Holiday Canceled
<bt>Fairfax County Public Schools students and staff celebrated President's birthday early. Due to the approximate 6 inches of snow that blanketed the area Friday and canceled school, students and staff will have to report Monday, Feb. 17, traditionally a day off in honor of Washington and Lincoln's combined birthdays. In addition, there will be no early release for elementary schools.
There is one more snow make-up day left on the standard calendar, April 7, before the school year will have to be extended.
Modified-calendar elementary schools — Annandale Terrace, Dogwood, Franconia, Franconia Center, Glen Forest, Graham Road, Parklawn and Timber Lane — still have March 28 and 31, and April 1 and 2, remaining as snow days. For the modified secondary schools — Glasgow Middle, Falls Church High and Stuart High — Monday is the last snow day, which means the school year will have to be extended if there are any more days are missed.
<sh>Students Win Art Contest
<bt>A total of 381 middle- and high-school students enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools have won regional awards in the Scholastic Art Awards competition sponsored by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. Their work is on display at the Northern Virginia Community College's Ernest Community Cultural Center, located on the Annandale campus, through Thursday, Feb. 20. An awards ceremony is planned for Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m.
Of the 1,494 total entries, FCPS students accounted for 96 Gold Key awards, 176 Silver Key awards and 109 Certificates of Merit. There were winners from each of the schools system's 24 high and secondary schools, as well as from Carson, Cooper, Franklin, Frost, Irving, Jackson, Key, Lanier, Liberty, Longfellow, Poe, Rocky Run, Stone and Twain middle schools.
The Gold Key winners will be submitted to the national Scholastic Art Awards competition, where they can win monetary awards and scholarships. An exhibit of the national winners' will be on display at the Corcoran Gallery of Art later in the year.
<sh>ACT Registration Approaches
<bt>The registration postmark deadline for the next ACT assessment is March 7. Late registration postmark deadline is March 21, and an additional fee is required. The test will be administered April 12 and costs $25.
Colleges use ACT scores, along with a student's high-school GPA, the type of college-prep courses taken and other information to help determine admissions and the appropriate course placements for new students. The ACT assessment is an achievement test in English, reading, math and science.
For more information, including registration forms and test locations, contact the local high-school guidance counselor or register online at www.act.org.
<sh>FCPS Events Calendar
<bt>Wednesday, Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m.
* Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities, Belle Willard Center, 10310 Layton Hall Drive, Fairfax.
* Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee, Walnut Hill Center, 7423 Camp Alger Ave., Falls Church.
Thursday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.
School Board regular business meeting, advertised budget adoption. Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.
Monday, Feb. 17
Washington's birthday holiday - no school holiday, snow make up day; no early release for elementary schools.
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.
School Health Advisory Committee, Devonshire Center, 2831 Graham Road, Falls Church.
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.
* Gifted and Talented Advisory Committee, Lacey Center, 3705 Crest Drive, Annandale.
* Human Resources Advisory Committee, Human Resources Center, 6815 Edsall Road, Springfield.
* Adult and Community Education Advisory Committee, Pimmit Hills Center, 7510 Lisle Ave., Falls Church.
Thursday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m.
School Board public hearing, boundaries, if needed. Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.