Feb 26
2009
Posted by: DMK
at 4:59 am
What Are Our Kids Telling Us?
You are invited to an interactive presentation
on the results of the
2008 Fairfax Youth Survey
-- a survey of attitudes and behaviors of Fairfax County Public Schools 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders --
Thursday, March 12 @ 7 pm in the Kilmer Middle School Lecture Hall
Who should attend?
Parents
Counselors
Teachers
Administrators
Other Interested Community Members
Some highlights of the survey:
- Our middle school students are using inhalants more than middle school students across the US!
- One in four of our high school seniors and one in eight sophomores report binge drinking in the past 2 weeks!
- 34% have ridden in a car with someone who has been drinking; 11% report drinking and driving!
- Medications remain the most commonly used “other drug” -- not cocaine, or heroin, or LSD!
- Despite declines, depression still impacts almost a third of our students.
- Parents, teachers, coaches CAN make a difference… more positive interactions mean fewer risky behaviors!
For more info, contact Barbara Brown at bdbrown@fcps.eduksmills@fcps.edu or Kurt Mills at ksmills@fcps.edu
Sponsored by the Marshall Tysons Community Coalition
Feb 22
2009
Posted by: DMK
at 10:09 am
REMINDER: Fairfax County Citizens Urged to Take Online Survey on School Start and Dismissal Times & Attend One of the Community Dialogues
The Fairfax County School Board invites all Fairfax County citizens to share their comments and opinions about changes to school start and dismissal times, that the Board is discussing. To share their views, citizens should complete an ongoing online survey that ends on Saturday, February 28.
Information about the proposed changes—including a chart with current and proposed start times for all Fairfax County public schools—is available at http://www.fcps.edu/news/start.htm.
Students in grades 6-12 have been invited to fill out a special student survey to share their comments about the proposed changes. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) employees will also be able to complete a survey.
Responses and comments from all the surveys will be compiled and given to the Fairfax County School Board in time for the Board's work session on Monday, March 9.
The School Board is also holding seven community dialogues to discuss the proposed changes. Information about the dialogues is available at http://www.fcps.edu/news/start.htm.
Tuesday, February 24, 7 to 9 p.m.
Annandale High School, 4700 Medford Drive, Annandale
Longfellow Middle School, 2000 Westmoreland Street, Falls Church
Oak View Elementary School, 5004 Sideburn Road, Fairfax
Wednesday, February 25, 7 to 9 p.m.
Herndon High School, 700 Bennett Street, Herndon
Rocky Run Middle School, 4400 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly
Thursday, February 26, 7 to 9 p.m.
Providence Elementary School, 3616 Jermantown Road, Fairfax
Whitman Middle School, 2500 Parkers Lane, Alexandria
In the event of inclement weather, a makeup dialogue session will be held on Tuesday, March 3, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County.
Note: For more information, contact the FCPS Department of Communications and Community Outreach at 571-423-120
Source: http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=1070
Feb 11
2009
Posted by: DMK
at 8:39 pm
The Silent Auction at International Family Night on February 19, 2009, will benefit the All Night Graduation Celebration.
For a list of the Silent Auction Items being offered for bidding, click HERE.
Feb 6
2009
Posted by: DMK
at 7:18 am
Four District Track & Field Titles
Lady Statesmen in first place
The season theme was "Return to Glory" and after the first day of the Liberty District championship at the Prince George's Sports and Learning complex, the Marshall Statesmen track and field team sure looks like their pushing to accomplish that mission. Two years ago, it took the extra ordinary efforts by a same group of 11 girls to win the District title and this year, the numbers are less as it will take the efforts of mainly 6 girls to pull that feat off. After day one of the championship, we at least have hope as the Lady Statesmen holds a slim three (3) point lead over W.T. Woodson behind some impressive performances.
Women – Team Rankings – 7 Events Scored
- Marshall – 53
- Woodson, W.T. – 50
- Jefferson S&T – 39
- McLean – 26
- Langley – 18
- South Lakes – 17
- Madison - 14
Junior Brittany Johnson accounted for 28 of the 53 team points by grabbing two Liberty District titles in the Long jump and the High Jump. Johnson studying under the quiet leadership of sometimes forgotten coach Theodore Robinson have continues to excel in the pits. Robinson recognized her talents long before she got to Marshall and because of his belief in her which has brought her to this place. Johnson tried to hide her emotion of finally winning a jumping title indoors after losing out last year on misses. She added the Long jump title win her first jump and personal best for good measures. However, Johnson could not repeat as 55m dash District champion but grab a silver medal and 8 points for her effort. Her lost ended an impressive streak of five (5) straight 55m titles by a Lady Statesmen (Jacqueline Hargrove (2004, 2005, 2006), Shannon McVey (2007) and Brittany Johnson (2008).
So many times, we've seen clear favorites come into a meet expecting to win and those dreams get dashed, junior Meara Goss will not fall into the category, as she collected another Liberty District title in an impressive domination of the completion. From the very first throw, the crown to hand to the defending champion as she put it out of reach with a personal best, 34ft throw. Meara would improve a final throw another foot and just missed getting the school record but it was walk in the park for the defending champion. Goss won the event by over three feet and look to be in position to make a return to the Virginia AAA State meet.
Senior Alexander "Lex" Suares had his share of missteps and misfortune this season and his career but he still knows when it comes to the Liberty District and Statesmen throwing, we owned the circle. Saures knowledge of the Statesmen tradition enforced by the meet record holder his coach Jose Portillo got him ready for the District champs. This year like so many season, a Statesmen dominated the field to win another District title for Marshall Throwing.
To say Senior Nicole Brown is naturally gifted athlete is an understatement. There isn't one sport which Brown has tired where she did not excelled, track and field was no different. Nicole came into the 55m hurdle competition ranked #1 and fully expected to qualify for the regional championship and hopefully taking home a title in her first and final championship. However, this is District championship and everyone was hungry, so despite an automatic regional qualified, a huge personal best – Brown, picked up an impressive silver medal in her first and only Liberty District track and field meet. What was not expected was for Brown to do anything in the Shot put competition however like we said – this is District competition and with her first throw, we knew it was going to be a special meet. Nicole would improve her mark by over seven (7) feet to surprise the competition and take an impressive bronze medal in the shot put.
Sophomore Courtney Herbolsheimer hard work started long time ago in the summer, throughout an impressive cross-country season and so far a wonderful indoor season. District champs was expected to be quite a telling definition of the season, Herbolsheimer knew it was going to be tough because the Liberty District over the last few years has produced some wonderful distance runners. However, when you study under a great General (Marine Corp, Hall of Famer, Darrell General), you can expect to be prepared for war. Thus, Courtney was ready for the battle as the race started and everyone was pushing the pace. Everyone stayed even for five laps and then the race got hotter and Herbolsheimer kept jockeying for position and did not realize how fast she was going. When she crossed the line and looked up at the clock the moment was realized, not only had she qualified for regional two years in a row, but she had significantly lower her personal best by over six seconds.
In athletics and in life some people are blessed with talent and things are giving to them. For others, that have talent they have to work for it and earn whatever is given to them. Senior Aaron Anderson has come a long way from four year ago and he has come a long way from a year ago. This year, Anderson was given a mission by his new hurdle Coach Mindy Harman, he was asked to do some things and he responded like true champions always do. He was asked to give himself a chance to be successful and accept the gifts and responsibilities of his talent. Most on the team has one maybe two coaches on coat tail riding, he had four but his true character and ability to accept the challenge did withered under the pressure. The turning point of the season had to be when he took his leadership role too far by switching the order of the relays but his response when Coach General brought down the hammer of disciple (that mean 250 push ups) was like a true leader, he did it without complaint or argument because he accepted the fact he and only he was responsible for his action.
So, it was understandable when Anderson got emotional when going up against national and state ranked hurdler Vince Brown and he did not win. While he accomplished the goal to reaching the regional championship (bronze medal and personal best), Aaron knew the hard work he put in the season and felt losing to anyone was not good enough. While the coaches and teammates felt he did wonderful, while everyone sees that he had come a long way from four year ago and one year ago, the heart of a champion is not satisfied until, he is champion. For good measures, Anderson jumped 19ft for the first time in his life to be the last to miss the finals. But, the hard work and journey continues with a new mission be champion and get to Hampton.
The championship concluded Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 in Landover, Maryland.
Feb 6
2009
Posted by: DMK
at 7:10 am
Fairfax County School Board Invites Public Comment on School Start and Dismissal Times
The Fairfax County School Board invites parents and interested citizens to comment on changes to school start and dismissal times that are under consideration by attending one of seven upcoming community dialogue meetings in February and by completing an online survey.
A report from the School Board's Transportation Task Force offers recommendations to change school start and dismissal times and to improve the overall effectiveness of Fairfax County Public Schools' (FCPS) transportation system. The changes would affect elementary, middle, and high school students. Because changing school start and dismissal times could affect work schedules, child care arrangements, and after-school activities—including athletics—the School Board wants to hear from the public about the pros and cons of the changes.
Seven community dialogue meetings will be held in February:
Tuesday, February 24, 7 to 9 p.m.
Annandale High School, 4700 Medford Drive, Annandale
Longfellow Middle School, 2000 Westmoreland Street, Falls Church
Oak View Elementary School, 5004 Sideburn Road, Fairfax
Wednesday, February 25, 7 to 9 p.m.
Herndon High School, 700 Bennett Street, Herndon
Rocky Run Middle School, 4400 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly
Thursday, February 26, 7 to 9 p.m.
Providence Elementary School, 3616 Jermantown Road, Fairfax
Whitman Middle School, 2500 Parkers Lane, Alexandria
In the event of inclement weather, a makeup dialogue session will be held on Tuesday, March 3, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County.
Citizens are encouraged to complete an online survey, available beginning Monday, February 9, at www.fcps.edu, to share their opinions about school start and dismissal times.
Additional information about the proposed changes to school start and dismissal times and the Transportation Task Force's recommendations may be viewed at www.fcps.edu.
