Know something that should be featured in School Notes? Awards? Special events? School fairs? Fax a brief write-up to 703-917-0991 or write an e-mail to Joy Allen at mclean@connectionnewspapers.com
<lst>Spencer Blankley of Great Falls, a graduate of Great Falls Elementary School and Cooper Junior High School, was the valedictorian for the Class of 2004 from Gonzaga College High School this June.
Chelsea Ams of McLean, a 2004 graduate of Langley High School, has been awarded an all-expense-paid summer study trip to the Federal Republic of Germany by the American Association of Teachers of German Inc. Forty-six students were selected to receive the prize, based on the results of a nationwide German testing program administered by the Association.
Andrew Bennett of McLean graduated from Avon Old Farms School and will be attending American University.
Kelly Arnts from McLean High School has been selected to attend this summer's Governor's School for Humanities at the University of Richmond.
Jee Kim of McLean, a sixth form student (senior) at the Hill School, was chosen to serve as a prefect (resident assistant) for the 2004-05 school year.
Hallie Anderson Baker of McLean received a diploma from the Hill School.
The Great Falls Art Center is registering now for its annual Summer Art Camp, which takes place throughout July and August for children over age 6. Parents may choose the weeks they want their children to participate.
Instruction is different for each week, and the campers attend Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Art learning includes drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery and appreciation of great artists through the ages. The program includes daily lunches, games and swimming on the hot days until pickup time at 3 p.m. All staff members are professionally trained and experienced with degrees in education, art and child development.
For an application, call 703-759-3867.
The Great Falls Art Center holds regular, once-a-week classes in drawing, oil painting, pottery, sculpture and art history for children 6 and older, as well as for teenagers, adults and seniors. GFAC teachers are experienced, professional art educators.
For directions to the studio on Walker Road or for a schedule of classes, call 703-759-3867 or e-mail greatfallsart@yahoo.com.
McLean Project for the Arts presents Creative Art Studio, 10 week-long art workshops for children 6-11. Each session is planned to be fun and creative and has its own theme, including puppets and masks, nature, 3-D art adventures, and more. Morning sessions for rising first- through third-graders meet Mondays-Fridays, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Afternoon sessions for rising third- through sixth-graders are 1-3:30 p.m. Tuition is $100 ($110 nonresidents). Some sessions have already filled. To check on availability or for more information, call McLean Project for the Arts, 703-790-1953, or the McLean Community Center, 703-790-0123.
McLean High School summer camp applications are available on the MHS Athletic Booster Web site, www.mcleanboosters.org, and in the main office of the high school, 703-714-5700.
For students 7-18 of all skill levels, the football programs are Lineman Camp, June 29 -July 1, 6-8 p.m., $25; and All-Around Skills Camp, Aug. 2, 6-8 p.m., $35. Attending both camps costs $50. Call Rick Rivera, varsity coach, at 703- 847-0148.
On July 12 -16, Field Hockey Session I, for sixth- through ninth-graders, is 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $128, and Session 2, for advanced players, is 5:30-8 p.m., $80. Contact Demby Banbury, varsity coach, at 703-714-5785.
For boys basketball, Session 1 is July 12-16, and Session 2 is July 19-23, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., for third- through 10th-graders, all skill levels, $115 per session. Contact Drew Murphy, varsity coach, for more information.
Junior Ranger Summer Camp. This fun-filled, two-day program for children 8-11 allows children to participate in a variety of activities such as hikes and nature-related projects that educate young people about Great Falls Park and the natural environment they live in. There is no fee to attend the program, but preregistration is required. Sessions are June 29 and 30, July 13 and 14, July 27 and 28, and Aug. 10 and 11. Each session runs from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Openings are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited. For more information or to register, call 703-285-2965.
The Old Firehouse Teen Center (OFTC) will again offer its After-School Adventure Program this fall. OFTC is a satellite program of the McLean Community Center. The cost of the program is $375 per quarter for McLean district residents, $400 per quarter for others. Payment for the first quarter and OFTC membership ($25 per year for McLean district residents/$30 for others) will be due at registration. Parents may register their children at the OFTC during regular business hours.
The After School Adventure Program is held Monday through Friday, 2:30–6 p.m., and includes transportation from Cooper and Longfellow middle schools, snacks, tutors, transportation to off-site events and a daily activity. Each day there will be a structured, supervised event; tutoring; community service projects; movies; and more. There also will be off-site trips and activities such as bowling, indoor swimming and Build-A-Bear.
The Old Firehouse has secured a set of textbooks from Cooper and Longfellow middle schools, which are kept on-site. Students attending other schools or who are being home-schooled are welcome to register for this program, but there will be no transportation provided from their schools. The program is not held when Fairfax County Public Schools are closed or have an early-release day. On these days, the center will be open from 8 a.m.–6 p.m. for member “drop-ins.”
For more information, call the Old Firehouse Teen Center, 703-448-TEEN (8336); McLean Community Center, 703-790-0123; or visit www.mcleancenter.org.
Registration for summer classes offered by the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Office of Adult and Community Education (ACE) is now under way. "Classes, Etc.," the ACE course catalog, is in the mail to Fairfax County residents.
ACE provides high-quality, convenient and affordable education to the community with a wide continuum of courses that help individuals meet educational, career and life-enrichment goals. A sampling of course offerings includes home and personal improvement; computer courses at many levels of experience; fine and creative arts and crafts; apprenticeship-related instruction; foreign language courses; English for international travelers; adult high-school completion programs; certification in trades and the medical and business areas; business and entrepreneurial training; basic skills in reading, writing and math; workforce training for local businesses; and K-12 extended-day enrichment and remediation programs.
Most classes offered to the public are supported by user fees and grants and are not funded from the school system’s operations budget. Class information is also available at www.fcps.edu/adult.htm by clicking on Classes, Etc.
World Heritage, a nonprofit student exchange program, is seeking families, couples or single parents to host a high-school-age foreign-exchange student for a semester or year. For more information, call area representative Judith Henderson at 1-800-888-9040, or visit www.world-heritage.org.
The McLean High School Boys Basketball Program is hosting two sessions of Highlander Basketball Camp this summer. Camp takes place July 12-16 and July 19-23, at McLean High School. Camp tuition is $115 per session. Camp times are 8:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Contact coach Drew Murphy at 703-714-5899, or at andrew.murphy@fcps.edu, for more information.
The Virginia PTA recognized the Marshall High School PTSA's newsletter with a bronze award for exceptional design and readability with good overall content.
Construction Industry Scholarships. Seven students from Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) have been selected to participate in a new six-week internship program with the construction industry to learn about the opportunities available to them in the field. The interns are Michael Cruz and Daniel Hettema of Lake Braddock Secondary School; Glen Keith of Woodson High School; Juliet Leonard of Woodson High School; Bryan Kobick of Madison High School; Luis Luendo of Pimmit Hills Alternative High School; and Anna Pham of Chantilly High School.
The internships offer students the opportunity to learn about career options in the construction industry. Hosting companies are Manhattan Construction, HITT Contracting Inc., Scott-Long Construction, R. W. Murray, M. C. Dean Electrical Contracting, Virginia Concrete Construction, and L. F. Jennings.
The Freedom Hill Chapter of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, has presented 26 American History Awards and 23 Outstanding Citizenship at 13 area schools this year. American History Award winners demonstrated an understanding of the principles on which the U.S. government is based - freedom, equality, justice and humanity. They showed an interest in
the heritage of the United States and demonstrated a knowledge of historical facts and the major events in U.S. history. Outstanding Citizenship winners exemplify the qualities of honor, service, courage, leadership and patriotism. They are willing to work hard, are honest and caring toward others, have helped enthusiastically to improve the welfare of their schools as well as their communities and demonstrate a love of country. Recipients are as follows: from Chesterbrook Elementary School, Cammie Meade and Daniel Mooney won Outstanding Work in American History, and Rafael Enriquez-Hesles and Julie Glauber won Outstanding Citizenship; from Churchill Elementary School, Meg Armstrong, Robin Crigler, Jan Gundersen, Billy Kim and Katie Wiseman won Outstanding Work in American History, and Sarah Kleiknecht, Hal Libby, Nolan Ramminger, Lena Welch and Thomas Zurnot won Outstanding Citizenship; from Cooper Middle School, Haley Campbell and Chris Overend won Outstanding Work in American History, and John Endean and Lauren McDonough won Outstanding Citizenship; from Grace Lutheran School, Willa Cheng won Outstanding Work in American History, and Michelle Povinelli won Outstanding Citizenship:; from Kent Gardens Elementary School, Raymond Sykes Durham and Evan Pardue won Outstanding Work in American History, and Harry Burke and Genna Snider won Outstanding Citizenship; from Langley High School, Alicia Fowler and Puneet Maheshwari won Outstanding Work in American History, and Darren Gustaveson and Katherine Miller won Outstanding Citizenship; from Longfellow Middle School, Kalen Bader won Outstanding Work in American History; from McLean High School, Eric G. Epstein and Margaret C. Rohfing won Outstanding Work in American History; from Oakcrest School, Meghan Hadley won Outstanding Work in American History, and Katherine Foley and Rachael Pino-Elliott won Outstanding Citizenship; from St. John Catholic School, Christina Denneny and Liam Voth won Outstanding Work in American History, and Joey Russo won Outstanding Citizenship; from St. Luke Catholic School, Kate Connelly and Patrick Pembroke won Outstanding Work in American History, and Lindsey Kelly and Joe Rippert won Outstanding Citizenship; from Spring Hill Elementary School, Luke Knepper and Lauren MacGuidwin won Outstanding Work in American History and Carly Hafner won Outstanding Citizenship; from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, Elizabeth Howard and Mariclaire Petty won Outstanding Work in American History, and Christie Falco, Stephany Reaves and Gregg Talbot won Outstanding Citizenship.