School News & Notes

Percussion Player Invited to Indianapolis

Members of the George C. Marshall High School Percussion Ensemble have been invited to perform at the Music for All National Concert Festival in Indianapolis in March 2009.

The ensemble was selected from a competitive field by blind audition and was judged by percussion professionals and university percussion directors.

Students Step in When Needy Left Hanging

When a plea came in last Tuesday to help feed 34 needy families in Falls Church, The Congressional Schools of Virginia immediately responded. The families in need were relying on the support of the Falls Church Culmore Resource Center, a public-private community support partnership between Fairfax County and a number of non-profit agencies, to provide food and supplies for their Thanksgiving dinner. When a sponsor pulled out at the last minute, the Center realized it would be short on food for a large number of families this Thanksgiving. Upon hearing this news, students at Congressional took action, gathering up hundreds of canned goods that had been collected over the past two weeks as part of the school’s Student Senate Thanksgiving food drive.

In addition, the school matched two generous donations made by school families and purchased 34 turkeys to make sure each of the needy families had a complete Thanksgiving meal. The canned goods were sorted by Congressional students and staff on Tuesday afternoon and transported by school bus to the Culmore Center near Bailey’s Crossroads in Falls Church. The delivery also included 34 cards handmade by Congressional students that contained festive drawings and uplifting holiday messages. Marilyn Dukes Bursh of the Fairfax County Department of Family Services referred to the outpouring of support from Congressional and the Center’s other sponsors as a miracle. “Last night, the rooms at Culmore Family Resource Center were brimming with food,” Bursh said.

Mustangs to Put on Winter Holiday Show

Performing the sounds of the season, the George Mason High School Instrumental Music Department will be presenting their Winter Concert on Thursday, Dec. 11. The concert will feature Russell Penny, opera soloist singing “Nessun Dorma”, “Come to Me” from Brigadoon and other pieces with the symphonic band as well as selected pieces from the percussion and jazz ensembles, concert band and chamber ensembles including brass quintet and the clarinet and flute quartets.

This musical night of opera, soundtracks, holiday and wind ensemble classics will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the school’s auditorium (7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). For more information, call Mary Jo Webster at 703-248-5500, ext. 3019.

Marshall Stage to Present ‘Rimers of Eldritch‘

George C. Marshall High School Theatre will present “The Rimers of Eldritch,” on Dec. 4 – 6. at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students, which can be bought on-line at www.theatreatmarshall.org. The performance will be in the school’s auditorium (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church).

McLean H.S. Choir Sings in the Holidays

Instead of ringing in the holidays, students are singing them in. McLean High School will be performing its Holiday Spotlight at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 5 in the school’s auditorium (1633 Davidson Rd., McLean).