May 15 - 21, 2008
Page 41
ly Focus
Chairman: Craig Cheney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice Chairman: Ronald Peppe II . . . . . . . . . . School Board Rosaura Aguerrebere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn Chandler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan Kearney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kieran Sharpe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Wodiska. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Superintendent: Dr. Lois Berlin . . . . . . . . . . .
government and the falls church city public schools
may 15-21, 2008
For more news about the Falls Church City Public Schools visit: www.fccps.org
nominees for the Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award, and the support staff members were nominees for the FCCPS Support Employee of the Year Award. Thomas Jefferson Elementary principal Trudy Taylor was honored for being selected as a Distinguished Educational Leader by the Washington Post earlier this year.
TJ third grade teacher Jed Frei was selected to receive the Agnes Meyer award. TJ aide, Kathy Poff was selected to receive the FCCPS Support Employee of the Year Award. All nominees received plaques and the winners received cash awards. Delegate Jim Scott was also on hand to present the winners with recognition certificates from the Virginia General Assembly.
FCC-TV Spotlight: FCCPS Presents: A Celebration Of Excellence
FccPS Teacher of the Year honor Roll 2008 Jed Frei, TJ 2007 Denise O’Neil, TJ 2006 Carol Monsess, MD 2005 Mary Jo Webster, GMHS 2004 Emily Florence, TJ 2003 Cay Wiant, GMMS 2002 June Chalou, TJ 2001 Frank Marino, GMHS 2000 Linda Johnsen, GMHS 1999 Patricia English Sand, TJ 1998 Nancy Brown, TJ 1997 John Ballou, GMHS 1996 Heidi Lang, TJ 1995 Grace Risetto, GMHS 1994 Lois Blevins, MD 1993 Martha Ramey, TJ 1992 Frank Sheedy, GMHS
1991 Gail Lanouette, TJ 1990 Robert W. Snee, GMHS 1989 Trudy Taylor, TJ 1988 Michael J.Hoover, GMHS 1987 Ann Felker, TJ 1986 Steven J. Klass, GMHS 1985 Mary Lee Tatum, GMHS 1984 The 6th Grade Teaching Team (Tamara Ballou, Lindy Hockenberry, Harry Shovlin, Mark Wallace)
FccPS Support Employee of the Year honor Roll 2008 Kathy Poff, TJ General Aide 2007 Barbara Mitchell, Superintendent’s Secretary 2006 Bob Nissen, Maintenance Supervisor 2005 Marco de las Casas, School Bus Driver and Courier
2008-2009 School calendar Available With just a month left of school for this year, it’s time to start thinking ahead to next year. The first day of school for students will be Tuesday, Sept. 2. Winter Break is scheduled for Dec. 22-Jan. 4. Spring Break will run from April 3-12. The last day of school for students will be Wednesday, June 17 for seniors and June 18 for all other students. A copy of the full calendar is available at www.fccps.org.
bringing home the gold…and More!
Tune in to Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) to watch A Celebration of Excellence, presented by Falls Church City Public Schools to honor our Support Staff of the Year, Agnes Meyer Teacher of the Year, and Distinguished Educational Leader. A Celebration of Excellence airs on FCC-TV at the following times: • Sunday, May 18 at 11:00 a.m. • Tuesday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. • Sunday, May 25 at 11:00 a.m.
• Monday, May 19 at 9:30 a.m. • Wednesday, May 21 at 8:30 a.m.
FCC-TV airs on Cox Channel 12, Verizon FiOS Channel 35 and RCN Channel 2. For more information about FCC-TV, or complete schedule of the variety of community programs on FCC-TV, visit www.fcctv.net or call 703-248-5538.
BIE Partner of the Week Charlie Moore Moore Architects School involvement: Sponsor of the Falls Church PTA Home & Garden Tour. Why Charlie is a BIE partner: “I am delighted again to have the opportunity to support the 2008 Falls Church City Elementary PTA Home & Garden Tour. The highly successful inaugural tour in 2006 proved the compatibility of linking our love for our kids with our passion and interest in our homes, all for the benefit of our community. Having grown up in Falls Church City and been a student here, I know the benefit of supporting and promoting the school learning environment.The tour produces a platform for us to give back to our community.” For more information about sharing your expertise through the BIE Partnership, visit www.fccps.org or contact Marybeth Connelly at connellym@fccps.org. School content published in The Weekly Focus is written and edited by the Falls Church City Public Schools. For more information, contact the Falls Church City Public Schools Communications Office. Phone: (703) 248-5699 Fax: (703) 248-5613.
703-536-8638 703-536-7564 703-532-0321 703-536-3130 703-533-1248 703-248-5601*
* Indicates TTY 711 Accessibility
Teachers, Staff Honored by School Board “Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude,” Ralph Marston once said. That axiom applies to each of the seven teachers, five support staff employees and one administrator honored by the Falls Church City School Board, last week, during a special reception and recognition program at Mary (l to r) Third grade teacher Jed Frei, Thomas Jefferson principal Ellen Henderson Trudy Taylor, and TJ aide Kathy Poff were honored during a special reception and recognition program at Mary Ellen Middle School. The teachers were Henderson Middle School last week.
703-237-6931 703-534-4951
The Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School 7th grade band took top honors among middle schools at the annual Music Showcase Festival in Harrisburg, PA. In addition, the band earned a Gold-Superior rating and the timpanists were recognized as “Best Section” of the competition. The 65 member band is under the direction of Connie Jenkins.
SCHOOL CALENDAR DATES ARE SubjEcT To chAngE Testing now - 5/23 – K-3 PALS Testing (MD/TJ) now - 5/30 – AP & IB Testing (GM) now - 5/23 – SOL, MC, and CSH (TJ/MEH/GM) now - 5/23 – DRA & Q/SRI (MD/TJ/MEH) May 16
TBA – Mason @ Bull Run District Tournament (Baseball/Soccer) 7:30 p.m. Prom (GM) 17 19 7:00 p.m. Rising 2nd Grader Info Night (TJ) 5:00 p.m. Book Fair Night (MEH) 20 6:00 p.m. Drama Club Performance (TJ) TBA – Mason @ Bull Run District Tournament (Baseball/Soccer) 5:00 p.m. Book Fair Night (MEH) 21 6:45 p.m. Variety Show (MEH) 26 Memorial Day (Schools closed/Day Care Closed) 27 6:30 p.m. School Board Work Session (MEH) 7:30 p.m. School Board Regular Meeting (MEH) 7:00 p.m. Beginning Band Concert (TJ) 28 (MD) Mt. Daniel Elementary (TJ) Thomas Jefferson Elementary (MEH) Mary Ellen Henderson Middle (GM) George Mason High
Check the FCCPS Web site for more calendar information. www.fccps.org
Special Education Annual Plan Available The 2008-2009 Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) Special Education Annual Plan is available for public viewing and comment. Copies of the plan are located at the FCCPS Office of Special Education and Student Services, 803 W. Broad Street, Suite 320; at the Falls Church School Board Office, 803 W. Broad Street, Suite 300; and at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 North Virginia Avenue in Falls Church. Questions about the annual plan should be directed to Dr. Barbara Baditoi, Director of Special Education and Student Services at 703-248-5630.
Teacher Appreciation Week: Spreading the Love Teacher Appreciation Week in Falls Church City Public Schools has become its own Spirit Week with various ways of saying ‘thank you’ to go around.
At Mt. Daniel and Thomas Jefferson The Mary Ellen Henderson staff made up Elementary schools the PTA pro- t-shirts to show their appreciation along with vided lunch and treated the staff to food, flowers and candy throughout the week. back and neck massages.
And at George Mason, teachers Maggie Webster (front) and Pam Spicer and the entire instructional staff were treated to a barbeque luncheon courtesy of the PTSA.