Falls Church City Focus 5-06-2010

for the week of May 6-12, 2010

Make an Impact at Events

city

Sponsor an Event Falls Church hosts more than a dozen Citywide events, including the Memorial Day Festival and Parade, Fall Festival and Taste of Falls Church, Sunset Cinema, and Farm Day. Businesses are invited to become a partner with the City in offering these special events. Gain exposure for your business in front of a large, varied audience and show your community support in the area where you do business. Please contact Jenny Elmore at 703-248-5199 (TTY 711) or jelmore@fallschurchva.gov to discuss sponsorship packages and opportunities in further detail.

Be a Vendor If you or your business would like to be a vendor at this year’s City events, fill out an application to reserve a space. Applications are available for Memorial Day, Fall Festival and the Holiday Craft Show. Download an application at www.fallschurchva.gov or pick one up at the Community Center, 223 Little Falls St. For more information, call 703-248-5077 (TTY 711).

Celebrate Memorial Day In Falls Church City Planning is underway for the City’s 29th Annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival on Monday, May 31. This free event will be held rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Falls Church City Hall grounds, located at 300 Park Ave. Those who have served in the armed forces will be honored at a Veterans Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial in front of the Falls Church City Community Center, 223 Little Falls St. The day also features a Don Beyer 3K Fun Run at 9 a.m. The Memorial Day Parade steps off at 2 p.m. under the direction of this year’s Grand Marshal, Edna Frady.

Throughout the day, festival-goers of all ages will enjoy amusement rides, pony rides, arts and crafts, food, civic and business booths, public safety tips, stage entertainment, and more. Live musical entertainment will be provided by the Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition, Big Tow, the City of Falls Church Concert Band, and Judo Chop.

For more information, visit www.fallschurchva.gov.

Wednesday: the New Waste Day

Civil War Day is May 15

Beginning June 2, Wednesday is Waste Day in the City Falls Church. For current residential customers, refuse, recycling, yard waste, bundled brush, special collections (by appointment) and seasonal Christmas tree collection will all be collected each Wednesday for the entire City.

Solid Waste Collection Community Forum Wednesday, May 12, 7 p.m.

Community Center, 223 Little Falls St. The Environmental Services Council (ESC) and the Department of Environmental Services invite residents to learn about the new Wednesday collection program on May 12 at 7 p.m. City staff will give an overview on the new service and will seek input about forthcoming refuse and recycling cart sizes and distribution. ESC members will also discuss a proposal to adopt a SMART program – a system that Saves Money and Reduces Trash while minimizing environmental impact. For more information about the new service call the Solid Waste Hot Line at 703-248-5160.

Step back in time to witness Falls Church during the Civil War. Cherry Hill Park plays host to Civil War Day on Saturday, May 15 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. This free event features reenactments, drilling exercises, live music, and more!

This year will also feature soldier and civilian reenactors with a special focus on the African American experience during the Civil War, and a special 19th century mourning exhibit by nationally known collector Georgia Meadows.

For more information, call 703-248-5171 (TTY 711) or visit www.fallschurchva.gov.

City News Comes to You 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.

Volunteers Needed for Boards and Commissions City residents are needed to serve on various City government boards and commissions. View the complete list of boards and commissions, their descriptions, and applications at www.fallschurchva.gov. For more information, contact the City Clerk at 703-248-5014 (TTY 711) or e-mail cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov.

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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 Falls Church City School Board is taking the next step to reduce energy usage and promote sustainability in our schools. Through the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) Green Schools Challenge, the Falls Church City Public Schools will participate in a friendly competition designed to encourage implementation of specific environmental policies and practical Solar panels sit atop the George Mason High actions that reduce the carbon emis- School contributing electricity back to the grid. sions generated by both the local school division and the broader community.

The goal of the challenge is to become a certified “Green School Division.”

Recognition will be given at the VSBA Annual Conference in November to the top three school divisions in each of three student population brackets (less than 5,000; 5,001-10,000; 10,001-plus).

FCC-TV Spotlight: Entertainment Unlimited Tune in to Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) to watch Entertainment Unlimited. This month’s episode celebrates the 40th Anniversary of SOME (So Others Might Eat).

The program features awards and a special performance from political satirist, Mark Russell. Entertainment Unlimited airs on FCC-TV at the following times: • Sundays at 8:00 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 Cary Frostick

Mary Riley Styles Public Library School involvement: Cary presented at the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School (MEHMS) Career Fair. The library hosted the Thomas Jefferson Elementary Art Show, and a poetry slam for MEHMS and George Mason High School students.

George Mason students provide volunteer service to the library by serving in the teen advisory group, participating in teen reader’s advisory, and organizing children’s and teen’s programming.

Over the summer, the library encourages students to participate in the Summer Reading Program.

Why Cary is a BIE partner: “It makes sense for the community library to work closely with the schools because we are educating the same children. I’ve enjoyed partnering with teachers, school librarians and students to enhance the quality of the programs the library offers.”

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 Artwork donation supports civics learning FCEF donor, Jon Wiant, recently purchased 15 serigraphs by graphic artist Paul Levy to donate to George Mason High School in memory of his late wife, GMHS teacher Cay Wiant. Cay and Jon became acquainted with the series at a local art show and were impressed with the clever depiction of the rights granted to each American under the U.S. Constitution such as the right to bear arms, the right to privacy and the right to freedom from cruel and unusual punishment. The gift is a tribute to Cay’s dedication to public education as well as her life as a civic activist.

The series is valued at more than $7,500 and will be available for viewing at George Mason High School.

The Falls Church Education Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. For more information, visit www.fcedf.org or contact Donna Englander at (703) 538-3381.

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.

Mason Musicians Win Blue Ribbon

The George Mason High School Music Department is a Blue Ribbon Award winner as recognized by the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA). The award recognizes schools throughout the Commonwealth which have superior performing ensembles.

This year, the GMHS chorus, concert, percussion and symphonic bands all received straight superior ratings from four judges at the annual VMEA competition.

GMHS Thomas Signs with CNU After leading the GMHS Lady Mustangs to back-to-back state championships, senior guard Chantal Thomas will continue her basketball career at Christopher Newport University, in Newport News, Virginia next year.

“I really liked the campus, the team and all of the coaches.” said Thomas. “Coach (Carolyn) Hunter really knows what she wants and won’t play any mind games with me.”

Thomas will be joining a team that is just as used to winning as her Lady Mustangs. The CNU Captains won every game last year until they reached the elite eight in the NCAA tournament.

GMHS senior Chantal Thomas signs to play for Christopher Newport University.

Elementary PTA Home & Garden Tour May 16th How many times have you walked or driven past a home and thought, “I wonder what that’s like inside?” Here’s your chance to find out!

The third biannual Falls Church Elementary PTA Home & Garden Tour will take place on Sunday, May 16th, from noon to 4:00 p.m.

The Home & Garden Tour is a non-profit, PTAsponsored fundraising project in support of SmartBoards in the elementary classrooms, and the outdoor classroom programs at Mount Daniel and Thomas Jefferson Elementary schools. This year’s tour features a diverse selection of six magnificent homes and two lovely gardens located in Falls Church City.

Advance tickets are $20 each and can be purchased online at www.fallschurchpta.org. A limited number of tickets will be available on the day of the event for $25 each.

Calendar for May 6-12, 2010 Testing Now – 5/7 Now – 5/7 5/6 – 28 5/6 – 24 5/10 – 6/4 5/10 - 5/14

SRI Post Test (MEH/GM) STAMP (Foreign Language) (MEH/GM) PALS Post Test (MD/TJ) IB Exams (GM) DRA/QRI Posttest (MD/TJ) SOL Term Grads (GM)

May 6 7:00 p.m. Elementary PTA Home & Garden Tour Mtg.

7:15 p.m. Mason @ Briar Woods (G Lacrosse)

7:30 p.m. Briar Woods @ Mason (B Lacrosse) 7

5:00 p.m. Madison Co. @ Mason (Baseball/Softball) 5:30 p.m. Mason @ Madison Co. (B Soccer) 7:00 p.m. Madison Co. @ Mason (G Soccer)

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11:00 a.m. GMRP Car Wash (GM)

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5:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

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7:00 p.m. Mason @ Strasburg (Baseball/Softball/G Soccer) 7:00 p.m. Strasburg @ Mason (B Soccer)

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7:15 p.m. PWI (Parent Walk-In) (GM) 4:30 p.m. Rappahannock Co. @ Mason (Track) 5:00 p.m. Mason @ Clarke Co. (G Tennis) 6:30 p.m. School Board Work Session (City Hall) 7:15 p.m. PTA (MEH) 8:00 p.m. Regular School Board Meeting (City Hall)

Potomac Falls @ Mason (B Tennis) Mason @ Potomac Falls (G Tennis) EIP/HEP Tutoring (GM) Gifted & Talented Advisory Committee (TJ)

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

FCCPS Takes VSBA “Green Schools” Challenge