Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The magazine's 2013 rankings came out Monday.
On mobile? You can see interactive map here. Newsweek has ranked Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax as the #342 high school out of the top 2,000 high schools in the country, for turning out college-ready graduates. For its rankings, Newsweek sent out a survey to more than 5,000 high schools in the U.S., with about 2,500 schools responding in 2013. You can see the details about Robinson's ranking, and every other ranked high school, by clicking on the markers in the interactive map above. The survey scores were then weighted and calculated using several criteria including on-time graduation and college acceptance rates. In addition, instead of averaging the number of courses offered, this year Newsweek considered the percentage of …
Monday, May 6, 2013
Show your appreciation for teachers on Patch.
Most adults can credit their work ethic and career choices to teachers who inspired them. Tuesday marks National Teacher Day, which is sponsored by the National Education Association to encourage people to recognize and thank their favorite teachers, past and present. Nonprofit organiztion Kars4Kids recently surveyed 1,000 American adults to measure how teachers impacted adults and ways adults have expressed their appreciation. The survey found the following: In recognition of National Teacher Day, we want to know about your favorite educator. Whether it was your band teacher who encouraged you to continue studying the trombone, or a literature professor who fostered your love for Jane Austen, tell us about your favorite teacher in the …
Sunday, May 5, 2013
The show features looks from nine high school students.
A year's worth of work comes to a head for Fairfax Academy high school students next week, when their clothing lines will take the stage in a community fashion show. “Everyone has little struggles with their collections, so the coolest thing will be able to see all of our friends come together and see that it was all worth it,” said Sarah Dowell, 17. Fairfax Academy’s Fashion Design program trains students for a career in the fashion industry. The program, housed within Fairfax High School, is one of six academies in the Fairfax County Public School System (FCPS). Students in academies take these advanced career elective courses to prepare themselves for careers in their chosen field. Juniors or seniors from about 20 different high …
Friday, May 3, 2013
Students from the 'FX Players' present the musical this weekend and next on the main stage.
Transport yourself back to the 1900s. Matchmaker Dolly Levi - a character made popular by the iconic Dolly Parton - is trying her hand at pairing up the wealthy and poor alike in bustling New York. A widow, Dolly has found herself in love with a "half-a-millionaire," Yonkers merchant Horace Vandergelder. So, she proceeds to weave a web of romantic complications involving him, his two clerks, a pretty milliner and her assistant. Eventually, of course, all is sorted out, and everyone ends up with the right person. Locals on Facebook are already calling The FX Players' Hello Dolly "the funniest show around." Don't miss the talented students from the production company The FX Players at Fairfax High School as they present this "whimsical and…
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Katherine Ollinger was surprised with the award Wednesday.
A Mosby Woods Elementary teacher was named a Virginia Lottery “Super Teacher,” an honor that comes with a $2,000 cash prize and $2,000 worth of school supplies. Katherine Ollinger, who teaches the third grade, found out about her win at a surprise assembly at the school on Wednesday. “It was very shocking, I couldn’t believe it at first,” Ollinger said. A former student’s parent and one of her colleagues nominated her for the award without her knowledge. Ollinger said that she will save some of the money, and will use some of it for a vacation this summer. She has taught at the school for six years. “I love teaching third grade, especially. It’s a really great year,” Ollinger said. “They are so young when they come in and by the time …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Teacher layoffs, program reductions are not a budget issue, Fairfax County Public Schools says.
Fairfax County Public Schools says the decision to cut professional television production classes from four schools in the county - and three teachers along with them - is not due to budget cuts, but instead to declining enrollment. Patch reported last week that Dave Ruby, a professional TV production teacher at Fairfax Academy, who also leads the student-run production company, Digital Wave, will be laid off at the end of the school year. Students, alumni and supporters alike started an online petition soon after to try and help save his job. This week, FCPS spokesperson John Torre told Patch that TV production programs at West Potomac High School in Alexandria, South County High School in Lorton and JEB Stuart High School in Falls …
Monday, April 29, 2013
Top news of the week from our Patches around Virginia and DC.
Patch has 31 community sites in Virginia and D.C. Here are some of the top stories from around the region over the past week. 16. Mark Wahlberg Visits: Actor Mark Wahlberg visited T.C. Williams High School on Wednesday morning for an assembly presented by Get Schooled, a nonprofit that aims to engage high school students in an effort to improve graduation rates and empower more students to achieve in college. “I had to work really hard to get where I’m at,” Wahlberg said. “And I don’t mind working really hard to try and maintain it." 15. Runner Pledges 30 Races: Arlington resident Lauren Bailey is halfway through a personal challenge that has been daunting and exhilarating — running 30 races in one year, the year of her 30th birthday. …
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Dr. Angel Cabrera was sworn in during a special ceremony Friday, leading up to the start of 'Mason Day' festivities.
George Mason University's new president is now officially on the job. Dr. Ángel Cabrera was officially inaugurated as the university's sixth president on Friday at the Patriot Center. University officials say they are excited to welcome Cabrera into his new position and begin work toward shaping a new vision for the school. They say, the school's new vision incorporates both "the Mason idea" and the university’s core characteristics of being "innovative, diverse, entrepreneurial and accessible." According to a press release issued Thursday, the vision was developed under Cabrera’s leadership with working groups representing stakeholders throughout the university, examining key areas and foundational concepts that form the core of Mason’…
Fairfax County's pre-kindergarten program will likely go another year without the funding it needs to shorten a wait list with hundreds of kids.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is ready to adopt the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget package, but some officials are unsettled by the lack of funding for the expansion of the Head Start program, which currently has hundreds of students on the waiting list. Through a mix of county, state and federal funding, Head Start provides free pre-kindergarten classes to students from low-income families, giving them the extra attention they need to be on par with their peers when they enter the Fairfax County Public School system. Roughly 1,500 kids are currently enrolled in the program — but more than 800 others are waiting. The program won’t receive any additional funding in this year’s budget because of worries that more funds will be lost in …
Plus, Iguana models, cell towers in disguise, a Ladybug exodus and two birds ask, "Who cooks for you?"
Editor's Note: Patch has 31 sites in Virginia and D.C., and not a day goes by that something weird isn't happening somewhere in the area. Here's a look back at some weird goings on over the past week. Drivers at the Lake Ridge commuter lot near Interstate 95 saw more than the road crews and heavy machinery that have become standard commute scenery. Prince William County Police arrested a man April 19 when they found him dancing naked on the hood of his car. Without question, you should surrender to authorities when police have identified you as the suspect in a grand-larceny case. But we feel compelled to caution suspects about checking their pockets after a 27-year-old Annandale man turned himself in. Police in Falls Church say they …
Jeanette Thomas
2:21 pm on Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Dear Mrs. Solomon - if you're out there - thank you for helping me find my path! I don't even know your first name, because back in 1975-ish teachers didn't have first names, at least not that students ever knew. You were my 6th grade teacher at Hunters Woods ES and instead of yelling at me for writing poetry (when I probably should have been doing math) and surruptitiously reading books under … more ›