<sh>Governor's Screenwriting Competition
<bt>The Virginia Film Office will be sponsoring the 15th Governor's Screenwriting Competition. Only Virginia residents may submit screenplays. Each script must contain either Virginia locations or locations that could reasonably be expected to be found in Virginia. Scripts must be approximately 100-130 pages long, typed and submitted in a standard screenplay format. Screenplays are first read by Virginia judges, and finalists are selected and submitted to a second panel of judges who are currently working professionally in the entertainment industry. Three winning screenplays are then selected and each writer awarded a prize of $1,000 at the Virginia Film Festival in October.
Submissions will be accepted at the Virginia Film Office, 901 E. Byrd St., Richmond, VA 23219-4048. Screenplays must either be hand-delivered to the office by 5 p.m. on June 10 or postmarked on that day. Notification of results will be made on or around October 14. For more information call 800-854-6233 or visit www.film.virginia.org.
<sh>Arlington Named a "Tree City"
<bt>For the ninth consecutive year, Arlington has been named a "Tree City USA" by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The award was presented at the County's Arbor Day celebration on Friday, April 29 at Carlin Springs Elementary School. In addition, for the third year, Arlington received a "Tree City USA Growth Award "for demonstrating progress in its community forestry program." The award recognizes environmental improvement and higher levels of tree care in Tree City communities.
<sh>Voter Registration Deadline
<bt>Those who need to register to vote or update their registration address must do so by 5 p.m. Monday, May 16 in order to be eligible to vote in the June 14 Democratic or Republican primaries. Register in person at the Office of Voter Registration, 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Voter registration applications sent by mail must be postmarked by May 16. For more information call the Office of Voter Registration at 703-228-3456.
<sh>Correction
<bt>In the May 4 to 10 edition of the Arlington Connection, an error was made at the end of the article "Curriculum, Diversity, Debated". The election for School Board is Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005. The deadline for candidates to qualify for this election is Tuesday, June 14. Furthermore, all candidates in the race for school board are required by law to run as independents, Jim Rock and Ed Fendley are seeking endorsements from the Arlington County Democratic Committee during its May 21 caucus. For more information about elections in Arlington visit the web site at www.arlingtonva.us.
<sh>Virginia School Census
<bt>Between the end of April and June, all Arlington households will receive a 2005 Virginia School Census by mail. Virginia law requires that a census be conducted in all school districts in the state every three years. Responses to the census are kept confidential, and the census is of benefit to all residents as it ensures that Arlington receives its fair share of state revenues for education.
County residents will be asked to identify all children ages 19 and under, including any children born between Jan. 1, 1986 and Dec. 31, 2004. Although only the number of children between ages 5 and 19 must be reported to the state, the Arlington School Board wants information on the number of children under 4 for preschool planning purposes.
The census form is printed in both English and Spanish, and includes phone numbers directing residents to information in Arabic, Mongolian, Amharic and Bengali.
Other changes in the way this year’s census is being conducted include:
Residents may complete the census via the Internet by logging on to www.arlington.k12.va.us/census and using the pass code printed on their census form to complete the survey. Responding via the Internet will save the county $.45 per response.
All residents are asked to return a census form, even if they do not have children. Arlington Public schools receives million of dollars of revenue through the census process, which benefits all Arlington taxpayers by helping to decrease local taxes needed for education.
Residents who do not respond to the first mailing within three weeks will be sent a second mailing.
<sh>Summer School Deadlines
<bt>Arlington Public Schools summer school will begin on July 7 and end on Aug. 6 for elementary and middle school students and Aug. 18 for high school students. Enrichment courses meet for three weeks within this time frame. Classes meet Monday though Friday, and times depend on location.
All students currently enrolled in the Arlington Public Schools are eligible to attend summer school programs. A registration fee of $55 and tuition, if applicable, are due at the time of registration as shown on pages 6-8 of the Summer School Catalog, which is available online at www.arlington.k12.va.us/instruct/summer_school/downloads/catalog_2005_english.pdf.
Summer school deadlines are as follows:
Friday, May 6:
* Student registration for elementary summer school, including math, language arts and special education, closes.
* Student registration for high school new-work-for-credit summer school classes closes.
* Student registration for the summer Stratford Program (middle and high school) closes.
Friday, May 28:
* Student registration for driver’s education closes.
Friday, June 3:
* Student registration for middle and high school summer make-up-and-strengthening classes closes.
* Student registration for middle school Spanish Immersion program closes.
Friday, June 25:
* Late registration for middle and high school students who are registering for make-up-and-strengthening courses will be held from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. in the Washington-Lee High School cafeteria. Students will not be able to register for new-work-for-credit classes during late registration.
June 28:
* Student registration for the English SOL strengthening classes closes.
July 7:
* First day of summer school.
July 16:
* Student registration for all other SOL strengthening classes closes.
Aug. 6:
* Last day of summer school for elementary and middle school students.
Aug. 18:
* Last day of summer school for high school students.
Parents and students should register at their home schools by 4 p.m. on the deadline. For more information call 703-228-7646.
<sh>Cell Phone Drive
<bt>In order to fight domestic violence and combat community crime, the Virginia Crime Prevention Association and the Allstate Foundation, along with the Wireless Foundation and local law enforcement agencies, have launched a statewide public-private partnership drive to collect used cell phones. Known as the Call to Protect program, the new initiative urges Virginia cell phone users to donate old cell phones and batteries in specially marked boxes at participating Allstate agencies. All Call to Protect phones are pre-programmed to dial 911 and usually one or two non-emergency numbers like a domestic violence shelter. Members of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association donate free emergency airtime. All cell phone donations are tax-deductible. To print a tax receipt visit www.wirelessfoundation.com. There are two participating Allstate locations in Arlington: 2404 S. 26th Road and 200 N. Glebe Road, Suite 803. For more information call 804-231-3800 or e-mail vaprevent@aol.com.