Seven Schools to Implement Back-to-School Soda Ban
FCPS conducts pilot program banning sugary sodas in seven high schools.
Healthy eating habits begin early, and in an effort to curb consumption of sugary drinks by students, Fairfax County Public Schools will be conducting a pilot program in September that will ban sugary soda drinks in seven of its 25 high schools.
Easing into Back to School
End-of-summer tips to make the first day of school less stressful
Area experts provide advice on easing into back to school.
"Flourishing After 55"
“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington’s Office of Senior Adult Programs for Sept. 2-7.
Military
Military Notes
Email announcements to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com. Photos are welcome.
Crime
The following incidents were reported by the Arlington Police Department.
'Service Above Self'
Peter Knetemann is 86th Rotary Club president.
“Rotary … seems to attract a neat kind of person. Our members are looking beyond themselves and that's what sets us apart.”
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.
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.
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.
Week in McLean
McLean Community Center begins fall registration; Charity Champions hold SHARE fundraiser.
The McLean Community Center (MCC) opened registration for its fall session classes, events and activities on Monday, Aug. 19, for the residents of Small District 1A-Dranesville who pay a special real estate tax surcharge to fund the center. All others can begin registering on Monday, Aug. 26.
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.”
McLean High Student Wins Idol Competition
Alexander Stone of McLean received top honors in the 2013 Signature Theatre Idol competition on Aug. 3 at the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre's annual Open House held in Arlington. Stone is a rising junior at McLean High School. The annual Signature Idol competition searches for talented, undiscovered singers in the DC metropolitan area. It is held in conjunction with the Signature Theatre Open House. For his first competition entry, Stone presented “In These Skies,” from the musical "Ace." Judges selected Stone to participate in the competition’s final round where he presented “Prayer” from "The Scarlet Pimpernel." The competition judges were Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, Broadway’s Tony Award nominee Carolee Carmello and WETA’s Robert Aubry Davis. Sarah Ann Sillers of Potomac, Md. was the runner-up.
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.
2-Year-Old Completes Summer Reading Program
McLean resident Jet Christian Randolph, age 2, was recently congratulated by Chris LaMarca, the branch manager of the Fairfax County Library, Dolly Madison branch for reading or having 15 books read to him during the Fairfax County Public Library Summer Reading Program running through Aug. 31.
Video
- woodcock dancing vert Keith Ramos USFWS
- SFCD Video
- Understanding FCPS' Budget 393 comments
- McLean Family Restaurant 221 comments
- Inova Shooting Aug. 15, 2016 118 comments
- Video Released of 2009 Officer-Involved Shooting 180 comments
- Virginia Charity Event: Freezin' for a Reason 408 comments