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Education

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Washington-Lee High School: 75 Years Ago

The school’s graduates: 1938 and now.

Three local residents recall high school days from seventy-five years ago.

Bulletin Board

Email announcements to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is noon the Thursday before publication. Photos are welcome.

"Flourishing After 55"

“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington’s Office of Senior Adult Programs for Sept. 2-7.

Welcoming Students

Getting schools ready from technology to nutrition.

Getting Ready for Students

Bulletin Board

Email announcements to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is noon the Thursday before publication. Photos are welcome.

School Bells Ring Sept. 3

Local schools gearing up for new critical thinking programs.

It’s that time of the year when school bells across the region begin ringing … families are doing last-minute back-to-school shopping for supplies and clothes, the days are getting shorter, fall sports are at practice and children are playing outside until dusk. It won’t last much longer. Fairfax County Public Schools start the school year on Tuesday, Sept. 3, possibly the last year the county will be required to schedule the school calendar year after Labor Day. Fairfax County Public Schools’ new initiative is to develop 21st century learning skills among its students. Several Vienna-area elementary school administrators shared “what’s new” at their schools.

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Packing Healthful Sack Lunches Children Will Eat

Local experts offer lunch suggestions, recipes.

The bigger challenge for mom or dad than building a healthful sack lunch is building a healthful sack lunch that tastes good-enough to eat. If children are not actually eating what you serve them, it makes little difference how healthy the ingredients are. That’s where local food specialists lend a hand. Registered dietician Judy Caplan and professional chef—and mother of two school-aged kids—Christine Wisnewski share suggestions, tips and recipes for planning sack lunches your kids will eat because they enjoy doing so. Healthy and tasty—the ultimate combination.

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Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna Announces Adventures in Learning Fall Classes

Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna plans to offer a new program, Adventures in Learning (AIL), fall classes Thursdays, Sept. 19-Nov. 7. An Open House/Registration is slated for Sept. 12 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton.

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What Are the Most Exciting Changes in McLean Area Schools?

“One of the things that we’re starting this year is that we’re having a Highlander Kickoff on Aug. 27. We’re trying to find a way to welcome the community and the kids back, and make it a fun atmosphere for everybody. It is a day for students to come get their schedules, pick up their parking and uniforms, meet some coaches, and for clubs to sell some stuff and start fundraising. It’s a day for everyone to get back in the mood and get ready for school. We’ll have food, cheerleaders, and the band. It will be the first time we’ll ever be doing it. The second thing is that we’re embedding our Highlander Time, which is our intervention period, so we’ll be having intervention everyday for half an hour so kids can meet with teachers, catch up on their homework and do things to de-stress during the school day. We also have a new instructional coach at our school, Kate Stavish, and she’ll be working with our teachers and team during the school day on curriculum and different components about teaching, so we’re very excited about that too.”

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The Mane Attraction

Firefighters to hold Cuts for Kids Days.

Students from throughout the region will be treated to free back-to-school haircuts thanks to Alexandria and Fairfax County firefighters who are sponsoring the third Cuts for Kids Days Aug. 26-28 at area recreation centers.

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A New School Year in Great Falls

Cooper encourages critical thinking; Langley revamps Saxon Time; Highlander Kickoff on Aug. 27.

“This year, Fairfax County Public Schools are upping the rigor; this doesn’t necessarily mean more work, but it will be more challenging. We’ll be asking students to think critically, look for creative solutions, and work in collaboration with one another. We’re working within the curriculum to find extensions that will bring about these skills. Of course, Cooper will also be welcoming new seventh-graders, and I advise them to come in with an open mind and take advantage of the opportunities to make new friends, because five elementary schools come together here. We will also have new Spanish, French, mathematics and band teachers. We’re looking forward to a great year.”

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Tougher Tests Cause Alexandria Scores to Plunge

School officials say more rigorous standards are to blame.

Test scores are down across Alexandria. But school officials say that doesn't necessarily mean students are doing worse. It means that the tests have gotten harder.

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School Board Chairwoman Confronts Governor During Alexandria Education Summit

City leaders hope to change school takeover rather than filing lawsuit.

Sitting face to face with Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell at T.C. Williams, Alexandria School Board Chairwoman Karen Graf challenged the sweeping education reform that threatens to remove Jefferson-Houston School from the city's public school system.

Commentary: Let's Take a Break from School Reform

Earlier this month I attended “The Governor’s K-12 Education Reform Summit,” the second such event put on by the McDonnell administration in as many years.

Back to School

What Are the Most Exciting Changes in Herndon Schools?

Back to school season in Herndon brings plenty of new changes.

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