School News & Notes: December 31, 2009 – January 6, 2010

Falls Church High Hosts Parenting Lecturer

Mario Prado, a social worker for Fairfax County and an experienced practitioner who has taught parenting classes for several years, will hold a lecture for Falls Church High School parents at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6 in the high school Little Theater (7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church).

FALLS CHURCH HIGH SCHOOL’S star actors (left to right) Erin maines, Sam Johnson and Ayinde Bray recently starred in the school’s production of the comedy “Lend Me a Tenor,” directed by Valerie Karasek. The comedy followed a desperate opera company trying to stage a comeback. The elaborate 1930s era set was designed by students Alex Doak and Robert Petersen, with lighting by Michael Clingaman and Petersen. (Photo: Courtesy Valerie Karasek)

The lecture is titled, “Learn How to Communicate with Your Teen,” and will cover strategies to improve communication and setting boundaries with children. The presentation will be in English with simultaneous translations into Spanish and Vietmanese.

McLean High School Names Science Honorees

McLean High School’s Alkahest Science Honors Society welcomed its newest members last week.

The following students were inducted: Farah Albani, Travis Alvarez, Yunso Bae, Laura Baker, Tina Boortalary, Kathryn Capp, Andrew Chung, Yujin Cho, Swarna Chowdhuri, Yujin Chowdhuri, Charlie Davis, Michael Dong, Jessie Ende, Sameer Essa, Jonathan Faraq, Scott Feit, Jeremy Goodsell, Heather Harper, Xuan Ho, Jeff Hong, Abdelhadi Jarrar, Adeel Khan, Linda Kim, Tim Kim, Huun Jin Kim, Min Ji Kim, Ju Whan Kim, Hitoshi Koshiya, Matt Koyxlski, Allen Krieg, Yong Joon Kwon, Chae Won Lee, Hana Lee, Madeline Lord, Edwin Mansou, Jalil Muhammed, Nuha Naqri, Daniel Ngo, Mereyem Ok, Xavier Palathingal, Zachary Pottanat, Charlie Putnam, Deena Rizkalla, Charles Roco, Paul Ruess, Mathilda Shepard, Sukriti Thapa, Emily Tong, Nam-Tran Tran Asli Uyanik, Kate Walker-Bawa, Lei Wang, Fifi Wang, Elaine Wu, Kristin Wulff, Annie Yang and Martin Zavala.

FCPS Discontinues Telephone Hotline

Due to budget cuts for fiscal year 2010, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is discontinuing its school system-wide telephone hot lines for emergency updates, effective this Friday, Jan. 1.

The hot lines offered updates in English, Korean and Spanish, including one especially for FCPS employees.

Parents and employees can access emergency information at the FCPS Web site, www.fcps.edu, and by subscribing to the FCPS e-mail notification system, Keep in Touch, at www.fcps.edu/kit. Cable channel 21 and local television stations will also carry FCPS emergency notices. For more details, contact the FCPS Department of Communications and Community Outreach at 571-423-1200.

Bishop O’Connell Invites All to Information Session

Area Catholic high school, Bishop O’Connell, is hosting an information session for interested students and parents next Sunday, Jan. 10, at 1 p.m. in the school cafeteria (6600 Little Falls Rd., Arlington). The session includes a short presentation and opportunities to talk with teachers and financial aid and admissions representatives. Current eighth graders and students considering a transfer to O’Connell are invited along with their families. No RSVP is required, and for more details, contact the Admissions Office at 703-237-1433.