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 Lea Mae Rice at 703-917-6459.
Girl Scouts. Two groups open to girls between 5 and 11, and 11 and 17 years old, all year round. Activsities include high-adventure outings such as rock climbing, white water rafting and back packing, international and national travel, internship opportunities on capitol hill, theater, art, science, technology and making friends. For more information call Betsy Kiger at 1-800-523-7898, ext. 578, Sharon Fontanella at 703-451-4680 or Dale Hook at 703-866-1840. Visit www.studio2B.org or www.gscnc.org.
The Virginia Business and Professional Women’s (VA BPW) Foundation offers a variety of scholarships, grants and fellowships to assist women to re-enter the job market or further their education and careers, as well as to support the study of women's issues. Visit www.bpwva.org.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers SAT preparation, study skills, and other enrichment courses for secondary school students at several area schools including South County Secondary, West Springfield High School and Hayfield Secondary this summer. For more information, visit the web site at http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/OACE/prek12.html. Current FCPS students may submit registration and payment by mail, by fax or walk-in at any Fairfax County adult education registration center. For information about the courses, call 703-227-8453 or 703-227-8472 Monday through Friday during regular business hours.
Fairfax County Public Schools maintains a toll-free telephone hotline for emergency messages, with information in three languages. 1-800-839-FCPS (3277) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the event of school closings or delays or other emergency situations, information can be obtained by dialing the toll-free number from anywhere in the region. Messages are available in English, Korean and Spanish.
Mainly Music, a weekly musical group for preschool children and their caregivers, every Friday, at 10:15 a.m., at Fairfax Community Church, 11451 Braddock Road, Fairfax. The cost for each Friday's group is $3. Call 703-745-1030 or visit www.fairfaxcommunity.net.
Fairfax County Public Schools has expanded support services for families of students with disabilities. Parents can now access the services of a special education ombudsman for guidance and support. The eight ombudsmen are part of a network that provides assistance to parents who are navigating the special education process and feel they could benefit from the advice and knowledge of a more experienced and specially trained parent. Parent ombudsmen can provide information about the special education process and services provided by Fairfax County Public Schools, as well as information about special education regulations, procedures, and policies. They may collaborate with parents to assist them in resolving problems. They may also attend Individualized Education Program (IEP) or school-based meetings to help parents and staff members reach consensus regarding the special education process. For more information, contact the Parent Resource Center at 703-204-3941. For a listing of the eight ombudsmen visit www.fcps.edu/DSSSE/ombudsmen/index.htm.
Sign Up for Cub Scouts. Boy Scouting is available to boys who are 11 through 17 years old, or who have earned the Cub Scout Arrow of Light Award, or have completed the fifth grade. Boy Scouts camp, hike and fish in the great outdoors. They get together in troops and try out new experiences. Venturing offers a program that is fun and full of challenge and adventure for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age. Learn more about Venturing's outdoor, sports, arts and hobbies, community service and Sea Scouting crews. Call Scott Romans at 703-455-2167.
WyzAnt, Inc. provides free tutoring to deserving students through its charity, WyzAide. WyzAnt is looking for students who have demonstrated dedication to their studies, have high aspirations for their academic and professional futures, and who sincerely desire assistance. Visit www.wyzant.com, call 703-945-1835 or e-mail wyzaide@wyzant.com.
The Fairfax County Park Authority is responding to community changes with additional programming to meet the needs of youngsters who are educated at home. New daytime classes, ideal for homeschoolers, will be offered this fall at Providence and South Run RECenters. Some classes for the approaching school year include: Outdoor Science, which explores flight, weather, geology and space in an outdoor setting; Explorations in Chemistry; Explorations in Astronomy; and Explorations in Botany. Register at any time until the day the class begins. Classes will be canceled due to low registration. For more, call 703-324-8548.
George Mason University’s professional theater in residence, Theater of the First Amendment, offers a mentoring program and playwriting contest for local students. Selected applicants can work with a professional playwright, director or dramaturg on play development during the fall. At the end of the mentoring period, the students submit their final plays to TFA’s First Light Festival competition for high school playwrights. The winning entry receives a professional five-day workshop and public reading at the Seventh Annual First Light Festival on Saturday, March 17, 2007. To apply, print the application form from the TFA website at www.gmu.edu/cfa/tfa and mail it with a 2-page writing sample to First Light Festival, Theater of the First Amendment, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 3E6, Fairfax, VA 22030-4444. All applications must be received by Oct. 2.