Member School Board – Special(FALLS CHURCH CITY) Last Reported: May 1 2012 8:00PM
Charlotte V. Hyland     1,543     99.10%     Precincts Reporting: 4 of 4 (100%)
Write In     14     0.89%

Member City Council (FALLS CHURCH CITY) Last Reported: May 1 2012 8:00PM
Nader Baroukh     1,189     19.40%     Precincts Reporting: 4 of 4 (100%)
Philip D. Duncan     1,047     17.08%
Paul F. Handly     514     8.38%
William A. Henneberg     652     10.64%
John D. Lawrence     732     11.94%
P. David “Dave” Tarter     1,293     21.10%
Lawrence L. Webb     672     10.96%
Write In     28     0.45%

Lasso a prize-winning smallmouth bass this summer. Enter the First Annual Riverbend Smallmouth Rodeo at Riverbend Park.

The Potomac River is one of the mid-Atlantic’s premier bass fisheries, and its quality is hailed nationwide. Riverbend Park sits alongside this world class fishery, and it’s a perfect location for launching a fishing trip. This summer, you have a chance to show off your fishing skills or, if you lack the skill, your fishing luck.

Here’s how it works. Register for the Smallmouth Rodeo by the tournament’s opening day of Friday, May 18, 2012 . The entry fee is $5. All contestants age 16 and over must have a valid Virginia or Maryland freshwater fishing license. Virginia licenses are available at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website.

Snap a photo of your legally-caught smallmouth bass with evidence of its length, and then release the fish back into the river. Measure the fish’s length with a ruler, a tape held tight and straight, or a fish measuring board, such as a Golden Rule, from the tip of its closed mouth to the tip of its tail fin. Make sure one of your photos shows that measurement.

Submit your pictures all summer long to Riverbend’s Smallmouth Rodeo Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/257070424379046/, and become a contender for prizes. There will be awards for the three biggest smallmouth bass caught this summer plus a randomly-drawn wild-card prize winner from among all entries. Fish must be legally caught in the Riverbend Park section of the Potomac River from boat or shore. Catch-and-release only!

Register for the First Annual Riverbend Smallmouth Rodeo at the Riverbend Park office or call 703-759-9018 by May 18.

“This is my favorite time of year, when the City of Falls Church Farmers Market expands its hours and vendors, and the Chef Series revs up” said Howard Herman, Farmers Market Director. “It’s a great place for the community to gather and buy good, healthy food from local farmers, and to learn how to cook that food. Farmers Markets connect us to the land and the farmers who are so important for our sustainable future.”

The award-winning Farmers Market offers fruits and vegetables, cheeses, honey, meats, baked goods, plants, and wine from a variety of vendors. Aiming to highlight the importance of eating local, seasonal foods, the Chef Series plays host to a variety of local restaurants and is held on selected Saturdays throughout the spring and summer.  The Fairfax County Master Gardeners are also on hand, staffing a booth at the Market to answer gardening questions.

For a complete list of vendors and the Chef Series schedule, visit www.fallschurchva.gov/FarmersMarket.

“We all benefit when communities like the City of Falls Church place a high priority on planting and caring for trees, one of our nation’s most beautiful resources,” said John Rosenow, Chief Executive and Founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. “We applaud the City’s elected officials, staff, civic organizations, residents, and business owners for providing vital care for its urban forest.”

The community is invited to join in the celebration. Volunteers interested in helping with the tree planting should meet at 8:30 a.m. at 501 N. West St. for refreshments and instructions. Teams will be assigned locations to plant a total of 20 trees. To register, contact Ben Thompson, City Arborist, at bthompson@fallschurchva.gov or 703-248-5183. The tree planting is co-hosted by the City and the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS).

The Arbor Day ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. in Frady Park (in the 300 block of East Broad St.), the original site of the 1892 Arbor Day. (The rain location is the Community Center, 223 Little Falls St.) The program will feature a living history performance on the national and local issues of 1912, including the news of the Titanic disaster at its connections to the local area. The event is free and refreshments will be served. The ceremony is co-hosted by the City, VPIS, and the Victorian Society.

An optional pre-bid meeting will be held on April 23 from 10 a.m. to noon at City Council Chambers, City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church, VA 22046). Potential bidders may ask questions, examine records, and make arrangements for tours and inspections of facilities. Requests for tours and facility inspections may also be made in advance with City Manager Wyatt Shields, 703-248-5004.

Included in the sale agreement is a 40 year franchise for water system facilities on public property, a guarantee of employment for current utility employees for one year at comparable pay and benefits, and a rate freeze for one year.   Along with the sale of water utility assets, the City will offer the option to lease a secure portion of the City operations yard and warehouse to the successful bidder for its use.

All written bids must be received by the City Manager’s Office no later than 9 a.m. EDT on May 25, 2012 (300 Park Ave., Ste. 303 East, Falls Church, VA 22046). Bids will be received and considered according to the requirements of the Code of Virginia and under the procedures set forth in the Bidding Documents. All properly submitted bids will be read at a public meeting on May 25 at 10 a.m. EDT in Council Chambers of City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church, VA 22046). The City will then invite bidders to submit higher bids; bidding closes when there are no more bids.

Prior to the closing on the sale, the City will hold a public referendum at the next general election, November 6. The final closing on the sale may take place only if the voters of the City approve the referendum.

Copies of the Bidding Documents are available for examination or for copying, upon request (at a cost to the requester of 20 cents per page), Monday through Friday except legal holidays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. A copy of the Bidding Documents and access form for an electronic data room will be provided for the non-refundable fee of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($150.00) (checks made payable to “City of Falls Church”) at the following address:

Wyatt Shields, City Manager
Falls Church City Hall, 303 East
300 Park Avenue
Falls Church, VA 22046

The electronic data room will include, but not be limited to, certain underlying contracts, agreements, licenses, records, maps, property documents and other information related to the water system Assets, obligations, rights, and privileges to be conveyed, assumed and/or excluded as part of the sale. Requests for mailed copies shall be sent to the above address, Attention: Wyatt Shields, City Manager (703-248-5004). The requester may choose its preferred method of delivery of the copies (provided such method is mutually practicable for the City), and shall pre-pay the cost of postage or delivery fees to the City.

More information about the Falls Church Water Utility System, including the full Invitation to Bid, is available on the City’s website, www.fallschurchva.gov/WaterFuture.

Access to Berman Park (between Irving St. and Kent St.) will be rerouted as a section of the existing pathway will be under construction. Pedestrians will be temporarily detoured through the grassy and treed areas as a result.

In Crossman Park (Van Buren St.), only the picnic area, located opposite Four Mile Run from the play area, will be impacted by construction. With the exception of this area, the remainder of the park will be open for the duration of the project.

During construction, Lincoln Park (corner of Lincoln Ave. and Great Falls St.) will be closed entirely. The City anticipates the work will be complete within two weeks; however, weather and construction issues could extend the park’s closure through June 2. Residents and visitors may want to consider utilizing Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave.) or West End Park (corner of N. West St. and Grove Ave.), as alternatives. Both offer benches, picnic tables, grills, and play equipment; Cherry Hill also has a lighted basketball court.

The rain gardens will absorb stormwater and help alleviate persistent flooding issues while improving water quality. Plans for each park’s rain gardens can be viewed on the City’s website at www.fallschurchva.gov/raingarden. This project is made possible in part by a grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

As a compliment to this project, the City of Falls Church Parks and Recreation Department, along with the Department of Public Works, is offering a free class about residential rain garden design and construction will be held on Saturday, May 12, at the City of Falls Church Community Center. To register, please call Parks and Recreation at 703-248-5077.

For more information on the rain garden project, contact Matthew Hansen, Department of Public Works, at mhansen@fallschurchva.gov or 703-248-5350.
 

Registration is now open via the official Bike to Work Day website, which interested riders can get to by visiting www.fallschurchva.gov/BTWD. The first 11,000 bicyclists who register and attend will receive a free Bike to Work Day t-shirt and become eligible to win great prizes.

The pickup trucks will replace aging fleet vehicles for the departments of Public Works, Public Utilities, Recreation and Parks, and the Urban Forestry Division. The new vehicles are under warranty and will minimize the costs associated with operation and maintenance.

“During these tight budgetary times, we are exceedingly grateful that we can improve our aging fleet both environmentally and functionally through these 12 pickup trucks,” said Bill Hicks, Director of Public Works. “Certainly, this would not be possible at this time without these grant funds.”

The CMAQ Improvement Program is administered by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. The grant was awarded to the City by the Virginia Department of Transportation. The Program provides funding for transportation projects that reduce mobile source air emissions (e.g., cars, trucks, construction equipment) in areas that do not meet federal air quality health standards for ozone, microscopic particles, or carbon monoxide.

The Voter Registration Application is available on the City website, www.fallschurchva.gov/vote, in the Office of Voter Registration and Elections, and via the link below. For more information, call the Office of Voter Registration at 703-248-5085.

The May 1 Election will be the first to use the new voting ward configuration. All voters affected by that change will receive a new voter registration card with the new voting location. The new cards will be mailed no later than April 16. Voters may destroy the old voter registration card when they receive the new card.

• 6217 Sandstone Way, Clifton
• 2778 January Court, Falls Church
• 3206 Holly Hill Drive, Falls Church
• 6213 Dana Avenue, Springfield

Two individuals were arrested in connection to the investigation. Don T. Ong, 42, of 6213 Dana Avenue and Vinh C. Pham, 58, of 2306 Holly Hill Drive, Falls Church. Both were charged with conducting an illegal gambling operation and money laundering.

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Get that mole checked. Don’t worry needlessly have a questionable mole checked and if necessary get Get Mole Removal Falls Church. Visit Dermatology Associates for a skin consultation. ]]> http://www.news.synavista.com/police-make-illegal-gambling-operations-arrests/17924/feed/ 0 http://www.news.synavista.com/lincoln-park-closes-for-rain-garden-project/17860/ http://www.news.synavista.com/lincoln-park-closes-for-rain-garden-project/17860/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:34:09 +0000 News Staff http://www.fairfax.daily-monitor.com/?p=21213 Wednesday,  February 1, 2012 — Lincoln Park (Lincoln Ave. and Great Falls St.) will be closed on Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, so that the City’s Department of Public Works crews can begin preparing the park for the rain garden installation projects. The rain date is Tuesday, Feb. 7. During the closure, parking will be restricted on the north side of Lincoln Ave. at the park.

This first phase of installation for the rain garden includes removing five white pine trees. The rain gardens, once installed, will absorb stormwater, alleviating flooding issues in the park. Rain gardens also improve water quality. Pollutant-laden runoff from City rooftops, driveways, and other hard surfaces will be taken up by the newly-installed native plants and filtered through the specialized soils of the rain gardens. The resulting slowing of runoff and reduction in pollutants will benefit the City’s two watersheds, Four Mile Run and Tripps Run, as well as the Potomac River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. The rain garden installation projects are made possible in part by a grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Lincoln Park is one of three City parks to receive rain gardens; Berman Park (Irving St. and Kent St.) and Crossman Park (end of Van Buren St.) will also have rain gardens installed in 2012.  Plans for each park’s rain gardens can be viewed on the City’s website at www.fallschurchva.gov/raingarden.
 

Recognizing that its groundbreaking effort to provide healthy meals to all students, particularly those who qualify for free and reduced price lunches can serve as a national model for school districts across the nation, the Falls Church City School Board has submitted its “Access to Healthy Meals” program for Magna Award consideration.  The Magna Awards, a National School Boards Association effort, is the most prestigious recognition a school board can receive for its work.

“Falls Church stands as a national leader in providing healthy meals each and every school day to our students, regardless of their economic situation,” School Board Chairman Joan Wodiska said.  “We believe the School Board’s leadership to create the “Access to Healthy Meals” program could serve as a model for school districts, demonstrating the strength of a united community and the importance and impact of healthy eating.”

Access to Healthy Meals builds on a commitment first launched by the Falls Church City School Board in 2006.  Then, the Board sought to improve nutritional quality and unanimously banned junk food and regulated vending.  In 2008, the School Board sought to improve meal participation and again unanimously adopted efforts to provide free lunches to every student eligible for reduced-price meals.

By doing so, the School Board helped eliminate the stigma of free and reduced price lunch, adopting a bold and financially sound policy that protected student confidentiality while providing healthy, high-quality meals to all students in the division.  From 2007 to 2010, the number of reduced price meals in Falls Church increased by 49 percent, and the overall number of meals served increased by 33 percent.

Under the Falls Church City Public Schools Access to Healthy Meals effort, the school division:

• Eliminated all fried foods and began using whole grains in food preparation
• Installed salad bars at the high school
• Now makes 75 percent of all meals in elementary schools from scratch, while ensuring that 95 percent of fruits and vegetables provided to students are fresh
• Provides “to-go” meals for student athletes prepared to coaches’ specifications
• Established partnerships with culinary schools to test foods, demonstrate cooking, and promote wellness
• Conducted poster and video contests and student cooking competitions across schools
• Identified new vendors that met policy expectations
• Initiated safe walking routes to schools, while integrating physical education and health curricula into efforts

Richard Kane, FCCPS’ Food Services Coordinator, spearheads the successful program.  Working with the School Board, Kane and division officials implemented a program that reduced administrative costs to the City while expanding meal access and increasing revenue from meal sales in the schools.  Kane’s efforts have also helped potentially increase state and federal aid for Fall Church’s school meals program, as such aid is largely based on free and reduced-price meal participation.

Parents can apply at any time during the school year for free or reduced price meals.  The process is confidential and qualified students are not identified in any way as they go through the lunch line.  To apply for free or reduced price meals, visit the FCCPS Food Services website – www.fccps.org/lunch

The National School Boards Association will announce Magna Award winners in March, and will honor Magna recipients at its national conference in April.

At the school board’s work session on February 1, a number of issues, costs and possible cuts were discussed.

Subsequently, the School Board has directed Dr. Berlin to take another look at all line items and suggest some possible additional reductions for their consideration.

Dr. Berlin will address their request at the Tuesday, February 8 work session which begins at 6:00 p.m. and will conclude at 7:45 p.m.

The School Board will then convene its formal meeting at 8:00 p.m. that evening, starting with its third public hearing on the Superintendent’s Proposed Budget. Both the work session and School Board meeting will be held at City Hall Chambers.

Last fall, Giant and It’s Academic hosted a design competition, open to local high school students, and more than 250 entries were received.

The winning entry was designed by Worachet Boon Sakprayoonpong, a senior at George Mason High School.

Boon’s design is now featured on thousands of reusable bags and sold in Giant stores across the region, raising funds for Giant’s A+ School Rewards program which provides extensive support to participating area schools.

FCCPS Photo/John Brett

Worachet ‘Boon’ Sakprayoonpong (3rd from left) is congratulated by George Mason Principal Ty Byrd, his father, Jakkrit Sakprayoonpong, and Giant Food’s Jamie Miller for winning the “It’s Academic 50th Anniversary” Reuseable Bag Design Contest. His design will appear on all Giant reusable bags beginning in April, and secured him a $1,500 scholarship from Giant Food of Landover, MD.

FCCPS Photo/John Brett 2011 George Mason High School National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists (from left) Anuraag Sensharma, Daniel Fletcher, Crawford Taylor, Mollie Read and Daniel Drawbaugh

Five seniors at George Mason High School have been named National Merit Finalists in the 56th annual National Merit Scholarship program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,400 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $36 million, that will be offered this spring.

The 2011 George Mason High School National Merit Scholarship Finalists are:

• Daniel L. Drawbaugh
• Daniel J. Fletcher
• Mollie J. Read
• Anuraag Sensharma
• F. Crawford Taylor

“The George Mason community is collectively committed to excellence in mind, body, and character. Theses students serve as evidence that we have hit the mark,” said GMHS Principal Ty Byrd. “Not only are they accomplished students, but they are genuinely good people. They serve our school as leaders, athletes, and role models. As I look at each of them I’m reminded of the many contributions they have made, not just to Mason, but to the other schools in our system as well. We are all very proud of them.”

About 1.5 million high school juniors in some 22,000 high schools entered the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants.

The nationwide pool of finalists, which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference

Last May, Hannah Gann, GMHS Class of 2010, was selected as a National Merit Scholarship winner.

George Mason midfielder, Violet Miller (center), led the Mustangs to a third consecutive VHSL championship last year. FCCPS Photos/John Brett

George Mason High School senior, Violet Miller, signed her National Letter of Intent, to play Division 1 soccer for the University of Richmond Spiders, today, in a ceremony at the school.

Violet is a three-year starter for Coach Jennifer Parsons, and the Mustangs, and has propelled them to three consecutive VHSL Group A state championships. She has tallied an amazing 76 goals in her career while garnering first-team All District, All Region, and All State honors in each of her three seasons. In 2010 Violet was the Bull Run District, Region B and Group A State Player of the Year.

In addition to playing for the Washington Freedom U20 team in the summer of 2010, Violet has had a stellar career for Coach Jac Cicala and the MPS Azul, helping them to win Virginia State Cup Championships in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011.

Violet is also the Senior Class President at George Mason High School, a member of the National Honor Society, and volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House in Fairfax, Virginia, and Sunrise Assisted Living facility in Falls Church.

Violet Miller: By the Numbers

High School
Athletic Achievements

• Varsity soccer, 2008, 2009, 2010; led the team in goals scored and assists, 2008 and 2009 (scored 76 goals total, 2008, 2009, 2010); 2008, 2009, and 2010 VA Single A State Champions; 2008, 2009, 2010 1st Team All Bull Run District; 2008, 2009, and 2010 1st Team All Region; 2008, 2009, and 2010 1st Team All State; 2010 All-District, All-Region, and All-State Player of the Year
• Varsity basketball (10th grade); 2009 VA Single A State Champions
• George Mason Scholar Athlete (2008, 2009, and 2010)

Club Experience
McLean MPS (formerly BRYC) Azul, 2004 to Present

• Virginia State Cup Champions, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011
• Region I Finalist, 2005; Semifinalist, 2006 and 2007
• Premier Tournament Champions and Finalists: CASL Showcase (Champion, 2010), Bethesda Thanksgiving (Champion, 2010), WAGS Cup (Champion, 2007), Jefferson Cup (Champion, 2010), Disney Showcase, Las Vegas Showcase, FC Delco Cup, Raleigh Shootout
• WAGS League Champions: Spring 2005, Fall 2006, Spring 2007
• WAGS League Runners-Up: Fall 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006

ODP Experience

• ’93 Virginia ODP State Team (2005-20060, 2006-2007-, 2007-2008, 2008-2009)
• Region I ODP Tournament (2006, 2007, 2008)
• Region I ODP Tournament Champions (2008)
• Region I ODP Camp (2006, 2007, 2008)
• Region I ODP Pool (2007-2008)
• Inter-Regional Camp, Pomona, CA (2008)
• ODP National Championships, Frisco, TX (2009), 3rd place

Super-Y/Summer League

• 2010 Washington Freedom U20 Team
• 2010 U20 Super-Y Nationals, 2nd place

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At a special called meeting in the Chambers at City Hall Tuesday night, the Falls Church City School Board passed a $38.4 million budget plan that begins to heal the damage of drastic cutbacks and layoffs of the last two years.  The school board’s new budget asks for no increase in the amount of funding received last year from the Falls Church City Council despite projections of growing enrollment.

The requested City appropriation of $27.8 million is $1.7 million less than the schools’ budget two years ago.

“Our FY2012 budget is fiscally responsible, asking for no increase in City dollars for our schools while advocating school improvement and recognizing and rewarding our staff,” said School Board Chairman Joan Wodiska.

The vote ends a difficult and shortened budget development season for the Falls Church City School Board. Three public hearings, and two day-long and three evening work sessions were held to consider Superintendent Lois Berlin’s proposed no-growth budget proposal.  The school board listened to specific requestsfrom various FCCPS employee groups, as well as from parents and community members.

Ultimately, the school board approved a budget that:

• preserves all jobs with no staff member losing employment;
• provides a full step for all eligible employees mid-year in FY2012;
• provides a one-time retention/appreciation bonus of $600 for full-time employees and $300 for part-time employees;
• reinstates four para-professional days that were eliminated in the FY2011 budget;
• continues to pay 75% of health insurance premiums for all eligible employees noting that the cost of health insurance will increase for both the schoolboard and employees; and
• continues to pay for all IB and AP testing.

“Recognizing the City’s overall financial situation, the School Board is, in essence, requesting less this year than it did last year for our schools,” said chairman Wodiska.  “The School Board absorbed approximately $1.0 million in mandated costs increases and two years of growing student populations.”

The budget also calls for the creation of a public/private partnership to fund e-Learning programs to serve as a revenue generator for schools.

The school board’s FY12 budget plan now goes to the city manager for inclusion in his proposed FY12 budget.

During the City’s budget development, the school board will be urging council members to retain funding for crossing guards and school resource officers at the public schools.  In addition, Chairman Wodiska hopes the school board and city council can forge new agreements to accomplish the following initiatives:

• conduct a compensation study to ensure competitive salaries and benefits;
• develop a revenue sharing agreement to stabilize school funding and aid the city in its planning; and
• continue work on a long-term facilities plan to address issues regarding overcrowding and aging school infrastructure.

Chairman Wodiska will present the FCCPS approved budget proposal to the city council on Monday, March 14th at 7:30 p.m. in the Chambers at City Hall. The presentation is open to the public and will be televised live on FCC-TV (Cox 12, Verizon 35, RCN 2) and streamed live on the Web at www.fccps.org/live.

A nine-year veteran educator from George Mason High School (GMHS) is one of this year’s Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award recipients.  The Washington Post recognized Spanish teacher Suzanne Planas (right) as one of the finest teachers in the region by naming her the winner from Falls Church City.

“Suzanne Planas is a dedicated and creative educator who cares deeply about her students and their success in World Languages and beyond,” Falls Church City Public Schools Superintendent Lois Berlin said. “This recognition is well deserved.”

The annual award is presented by the Washington Post to one teacher from each of the 19 metro area public school divisions as well as one private school and one charter school.  The award’s namesake, Agnes Meyer, was a staunch supporter and defender of public education and the wife of Eugene Meyer, who purchased the Washington Post in 1933. The goals of the award are to recognize excellence in teaching and to encourage creative and quality instruction.

Planas is credited as being the “go to” person when problems arise in the department, with creating and implementing the Understanding by Design curriculum for foreign language classes at George Mason, and for leading students in both self-directed and group projects aimed at making the mastery of the Spanish language both interactive and fun.

Her tenure with the Falls Church City Public Schools started in September, 2003.  In addition to teaching, Planas serves as World Languages Department leader, and is the organizer of the National Spanish Exam and serves as the Spanish Club sponsor for GMHS. During her tenure, she has been the Student Activities director, a teacher mentor and organized the Modern Foreign Language Tournament.

Parents, students and colleagues submitted letters of support for Planas’ Agnes Meyer Award nomination.

“Her open door, her sincere interest in all who come through it, and her willingness to go ‘above and beyond the call of duty’ make Mrs. Planas a person whom students turn for personal advice as well as academic support,” FCCPS Foreign Language CIRT, Linda Johnsen wrote.

“As an educator, Senora Planas works tirelessly to ensure that each and every one of her students – whether they are struggling, excelling, or doing a bit of both – experiences the joy of learning the Spanish language,” wrote former student, Amelia Nemitz.

Planas earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Virginia Commonwealth University. As an undergraduate, she spent a semester at Universidad de Valencia, Spain. She also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching Language from Georgetown University. Her teaching career began in 1989 in Fairfax County Public Schools, and she has taught Spanish at all levels, including elementary school.

Planas is among eight Falls Church City public school teachers nominated for the award. She and all the nominees will be recognized by the school board at a reception on May 16, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School.

Planas will also be recognized along with other winners from the region at a Washington Post reception on May 10.

Archives

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FCCPS Photo/John Brett

FCCPS Food Services Coordinator, Richard Kane is congratulated for winning the 2011 Magna Award by (from left) George Mason Principal Ty Byrd, FCCPS Superintendent Lois Berlin, Kane, and School Board Chairman Joan Wodiska.

The Falls Church City Public Schools’ “Access to Healthy Meals” program is being recognized nationally as a 2011 Magna Award winner by the National School Boards Association. The award acknowledges the FCCPS Food Services approach to healthy meals, as well as providing free lunch to all students who qualify for free or reduced price lunches, as being one of the best programs in the country.

“The program began in the fall of 2008 as a result of a discussion by school board members concerning childhood obesity reports,” said board chair, Joan Wodiska. “We were concerned that students were not eating appropriately or regularly and we wanted to take action to correct that.”

Under the Falls Church City Public Schools “Access to Healthy Meals” effort, the school division:

• Eliminated all fried foods and began using whole grains in food preparation
• Installed a salad bar at the high school
• Now makes 75 percent of all meals in elementary schools from scratch, while ensuring that 95 percent of fruits and vegetables provided to students are fresh
• Banned junk food from student vending machines
• Provides “to-go” meals for student athletes prepared to coaches’ specifications
• Established partnerships with culinary schools to test foods, demonstrate cooking and promote wellness
• Conducted poster and video contests and student cooking competitions across schools
• Identified new vendors that met policy expectations
• Initiated safe walking routes to schools, while integrating physical education and health curricula into efforts

In addition, Richard Kane, the Food Services Coordinator for FCCPS, determined what it would take to insure that every student who qualified for free or reduced price meals would receive free meals and, with school board approval and endorsement, budgeted according.  Mr. Kane took a long, hard look at the menus and offerings of the school meals and did adjustments to provide healthful and balanced meals at all FCCPS schools.  He installed a salad bar at the high school, and did away with most white flour offerings and deep fat frying.

Parents can apply at any time during the school year for free or reduced price meals.  The process is confidential and qualified students are not identified in any way as they go through the lunch line.

FCCPS Photo/John Brett GMHS Senior Mollie Read (left) is congratulated by her counselor Nancy Goldman on winning a 2011 National Merit Scholarship

George Mason High School senior Mollie Read has been selected as a National Merit Scholarship winner in the 56th year of the prestigious academic competition. Scholarships are awarded based on SAT scores, grade point averages and other considerations.

In her quest for the scholarship, Read competed against 1.5 million students who entered the program nationwide, and is among only 8,400 of those who were selected as winners, with more than $36 million in scholarships awarded this year. Read was one of five finalists to be named from George Mason High School.

This is not Read’s first academic recognition. Earlier this year, Read was the winner of the Raudenbush Scholar Prize for Spanish Language Learning. She is also member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society and is president of the GMHS Environmental Club.

Following graduation, Read has chosen to attend Grinnell College in Iowa.

FCCPS Photo/John Brett

GMHS Seniors Crawford Taylor (left) and Daniel Fletcher are congratulated by principal Ty Byrd on winning 2011 National Merit Scholarships

George Mason seniors Fred Crawford Taylor and Daniel J. Fletcher are being awarded National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities. Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among finalists in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship program who plan to attend their institution.

Taylor, who plans to pursue a career in economics, received a scholarship from Claremont McKenna College. Crawford is 2011 Class Treasurer and a member of the Virginia State Champion Scholastic Bowl team.

Fletcher, who plans to pursue a career in marketing, received a scholarship from the University of Southern California. He is the 2011 Class President and was emcee of the 2011 Spring Show. Last year, Fletcher produced a public service announcement video that won the AAA Mid-Atlantic Traffic Safety Poster Program contest.

“The administration and staff at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School have worked diligently to identify studentsÂ’ learning needs and to address them,” said Falls Church City Public Schools Superintendent Lois Berlin. “This recognition is well deserved.”

To earn the designation of “Title I Distinguished Schools” Thomas Jefferson maintained full state accreditation under the commonwealth’s Standards of Learning program for two consecutive years, met federal benchmarks in reading and mathematics and had average test scores in both subjects at the 60th percentile or higher.

“This honor acknowledges the hard work and collaboration of staff and the great support from parents and the community,” said Thomas Jefferson Principal Bob Palermo.

“Academic success and increased achievement are the results of hard work by students and educators in the schools and divisions that are being honored,” said Board of Education President Eleanor B. Saslaw.

Thomas Jefferson Elementary is Falls Church City’s only Title I school.  The school will receive a certificate celebrating its status and achievement.

Title I of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) provides funding to school divisions and schools for programs to raise the achievement of students identified as being at risk. The federal education law requires schools and school divisions to meet annual objectives for increasing student achievement on statewide assessments in reading/language arts and mathematics.