<lst>Know something that should be featured in School Notes? Awards? Special events? School fairs? Fax a brief write-up to 703-917-0991. Or call Michael O’Connell at 703-917-6440.
Hayfield Secondary has been ranked 32nd out of the 157 schools in the D.C. Metro area by the Washington Post's 2003 Challenge Index. The index is based on the number of advanced placement or international baccalaureate tests a school gave divided by the number of seniors who graduated.
The Hayfield Secondary Peer Mediators led a training workshop at Island Creek Elementary. Peer members that participated were Ashley Booth, Rachel Brown, Ryan Davis and Patrisha Robinson.
The National Council of Teachers of English is honoring 628 high school seniors as outstanding writers chosen from a field of 2,500 applicants who were all nominated by their junior year English teachers. The award recognizes writing excellence based on student sample. Brendan Hill, now a senior at Hayfield Secondary, was chosen as one of the 628 award winners.
Need the help of a reliable teenager? West Springfield High School maintains a job and volunteer opportunity board. Students come to the Career Center at school to obtain information about part-time jobs and volunteer needs. From babysitting to yard work to word processing, there is a student to help. Contact the Career Center at 703-913-3828 with a description of the job, hours and contact information.
MOMS Club of Burke sponsors its 3rd Annual Preschool Fair Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004 from 1-3:30 p.m. at the Burke Volunteer Fire Department Meeting Hall, 9501 Old Burke Lake Road in Burke. The fair is free and open to the public. Over 20 preschools from Burke and the surrounding area will attend. Parents are invited to gather information and talk with the attending preschool directors all in one location. Contact Elizabeth Rossini at lizzy@rford.net or 703-278-8060 or Kathy Krug at KathKrug@aol.com or 703-503-3455.
Immanuel Christian School hosts an open house on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Immanuel opens its doors to the community to observe classes in session, review curriculum and meet teachers and administration. Immanuel Christian School is located at the corner of Backlick and Braddock Roads in Springfield. Call 703-941-1220 for more information.
Students from the Fairfax Academy performed a holiday show, "Jingle Bell Time," on Monday, Dec. 15, at Tysons Corner Center. Students from the academy's musical theater performance, dance and music and computer technology programs participated, performing holiday favorites as well as blues in honor of the Year of the Blues, proclaimed by Congress. Other groups performing at Tysons Corner over the holidays include Mosby Woods Elementary chorus on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Ravensworth Elementary chorus on Thursday, Dec. 18.
The third annual MHz Shortz Student Film Festival is calling for entries. A part of the MHz Networks' division of EAT (Education Arts Technology), MHz Shortz features live action and animated films created by K - 12 students and teachers. All films for this year's entry must be submitted by March 19, 2004. Requirements and entry forms may be obtained directly from the MHz Networks Web site at www.mhznetworks.org.
The MHz Shortz Student Film Festival is an opportunity to showcase student creativity and culminates in a public event featuring and awarding student films based on age appropriate entry categories. The festival also presents prizes for outstanding work and special awards for teachers who motivate, instruct, and advise student projects.
MHz Networks (MHz and MHz2) is an independent, noncommercial, television network delivering international, educational and arts programming. MHz provides diverse cultural perspectives for a globally minded audience. Serving the Washington, DC area's 4.3 million residents, MHz Networks features programs in more than 20 different languages from over 25 countries.
Long & Foster Real Estate is sponsoring a $150,000 Scholarship Program for well-rounded graduating high school seniors entering an accredited four-year college or university. The Long & Foster Scholarship Program will award $1,000 to each of 150 worthy recipients throughout the seven-state region for the 2004-2005 academic year. The deadline for applying is March 1, 2004 and the scholarships will be awarded beginning May 3, 2004. More than 1,200 applicants vied for the 125 scholarships in 2003. Scholarship candidates must have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale; demonstrate community involvement; provide a photo and submit an essay. Applications for the Long & Foster Scholarship Program can be obtained from any of Long & Foster's residential sales offices located throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, from high school guidance counselors, or via Long & Foster's Web Site at www.longandfoster.com/scholarship. A hard copy of the application and the required attachments must be mailed by March 1, 2004 to Long & Foster Corporate Headquarters at the following address: Long & Foster Scholarship Program, c/o Corporate Marketing Department, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., 11351 Random Hills Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-6082, Attn: Colleen Park.
Twenty-seven Fairfax County Public Schools teachers earned national board certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) in 2003. These teachers include Suzette Anderson of Fairfax High School, Shala Hahn of Garfield Elementary School, Pete Cookson and Randall Miller of Kings Glen Elementary School, Bruce Tsio of Kings Park Elementary school, Julie Ann Abell of Lee High School, Wendy Goldfein of Newington Forest Elementary School, Kathleen Nealon of North Springfield Elementary School, and Kristin Ramey of Woodson High School.
The teachers work toward certification during a single academic year. The certification process involves participating in continued and intense professional development and learning how to deepen subject matter knowledge and become more skillful in daily classroom instruction and student assessment. The ultimate goal is to improve student learning. NBPTS certification is meant to complement state licensing requirements.
Certification is based on five core propositions: being committed to students and the learning process; knowing the subjects taught and how to teach those subjects to students; being responsible for managing and monitoring student learning; thinking systematically about one's practice and learning from the experience; and serving as a member of one's learning community. Teachers are able to earn board certification in any of 24 certificate areas.