February 28 - March 5, 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
FEBRUARY 28-mArch 6, 2008
February is CTE Month Career and Technical Education (CTE) is far from metal and wood shop or home keeping anymore. CTE prepares students for a wide range of careers; agriculture, trade and industrial, business and marketing, family and consumer sciences, health occupations, public safety and security, and technology.
experience in a wide range of subject areas from computer Web page design and electrical engineering to aviation, architectural design and plumbing. George Mason High School students are eligible to take career and technical education courses through the Arlington Career Center.
At Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, students get hands-on
For more information about the Falls Church City Public Schools CTE programs, contact Jeanne Seabridge at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School at seabridgej@ fccps.org or Amy Kurjanowicz at George Mason High School at kurjanowicza@ fccps.org.
Mary Ellen Henderson students work together on a computer assisted drafting assignment in the schools CTE lab.
For more news about the Falls Church City Public Schools visit: www.fccps.org
Attendees should bring an entrée, side dish or salad for 8-10 people to share. Disposable containers are advised. Don’t have time to cook? Why not pick up a family-size dish from one of our local ethnic restaurants? Local businesses interested in donating a dish to the event should contact Kate Seche at 703.248.5616. All donations are tax-deductible, and the names of participating businesses will be listed in the event program, will be verbally recognized by the master of ceremonies during the event, and will be featured on a table card that will be placed next to the donated dish.
Volunteers are also needed to make extra food and/or be part of the kitchen crew. If you would like to volunteer, contact Jane Cashin at 703-534-5247 or Cultural entertainment is as much a part of the annual cashinjl@hotmail.com. GMHS International Dinner as the cuisine. Enjoy both The rain/snow date for during this year’s dinner on March 5th at 6:30 p.m. in the event is Thursday, the Mustang Café. March 6th.
GM Prepares Latest Robot for Competition
FCC-TV Spotlight: In The Fight Tune in to Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) to watch In The Fight, a monthly half-hour program showing the latest action from the field from all branches of the US Armed Forces. In The Fight airs on FCC-TV at the following times: • Tuesdays at 11am • Thursdays at 8:30am • Sundays at 7:30am 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 Maria Shields George Mason High School School involvement: Has worked with numerous businesses and non-profits, including Sunrise of Falls Church, FIRST Friday of Falls Church, Curves, Falls Church Arts and Kokolopori-Falls Church Sister City Partnership to display student art work in the community. Why Maria is a BIE partner: “As a George Mason High School art teacher, I am always thrilled to help my students exhibit their work in the community. Our students are so talented, and working with local businesses allows others to experience their work and appreciate their abilities.” 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.
Since returning from the winter break, 15 of George Mason High School’s brightest students have been working long hours to determine the best way to carry a 48-inch nylon ball across a finish line. What seems like a simple task becomes much more complicated when you consider the mission has to be accomplished by a remote controlled robot built entirely by student hands and ingenuity.
703-536-8638 703-536-7564 703-532-0321 703-536-3130 703-533-1248 703-248-5601*
* Indicates TTY 711 Accessibility
International Dinner: A Night of Family Fun Get ready for the annual celebration of the city’s diverse ethnic community by participating in George Mason High School’s International Dinner. This year’s event will be held on Wednesday March 5th at 6:30 PM in the high school’s Mustang Café. The annual International Dinner is hosted by the GMHS International Club and sponsored by the PTSA and ESOL/Foreign Language staff. The celebration draws more than 200 attendees enjoying a delicious array of ethnic foods and entertainment with an international flair.
703-237-6931 703-534-4951
pneumatic lifters and microprocessors, is nearly 5 feet tall and weighs 114 pounds. It has been designed to knock the four-foot-wide ball off its eight-foot-high podium and carry it through an obstacle course toward the finish line. The Mustang robotics team is sponsored by Aurora Flight Sciences, with additional funding from the Falls Church School Board, FCC-TV and the Schwind family.
The team will take its latest creation to the annual NASA sponsored regional robotics competition held Annapolis, Maryland, March 13-15. This year’s robot, made entirely of aluminum, plastic, plywood, pool noodles and a series of The George Mason High School robotics teams poses with their latest creation before shipping it off for competition in Annapolis March 13-15.
Huskies Advance to State History Competition Five Mary Ellen Henderson students are advancing to the state history competition in Williamsburg this spring after outstanding performances last Saturday at George Mason University. Rachel Pugh, Phoebe Galt, Fae Montgomery, Norah Overby and Crystal Luo all received second place ribbons during the National History Day event at GMU. Pugh and Galt were honored in the group documentary category. Montgomery and Overby placed in the group performance category, and Luo turned in a winning entry in the historical paper category. John Glover and Stu Harvey also received honorable mentions in the group documentary category.
SCHOOL CALENDAR DATES ARE SubjEcT To chAngE February 28 Mt. Daniel Book Fair (MD) 7:00 p.m. Aladdin Jr. Musical (MEH) 7:30 p.m. Family Life Education Adv. Comm. (GM) 29
Mt. Daniel Book Fair (MD) 7th Grade Band Festival @ Sandberg MS 7:00 p.m. Aladdin Jr. Musical (MEH)
March 1 7:00 p.m. Aladdin Jr. Musical (MEH) 3
6:30 p.m. Special Ed. Adv. Comm. (TJ)
4–5
5, 8 & 11th Grade SOL Writing Test (MEH/GM)
4
5:00 p.m. Mason @ Stuart (Baseball) 7:00 p.m. School Board Work Session (MEH) 7:30 p.m. Langley @ Mason (G Soccer)
5
7:30 p.m. Mclean @ Mason (B Lacrosse)
6
7:00 p.m. Mason @ Falls Church (B Soccer) 7:00 p.m. Falls Church @ Mason (G Soccer) 7:30 p.m. International Dinner (GM)
7
6:30 p.m. Family Literacy Night (MD) 7:30 p.m. Elementary PTA (TJ) (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
Mt. Daniel Kindergarten Registration Information Kindergarten information packets for Falls Church residents whose children will be five years old by September 30, 2008, will soon arrive in the mail. Packets may also be requested by visiting www.fccps.org/md. Mount Daniel administrators and faculty will present Kindergarten Information Night on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the school’s multipurpose room. A brief overview of the school day, curriculum, day care program, and registration requirements will be presented through a video and panel discussion. Registration will be held for kindergarten parents and students Wednesday, April 30, 2008. Kindergarten parents will be notified of an appointment time they and their child can visit a classroom and turn in completed registration forms.