Enrichment Camp Fair
<bt>The Fairfax County Association for the Gifted is sponsoring a summer enrichment camp fair Thursday, Feb. 7, in the Woodson High School's cafeteria, 9525 Main St. in Fairfax. The fair will have brochures from summer camps that offer academic and other types of enrichment. There will also be representatives from camps for elementary- through high-school students, including 3D Life Adventures Summer Expeditions, Camp Rim Rock, the George Mason University Enrichment Programs, Interlocken International Summer Camp and Travel Programs, Science Camp Watonka, Summer Enrichment Program for Gifted Learners and the GW Summer Tour: Curious Minds Rock.
For more information, contact Louise Epstein, president of the Fairfax County Association for the Gifted, at 703-917-7960. The summer enrichment guide can be downloaded from the association's Web site at www.fcag.org.
<sh>Comment of Books Sought
<bt>Fairfax County Public Schools is soliciting public comment on proposed new social studies textbooks for grades four-eight. The recommended texts will be available at eight Fairfax County libraries Feb. 10-March 10. Citizens are encouraged to review the books and complete comment sheets, which will be forwarded to the School Board prior to its final adoption of social studies books for the 2003-04 school year.
A textbook review committee, composed of community members, school-system administrators and teachers, will make recommendations to the School Board in early February. The recommended texts will be available at the following libraries:
* Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Saint Germaine Drive, Centreville;
* Chantilly Regional Library, 4000 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly;
* Fairfax City Regional Library, 3915 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax;
* George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale;
* Pohick Regional Library, 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke;
* Reston Regional, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston; Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria; and
Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church.
For more information, contact Sara Shoob, social studies coordinator, at 703-846-8647, or by e-mail at sara.shoob@fcps.edu.
<sh>Graduation Ceremonies for Alternative Schools
<bt>Bryant Alternative High School in Alexandria, Mountain View School in Centreville and Pimmit Hills School in Falls Church will celebrate their first graduation ceremonies of 2003 in February.
Mountain View will graduate 65 students, 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 13, at Fairfax High School. Pimmit Hills will hold commencement exercises for 39 students, 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 13, at the school. Bryant will graduate 55 students, including seven from the Landmark Career Academy, 7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 10, at the school.
All three schools are fully accredited alternative Fairfax County Public Schools high schools that offer students the opportunity to earn a standard high-school diploma in nontraditional formats. The schools offer small classes that focuses on each students' strengths and challenges, a supportive learning environment, block scheduling, day and evening classes, Project Opportunity for parenting teens and programming that promotes the development of academics, personal and career skills.
Career and learning scholarships, citizenship, personal achievement, faculty and academic achievement awards will be presented to graduates.
<sh>Interactive Educational Conference
<bt>Educators Ted and Nancy Sizer, authors of "The Students Are Watching: Schools and the Moral Contract" will be keynote speakers for an interactive education conference, "Our Kids Deserve More Than "'Just the Facts,'" Saturday, March 15, from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in the West Springfield High School auditorium, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield.
The public is welcome to participate and share opinions. The event is sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools and The Fairfax County Council of PTAs.
Registration for the conference and more details, including an online book discussion Feb. 10-12, can be found at http://www.fccpta.org/education/sizer_menu.htm
<sh>Scientists Wanted
<bt>Fairfax County Public Schools is seeking retired scientists, engineers and other individuals with science backgrounds for the RE-SEED (Retirees Enhancing Science Education through Experiments and Demonstrations) Program. RE-SEED trains volunteers to work with science teachers in county middle and high schools and professional/technical academies. Persons with backgrounds in life sciences, physics, chemistry, geosystems, physical science, engineering physics and robotics are needed.
Volunteers assist teachers in the development, setup and
implementation of experiments and demonstrations designed to help students investigate basic scientific concepts and apply these concepts to everyday situations. New volunteer training will take place Feb. 20, at Irving Middle School, 8100 Old Keene Mill Road in Springfield.
For more information, contact Sharon DeBragga, coordinator for Fairfax County, at 703-227-2388, or via e-mail at Sharon.Debragga@fcps.edu.
<sh>Book Drive
<bt>The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia and Safeway are holding an annual book drive at participating Safeway stores in Arlington, Fairfax and Alexandria. From now until Feb. 24, drop off new and gently used books at local stores. All books will be sold at the Literacy Council's semi-annual book sale March 7-9, at the Council's office, 3431 Carlin Springs Road, Falls Church. The council is also seeking volunteers to help collect the donated books and bring them to the council office. For more information, call the Council at 703-575-7900 or visit the Web site at www.lcnv.org.
<sh>FCPS Events Calendar
<bt>Wednesday, Jan. 29
Second grading period ends for standard calendar and modified secondary calendar Fairfax County Public Schools.
Thursday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.
School Board work session, finance & budget. Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.
Thursday, Jan. 30-Friday, Jan. 31
Student holidays for standard calendar and modified secondary calendar Fairfax County Public Schools.
Friday, Jan. 31
Student holiday for modified elementary calendar Fairfax County Public Schools.
Saturday, Feb. 1, 9 a.m.
Superintendent's retreat for the School Board. Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax.
Monday, Feb. 3
Third grading period begins for standard calendar and modified secondary calendar Fairfax County Public Schools.
Saturday, Feb. 8, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Fairfax County Public Schools teachers, librarians and counselors job fair, focusing on elementary-school and special-education teachers. Preregistration required, 703-750-8519. Snow date, Feb. 22. Oakton High School, 2900 Sutton Road, Vienna.