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.
Rosalind Wiseman, author of "Queen Bees and Wannabees" and "Queen Bee Moms and Kingpin Dads," will hold an interactive multimedia seminar for parents of Fairfax County Public Schools students and the public on Thursday, Nov. 29, at 7:30 p.m. at Langley High School, 6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean. Wiseman will discuss the hidden world of social competition among parents and how that affects their children. Parents will learn concrete strategies on how to improve their relationships with all the adults in their children’s lives. The event is open to the public; tickets are available at Churchill Road, Colvin Run, Great Falls, Forestville and Spring Hill Elementary Schools, Longfellow Middle School, or at the door.
George C. Marshall High School’s production of the classic comedy "You Can’t Take It with You," runs Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 29-Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m. Tickets are sold at the door, they are $5 for students and $10 for adults. The school is at 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. Call 703-714-5409.
Future Quest: A College and Career Forum for Students with Disabilities, Parents and Professionals will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1, 8 a.m.-2:40 p.m. at George Mason University. This conference provides special education students and parents with an opportunity to learn about post-school college and career options. Author and consultant Jonathan Mooney, who has a learning disability, will deliver the keynote address. Future Quest 2007 workshops include information on options after high school, career planning, career/technical schools, employment strategies, the college application process, supports and resources in college for students with disabilities, and self -advocacy. For more information visit: http://www.fcps.edu/ss/careertransition/whatsnew.htm. Participants are encouraged to pre-register at www.vacollegequest.org.
The McLean High School freshman class is sponsoring a Guitar Hero II tournament. All classes and skill levels are welcome to participate. It’s $3 to participate, sign-ups before and after school in Room 161 in the Blue Hall. The tournament will be held after school between Dec. 5 and 20. People can sign-up with a friend to compete against. Any questions, see Ms. McNamara.
The McLean High School wrestling boosters are once again selling holiday poinsettias. Plants will be available for pick up on Dec. 8, in the school lobby at the Holiday Bazaar. An order form can be printed from the November PTSA newsletter, from the PTSA Web site, or from the Booster Web site (link through www.mcleanactivities.org). Call Cindy
Flint, 703-821-5070, to place an order. Plants are available in red and white, 8" and 10"
pots.
The McLean High School Performing Arts Department will be presenting Seussical: The Musical, based on Dr. Seuss’s beloved characters on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6, 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the MHS auditorium. Tickets are currently on sale. Advance tickets are priced at $12 for adults and $10 for children. Tickets at the door will be $15 per person. Cast members are selling tickets during lunches at school. Tickets can also be purchased by phone, call the MHS Performing Arts Director at 703-714 -5816. Make checks out to MHSCPA, all proceeds go to the MHS Performing Arts Department.
Cooper Middle School has an abundance of lost articles in the lost and found. Students can come by the cafeteria to check for any lost belongings. Parents are also welcome to come by and check the lost and found. All clothing not claimed by Dec. 8 will be donated to a local charity.
The White House 2007 Ornament is currently available for purchase through the McLean High School All-Night Graduation Party Committee. As in the past, all proceeds from the sale go directly into funding the ANGP. The order form can be downloaded from the PTSA Web site and order forms are available inside the Main Office. Ornaments can also be purchased in the Main Office from Helen McNamara. ANGP representatives will be selling the 2007 Ornaments at the girls and boys basketball scrimmages.
Local students won individual honors in the Virginia High School League 2007 Writing-Photography-Design Journalism Contest, announced recently. All awards were for Group AAA publications. Winners include: In the Newspaper category, Straight News-News Feature-Sports News category, Pratima Gopalakrishnan and Lauren Ruth of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, first place; Viola Li of TJHSST, third place; in the Human Interest-Personality category, Laura Berk and Alice Chung of TJHSST, first place; in the Editorial category, the staff of the McLean Highlander, McLean High, third place; in the Bylined Personal Opinion-Column category, Jennifer Gilbert of TJHSST, second place; Sana Idrees of TJHSST, honorable mention; in the Review category, Marguerite Schauer of McLean High, first place; in the Photo: News-Feature category, Dan Gorin of Langley High, first place; Wafic Omran of McLean High, honorable mention; in the Photo: Sports category, Dan Gorin of Langley High, first place; Wafic Omran of McLean High, third place; Andrew Lee of McLean High, honorable mention; in the Front Page Layout category, Mike Moynihan of Langley High, second place; and Rachel Bensinger, Lizzie Gholinnasghara, and Sarah Ross of McLean High, honorable mention; in the Inside Page Layout-Spread category, Carolyn McCallister and Teresa Ventura of TJHHST, third place; in the Advertising category, Daniel Hochberg of Langley High, second place.
Meghan J. Percival of McLean High School, has achieved Certified Journalism Educator status from the Journalism Education Association. Percival was honored Nov. 10 at the fall JEA/NSPA national convention in Philadelphia. Journalism certification recognizes teachers who meet national standards of preparation to teach high school journalism classes and advise student media.
Certification requirements include earning college credit in news reporting and writing, communications law, and publications advising, or passing an examination, which demonstrates the educator’s proficiency in those areas.
Percival will also be included in the next JEA CJE/MJE Directory. Copies of the current directory are available from JEA Headquarters. JEA, a nonprofit organization, encourages professional standards for journalism programs and student publications.
11 McLean High School Orchestra musicians successfully auditioned for positions in Senior District Orchestra. The MHSO won the top 4 chairs for its double-bassists, with Margaret Harlow, who just recently switched instruments from cello to bass, at the helm in first chair. For more information on the Senior District Orchestra event, visit
http://mhsorchestra.org. The musicians and their instruments are: Nina Scholl, Emily Cheng, Emily Tong, Clare Nelson and Ashley Yun on violin; Bobby Kania and Ashley Johnson on viola, Margaret Harlow, Hendrik Löbberding, Joe Schnider and Brian Roy on bass.
Through January, the McLean High School College Career Center will be open during Highlander Time for all seniors who want to work on applications, essays, financial aid, do research for college admissions and/or research post secondary options. Mrs. Rahn will be available to work with students and answer questions.