Send announcements to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454.
This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost.
The Roar newspaper of Potomac Falls High School is offering genuine Indian River Florida Citrus to area residents in a fund-raising drive. The funds will be used to pay for the newspaper printing costs and to help send the Roar staff to the National Journalism Convention in San Francisco.
Students who attend the convention will have the opportunity to meet with professionals in the journalism field and attend more than 200 workshops and one-on-one critique sessions. They will also compete in the National Write-Off competition and attend the Journalism Association National Awards ceremony.
The Roar staff members will be taking orders from Feb. 6-27. To order online, visit the Potomac Falls Web site and follow the link "Buy Some Florida Sunshine." The fruit will be delivered to Potomac Falls High School around March 15-17.
The Sully Elementary School PTO will be holding its annual silent auction and dance Friday, Feb. 10. The Sully teachers will also be preparing a spaghetti dinner prior to the auction starting at 5:30 p.m. Adults $5; children $3. Dancing starts at 6 p.m. with a $1 admission. Admission to the auction is free. Bidding starts at 6:30 p.m. Some items available for bid include trips, stays at area hotels, meals at local restaurants, jewelry, toys and more. Proceeds from some items will go directly to Discovery Park, the Science Park and Playground to be built at Sully. Contact Valerie Petrey at 703-787-8931, vpetrey@aol.com.
Dominion High School will hold a fund-raiser Thursday, Feb. 16, featuring the Harlem Rockets and with Outback Steakhouse providing steak, chicken, baked potato and Caesar salad, from 5:30-7 p.m., in the Dominion High School cafeteria. At 7 p.m., the Harlem Rockets bring their brand of "Showtime Basketball" to the court to play the Seneca Ridge "Dream Team" of teachers and staff.
Tickets for each component of this evening may be purchased separately. Immediate families Ñ parents and children Ñ may purchase a family meal deal for $35. Individual tickets are priced at $6 for children, 12-younger and $15 for adults. Reservation requests may be dropped off at the Dominion High School office or mailed with checks payable to ATLAS, Dominion High School, 21326 Augusta Drive, Sterling VA 20164. Reservations are required to attend the Outback Dinner.
Harlem Rockets tickets are $6 if purchased prior to Feb. 10 and $8 afterwards. Contact Shawn Stiles for tickets at 703-406-3487 or e-mail senecaridgepto@aol.com.
Proceeds from these community events will benefit ATLAS (Association of Titan Leaders Assisting Students) at Dominion High School and the Seneca Ridge Middle School PTO.
The Potomac Falls High School PTSO announces the second performance in its Family Friendly Concert Series. The Shenandoah Conservatory Jazz Ensemble will be appearing in the Potomac Falls HS Theater Sunday, Feb. 19, at 3 p.m. The program will last approximately 1-1/2 hours with a 10-minute intermission, when refreshments will be sold. Admission is $4 for adults and $1 for students, with proceeds being split 50/50 between the college and the high school. Potomac Fall High School is located at 46400 Algonkian Parkway, Sterling.
Belmont Ridge Middle School will hold its next family diversity dinner is planned for Feb. 27. The Belmont Ridge Step Team will perform at that dinner. The school invites the Belmont Ridge community to attend.
Young writers in Loudoun County are being encouraged to continue using their writing skills by entering writing contests created by Community Voice Media, LLC.
The contests are as follows: February, winter or snow poem; March, personal essay; April, pet or wildlife article, nonfiction; May, essay " is my hero because É;" June, poem on any topic and July, summer humor essay. Information on additional contests will be added to the Web site regularly. The deadline for each contest is the end of that month. Each poem requires an entry fee and has certain requirements. There will be cash prizes awarded for the first-, second- and third-place entries.
All students from grades kindergarten-12 including Loudoun County Public Schools, private schools or home-schooled children are eligible to enter the contest. Submission Guidelines are available on the Community Voice Media Web site www.communityvoicemedia.com.
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. announces the Long & Foster $200,000 Scholarship Program for well-rounded graduating high-school seniors entering an accredited four-year college or university. The program will award $1,000 each of 200 worthy recipients for the 2006-2007 academic year.
The deadline for applying is March 1 and the scholarships will be awarded in the beginning of April. The monetary scholarship award will be made payable directly to the college or university in the studentÕs name.
Applications for the program can be obtained from any of Long & Foster residential sales offices, from high-school guidance counselors or via Long & FosterÕs Web site at www.longandfoster.com/scholarship. Also visit the Web site for details on eligibility and application requirements.
Potomac Falls High School, 46400 Algonkian Parkway, presents "Arsenic and Old Lace," Thursday-Saturday, March 9-11, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, March 12, at 2 p.m., at the school. Tickets are $5. Potomac Fall High School is located at 46400 Algonkian Parkway, Sterling.
Shenandoah UniversityÕs Northern Virginia Campus in Leesburg is seeking nominations for its Teacher of the Year award, which recognizes quality teaching in Loudoun County. The nomination process concludes April 19. All finalists will be recognized at a reception and the winner will be announced at a Loudoun County School Board meeting in May.
To be eligible, nominees must be full-time teachers in Loudoun County in a specialized area, such as special education, art, music, physical education, drama, English as a Second Language or gifted and talented. Nominees may work at any grade level, but must have at least five years of teaching experience in Loudoun County.
A screening committee from Shenandoah will select the winner based on his or her commitment to students and teaching, subject knowledge and teaching philosophy, ability to manage and monitor student learning as well as service to the community. The screening committee is looking for nominations that demonstrate the teacherÕs impact on students. Letters of recommendation from peers, parents and students will be of particular importance in the selection process.
For information or application forms, contact RT Good, dean of the School of Continuing Education, at 540-665-1290 or Kelly Burk, chair of the Northern Virginia Advisory Council, at 703-779-0037.
Dates for SAT and ACT testing for 2005-2006 have been established for Loudoun County Public Schools. The tests are administered on nationally standardized dates and require advanced registration.
Students may register online or may obtain paper registration materials from the guidance office of each high school. Registration and study information is available at www.collegeboard.org for the SAT and at www.act.org for the ACT. Students should register at least six weeks in advance of the tests.
Most colleges require SAT or ACT for college admissions. Some colleges also require certain SAT II subject tests for admissions or placement. Students should check with all of the colleges to which they plan to apply to determine which tests are required and preferred.
Students usually register for the SAT or ACT in their junior year and repeat the test in the senior year. Some students elect to take both the SAT and ACT.
The SAT test dates are:
* April 1: SAT only, Loudoun County High School.
* May 6: SAT and SAT II subject tests, Broad Run High School.
* June 3: SAT and SAT II subject tests, Park View High School.
The ACT test date is April 8, Broad Run High School.
In recognition of student volunteerism in Loudoun County, the Loudoun Volunteer Services Board has established scholarships for graduating seniors from each Loudoun County public and private high school and from the home-school community.
In support of the Student Volunteer Program, the scholarships recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the Loudoun County community through their volunteer efforts. Different from traditional scholarships, the Loudoun Volunteer Services' Student Scholarships place more emphasis on a demonstrated interest in and service to the community than on academic or athletic excellence.
It is the goal of the Loudoun Volunteer Services Board to provide opportunities and to encourage students to become active in their community through volunteer service. The Loudoun Volunteer Services' Student Scholarships are funded each year through contributions from county businesses and civic groups.
Students should submit the scholarship applications to Loudoun Volunteer Services, 1 Harrison St., S.E., P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177-7000, by the close of business May 1. Applications are available at each school, by visiting www.loudoun.gov/pio/student.htm or by calling 703-777-0113.
Dominion High School's second annual Project Graduation, a night-long celebration of the Class of 2006, will take place June 17, at the high school from 11 p.m.-5 a.m.
This alcohol- and drug-free event, following that morning's graduation exercises, is sponsored by ATLAS and being organized by the parents of underclassmen to provide an exciting, fun-filled, and safe celebration.
The theme will be "A Day at the Beach" and will feature a disc jockey, dancing, games and giveaways. Food is expected to include submarines sandwiches, ice slushies and a chocolate fountain. Door prizes will be drawn all night. A grand prize will be awarded at breakfast.
Many businesses and community organizations have already contributed to make this a truly memorable night for students. Businesses, organizations or individuals that would like to donate items or make a monetary donation are encouraged to contact Jane Lettmann at 703-444-5139 or e-mail Lett10s@aol.com.
The 1976 gradating class of Broad Run High School in Ashburn is holding its 30-year reunion July 22, at the Holiday Inn at Carradoc Hall in Leesburg. The class is looking for classmates and need help from friends and family of alumni. Call Ana Mallory (Miranda) at 847-797-9043 or e-mail BRHS76@comcast.net.
Daniel Jang, an eighth-grader at River Bend Middle School, has been selected to participate in the Junior national Student Leadership Conference, a leadership development program for outstanding middle-school students. Approximately 1,500 students from across the U.S. and 45 countries worldwide will take part. During the conference, students attend workshops and classes where they study distinctions of leadership.