LO CA L
PAGE 22 | MARCH 16 - 22, 2023
News-Press
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Community News & Notes
HARVEY’S KICKED OFF their one year anniversary with a party for all ages. Many attendess came dressed as unicorns with colorful clothing and horns. Cotton candy, face painting, caricuture-drawing and a happy hour menu were all enjoyed by adults and children alike. (Photo: Kylee Toland)
RECENTLY RETIRED F.C. resident, Ken Sims, is participating in this year’s Bike the US for MS. He is riding the Northern Tier route from Bar Harbor, Maine to Seattle, Washington. (Photo: Sims House)
Potential Start Times At F.C. Schools Shared For Feedback
Tier route from Bar Harbor, Maine to Seattle, Washington. The cyclists embarking on this trip want to raise awareness and funds to support research in finding a cure for MS and to support those living with the disease. To support or participate in all or a portion of the trip, go to biketheusforms.org for more information.
Community feedback is being collected on potential new start times for Falls Church City Public Schools. If approved, the school district says the new start times wouldn’t start until the 2024-2025 school year. The School Board is considering start time changes due to research suggesting high school students are not getting enough sleep with early starts, which may impact health and academic performance. If the changes are approved, Jessie Thackrey Preschool would start and end 20 minutes earlier, from 7:55 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School and Meridian High School would start and end 25 minutes later, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. The secondary campus late bus would run 25 minutes later at 5 p.m. For Mt. Daniel Elementary, FCCPS must account for an agreement with Fairfax County
that the school not start before 8:50 a.m. and must end by 4 p.m. Under the proposal, Mt. Daniel Elementary and Oak Street Elementary times would shift to 10 minutes later — 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The community is invited to share feedback with the School Board by March 31 by emailing schoolboard@fccps.org.
Saint Patrick’s Episcopal to Host Benefit Concert Join Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church for a concert by local professional musicians while helping earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. All proceeds go to the relief. Donations can be designated to Direct Relief, American Red Cross, or Episcopal Relief & Development. By donating through St. Patrick’s church, personal information will be protected from further solicitation. If one chooses to donate with a check directly to the
charity of one’s choice, the check will be forwarded to the charity, and personal information will be subject to the limited policies of that charity. If one is not able to attend the concert, but would like to make donations, please send a check payable to “Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church” with a memo designating the charity. Donations made without a designation will be divided evenly between the three charities listed above. Information on each charity may be found at the charity web site, and evaluations at charitynavigator.org. For questions or more information, please email at marikohiller@gmail.com.
F.C. Resident to Bike the U.S. for MS Recently retired Falls Church resident, Ken Sims, is participating in this year’s Bike the US for MS. He is riding the Northern
Fairfax County Schools Offer Virtual Mental Health Services Fairfax County Public Schools has partnered with Hazel Health, giving some 61,000 students access to the service, according to the county’s contract with the group. WTOP obtained the contract via a Freedom of Information Act request. The service costs $15 per student per year, according to the contract. It will cost more than $686,000 for the first nine months. School board officials allocated $500,000 in the fiscal year 2023 budget for the service.
A pilot program was expected to launch by the beginning of January but was delayed. Access to Hazel Health’s services is expected to be available later this spring, although an exact date hasn’t yet been released.
Representatives Needed for Boards & Commissions All high school students are invited to apply to become a Citizens for a Better City (CBC) Youth Representative to one of Falls Church City’s Boards, Commissions, or Community Organizations. This position will provide them with CAS hours and a chance to learn about and engage with city government. All Falls Church City High school-aged students are eligible to apply, including high school-aged homeschooled and private school students. The selection process focuses on their interest and commitment. Applications are available now online at the CBC Youth Representatives Website at youth-