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School Notes

<lst>Know something that should be featured in School Notes? Awards? Special events? School fairs? Fax a brief write-up to 703-917-0991. Or call Michael O’Connell at 703-917-6440.

Fairfax High School is looking for volunteers to water and tend the school's gardens during the summer. Those interested in helping can contact Amy Craig at 703-219-2203 or Karen Voda at 703-425-4804.

Shannon Kudlick, class of 2004, has been selected to participate in the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) titled "Law and Advocacy: The Trial." The program provides high school students with opportunities to study, gain experience, and develop skills and traits that define and identify a leader.

White Oaks Elementary has won the Johnnie Forte Jr. Customer Service Award for 2002-03. Fairfax County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services presented White Oaks with the award in honor of excellence in food service. This award is given annually to honor the school-based Energy Zone team that best exemplifies the finest attributes of excellence in customer service.

PTA newsletters from Halley Elementary in Fairfax Station and Terra Centre Elementary in Burke were named winners in the first Outstanding PTA Newsletter awards competition sponsored by the Virginia PTA. They were two of nine winners statewide, selected from nearly 90 entries. Newsletters were judged on their use of the PTA logo, amount of PTA content, attractiveness, readable design and use of photos. Awards will be presented during the Virginia PTA’s leadership training conference July 11 and 12.

Phyllis Gron, high school ESOL teacher at Hayfield Secondary, recently received a Level III Certificate of Study from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The award was for participation in 90 hours in the Center's Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers Program.

Newsweek has rated Hayfield Secondary as the 140th ranked high school in the nation based on their Challenge Index, which divides the number of Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate tests taken by all students at a school in 2002 by the number of graduating seniors.

Mariya Pantyukhina, a junior at Hayfield Secondary, has been accepted for the Maryland Institute College of Art summer program for high school students. She has received a full scholarship for the month-long program.

Erika Roos of Hayfield Secondary has been chosen by the Coca-Cola Company as a semifinalist in the 2002-2003 Coca Cola Scholars Program, which is jointly administered along with the Corporation for National and Community Service and the President's Student Award program. Erika will be recognized with a certificate signed by President George W. Bush and a commemorative pin.

At the Virginia Junior Academy of Sciences, 22 Hayfield Secondary students competed in 18 different subject areas. They presented their science research papers to a panel of judges made up of science professors from around Virginia. Terry Stedman won an honorable mention in Computer Science for his paper "Advertising on the Internet."

The following Hayfield Secondary students were selected for the prom court: juniors Christine Villanueva, Jadee Mitchell, Jessie Craven, Jessie Sajbel, Jill Yoerges, Lauren Chess, Abdullah Arsala, Alex Woodhouse, Alfredo Morales, Dylan Languell, John Villaneuva and Will Murphy and seniors Aresha Smith, Ashley Hess, Brittany Watkins, Erica Munoz, Kerney Scott, Nicole St. Cyr, Tu Nguyen, Adam Bush, AJ Fitzgerald, David Martinez, Freddy Hall, Marc Foster, Scott Mineart and Yasir Latifi. Kerney Scott and Adam Bush were named queen and king at the June 13 prom.

Slapshot, the Washington Capital's mascot, introduced the "Reading is Cool" program at Garfield Elementary on Monday, June 16, at 9:30 a.m. Slapshot talked about his favorite books and students were invited to read the books for themselves.

A trip to King Arthur's court is the subject of "Knights of the Rad Table," a play produced and performed by students at Kings Glen Elementary on Tuesday, June 17, and Wednesday, June 18. The story centers on two skateboarders who are transported back to the days of King Arthur and lead the king's knights against the evil Morgan LeFay. Fourth, Fifth and sixth grade students have been working on the play for two months and are responsible for everything from makeup to set construction.

A large mural designed and created by students at Terra Centre Elementary was unveiled and dedicated on Tuesday, June 17. The mural celebrates diversity and is located at the entrance to welcome everyone who approaches the school. The project was funded by a grant awarded to Terra Centre art teacher Jean Marie Galing.

The customs and history of the Sioux Indians of the Plains were featured in a play at Little Run Elementary on Wednesday, June 18. Second grade students depicted the lives and contributions of Native Americans in the 1700s by exploring types of housing, occupations and transportation. The play is a culmination of a unit on Native Americans and was written by second grade teachers during spring break.

Luther Jackson Middle School recently received the Grand Sweepstakes Award from the Music Showcase Festivals. The award is given to the highest scoring ensemble from all of the festivals held at each location.