Inside Track - June 2010

Transcript

INSIDE TRACK FALLS CHURCH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS What a Year! “Summer afternoon Summer afternoon... the two most beautiful words in the English language.” -Henry James June 2010 Lois Berlin, Superintendent I think it’s fair to say that over the past year, we saw both the best of times and the worst of times. The 2009-2010 school year brought us many challenges including H1N1, a brutal budget process, back-toback blizzards and the loss of our dear colleagues, Mary Anne Graves and Carey Gray. We also had many shining moments such as celebrating the school division’s 60th anniversary, recognizing this year’s Agnes Meyer and Support Staff of the Year award nominees and winners and cheering our high school students on to six state championships – more than in any other year. Academically, all of our schools were recognized for excellence by the Virginia Board of Education, our high school finished first in the Washington Post Challenge Index and was ranked among the 100 best in the nation (number 44) by Newsweek magazine. In addition, our students scored above the national and state average on standardized tests. All of our successes, especially in the face of adversity, are a testament to the extraordinary commitment each of you demonstrates to our students on a daily basis. Even in the face of adversity, your devotion to our students has been truly inspiring, and I can’t thank you enough for the work you have done and continue to do to help our students succeed in a global society. I wish you all a safe and restful summer. May we return in the fall with a renewed spirit of optimism that has served our school division well for 60 years. IN THIS ISSUE 2 Remembering Carey Gray FCCPS Travelogue Run for the Schools Congratulations FCCPS Retirees 3 Baby News FCCPS Weddings Did You Know? Going Out of Business 4 Kudos Community Calendar Pop Quiz FCCPS retirees are all smiles as the guests of honor at their May 26th retirement celebration. Counterclockwise from left: Jose Bedoya, Shelley Feuerstein, Jean Lewis, Dottie Salvatierra, Kathy Poff, Helen Albader, Janet Kremer. Remembering Carey Gray Thomas Jefferson Elementary reading specialist Carey Gray passed away on June 5th after a battle with cancer. Carey will be remembered for her kindness and laughter, her dedication as a teacher and her dance moves. Carey’s family set up a memorial fund in her name at Mary Riley Styles Public Library. Contributions will be used to purchase books for the children’s room at the library. Colleagues at TJ are bringing to life a reading program that Carey envisioned to help struggling readers. A Book to Call My Own will provide books to children who do not have personal libraries. Teachers who have Scholastic book points can donate them to this program. Book donations will also be accepted. Contact TJ librarian Jennie Ehrenzeller for more information. “When I think of Carey and everything I have ever seen her do or heard her say, I smile. I think of the word, gently.” Andy Hosier, systemwide special education teacher “When we worked with a group of at-risk fourth grade readers, we just clicked; we made music together without even trying. The students knew this, and waited in anticipation for our next show! We created lifelong readers together at TJ. No one could ask for anything more in this life.” Mary Klink, TJ teacher “Carey had the ability to make all of the students bloom. We taught language arts together, and the hour that she spent in my classroom was the happiest time of the day. She never missed an opportunity to make others feel special. ” Jed Frei, TJ teacher “Carey was a bright light of love that shone where ever she went.” Denise O’Neil, TJ teacher “Carey’s enthusiasm for teaching children to read was inspirational. She always had the perfect book for every situation, whether it be to encourage a reluctant reader, welcome a new baby into a family, or teach a lesson to a young child.” Sarah Romer, TJ teacher Carey Gray builds lego pyramids with second grade students. Carey taught second grade and reading at TJ for ten years and she made lasting impressions on children, families and colleagues. TJ teacher Sharon von Schrader is creating a scrapbook to give to Carey’s family. To share a special memory, send words or photos to Sharon by July 30th. Carey Gray helps a student with word study, one of her favorite lessons. FCCPS Travelogue Destination: Washington, DC on a motorcycle as a participant in Rolling Thunder Who: Assistant Superintendent Gloria Guba Why did you do this? Gloria said, “From the first time I saw Rolling Thunder, standing on Memorial Bridge, I’ve always wanted to participate in this moving tribute to our veterans.” Assistant Superintendent Gloria Guba on the Mall for Rolling Thunder. How did it happen? MEHMS teacher Mo Smith arranged everything with her Fairfax Hog Friends so that Gloria took three rides as a passenger during last month’s Rolling Thunder parade. Best part: Gloria will always remember, “waving the American flag and blowing kisses to enthusiastic spectators along the parade route from Fairfax to Washington.” Run for the Schools Save the date, and start training for the 6th annual Falls Church Education Foundation (FCEF) Run for the Schools. This 5K race gets better every year. It starts and ends at Cherry Hill Park, and winds through Falls Church neighborhoods. Mark your calendar for Sunday, September 12th, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. Register and train with friends this summer. To register, click here or call 703-538-3381. Motorcycles line up at the Pentagon in preparation for Rolling Thunder. INSIDE TRACK PAGE 2 Baby News Wedding Bells Elisha Jehu Josey Accounts Payable Specialist Rochelle Josey and her husband, Juan, have a new baby boy. Elisha Jehu Josey was born on May 14th at 2:20 p.m. He weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces. Rochelle reports that Elisha sleeps exactly like his dad - with his hand under the side of his head, and he snores, too! Adele Eskin reads to her grandson. MEHMS librarian Adele Eskin became a grandmother on May 7th when her grandson, William Joseph Van Orman was born. William’s parents are Adele’s son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Sarah Van Orman, who live in Portsmouth, Va. William weighed 9 pounds, 4 ounces. Adele wasted no time introducing him to Dr. Seuss. Briana and Tony Solomita TJ teacher Briana Platt married Tony Solomita on Saturday, June 12th. They were married at The City Club in Wasington, DC. In July they will take a honeymoon to Hawaii and Alaska. Congratulations and bon voyage! Did You Know? Ever wonder how Mt. Daniel paraprofessional Sue Thackrey keeps calm, even in a classroom of energetic pre-school students? Sue honed her talent for grace under pressure in Nashville, Tenn., where she was a stagehand for 17 years. Sue worked on three live music variety TV shows as the spotlight operator. She was also a stagehand at the Grand Ole Opry, where she helped the stage manager determine what the performers needed on stage. She said she always “made sure they got it!” Sue said that the work was “very physically demanding, especially the award shows. Working on live TV was exciting and fast-paced.” Although performers have the reputation of being demanding, Sue said that “most of them were really great to work with.” She especially enjoyed Pam Tillis, Porter Wagoner and Little Jimmy Dickens. PAGE 3 Going Out of Business After 20 years of serving the Falls Church community, Aladdin’s Lamp Children’s Bookstore will be closing at the end of June. Owner Alina Gawlik has generously shared both knowledge and largesse with FCCPS. Teachers and librarians have relied on Aladdin’s Lamp to provide high-quality books. Alina has supported numerous programs, arranged author visits to the schools, provided gifts and discounts to staff and was a supporter of the Falls Church Education Foundation from its inception. The Going Out of Business sale is in progress. Stop by before June 30th to take advantage of Aladdin’s Lamp’s rich inventory of books, puzzles, puppets and more. Be sure to tell Alina how much she will be missed by her friends in Falls Church. INSIDE TRACK Little Jimmy Dickens and his brother pose with Sue Thackrey after a show. Sue Thackrey in a moment of calm at the Grand Ole Opry. Kudos to: • • • • • • GMHS teacher Linda Gantz, who received a Ph.D. in education from George Mason University. Communications director Karen Acar, who was accredited in public relations. Mt. Daniel teacher Phyllis Kravinsky, who received two master’s degrees this year: organizational management from George Washington University and reading from University of Virginia. Mt. Daniel teacher Shane Spindle, who earned a master’s degree in elementary reading and math from Walden University. Mt. Daniel paraprofessional Cathy Lindiakos, who earned a master’s degree in early childhood special education from George Washington University. • • • • • Mt. Daniel teacher Sharon Lightbourne, who earned a master’s degree in elementary reading and math from Walden University. TJ teacher Kyle Evans, whose article about using technology ito teach weather was published in Science and Children. Click here to read the article. GMHS teacher Joy Wagener, who won the Cay Wiant Teacher Scholarship to the Northern Virginia Writing Project. GMHS IB coordinator Asheesh Misra, who is president-elect of the Mid-Atlantic Association of IB World Schools. GMHS baseball coach Adam Amerine, who was named Bull Run District Baseball Coach of the Year. GMHS girls lacrosse coach, Courtney Gibbons, who was named Dulles District Girls Lacrosse Coach of the Year and • • • • the Washington Post All-Area Girls Lacrosse Coach of the Year. GMHS teacher Jennifer Parsons, who was named Bull Run District Girls Soccer Coach of the Year. Communications specialist John Brett,who received an electronic media award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for The Vault. Communications director Karen Acar and former FCC-TV student videographers Hank Smith and Alex Makuch who received an NSPRA electronic media award for the FCCPS 60th Anniversary Retrospective video. Communications director Karen Acar and former FCC-TV videographer Danny Olewine who received an NSPRA electronic media award for the Mount Daniel Kindergarten Experience video. Community Calendar Kokolopori Art Show Opening June 16th, 7:30 p.m. Falls Church ArtSpace 410 S. Maple Ave. A Day in the Life of a Kokolopori Woman Enjoy a display of more than 100 works of art by FCCPS students. Art show will be open to the public through September 6th. Pop Quiz Free Concerts in the Park Thursdays 7:00 p.m. Cherry Hill Park Click here for the full schedule. June 17 FC Concert Band www.fallschurchconcertband. org June 24 Randy Barrett and the Barretones www.fallingmountain.com/barrett.html July 1 Andrew Acosta and the New Old Time String Band www.andrewacosta.com July 8 Doris Justis and Friends www.dorisjustis.com July 15 Mike Thornton Quartet www.mikethorntonjazz.com July 22 Tom Principato www.tomprincipato.com July 29 Billy Coulter www.billycoulter.com August 5 Judo Chop www.judochoprock.com We hope you gleaned some interesting nuggets about Falls Church by reading the Pop Quiz. The May winner was GMHS maintenance man Gabe Fernandez, who knew that the hot air balloon ascension on Civil War Day commemorates the May 1862 event when Thaddeus Lowe launched the first military hot-air balloon reconaissance mission, right here in Falls Church. No prize this month, but here’s a Pop Quiz question for everyone to celebrate. When is the last day of school? a. June 17th b. June 18th c. June 21st d. June 30th e. None of the above If you picked a, b, c or d, you are correct! Seniors finish June 17th; Other students finish June 18th; most professional and paraprofessional staff finish June 21st. Most 11-month employees finish June 30th. Enjoy your summer! INSIDE TRACK Chipotle Eat Out Night June 24th, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 358 W. Broad St. Check out the new Falls Church Chipotle in Broaddale Village. Donate $5.00 to Falls Church City Community Events, and you’ll get a burrito, chips, salsa and soda. Got news for Inside Track? Send it to Marybeth Connelly or call 703-248-5691. Reading a printed version of Inside Track? To see the links, visit http://www.fccps.org/news/it/jun10.htm. PAGE 4