Education

Educational Crisis

To the Editor: Reporter Michael Lee Pope’s two articles, “Historic Tax Hikes” and “Uncertainty Haunts Groundbreaking,” are inextricably linked. In the former Mr. Pope writes: “One of the leading drivers of the need for capital spending is the public school system.” In the latter he states: “when the new $45 million Jefferson-Houston School facility opens its doors, it may not be under the control of city leaders.” Jefferson-Houston School, my family’s failing neighborhood school, becomes the responsibility of the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2014.

Potomac School Notes May 22

School notes for Potomac natives.

Modernizing Potomac Elementary

Plans underway for new school building, last to be modernized in Churchill cluster.

Potomac Elementary School will have a new building by January 2018, without delay.

Great Falls Optimist Club Awards Helping Hands

Great Falls sixth graders honored.

The Great Falls Optimist Club recognized four sixth graders Wednesday, May 8 with their Helping Hands award, the first time the club has given out the awards to sixth graders whose efforts in school and in their communities have brought them to the attention of their teachers.

Brief: School Board Requests Bond Referendum on November Ballot

The Fairfax County School Board has approved a resolution to request that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors place a school bond referendum for $250,000,000 on the ballot for the November 2013 general election.

Irving Middle Presents... “Empty House?”

Middle school students bring the arts to life in a play all of their own.

Irving Middle School advanced theater arts students are set to present “Empty House?” in two performances on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m.

Program Keeps Students ‘Jazzed’

The students packed into Halley Elementary School’s cafeteria were loud, unruly and boisterous. But then so were the teachers, parents and volunteers cheering them on. This display of school-approved rowdiness was a celebration of the success of an innovative after-school program that targeted at-risk and underprivileged students, courtesy of the Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC).

Fairfax Academy Dance Program Presents Spring Concert

The Fairfax Academy Dance program will present its spring concert—Red, White and DANCE!—on Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the Fairfax High School auditorium. Fairfax Academy is one of six high school academies in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

Brief: School Board OKs Boundary Changes

Move relieves overcrowding at Lanier and Fairfax.

The Fairfax County School Board voted last Thursday night, May 9, to approve adjustments to school attendance areas in an effort to alleviate overcrowding at Fairfax High and Lanier Middle School.

Spring Farm Day at Frying Pan Farm Park

Spring Farm Day was held at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, and although the weather was overcast, the event was well attended.

Area Students Receive Hispanic Leadership Alliance Scholarships

Recipients are first in their families to attend college.

Every year, The Hispanic Leadership Alliance (HLA), a non-profit organization based in Northern Virginia, gives out scholarships to Latino high school students for post-secondary education. The alliance identifies itself as “a group of area residents committed to helping its students achieve their highest academic potential.”

Uncertainty Haunts Jefferson-Houston Groundbreaking

Questions linger as officials prepare ceremonial shovels.

City leaders and school officials are about to break out the ceremonial shovels and turn the earth at Jefferson-Houston School, the long-troubled facility near the King Street Metro station.

Schools?School Notes

Francis C. Hammond 1 Middle School Principal Benjamin G. Costa announced his resignation to pursue other career goals. Former Alexandria City School Board Member and ACPS Principal Blanche Maness will become the acting principal at Hammond 1, effective immediately.

Making Learning Fun

The students chattered and compared paint colors as they strolled along the path at the Winkler Preserve on Friday, May 10, to launch hand-crafted model sail boats and play the cigar box guitars they had made over the past semester in their class through a joint effort by the Alexandria Seaport Foundation and Alexandria City Public Schools.

STEM Scholarships Presented

Systems Furniture Gallery sponsored the education awards given during the Saturday, May 4, Chantilly Day celebration. Owner Bob Kessler presented three, $1,000 STEM scholarships (science, technology, engineering and math) to local, graduating seniors.

The Connection