Falls Church Robotics Team Set to Compete
The George Mason High School Robotics Team is gearing up for the D.C. Regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotic competition from Feb. 26 – 28 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (801 Mount Vernon Place NW, Washington, D.C.).
All are welcome to attend the event. Last year, the Mason team won the Chesapeake Regional competition against over 60 teams with their robot “Stingray,” named in honor of Steven Earl “Stingray” Walsh. The team will compete at this year’s Chesapeake competition, too. FIRST’s creator, Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway, envisioned the program to inspire future engineers and scientists who will solve the problems of tomorrow.
The PTA Mount Daniel Book Fair for PTA Fundraising
The Mount Daniel Book Fair is here just in time for Spring Break. The Spring Book Fair at Mount Daniel will take place Feb. 23 – 27. This years’ selection includes titles for pre-K, easy, young and middle readers, science and non-fiction buffs, Spanish language, special interest books for the parents, discounted books and many titles that will appeal to upper elementary students.
Evening sales will take place Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Parents can also visit the sale during school hours Wednesday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 9 – 10:30 a.m. on Friday. Books will be available for cash and carry or ordered for delivery through your student’s backpack.
FCPS Students Participate in Internships
Eight students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) are participating in internships as part of Science Policy Program at the school, a one-semester course that focuses on the importance of understanding the intersection of science and public policy and enables the students to take advantage of their proximity to the nation’s capital. TJHSST is a Fairfax County public school.
The students and the organizations at which they will intern are: Jackson Prestwood, National Science Foundation, National Science Board; Xiaoxiao Lin, Federation of American Scientists; Dolly Xu, National Academies of Science, Division on Earth and Life Sciences; Alex Kim, National Academies of Science, Division on Earth and Life Sciences; Phillip Marlow, Federal Communication Commission, Media Bureau Engineering Division; Brett Evans, U.S. Climate Change Science Program Office, Varun Bansal, Environmental Protection Agency, Wetlands Division; and Rosa Kang, Global Citizen Public Trade Watch. The internships offer students the opportunity to experience and observe the process of making national science policy two afternoons each week for six weeks.
Firefighters Teach Fire Safety
Firefighters from the McLean Fire Department went to Chesterbrook Elementary School in McLean on Friday, Feb. 13, to teach second graders about fire safety. The students got a tour of the fire engine and all of the equipment that firefighters use. As a thank you, the class baked and decorated Valentine’s Day cookies for the entire squad.
Local Businesses Help Make College a Reality
Eight local area businesses recently contributed $20,000 enabling two high school seniors to receive $10,000 to In Hope Freedom Rings scholarships.
Thanh (Mary) Ta of Lake Braddock Secondary School and Abhishek (A.J.) Jain of Falls Church High School were each awarded $10,000 college scholarships by the In Hope Freedom Rings Foundation. The fourth annual In Hope Freedom Rings Foundation Scholarship Awards ceremony was held on Tues., Jan. 13 at the Café at the Gatehouse Administrative Center in Falls Church. Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, Dr. Jack D. Dale, presented the scholarships. The recipients were selected based on financial need, academic performance, extracurricular activities, and a written essay.
PTA Auction Is Officially Open
From Feb. 15 – March 8, the Chesterbrook Elementary School PTA will be auctioning off a number of exciting and unique items to bid on to raise money for our school. There are over 200 items featured online with more added each day. A variety of local businesses have contributed to the auction including but not limited to: McLean Pizza, Evo Bistro, Café Tatti, Rocco’s, Ocean M, The Kellogg Co., Namedroppers and Squire Chase. Other items include tickets to Bruce Springsteen, Ringing Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the NCAA Frozen Four Hockey Championship. For more information, go to www.chesterbrook.cmarket.com.
