Falls Church City Focus 2-25-2010

for the week of February 25 - March 3, 2010

Eat Pancakes and Help the Library

Employee of the Year Nomination Deadline is Tomorrow

In celebration of Library Lovers Month, the Original Pancake House (370 W. Broad St.) will donate 15 percent of its gross sales from today, Feb. 25, to the Mary Riley Styles Public Library Foundation Trust.

The donation will be used to help the library purchase additional books, DVDs, audio-books and other items that will be used by the public. So, enjoy a delicious meal and support one of the City’s cultural and educational institutions.

St. Patty’s Day Comes Early at the Library

city

The Mary Riley Styles Public Library is going green with Irish tales from storyteller Gary Lloyd. He’ll be regaling the whole family with tales of Giants and Leprechauns on Wednesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. The library is located at 120 N. Virginia Ave. Call youth services at 703-248-5034 (TTY 711) for more information.

The City of Falls Church Human Resources Division is accepting nominations for the 2009 “Employee of the Year” award. If you have observed a general government (not schools) employee whom you feel merits consideration, please nominate him/her for this award.

Nomination forms are available at City Hall (300 Park Ave.), the Library (120 N. Virginia Ave.), and the Community Center (223 Little Falls St.). Nominations should be submitted by Friday, Feb. 26.

Call 703-248-5127 (TTY 711) for more information.

Register for the W&OD Trail 5K Saturday, March 27 Attention runners – the City of Falls Church invites you to lace up your shoes for the W&OD Trail 5K, on Saturday, March 27 at 4 p.m. The race starts and finishes at the Masonic Lodge, located at 411 Little Falls St. Register online at www.mc-coop.org/wod. For more information, contact Roger Neighborgall at 703-819-7047 or racedirector@att.net.

Watch Falls Church Celebrities Take on the Pros Tomorrow Night

Seeking Memorial Day Grand Marshal

Enjoy an evening of family fun in celebration of Black History Month as the Falls Church City All-Star Team takes on the Harlem MagicMasters! The MagicMasters barely beat the Falls Church All-Stars last year, so let’s show them what Falls Church is made of this year! The fun starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26 at the Community Center (223 Little Falls St.).

Advance Tickets available online at www.instantseats.com/events/tinnerhill Children under 5 free Advance purchase: youth $8, adults $10 At the door: youth $10, adults $12 Get your seats early! Seating is limited!

For more information, e-mail nikkigraves77@yahoo.com, visit www.tinnerhill.org, or call 703-241-4109.

The 2010 Falls Church City Memorial Day Parade & Festival Committee is seeking nominations for the Grand Marshal of this year’s parade. Contact Jenny Elmore in the Recreation & Parks Division at 703-248-5077 (TTY 711) or jelmore@fallschurchva.gov 2009 Memorial Day Parade with nominations or questions.

Grand Marshal Jessie Thackrey.

Report Potholes

Bring the Fun Indoors with Tot Time

It’s that time of the year again when potholes start popping up.

Cold temperatures, inclement weather, and abrasive de-icing salt and sand are no friends to roadways or your vehicle’s tires.

If you notice a pothole that needs repair, contact the Department of Environmental Services Operations Division at 703-248-5316 (TTY 711).

Find Us on Facebook Become a fan of the City of Falls Church on Facebook and get up-todate City government information. Get the link at www.fallschurchva.gov.

E-mail Your Budget Suggestions The City wants your input as officials develop the fiscal year 2011 Budget (FY11 runs July 1, 2010). Send in your general government budget suggestions to budget@fallschurchva. gov. Correspondence submitted to this e-mail will be reviewed by the City and considered for the FY11 Budget. Comments will also be posted online at www.fallschurchva.gov and will remain anonymous.

The Recreation & Parks Division brings the fun indoors with Tot Time every Friday through June 11. This indoor playground is open to preschoolers from 10 a.m.-noon in the Community Center gym (223 Little Falls St.). Tot Time is perfect for days when the weather is too cold or rainy to visit the City’s parks. Time subject to change. Call the Gym Hotline at 703-248-5077 (Option 1) for more information.

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Questions or Comments?

City of Falls Church, Harry E. Wells Building 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046 703-248-5003 (TTY 711) The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703-248-5003 (TTY 711).

The George Mason scholastic bowl team heads to William and Mary Saturday, on a final mission to reclaim its position as state champion.

Already undefeated through the regular season and the district tournament, the team took top honors Mustang academic team members (l to r) Jonathan Ross, Asher in unprecedented fashion Morse (captain), Anuraag Sensharma, and Ross Wilson prepare during last week’s Region B to buzz in during last week’s Region B tournament. tournament. By defeating Gretna High school 370-70, the Mustangs became the first team to win by 300 points in the double elimination regional championship. The Mustangs also defeated Central High (315-80) and Clark County High twice (285-115 and 275135) in bringing home a new regional trophy.

This past Saturday, the Mustangs returned to the NBC4 television studios to appear in the playoff taping of 2010 season of the popular quiz show “It’s Academic.” The air date for that program will be announced soon.

Elementary Schools Adjust Hours, Bus Routes The FCCPS elementary school calendar is being adjusted to make up for lost instructional time due to snow days and to an error in calculating instructional time at the elementary level.

State law allows the school division to report instructional time in hours (990 hours annually) averaging at least 5-1/2 hours of instructional time per day, not including lunch or recess.

To make up the time, the elementary schools will reduce the number of short Wednesdays per month to two, and each instructional day will be lengthened by 15 minutes.

For the remainder of this year, the elementary school hours at Mount Daniel and Thomas Jefferson will be as follows: *Monday – Friday: 8:35 a.m. – 3:35 p.m. *Early dismissal Wednesday Mount Daniel: 8:35 a.m. – 1:05 p.m.

Thomas Jefferson: 8:35 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Early dismissal days are: March 10th and 24th April 14th and 28th May 12th and 26th June 2nd On the Wednesdays that are NOT early dismissal days, both Mount Daniel and TJ will dismiss at 3:35 p.m. If you have questions please contact your child’s school.

Bus schedules have also been adjusted. You may view them at www.fccps.org/bus.

FCC-TV Spotlight: Budget Forum

Snow Patrol

Balancing the budget is a major concern for the City of Falls Church this year. Recently, members of the City Council and School Board asked citizens for their input at a Budget Forum. Individuals were given the chance to provide their input as well as have their questions answered, and FCC-TV’s cameras were there. If the budget is important to you, then this is one program you will not want to miss. The Budget Forum will air on the following dates: • Friday, February 26 at 5:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m.

A team of parent volunteers, FCCPS personnel and a local construction crew assembled this week to dig out the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School playground from beneath a foot of snow. To view a slideshow of the effort, visit www.fccps.org/meh.

• Saturday, February 27 at 4:00 p.m.

• Wednesday, March 3 at 1:00 p.m.

You can now see FCC-TV programming live at www.fcctv.net anywhere in the world! FCC-TV also airs in the greater Falls Church area on Cox Channel 12, Verizon Channel 35 and RCN Channel 2.

BIE Partner of the Week Jeff DuBro and Luis Maravi Novus Construction

School involvement: Using the Novus Construction Bobcat, helped to clear the snow from the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School playground after the Blizzard of 2010; Participated in Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School career programs; and supported the PTA Home & Garden Tour.

Why Jeff is a BIE partner: “When I heard the students were having recess inside until the playground could be cleared, I felt that Novus had the resources to help. I was happy to provide the equipment needed to clear the playground and to collaborate with a great team of parents, teachers and staff to remove the snow.”

For more information about sharing your expertise through the BIE Partnership, visit www.fccps.org or contact Marybeth Connelly at connellym@fccps.org.

Foundation Footnotes New board members add expertise to FCEF The board of directors of the Falls Church Education Foundation recently voted to appoint several new members to the group including Patrick Riccards, Tom Saberhagen and Steve Sprague. All of the new members are residents of Falls Church City and demonstrate a commitment to maintaining excellence in education in the schools. The members will be tapped to provide guidance in formulating and executing FCEF policies in the areas of finance and strategic communications/planning.

The Foundation is registered as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. For information about the Falls Church Education Foundation, visit www.fcedf.org or contact Donna Englander at denglander@fcedf.org.

School content published in The Schools 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.

Calendar for February 25 - March 6, 2010 Testing 27

8:00 a.m. Practice ACT Exam (GM)

3/2-5

SOL Writing (MEH/GM)

February 25

7:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

“The Music Man, Junior” (MEH) Family Life Education Adv. Committee (CO)

26

7:00 p.m.

“The Music Man, Junior” (MEH)

27

7:00 p.m.

“The Music Man, Junior” (MEH)

March

Schools

Mustangs Scholastic Bowl Region B Champs

1

6:00 p.m. EIP/HEP Tutoring (GM) 7:00 p.m. Special Education Adv. Committee (TJ)

2

7:00 p.m. School Board Work Session & Adoption of FY11 Budget (CO)

3

4:00 p.m. Mason @ Hayfield Secondary – Scrimmage (B Tennis) 4:00 p.m. Hayfield Secondary @ Mason – Scrimmage (G Tennis) 6:00 p.m. International Dinner (GM)

5

4:00 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

6

8:00 a.m. Haiti Relief (GM)

Mason @ Stuart High – Scrimmage (G Tennis) PTA March Madness (MEH) Hayfield Secondary @ Mason – Scrimmage (G Soccer) Hayfield Secondary @ Mason – Scrimmage (B Soccer)

For more calendar information, visit www.fccps.org/calendar.

(MD) Mt. Daniel School (TJ) Thomas Jefferson Elementary (MEH) Mary Ellen Henderson Middle (GM) George Mason High (CO) Central Office

www.fccps.org - The official site for Falls Church City Public Schools news