Education

Reduce Crime: Buy Books

Richard Byrd Library hosts sale to support program for juvenile offenders.

Is there a new approach that works to turn juvenile offenders around? Yes - it is the Fairfax County Public Library's Changing Lives Through Literature (CLTL) program. According to FCPL Program Manager, Ted Kavich, CLTL uses the power of literature to transform troubled youth through reading and group discussion.

Local Teacher Honored

Melanie Davis, a Jr. Kindergarten teacher at Kiddie Country Developmental Learning Center, was chosen by Fairfax County Preschool Division of Early Childhood Education as one of five community preschool teachers to be honored at the First Annual Exemplary Inclusive Practices Community Preschool Teachers Awards ceremony on May 17.

Aldrin ES, Worldgate LLC Announce Partnership

Aldrin Elementary School has announced a new business partnership with Worldgate LLC. The partnership was officially announced as part of a planned student assembly. Worldgate LLC president, Katelyn Montgomery, and vice president Scott Montgomery are also Aldrin parents. Worldgate is a consulting company with offices in Reston, Philadelphia and New York. They are at work on several educational projects.

Montessori Country School Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Montessori Country school in Herndon celebrated their 40th Anniversary at a big family bash on Friday, May 18. Many alumni as well as current families were in attendance.

Community Services Budget Under Scrutiny

$8 Million budget hole threatens programs, public review underway.

The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, which provides social services to thousands of the county’s most vulnerable residents and has come under fire for an $8 million budget shortfall, was given a temporary reprieve by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Teacher Honored for ‘Inspiration’

Former Wolftrap Elementary student builds a new lab in honor of his teacher Candace Leyton.

Candace Leyton was not just one to educate; she was one to inspire. Chris Shumway, her former student who was a UVA undergrad and Harvard Grad student, wanted to honor a teacher who made him "feel empowered."

Oakton High Receives Blue Ribbon Award

Performing Arts Department recognized for performing at superior level.

Oakton High School’s Performing Arts Department is the recipient of a Virginia Music Educators Association Blue Ribbon School Award for 2011-2012. This award is also known as "the Performing Arts Department’s Standardized Test" according to Oakton’s Orchestra teacher Debra Myers. Back in February a panel of judges at the District Festival assessed the performance of Oakton’s band, chorus and orchestra. On May 11, Oakton was honored with a Blue Ribbon Award.

Oakton Student Builds Seven Bullpen Pitching Mounds

Oakton High School freshman Evan Heitman completed his Eagle project with more than 50 volunteers by building seven bullpen pitching mounds at the Chantilly Youth Association Little League fields.

Madeira Student Reaches Out to Orphans in Thailand

Charlotte Heffelmire, of Vienna, is a freshman at the Madeira School and spent her spring break in the tropics, but not to sunbathe and enjoy the beach. Instead, she presented several thousand dollars to the Pattaya Orphanage near the Gulf of Siam in Thailand. For the last several years Charlotte has been working and saving her money as well as collecting donations to help the orphans in Thailand.

Langley High Students Win Science Olympiad Medals

Local students competed in the 28th annual National Science Olympiad at the University of Central Florida on May 18-19. Representing Virginia, a team from Langley High School challenged 59 other state champion high schools from the U.S.

Area Students Win Merit Scholarships

Six Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students have been named winners of Merit Scholarship awards by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). T

Two TJ Students Earn Gold Award

Two Thomas Jefferson High School students, Megan Ganley and Rachel Chuang, earned the Girl Scouts highest honor this year--the Gold Award.

McLean High Sings Musicals

Concert features variety of Tony Award-winning songs.

McLean High School combined the best of stage and song last weekend, as they presented a concert of Tony Award-winning songs over two nights. Numbers from more than a dozen musicals were featured, everything from intimate duets to rousing group numbers.

Langley Receives Eight Cappies Nominations

School to perform scene from ‘The Crucible’ at June 10 gala.

Langley High School received eight nominations for this year’s Cappies, including five for their performance of "The Crucible" earlier this year. They will perform a three-minute excerpt of the play at this year’s gala, to be held June 10 at the Kennedy Center.

Trailer Placement Irks Residents

Lack of communication cited.

Members of the Jamestown Elementary community voiced their concerns at a School Board meeting May 25 about the installation of trailer classrooms in a field in front of the school.

The Connection