The Madeira School held its annual graduation outdoors amid cheering from cicadas in the trees above the outoor amphitheatre. Marie C. Wilson, founder and president of the Whitehouse Project served as speaker. The student-selected speaker was Christina Stewart, a board from Chatham, Mass. The class of 2004 included 40 day students and 41 boarders from across the United States and 14 countries.
The Old Firehouse Teen Center (OFTC), a satellite program of the McLean Community Center, hosts open houses for rising 7th-grade students on June 4 and 11, 7-10 p.m. On June 4, students from Franklin Sherman, Chesterbrook, Kent Gardens and Churchill Road elementary schools may attend the event. On June 11, students from Springhill, Great Falls, Haycock, Colvin Road, Forrestville, Langley School and students from all other private schools may attend. Admission is $5, with the purchase of an Old Firehouse membership, which is $25 for McLean tax district residents and $30 for all others. First-time tryouts are $10. Admission includes a hot dog and a beverage. In addition to the two open houses, the Old Firehouse will have an open door policy during the month of June. Parents must come inside the center to sign a waiver before they can leave their children at the center. They must also come inside to pick up their children at the end of the evening. The Old Firehouse is located at 1440 Chain Bridge Road in McLean. All Fairfax County students entering the seventh, eighth or ninth grade are welcome to attend an open house. For more information, call 703-448-8336.
McLean High School summer camp applications are available on the MHS Athletic Booster Web site, www.mcleanboosters.org, and in the main office of the high school, 703-714-5700.
For students 7-18 of all skill levels, the football programs are Lineman Camp, June 29 -July 1, 6-8 p.m., $25; and All-Around Skills Camp, Aug. 2, 6-8 p.m., $35. Attending both camps costs $50. Call Rick Rivera, varsity coach, at 703- 847-0148.
On July 12 -16, Field Hockey Session I, for sixth- through ninth-graders, is 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $128, and Session 2, for advanced players, is 5:30-8 p.m., $80. Contact Demby Banbury, varsity coach, at 703-714-5785.
For boys basketball, Session 1 is July 12-16, and Session 2 is July 19-23, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., for third- through 10th-graders, all skill levels, $115 per session. Contact Drew Murphy, varsity coach, for more information.
Progressive high-school students from across Virginia have banded together to organize a three-day weekend of campaign skills training called “Virginia Campaign 101.”
The program, a project of 21st Century Democrats, teaches the basics of campaign organizing, increasing voter turnout, fund-raising and media outreach.
The training, which takes place July 9-11 at George Mason University in Fairfax, costs $100 and includes training, meals and on-site accommodations.
Virginia students interested in participating in Campaign 101 can call 202-626-5620 or register online at www.21stcenturydems.org/training/about_campaign_101/. The deadline for registration is June 11, but because of the limited number of spaces, students are encouraged to sign up early.
The McLean Phoenix, a U-13 girls soccer travel team, is holding open tryouts. The McLean Phoenix are seeking competitive players interested in high level training by proven coaches and trainers. The team has access to the best facilities year-round. Players born on or after Aug. 1, 1990 can come to tryouts on June 7 and 8, 5:30-7 p.m., at the MYS Field and on June 12, 9:30-11 a.m., at Spring Hill Recreation Center Field 2. Contact Coach Ted Kinghorn or Jamil Faryadi at mysphoenixsocc@aol.com or 202-842-2767.
The George C. Marshall High School 2004 Senior Baccalaureate Service is Sunday, June 13, 3 p.m., at McLean Baptist Church, 1367 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. The interfaith service will include a message from Brett Fuller, chaplain for the Washington Redskins; reflections from seniors; and a performance by the Marshall choir and orchestra. A reception with refreshments follows.
From the Fairfax County Public Schools, 134 marketing students were honored with scholarships, medallions and trophies for their performances in competitive events at the annual International DECA Career Development Conference in Nashville, Tenn. Participants competed against 15,000 marketing students from throughout the United States and Canada, testing their skills in role-playing events, research projects, international trade, and civic and public relations projects. From Marshall High School, Shaw Miseko was recognized as a top 10 finalist in Full Service Restaurant Marketing Management, Ashley Smith O'Meara as a top 10 finalist in Entrepreneurship Participating Event, and Alena Golovchenko as a top 20 finalist in Apparel and Accessories Marketing Event. From McLean High School, Michael Freudberg was named a top 10 finalist in Business Service, and Robert Williams was named a top 20 finalist in Food Services Marketing.
On May 16, 191 Cappies critics assembled to cast their votes for nominations and awards. The awards will be presented at the Cappies Gala on June 13 at the Concert Hall of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Local students include Haythem Hedda and Reed Rogers of McLean for sound for "Noises Off," Steven Lederer of Flint Hill for sound for "Dearly Departed," Josh Gibson and Patrick Quinn of McLean for sets for "Noises Off," Meloday Ain of McLean for props and sets for "Noises Off," the McLean Stage Crew for "Noises Off," Shannon Scott and Kate Stuber of Madeira for stage crew for "The Music Man," the company members of Nothing On of McLean for "Noises Off," Claire Holman of Flint Hill for cameo actress for "Dearly Departed," Kate Lumpkin of Madeira for female vocalist for "The Music Man," James Taube of McLean for comic actor in a play for "Noises Off," Patrick Barrett of McLean for featured actor in a play for "Noises Off," Vanessa Fontana of McLean for featured actress in a play for "Noises Off," Kathryn von Kann of Madeira for featured actress in a musical for "The Music Man," and Caitlin McCormick of McLean for lead actress in a play for "Noises Off."
Starshine Theater produces a new session of Drama Camp at The Langley School Summer Studio this July. Adapted for the stage with permission from Harper Collins Publishers, this year's new musical, "The Lord of the Rings," a drama based on the books of J.R.R. Tolkien, casts boys and girls 8-15 to bring the characters and stories to life.
Directed by Patricia Budwig, this full-production workshop includes a speaking role for every student, lead singing and action/dance roles for those interested, and assistant director/choreographer roles (martial arts students welcome). A professionally produced CD soundtrack of the new musical score will include cast members' vocal talents.
The two-week camp runs from Tuesday, July 6, through Saturday, July 17. Weekday rehearsals run from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., with recording session on Saturday, July 10, and performances on Saturday, July 17, at The Langley School in McLean. Although there is a short wait-list for students under the age of 11, there are still roles available for boys and girls 12-15.
Call 703-790-9050 or e-mail StarshineTheater@aol.com A.S.A.P. for complete audition and rehearsal information.
Junior Ranger Summer Camp. This fun-filled, two-day program for children 8-11 allows children to participate in a variety of activities such as hikes and nature-related projects that educate young people about the park and the natural environment they live in. There is no fee to attend the program, but preregistration is required. Sessions are June 29 and 30, July 13 and 14, July 27 and 28, and Aug. 10 and 11. Each session runs from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Openings are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited. For more information or to register, call 703-285-2965.
The Old Firehouse Teen Center (OFTC) will again offer its After-School Adventure Program this fall. OFTC is a satellite program of the McLean Community Center. The cost of the program is $375 per quarter for McLean district residents, $400 per quarter for others. Payment for the first quarter and OFTC membership ($25 per year for McLean district residents/$30 for others) will be due at registration. Parents may register their children at the OFTC during regular business hours.
The After School Adventure Program is held Monday through Friday, 2:30–6 p.m., and includes transportation from Cooper and Longfellow middle schools, snacks, tutors, transportation to off-site events and a daily activity. Each day there will be a structured, supervised event; tutoring; community service projects; movies; and more. There also will be off-site trips and activities such as bowling, indoor swimming and Build-A-Bear.
The Old Firehouse has secured a set of textbooks from Cooper and Longfellow middle schools, which are kept on-site. Students attending other schools or who are being home-schooled are welcome to register for this program, but there will be no transportation provided from their schools. The program is not held when Fairfax County Public Schools are closed or have an early-release day. On these days, the center will be open from 8 a.m.–6 p.m. for member “drop-ins.”
For more information, call the Old Firehouse Teen Center, 703-448-TEEN (8336); McLean Community Center, 703-790-0123; or visit www.mcleancenter.org.
Registration for summer classes offered by the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Office of Adult and Community Education (ACE) is now under way. "Classes, Etc.," the ACE course catalog, is in the mail to Fairfax County residents.
ACE provides high-quality, convenient and affordable education to the community with a wide continuum of courses that help individuals meet educational, career and life-enrichment goals. A sampling of course offerings includes home and personal improvement; computer courses at many levels of experience; fine and creative arts and crafts; apprenticeship-related instruction; foreign language courses; English for international travelers; adult high-school completion programs; certification in trades and the medical and business areas; business and entrepreneurial training; basic skills in reading, writing and math; workforce training for local businesses; and K-12 extended-day enrichment and remediation programs.
Most classes offered to the public are supported by user fees and grants and are not funded from the school system’s operations budget. Class information is also available at www.fcps.edu/adult.htm by clicking on Classes, Etc.
World Heritage, a nonprofit student exchange program, is seeking families, couples or single parents to host a high-school-age foreign-exchange student for a semester or year. For more information, call area representative Judith Henderson at 1-800-888-9040, or visit www.world-heritage.org.
The McLean High School Boys Basketball Program is hosting two sessions of Highlander Basketball Camp this summer. Camp takes place July 12-16 and July 19-23, at McLean High School. Camp tuition is $115 per session. Camp times are 8:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Contact Coach Drew Murphy at 703-714-5899, or at andrew.murphy@fcps.edu, for more information.
Photography II students from Langley High School have been sharing their photo skills - from composition to exhibition - with fifth-grade students at Parklawn Elementary School during the spring 2004 semester.
Students in Nory Diaz's fifth-grade class at Parklawn began studying photography and writing in March, learning ways to express their ideas on family, home and culture. After discussing composition, the students received disposable black-and-white cameras with which to photograph their own families.
In April, the Parklawn students visited the photography classroom and darkroom at Langley High School. Twenty-one Langley Photography II students served as mentors for the Parklawn students, teaching them how to print contact sheets from their negatives. The Parklawn students analyzed their contact sheets to select the images that most effectively communicated their thoughts and feelings about their families, then learned to print and mount their black-and-white prints.
The two groups of students also took a joint field trip to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., at the end of April to see an exhibit of the photography of Muriel Hasbun. Parklawn students completed a reflective writing activity about the exhibit and were able to compare and contrast their own photographs with those of Hasbun.
The student photos will be on display at Parklawn during May.
Now is the time to register for summer camps at the McLean Community Center. The center offers a variety of fun and affordable options for children this summer. The Center is located at 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean.
*Camp McLean, which takes place at a Fairfax County Public School in McLean, is an American Camping Association accredited camp and is a Virginia Department of Social Services Licensed Child Care Center. A staff of recreation professionals, teachers and graduate and undergraduate students comprise the staff of Camp McLean. The camp has three 2-week sessions beginning on June 28 and ending Aug. 6.
* Tot Camp, which takes place 9 a.m.-1 p.m., is for 3- to 5-year-olds. Campers remain on site at all times. Each session offers a weekly theme, in-house entertainment and water play. Campers participate in arts and crafts, nature activities, outdoor play, circle time and games played in small groups. The camper/staff ratio is one adult to six campers. The cost of each two-week session ranges from $285 to $325.
* Regular, Adventure and Excursion Camp hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular Camp is for first- through third-graders. Each session offers four swimming days and two local field trips. Transportation is provided via Fairfax County Public School buses. Each session offers a weekly theme in which campers have the opportunity to participate in arts and crafts, music, drama, cooking, games and sports. The camper/staff ratio is one adult to eight campers. The cost of each two-week session ranges from $305 to $340.
* Adventure Camp is for fourth- and fifth-graders. Excursion Camp is for sixth- and seventh-graders. Campers spend time participating in arts and crafts, games, sports and nature projects. In addition, these two groups travel on four local field trips and enjoy four days of swimming at a local swimming pool each session. Transportation is provided via Fairfax County Public School buses. These groups join the Regular Camp for camp field trips, special events and recreational swimming. The camper/staff ratio is one adult to 10 campers. The cost of each two-week session ranges from $350 to $390.
* For more than 15 years, the Alden Theatre’s Summer Theatre Workshops have provided theater training for children. These summer programs offer young actors in fourth through ninth grades an opportunity to develop their skills in the areas of acting, voice and movement. Led by a staff of theater professionals, students participate in all facets of the theatrical experience, from audition techniques to putting on the final performance. No experience is necessary for either workshop.
* McLean Kids is a camp for rising fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders. The camp is Monday through Friday, June 21–July 9. Camp hours are 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. The cost of the two-week workshop is $480/$550 nonresidents, which includes a T-shirt and makeup supplies.
* On Stage!, a camp for rising sixth-, eighth- and ninth-graders, is Monday through Friday, July 12–July 30, from 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. The cost of the two-week workshop is $525/$600 nonresidents, which includes a T-shirt and makeup supplies.
* The McLean Cooks’ Kids Cook Program offers a number of cooking camps. All food and materials are included in the cost of programs, which meet Monday through Friday, for three to four hours, mornings or afternoons. All camps are limited to 12 participants 8-12, except for parent-and-child and teen camps. Each day, students prepare a new meal and then dine on what they have made. Topics include kitchen rules and responsibilities, knife safety, skills assessment, kitchen cleanliness, table manners and the social aspects of dining together. Chef Joel Olson, of Hemmachef, teaches all camps. Recent summer camps have included Baking and Pastry, Let’s Cook Together (parent and child), International Cuisine, Teen Cuisine and Culinary Voyage.
* The Old Firehouse Teen Center (OFTC), a satellite program of the McLean Community Center, offers its Y.E.S. (Youth Experiencing Summer) Program, for seventh- through ninth-graders for a second year this summer. The program runs June 21–Aug. 6, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. The cost of the program is $120 a month, or $35 a week. Teenagers participate in a structured program that includes outdoor sports, swimming and catching up on summer reading. Included in the cost is a supervised event, a daily snack, access to books that are on the Fairfax County Public Schools’ summer reading list and transportation to off-site events. Children must bring a lunch daily.
* OFTC also offers The Extreme Summer Experience for rising seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders.
Teenagers enjoy trips to fun locations, including Six Flags and the Spy Museum. Teenagers should arrive at the Teen Center between 8 and 9 a.m. The bus leaves promptly at 9 a.m. Most trips return at approximately 3 p.m.; however, some may return later. Parents must pick their children up by 6 p.m. The cost of the program is $350/$375 nonresidents for each session. Session I is Aug. 9-13, Session II is Aug. 16-20, and Session III is Aug. 23-27.
* The McLean Project for the Arts’ Creative Art Studio Program offers week-long workshops for children 6-8 and 8-11. Tuition is $100 per week/$110 nonresidents. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m., or 1:30-3:30 p.m. Week 3 meets only four days (Tuesday-Friday), and tuition is $80/$90 nonresidents. All supplies are provided. Children may attend one or more sessions and should bring a snack and a painting smock or an oversized shirt.
For more information on summer camps, call the center at 703-790-0123/TTY: TAP-TALK, or visit: www.mcleancenter.org