<lst>Send your organization's announcement to The Reston Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to reston@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged. Questions? Call Michael O'Connell at 703-917-6449.
<lst>Fifteen students from South Lakes High School's Work-Study Program, together with the school's yearbook editors and several members of the girls basketball team, attended a screening of the movie "I am Sam" on Jan. 22 at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center. Students had the opportunity to view the film and ask Sean Penn, the film's star, as well as producer-director Jessie Nelson and screenwriter Kristine Johnson questions. The event was sponsored by Special Olympics, New Line Cinema and America Online.
"I am Sam" is the story of a mentally challenged father faced with the loss of his daughter. Sam's lawyer, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, fights a social worker's attempts to place the girl in foster care.
South Lakes students were enthusiastic about the movie. "It was good, but at the end everybody was crying; I was crying," said Whitney Larson. Ben Burks admired Sam because, "He was trying very hard to raise his daughter." Katrina Ciambruschini was impressed that Sam "went in and talked to his child's principal."
The students were accompanied to the screening by their teachers - Terri Buckley, Lindsay Trout, Brenda Van Sickle, Gail Pinnix and principal Realista Rodriguez.
Two Cats in the Hat invaded Buzz Aldren Elementary school on March 1 as part of the Read Across America Day celebration. Cat A and Cat B were none other than principal Gina Ross and assistant principal Mary Marinoff, who dressed in costume and read a selection of Dr. Suess stories to students. As a tribute to the late Dr. Suess' 98th birthday on March 2, K-2 grade students feasted on green eggs, ham and birthday cake.
Throughout the month of February, Buzz Aldren students participated in a read-a-thon in preparation for the celebration. Students from each grade level who read the most received replica hats made famous by Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat. Additional hats were awarded by lottery to one student per grade level.
Kathleen Borrelli of Reston was named to the Dean's List of Syracuse University's School of Education for the fall 2001 semester.
Rhett K. Linke, a freshman art major from Reston, is one of 29 Bridgewater College students who spent their spring break as volunteers for Habitat for Humanity. The students left for Miami on Saturday, March 2, and returned on Sunday, March 10.
The Reston Community Center is offering a series of free job skills workshops to help area middle and high school students to find a good job. A Resume Writing Workshop is being offered by the Reston Community Center, Lake Anne on Thursday, March 14 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. At the end of the class, participants will leave with a completed resume. On March 21, a Dress and Etiquette Workshop will teach participants how to dress and act at job interviews. This workshop will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods. On Thursday, April 4 from 6:30 to 7:30, the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods will be hosting a Your Ideal Job Workshop to help teens plan their ideal career paths. Teens can then put their new skills to use at the RCC's Teen Summer Expo on Saturday, April 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods. The Expo is an open house where teens can meet with local employers for information and on-the-spot job interviews. Registration for the workshops is required. Register in person or by faxing a completed RCC Registration form to
(703) 476-8617.
John Collins of Reston has been accepted as a first-year student at St. Mary's College of Maryland. Collins, a senior at Herndon High School, is one of 102 early-decision applicants accepted into the College's first-year class of 2002. Individuals accepted through the early admissions process face strict requirements such as an above-average grade performance in their program of study and a commitment to St. Mary's as their first choice.
Langston Hughes Middle School celebrated Valentine's Day by having an activity day. This premiere event took place immediately after school. This idea for a fund-raiser came from principal Deborah Jackson and members of the Student Council Association (SCA). The tickets for the event cost $2.50 and paid for popcorn, a drink, and an afternoon of fun. The SCA raised activities money for the rest of this year.
Activity Day involved a movie, a dance, and games in the gym. The movie was the recent comedy "The Princess Diaries".
Clearview Elementary School is seeking volunteers for its "Fun Fair" on Saturday, March 16. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Cindy Lang at 703-471-8217 or at cindymlong@yahoo.com .0
To celebrate Youth Art Month, the Greater Reston Arts Center is sponsoring its annual youth art exhibit, featuring the work of students from Herndon and Langston Hughes Middle Schools.
Showcasing art in pencil, pastel, scratch board, marker and pen and ink, the exhibition runs from March 17-30. An opening reception will take place on March 17 between 2-4 p.m. at the Greater Reston Arts Center Gallery, 11911 Freedom Drive, Suite 110, Reston.
The Greater Reston Arts Center is a non-profit visual arts organization serving Northern Virginia through art exhibitions, a Summer Art Program for children, the "Art-in-the-Schools" program, and the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival which will take place May 18 and 19.
Art students from seven Reston elementary schools will have their artwork on display at the JoAnne Rose Gallery at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne from March 5-31. Titled "Faces and Places," the exhibition celebrates Youth Art Month.
South Lakes High School PTSA invites the community to shop at Barnes & Noble bookstore in Reston Town Center on Saturday March 16 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. A portion of sales from one of the registers will be donated to Academic Boosters at South Lakes.
The following local high school reunions are being planned for the summer and fall of 2002. First-Class Reunions is in the process of locating alumni for the 2002 reunion season. Alumni should contact FCR at 888-327-1984 or visit the web site at www.fcreunions.com to update their information.
Herndon, Class of 1982, 20-Year Reunion, TBD date, TBD location
Oakton, Class of 1982, 20-Year Reunion, July 27, Sheraton Premiere - Tyson's Corner
Oakton, Class of 1987, 15-Year Reunion, November 29, 2002, Sheraton Premiere - Tyson's Corner
Oakton, Class of 1992, 10-Year Reunion, August 10, 2002, Holiday Inn - Old Town Alexandria
South Lakes Reston, Class of 1992, 10-Year Reunion, August 17, 2002, Sheraton Reston - Reston