School Notes are for awards and achievements, as well as special events. Send information to mclean@connectionnewspapers.com, or 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean VA 22102. Deadline is Friday. Call 703-917-6449 with questions.
The Oakcrest School Board of Directors and Parent Education Committee invite all parents and friends to “The Odyssey of Adolescence: Forming a Moral Compass” by Dr. Karen E. Bohlin at Oakcrest School 850 Balls Hill Road, McLean, on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. This talk will focus on the principles of character development and offer practical advice to parents who are eager to help their teenagers navigate the odyssey of adolescence. This event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, e-mail parenteducation@oakcrest.org.
The Langley School presents “Black Hearts and Bearded Ladies,” a comic murder mystery, Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 8-10, 7:30 p.m. each night in the school’s Leonsis Gym at 1441 Balls Hill Road, McLean. Tickets for the performances are available at the door for $5 each. The cast features 24 students from Langley Middle School.
The crew boosters of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology present their 8th annual Holiday Extravaganza Juried Craft Show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17 at the school, 6560 Braddock Road, Alexandria. The show features more than 40 artists from throughout the Washington area. Call 703-425-6256.
Fairfax County Public Schools student journalists recently competed in Write-Off contests, sponsored by the Virginia Association of Journalism Teachers and Advisers. First-place winners included: LeeAnn Elias of Oakton High School, feature photo; Sasha Manchanda of Langley High School, feature writing; Matt Johnson of Oakton High School, newspaper design; Tyler Herrinton of Oakton High School, sports photo; Jimmy Bickel of Langley High School, sports writing.
More students were also cited for their work include: Paula Novacki of Langley High School, second place for sports photo; Connor Schmitz of Madison High School, second place for sports writing; Tehrim Umar of Langley High School, third place in copy editing.
Honorable mentions were awarded to the following students: Jill Burke of Oakton High School for caption writing; Ethan Doyle of Oakton High School for feature writing; Allison Ho of Oakton High School for poetry; and Emily Cole of Madison High School for sports writing.
Anna Marie Altieri of McLean was recently initiated into the National Honor Society of Psi Chi at Lynchburg College. The society is a national psychology honor society founded in 1929. Altieri is a psychology major.
Several McLean residents are among the 746 students who entered Colgate University with the Class of 2011 in August. They are Samantha C. Rocks, a Potomac School graduate, daughter of Mr. Samuel M. and Mrs. Elizabeth C. Rocks; Casey J. Davidow, McLean High School graduate, daughter of Mr. Charles E. and Mrs. Jean L. Davidow; Llewelyn M. Engel, Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School graduate, daughter of Mr. Charles J. Engel and Mrs. Eifiona L. Main.