To submit community notes for any Connection paper, call 703-821-5050.
The Parent Resource Center, part of the Office of Special Education, is offering workshops for parents: The Nuts and Bolts of Medicaid Waivers, Wednesday, March 7, 7:30-9:15 p.m. in the Dunn Loring Center, Parent Resource Center. The Dunn Loring Center is located at 2334 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring. For information, visit www.fcps.edu/ss/prc and choose “Workshops” or call 703-204-3941.
Volunteers for Change, a Volunteer Fairfax program for adults, features a flexible calendar of weekend and weekday evening projects. A one-time orientation is mandatory. Upcoming orientations will be held: Thursday, March 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
After orientation, volunteers can choose from any of the monthly community service projects throughout Northern Virginia. Volunteers for Change also does orientations “on the road.” Corporate, faith-based or civic groups of 10 or more people interested in the program can arrange orientations. Contact Ann Doyle to register for the next orientation at 703-246-3460 ext. 2, 2 or e-mail adoyle@volunteerfairfax.org or visit www.volunteerfairfax.org.
The deadline for nominating a support employee for the FCPS Support Employee of the Year Award is Friday, March 9. The award recognizes one school-based support employee and one non-school-based support employee. Any FCPS employee, teacher, administrator, student or former student, parent, or Fairfax County government employee or citizen may nominate an FCPS support employee for this award.
Each winner will be recognized and awarded $2,000. Packets are due to the Office of Employee Performance and Development, Gatehouse Administration Center I, room 2512, on or before March 9. Complete instructions and nomination forms are available at www.fcps.edu/DHR/employees/awards/seoy.htm.
For more information, contact Sherri Burris at 571-423-3252.
On Sunday, March 11, the Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society will present a one-hour descriptive program by award-winning grower and accredited Mum Judge, Betty Lunsford, on “Everything you ever wanted to know about Growing Hanging Baskets, Mum trees, Cascades and Mounds.” The meeting will be held at the Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St., Falls Church at 2 p.m. Open to the public, free admission and refreshments. Call Jim Dunne at 703-560-8776 for information or visit www.odcsmums.org.
Reading Recovery is a short-term early intervention of one-on-one tutoring for low-achieving first grade students. Training is available for teachers with successful literacy experience at the primary level who can devote two and one-half hours each day to individual instruction. A principal's recommendation is required.
Interested applicants and/or administrators may want to attend a Reading Recovery Awareness session on Monday, March 12, 4-5 p.m. or on Monday, March 26, 3-4 p.m. in the library at Annandale Terrace Elementary. The application deadline is Friday, April 20. For information or to obtain an application, call 703-846-8635.
The Northern Virginia Association for Volunteer Administration presents Volunteer Management training on Volunteer Retention: Keeping the Spark on Thursday, March 15, 9:30-noon. Join Andy King, a local expert and director of training and consulting with the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network for a discussion covering the many facets of volunteer retention. The training will take place at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, in conference rooms 2 & 3. The meeting is open to all who manage volunteers, be it in a nonprofit, for profit and/or faith-based setting. The training is free to members, non-members $10 at the door. RSVP by Wednesday, March 7 to Susan Stolpe at susan.stolpe@restoninterfaith.org or 571-323-9569.
The Fairfax County Police Department is now accepting applications for its spring Citizens Police Academy. The Citizens Police Academy offers Fairfax County citizens a better understanding of the Police Department and a greater awareness of the daily challenges faced by its officers. Classes are a combination of lecture and interactive activities. Topics include SWAT and special operations, gangs, 911 communications center, patrol, crime prevention, crime scene and identity theft.
The spring Citizens Police Academy will be held on Thursday evenings from March 15 through May 19. Classes meet from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., with the exception of graduation which will be held on Saturday, May 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Class locations will be held at various police facilities throughout the county.
The program is offered free of charge. Applicants are required to live or work in Fairfax County, be 18 years of age and provide their own transportation to and from training. Acceptance is subject to review of the applicant’s criminal record and police contact history.
Armed Services YMCA is calling for entries for its essay contest, sponsored by Lockheed Martin. The essay contest asks children in grades 1-12 to submit essays about “Why My Military Mom/Dad Is My Hero.” Children of active duty and retired service members from all branches of the military, as well as National Guard and Reserve, are eligible. Essays must be submitted by March 16. Winners of the art contest will receive U.S. savings bonds worth $500; essay contest will receive $500 or $1,000 depending on grade level. Savings bonds will also be awarded to second place and honorable mention. Visit www.asymca.org for complete rules and entry forms. Call 703-313-9600, ext. 10 or e-mail tharper@asymca.org.
The Alice Ferguson Foundation announces the 19th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup for March 31 and April 1, 9 a.m.-noon. Site leaders and volunteers are needed at hundreds of sites throughout Northern Virginia. To learn more about the sites call 301-292-5665 or visit www.trashfreepotomac.org.
An introductory course in commercial investment real estate will be offered on a scholarship basis to minority real estate professionals in the greater Washington, D.C. metro area April 10-11 through CCIM Institute, an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors and a leader in commercial investment real estate education. The course, Introduction to Commercial Investment Real Estate, is part of the organization's Cultural Diversity Education Program. Candidates accepted will be admitted to the course free of charge, but will be required to pay a $30 application fee. Those who pass the course can apply for 8 hours of continuing education credit toward the Virginia broker/sales license renewal. Applications will be accepted up to April 3.
The course will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, Herndon Center, 520 Huntmar Park Drive, Herndon, 703-207-3228. It will be taught by Byron Smith, CCIM, president of Metropolitan Realty Group of Vienna.
Individuals interested in the Cultural Diversity Education Program can contact Colleen Loeffler, CCIM Institute Director of Special Programs, for an application at 312-321-4537 or by e-mail at cloeffler@cciminstitute.com. Or visit www.ccim.com/education/cultural_diveristy/cdep.html.
Leadership Fairfax Inc. announced that Verizon Communications is the tournament sponsor for its annual LFI/ELI golf tournament on May 21. Proceeds from the tournament benefit Leadership Fairfax’s scholarship fund.
This year’s tournament will be held on May 21 at Hidden Creek Golf Course in Reston. Other available sponsorships include Reception Sponsor (exclusive), Lunch Sponsor (exclusive), Individual Hole Sponsors (exclusive), Gold Sponsors and Contest Sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, contact Kelly Knolan at 703-752-7553 or knolan@leadershipfairfax.org.
The American Diabetes Association will be hosting its annual Tour de Cure on Sunday, June 10, at Reston Town Center. The fund-raiser brings together 800 cyclists and volunteers in the greater Washington D.C. area. Riders travel on the W&OD trail across Fairfax and Loudoun Counties on 100-, 63-, 32- or 12-mile routes to raise money for diabetes advocacy, medical research, and awareness. Visit http://diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383).
Fairfax County Public Schools offers two-week foreign language camps for elementary school students at several area schools this summer, from July 9 to 20, 1-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The school locations are: Centre Ridge, Colin Powell, Colvin Run, Great Falls, Mount Eagle, Ravensworth, Springfield Estates, Vienna, White Oaks, and Woodley Hills. Language offerings vary from school to school. For details, call 703-658-1293 or -1291. Visit www.fcps.edu/aceclasses in March for registration information.