a recent staff convocation and recognition program at George Mason High School. The annual first-day gathering gives new and veteran staff members a chance to meet and reconnect after summer vacation and to rededicate themselves to their calling.

Veteran educators were recognized for their years of service, and staff members were treated to video updates on the massive work undertaken by the FCCPS custodial staff in preparing school buildings for a new year, an update on construction of the new building that will house the Central Office, and a feature recognizing the contributions of the city’s public safety personnel.

J.E.B. Stuart High School Teacher Abroad

Social Studies teacher Rebecca Watt, has been selected for the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, and is traveling to Ghana. Mr. Eric Dzakuma, a teacher from Ghana, will be teaching students at J.E.B. Stuart High School for the 2008-09 School year.

Watt will be keeping a web log of her experience throughout the year. For more information and links to Watt’s blog, visit www.fcps.edu/StuartHS.

Congressional Schools of VA to Hold Parent Meeting

The Congressional Schools of Virginia Parent Organization is holding a parent meeting today in the Lower Middle Library at 5:30 – 7 p.m. Childcare and refreshments will be provided. For more information, call 703-533-9711.

Nun Fun Run to Be Held at St. James Catholic School

After a large turn out for the Nun Fun Run held at the St. James Centennial in 2006, the run is back. The Nun Fun Run will be held in lot B, at 7:30 a.m. with the actual race starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20. To take part in the run, one must buy a $12 t-shirt which serves as the runner’s means of entry.

The run is approximately a mile long and proceeds go to benefit Camilla Hall, a retirement home for the order of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary which teach at St. James and Bishop O’Connell. Refreshments are provided after the run. For more information, call St. James High School at 703-533-1182.

Fashion Show Features Marshall Students

Macy’s in Tyson’s Corner Mall will be putting on a fashion show Saturday Sept. 20 at 1:30 p.m., featuring George C. Marshall High School marketing students from Ms. Zivney’s class. Students will be modeling homecoming fashions and casual “Girls-Night-Out” designs. All are invited to come out and support Marshall High School and “Shop for a Cause,” which supports local non-profit organizations. For more information, call 703-714-5400.