Falls Church City Focus Pages 4-22-2010

for the week of April 22-28, 2010

Recycling Extravaganza This Saturday

city

Bring unwanted items to the Semi-Annual Recycling Extravaganza on Saturday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is an opportunity for the community to bring electronics (including computers, printers, scanners, TVs and cell phones), clothing and textiles, bicycles, printer cartridges, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and medical supplies, for recycling, reuse, or donation. City residents can also bring up to three file boxes of personal documents for secure shredding, at no charge! For a complete list of acceptable items, visit www.fallschurchva.gov.

The Extravaganza will be held at the Falls Church Property Yard, across from the Recycling Center, located at 217 Gordon Road. For more information, please call the Environmental Programs Specialist at 703-248-5176 (TTY 711) or visit www.fallschurchva.gov.

6th Annual Falls Church City Art Show & Sale This Weekend

The finest artwork in the City will be on display and on sale this weekend at the 6th Annual Art Show & Sale. The exhibit features original artwork by art students, City residents and employees. The opening reception for this free event will be held at the Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St.) on Friday, April 23 from 5-7 p.m. The Exhibition & Sale, also at the Community Center, will be held on Saturday, April 24 from noon-4 p.m.

Call for entries! City residents of all ages and employees are invited to submit original artwork to the show (limit three submissions per person). Photography, paintings (watercolor, oil, or acrylic), and drawings (pencil or pastel) of any size will be accepted. Submissions can be framed or unframed.

All artwork may be submitted to the Community Center through noon on Friday, April 23. Artists must include their name, phone number, and selling price (if interested in selling the artwork) on the back of each entry. Submissions from children K-12 must also include their grade and age.

This event is sponsored by the City of Falls Church Recreation & Parks Division with support from Falls Church Arts. For more information, please call 703-2485077 (TTY 711).

City Council to Adopt FY11 Budget on Monday, April 26

Volunteer with Falls Church City TV

The City Council is scheduled to adopt the fiscal year 2011 budget and set the real estate tax rate at its regular meeting on Monday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. FY11 runs July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011. A final public hearing will precede Council’s vote on the budget.

Copies of the proposed budget and Capital Improvements Program are available at www.fallschurchva.gov and at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave. E-mail Budget Comments Send 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 are posted anonymously on the City Web site.

Falls Church City TV (FCC-TV) is seeking volunteers to be camera operators for a variety of public access programs. Volunteers will be trained and certified to use the video equipment before participating in upcoming productions such as the Memorial Day Parade and GMHS Commencement, as well as programs taped in the studio at GMHS. Volunteers must pay a $40 training fee or demonstrate an appropriate level of expertise with video equipment.

Volunteers are also needed to assist with general office duties at the TV station such as answering phones.

No training is required.

FCC-TV is the City’s cable TV channel, which airs on Cox channel 12, Verizon channel 35 and RCN channel 2.

To sign up for volunteer training, which includes field production, video production and editing, or for more information, contact Michael Palmrose, FCC-TV Supervisor, at palmrosem@fccps.org or 703-248-5692 (TTY 711). For more information about FCC-TV visit www.fcctv.net.

Get City News in Your E-Mail Inbox The e-FOCUS is the City’s online newsletter that highlights the City’s financial, environmental, transportation, economic development, public safety, and housing issues. Check it out or subscribe online at www.fallschurchva.gov.

www.fallschurchva.gov - The official site for City of Falls Church news

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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).

‘Coach T’ - 2010 FCCPS Support Staff Employee of the Year

FCC-TV Spotlight: League of Women Voters Candidate Forum Tune in to Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) to see the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum.

This event gives residents of Falls Church City a chance to meet the candidates running for positions on the City Council. You can catch League of Women Voters Candidate Forum on FCC-TV at the following times: • Friday at 5:00 p.m. • Saturday at 4:00 p.m. • Sunday at 5:00 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 Lou Kiessling

Acacia Federal Savings Bank School involvement: Acacia Federal Savings Bank is a four-year sponsor of online and silent auctions in support of the Falls Church Education Foundation.

Why Lou is a BIE partner: “It is always a pleasure to see friends at the Falls Church Education Foundation Annual Dinner. Acacia is pleased to sponsor educational programs that make a difference in the lives of students in the Falls Church City.”

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

Foundation Footnotes Tickets to Annual Dinner are still available The Falls Church Education Foundation’s 6th Annual Dinner Celebration will be held tomorrow evening, April 23rd, at the Westin Arlington Gateway at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are still available by calling the foundation office at (703) 5383381. More than 200 school supporters are expected to join school leaders to enjoy an evening of dining, music and bidding on more than 90 exciting auction items. Event proceeds from the event will support the foundation’s operations and programs including new technology initiatives for classrooms.

The foundation is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. For more information 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, visit www.fccps.org - the official site for Falls Church City Public Schools news.

a ‘Good morning!’ or ‘Have a great day!’ with a huge smile on his face,” said MEHMS principal Ann McCarty. “It is truly an incredible way to start each day.”

Thomas, who completes his eighth year with the schools next week, has served as a coach for boys’ basketball, baseball and football. He was also recognized this year as the Bull Run District Coach of the Year and was cited for the respect he enjoys among his peers outside of the division.

As the 2010 FCCPS Support Staff Employee of the Year, Thomas will receive a cash award. He and all the nominees will be recognized by the school board at a reception in May.

Huskies Dish Up Pasta for Haiti The MEHMS Student Council Association (SCA) will host a Haiti Relief Pasta Dinner on Friday, April 30th from 6:00 p.m. 8:00pm in the school cafetorium. The SCA will serve pasta, salads, desserts, and drinks. Music will be performed by MEH jazz band and other students.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Advance tickets are on sale and may be purchased by mailing a check to: MEHMS Haiti Relief Effort c/o Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School 7130 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22043 All proceeds will go to FCCPS Haiti Relief Effort. For more information, contact Rory Dippold at dippoldr@fccps.org.

Summer School Dates Announced Mark your calendars! The Falls Church City Public Schools summer sessions have been scheduled for the following dates and times: Mount Daniel School July 6-9 (T-F) and July 12-29 (M-Th)/8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. *Summer School Plus: August 2-5 Thomas Jefferson Elementary July 6-30 (M-F)/ 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. *Summer School Plus: August 23-27 *Summer School Plus attendance is by special Mary Ellen Henderson Middle invitation only.

July 6-30 (M-F)/8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. *Summer School Plus: August 23-27 George Mason High July 6-23 (M-F)/8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. *Summer School Plus: July 26-August 6

Calendar for April 22-28, 2010 Testing Now – 5/7 SRI Post Test (MEH/GM) 4/26 – 5/7 STAMP (Foreign Language) (MEH/GM) April 22 4:00 p.m. Mason @ Wakefield (G Tennis)

4:00 p.m. Wakefield @ Mason (B Tennis)

5:30 p.m. Mason@ Marshall (Baseball)

6:00 p.m. Mason @ Loudoun Co. (G Lacrosse)

6:30 p.m. Mason @ T. C. Williams (Softball)

7:00 p.m. School Board Work Session (CO)

7:30 p.m. Loudoun Co. @ Mason (B Lacrosse) 23 4:00 p.m. Mason @ Yorktown (B Tennis)

4:00 p.m. Yorktown @ Mason (G Tennis) 24 12:00 p.m. Broad Run @ Mason (Baseball)

12:00 p.m. Mason @ Broad Run( B Lacrosse) 26 7:00 p.m. Band Boosters (GM) 27 8:15 a.m. Special Education Parent Meeting (GM)

5:00 p.m. Manassas Park @ Mason (Baseball)

6:30 p.m. School Board Work Session (City Hall)

7:00 p.m. Mason @ Manassas Park (B Soccer)

7:00 p.m. Manassas Park @ Mason (G Soccer)

8:00 p.m. Regular School Board Meeting 28 4:30 p.m. Park View @ Mason (B Tennis)

5:00 p.m. Mason @ Strasburg (Track)

5:30 p.m. Mason @ Park View (G Tennis)

6:30 p.m. ESOL Advisory Committee (CO)

6:30 p.m. Mt. Daniel Science Night (MD)

7:00 p.m. Rising 8th Grade Special Education Info Night (GM)

7:30 p.m. FCCPS Pyramid Chorus Concert (GM) 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

Schools

For the second time in a year, LaBryan Thomas says he is “speechless.” Only a month after leading the George Mason High School girls basketball team to a second consecutive state title, ‘Coach T’, as he is affectionately called, is being recognized as the 2010 Falls Church City Public Schools Support Staff Employee of the Year. Thomas is a building and grounds maintenance technician for Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School (MEHMS), but is well known throughout the division.

“Coach T is a true Falls Church treasure. He represents all that is good about Falls Church City Public Schools through his “can do” attitude. We are fortunate to have him as an employee LaBryan Thomas and parent,” Superintendent Lois Berlin said.

Thomas was surprised with balloons and smiles last week in the MEH front office with the news that he is this year’s award recipient. He was nominated by Mount Daniel School secretary, Peggy Ball.

“Coach T is not only a FCCPS employee but also a member of the Falls Church City community,” Ball wrote in her nomination letter. “Over the years he has volunteered as a coach for the Falls Church Parks and Rec department and has become a familiar, trustworthy face to the students and families of our school system.”

Other colleagues and parents also submitted letters of support for Thomas’ nomination. He is widely known as a ‘go to’ person because of his knowledge, patience and cheerful attitude. “Mr. Thomas pauses whatever he is doing to holler