Education

High School Scholarship Seeks Donations

Laptops for Success provides computers for college-bound seniors.

Sahfkat Ali, a South Lakes High School alum, was among the first class that received a laptop through a new school scholarship in 2006.

Project Enlightenment is History at McLean High

The decades long-program ends - for now.

A unique class that has held a place at McLean High School for about 20 years, either as a club or in class form - will not be offered next year.

National Merit Scholarship Winners

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has named 31 Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students winners of $2,500 National Merit Scholarships. The students are part of a group of approximately 2,500 National Merit finalists chosen to receive scholarships primarily financed by the NMSC. Winners of the scholarships, with their probable career fields in parentheses, are:

Potter’s Fire Issues Holiday Challenge

Fife and Drum Corp highlight fundraising event.

Members of Herndon High School (HHS) Band participated in the American Originals Fife and Drum Corps performance in a kickoff celebration for a fundraiser sponsored by local ceramics business Potter’s Fire on May 10. The Potter’s Fire Throwdown is a contest to challenge other businesses in Herndon to decorate their storefronts for the patriotic holidays from May 10 to the 4th of July. The business with the best decorations will win a trophy designed at Potter’s Fire. Donations for the event will be divided between The Fisher House Foundation and The Pride of Herndon Marching Band. “Every dime will be going back to charity,” said Mike Faul, owner of Potter’s Fire.

Navy Band Performs at Herndon High School

Senior students have opportunity to play with U.S. Navy band.

Herndon High School hosted the United States Navy Band the evening of May 9. The band performing was the U.S. Navy Concert band, based in Washington, D.C. This is the fourth time Herndon High School (HHS) has hosted a performance with the Navy Band. “It is a wonderful opportunity that the Navy Band gives freely of their time and talent to encourage the musical growth of our children,” said Rhonda Reeves-Long, a member of the school band’s boosters group.

Colvin Run Elementary Holds Fun Run

Inspired by the gorgeous day, and by the camaraderie of family and friends, participants in the 9th Annual Colvin Run Elementary School Fun Run, a Family Event for Charity, ran and walked the equivalent of 720 miles in a one hour period last Saturday morning. Each Fun Run participant collected pledges or flat donations for the charity of their choice. Organizations benefiting included those that support the environment, animal welfare, medical research, treatment of disease, children and families in need, affordable housing, hospice, and more.

Schools Win Big with Local Golf Fundraiser

Annual Celebrate Great Falls golf tournament on June 2.

An upcoming golf tournament is a hole-in-one fundraiser for three local elementary schools. The annual Celebrate Great Falls Foundation Golf Tournament will raise money for local students while giving grownups some fun in the sun at Reston’s Hidden Creek Country Club on June 2.

Going Green

Hundreds of students in Arlington elementary schools were enrolled in Dominion’s Project Plant It! program this spring.

Communities to Discuss School Start Times

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will hold eight community meetings—one per cluster—in May and June to gather feedback from students, parents, employees, and community members on proposed adjustments to school start times. Participants are welcome to attend the meeting that is most convenient for them.

Glory Days

BI alumni football games raises $25,000 for Sean O'Malley scholarship fund.

The helmets, pads and jerseys of years gone by were dusted off as 72 Bishop Ireton alumni suited up for a full contact football game April 12 to raise money for the Sean O'Malley Scholarship Fund. More than 500 people turned out at Fannon Field on the BI campus to watch players from as far back as the class of '68 take to the field for a game that also helped celebrate the school's 50th anniversary.

Help Control Invasive Plants

At a May 16 free workshop, the U.S. National Park Service will train volunteers in how to control invasive plants and protect the George Washington Memorial Parkway’s landscapes, biodiversity, native plants and local property values.

Sisters Open Tutoring Service

Above Grade Level of Northern Virginia recently opened its doors; a business born from two Northern Virginia sisters, Elizabeth Colon and Christa Huntley of Alexandria. Both new moms of infant daughters, they joined their passions for education and children.

Learning about Nature for Community Stewardship Day

TC students took part in various Earth Week activities throughout the area.

Approximately 370 students from the new International Academy at T.C. Williams High School took part in Earth Week on Friday, April 25. International Academy students broke into groups across the area to participate in Earth Week activities along the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

Bringing Spring Cheer to UCM Families

Girl Scout Troop 1838, based in the Belle View Elementary School area, spent part of their school spring break on a service project to prepare festive Easter Baskets for families in UCM’s Transitional Housing program.

Storck Sets Office Hours

Dan Storck, Mount Vernon District School Board member for Fairfax County Public Schools, will host Community Office Hours at the Lorton Library in the Conference Room on Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, and at the Sherwood Regional Library, Conference Room 3, on Saturday, May 10, from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

The Connection