Education

District Orchestras Perform at Langley High

Langley High hosts District XII Junior and Senior Orchestras.

One hundred and sixty-five students from 11 middle schools and 14 high schools participated in District XII Junior and Senior Orchestras Jan. 4-5 at Langley High School. Guest conductors worked with the students for two days and presented a superb concert.

Meet New St. Luke School’s Principal

St. Luke Elementary School in McLean has welcomed Principal Louis Silvano. He has been busy this first semester building relationships with the school’s students and staff.

Mason’s School of Art Presents ‘Draw(n) Out’ Exhibit

George Mason University's School of Art is presenting "Draw(n) Out," an exhibition featuring works by nationally recognized artists from across the United States, including a selection of artists represented by galleryELL in Brooklyn, N.Y. The exhibition will be on display in the Fine Art Gallery in the Art and Design Building on Mason's Fairfax Campus from Jan. 22 through Feb. 15. Opening Reception will be held on Thursday, Jan. 24, from 6-8 p.m.

Letter: Too Little, Too Late

Kyle McCauley heaped praise on Del. Barbara Comstock for her efforts to "increase the in-state slots guaranteed for Virginia's students to 75 percent" [Increasing Slots for Virginia Students, Connection, January 9-15, 2013].

Korean Teachers Visit Churchill Road

On Friday, Jan. 11, Churchill Road hosted the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education, a delegation comprising 45 Korean teachers.

Spirit of Holidays at Churchill Road

Churchill Road students embodied the spirit of the holidays through a variety of service learning projects.

Health Advisory Committee to Consider Policy of Withholding Recess as Punishment

Should the last-resort punishment be scuttled?

Should students be punished by having their recess time revoked?

Importance of Recess

Pediatric researchers say unstructured play can help a child’s cognitive, physical, emotional and social development.

Can climbing on monkey bars help a child’s cognitive development? Can a game of tag boost preschooler’s social skills? The nation’s top pediatricians say “yes” and some local educators agree.

Off to the Movies

Mason professor has unconventional method of teaching complex concepts.

An Arlington resident and George Mason University professor has an unconventional way of helping her students master complex concepts and evaluating their proficiency: She requires them to watch movies.

Whisked Away to the Land of Oz

Home school co-op students stage an original musical to benefit Rancho 3M Orphanage.

The Sovereign Grace Co-op Drama Club is staging The Patchwork Girl of Oz and giving ticket sales and all donations to Rancho 3M Orphanage in Guadalupe, Mexico. The production showcases the singing and acting talents of over 30 middle and high school students from Sovereign Grace Home School Co-op in Fairfax.

Should There Be Guns in Schools?

“If we don’t pay for the fixes now, we’ll pay for it later with the lives of our children.” —Joe Samaha, father of Virginia Tech victim Reema Samaha.

Fairfax Nonprofits Awarded $218,000 in United Way Grants

Several nonprofits providing health and education services in Fairfax County were awarded 20 grants totaling $218,360 from the United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA) during the Tuesday, Jan. 1, Board of Supervisors meeting. The funds came through designations to the Fairfax/Falls Church Community Impact Fund in United Way NCA’s annual workplace giving campaign.

The Connection