Education

Herndon Advances at National Dance Team Competition

The Herndon High School Varsity Dance Team recently returned from Orlando, Fla., where they competed in the Pom and Jazz categories at the 2015 National Dance Team Championship on Jan. 31 - Feb. 1. With over 350 high schools competing, Herndon advanced, for the first time ever, to the final round in the pom category and they are ranked 17th in the Nation.

McLean Community Foundation Grant Helps Longfellow Go Green

On Feb. 5, Longfellow Middle School celebrated the arrival of new recycling bins, made possible through a grant by the McLean Community Foundation (MCF). Students and staff thanked MCF President, Amee Burgoyne, for supporting Longfellow’s recycling efforts.

Nominations Open for Citizen of the Year

Reston Citizens Association has opened nominations for the 2014 Reston Citizen of the Year Award. The tradition of honoring the Reston Citizen of the Year began in 1976, and was reintroduced in 2008 as a way to spotlight the work of dedicated citizen volunteers and civic activists who work tirelessly behind the scenes, providing them the recognition and appreciation they have earned through their hard work and dedication to the Reston community.

Spelling Bee Champion

Great Falls Elementary fourth through sixth grade students took the stage at the school’s annual Spelling Bee on Feb. 4. After 33 rounds of spelling words ranging from "ignominious" to "quintessential," sixth grade student Ariana Sanjideh became the champion with the word "synthesis."

Langley High Orchestra to Present Spring Concert

The Langley High School Orchestra presents their "Start Spreading the News" concert on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Due to the undergoing renovations at Langley High School, the concert will be held at the nearby Oakcrest School at 850 Balls Hill Road, McLean.

Democratic Committee Backs Primary

At its monthly meeting, the Arlington County Democratic Committee voted unanimously in favor of a primary for local candidates in the November 2015 election.

Board Revisits Plan To Address Growing Enrollment

Goal of 725 new elementary school seats no later than September 2018.

The Arlington School Board responded to the County Board’s decision not to approve a new elementary school site with a statement expressing the School Board’s renewed commitment to engaging with the community to find a solution.

Lake Braddock Band Goes National

Lake Braddock Secondary School Symphonic Band has been invited to perform at the 2015 Music for All National Festival, presented by Yamaha, the nation’s most prestigious festival for school instrumental music ensemble. The 24th annual Festival will take place in Indianapolis, March 12-14.

Workshop for Potomac Parents on Managing Family Stress

Feb. 11 event is part of Parent University.

Mental health specialist Elizabeth DuPont Spencer believes stress is a topic familiar to most busy families.

A Leafier Kind of Classroom in Potomac’s Backyard

Retired teachers taking their classroom skills to the great outdoors to introduce children to the C&O Canal.

An estimated one million children attend school along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which stretches from Washington, D.C. through Virginia and Maryland and out to Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Through the C&O Canal National Historic Park, children have the opportunity to spend hours out in nature learning the importance of the canal to the nation's capital and surrounding region.

Working Toward Restorative Justice in Alexandria Schools

TC students take aim at suspension rates and new disciplinary policy.

A word of warning to students at T.C. Williams High School hoping to skip out on classes in the second half of their senior year: Don’t. A new policy implemented at the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year gives teachers at TC final say over whether a student can pass or fail a class regardless of the final grade.

Storck Talks Schools at Mount Vernon Town Hall

These things Dan Storck knows: Elementary school students are now in class the full day on Monday and older students will start later beginning next school year. The Mount Vernon school board member lead with these recent accomplishments in his presentation at the Mount Vernon Town Hall Meeting on Saturday Jan. 31.

Teen Sex Trafficking Information Forum Held at West Springfield High School

Amy DiGiulian of Springfield came to the meeting for general information on human trafficking. “I had an overall concern,” said the mother of students at Robert E. Lee High School, Key Middle School and Garfield Elementary School.

Robinson Middle in Fairfax Takes on Rydell High in ‘Grease’

Though none of the actors are in high school, Katie Jenkins believes her cast will have no problem bringing the students of the famed, fictional Rydell High to life.

GMU Students Rally to Lower Student Debt

Members of GMU Student Power Travel to Richmond to voice concern over rising debt.

Twelve students from George Mason University traveled to Richmond with the Virginia Student Power Network, rallying and calling for debt-free education, and for increased educational opportunities for undocumented students. Rodrigo Velasquez, a junior at Mason from Springfield and GMU Student Power’s organizer, was one of the 12 from Mason who also went to Richmond.

The Connection