November 14, 2011

Two teams from Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School have qualified for the Virginia State Championships of the “FIRST” Lego League Robotics Tournament.  The two teams are the “Plantain Pirates” and the “Bacteria Busters,” which qualified by placing among the top four spots at a regional competition at the Smithsonian Institute on Saturday.  

FIRST is an organization whose mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills.  FIRST, which stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,” was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, the prolific New Hampshire inventor who has developed products ranging from the insulin pump to  the Segway personal transportation system. Some 250,000 students have participated in the organization’s competitions.

Members of the Plantain Pirates are, from left, Anja Boneau, Coach Tom Walton, Nick Zaenger, Freddy Bruner, James Gogal, Ben Fong, Jack Walton and Rachel Matz. The team is sponsored by the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

While 22 teams competed at the Smithsonian, the next round will draw approximately 100 teams from around the state to compete in the 2011 Food Factor Challenge. Teams will be judged on the performance of their robot to perform missions, the quality of their research and on their ability to work as a team in accordance with the FIRST Lego League core values.

Members of the Bacteria Busters are, from left, Coach Kelly Poort, Lucas Barthel, Nathan Sperry, Sam Updike, Jakob Wegmueller, Coach Rainer Barthel, Andrew Wong, and Ben Salak, pictured below. All attend Henderson Middle School except Wegmueller, who attends Haycock Elementary, and Salak, who attends school in France. The team is sponsored by SAIC.

For the Bacteria Busters, information technology played a role in the team’s makeup, as Ben Salak, a former MEH student now attending  school in France, participated via Skype videoconferencing service.

Ben Salak, a former MEH student now attending Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel school in Paris, France, participated with the Bacteria Busters via Skype.

The two teams will travel to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia in early December to participate in the state tournament.

The Chrysler Foundation has a long history of supporting FIRST Robotics teams at the high school level, however, this is the first year it has awarded a grant to a middle school team.

The Team will compete on November 20 at George Mason University.

MEHMS Team PROBOT members: L to R: Miles Lankford, Jack Gradle, Anna Grace Ulses with Team parent coach Tony Ulses and MEHMS Assistant Principal, Jeanne Seabridge. (Photo courtesy of Linda Becker)

“Seidah Ashshaheed brings a record of enthusiasm, high energy and great accomplishment to Mary Ellen Henderson,” Superintendent Lois Berlin said. “In addition, her experience working with all age groups is a great benefit for FCCPS.”

Her tenure as a King George County educator dates back to 2004, when she was hired as assistant principal of Washington District Elementary School. The following year she moved over to King George Middle School and became principal in 2006. She is popular in the King George community for creating innovative programs to bolster learning. For the past three years Ashshaheed has promised to do something outrageous if eighth graders scored at least a 90-percent pass rate on their SOL tests. After 92% achieved a passing score this year, she kissed ‘Lemac’ a camel from a local farm. “It’s my way of adding fun to the testing season,” Ashshaheed said. “It makes it less stressful.”

King George Middle School also won the FBI’s Safe OnLine Surfing (SOS) Internet Challenge 8th grader National Championship this year. Students produced the top cumulative results in the nation.

Ashshaheed earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Illinois, and her master’s degree in educational leadership from George Mason University. She is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Virginia Tech.

Ashshaheed’s appointment to Mary Ellen Henderson ends a 2-month search for the school’s new leader. Dr. Ann McCarty resigned in May to accept a position as principal of Williamsburg Middle School in Arlington.

The final weekend of performances of Tinner Hill: Portraits in Black and White is this Thursday through Sunday, June 9 – 12 at ArtSpace Falls Church.  The Friday, June 10 at 7:30 pm show is a special performance for Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School students, faculty, staff and their families.  Through a generous donation from Diener & Associates, students can attend FREE on Friday and Creative Cauldron will donate $5 from every adult ticket to the MEHMS PTA.  You need not be associated with MEHMS to attend Friday’s performance.  Everyone is welcome.

MEHMS students get in FREE to the Friday, June 10 performance of "Tinner Hill: Portraits in Black & White" through a donation from Diener & Associates. The 90-minute play continues Thursday through Sunday at ArtSpace, 410 S. Maple Avenue.

Through a series of monologues, ensemble scenes and music, Portraits in Black and White engagingly tells the history of early local civil rights activists E.B. Henderson and Joseph Tinner and educator Mary Ellen Henderson. 

Performances of Tinner Hill: Portraits in Black and White are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 9, 10 and 11 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, June 11 at 2 pm and Sunday, June 11 at 2 and 6 pm.  The Thursday evening performance is “Pay What You Can.”  Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors.  Purchase tickets in advance at www.creativecauldron.org or call 571-239-5288.

Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace is located at 410 S. Maple Avenue in the Pearson Square building.  There is free parking during performances in the garages at both 410 and 400 S. Maple Avenue.

May 12, 2011

A crowd of more than 200 school supporters showed their support for the Falls Church City Public Schools through generous contributions at this year’s Gala on May 6^th.   A variety of events at the Gala engaged the crowd–from placing competing bids for exciting silent auction items, including an opportunity to be serenaded with an Italian opera  ballad sung  by GMHS student, Anne Briggs,  to an academic duel against the State Championship George Mason High School Scholastic Bowl team, to a Live Auction which raised funds for several new school initiatives.   In total, the Gala raised more than $90,000 and was the most successful fundraiser for the Foundation since its inception in 2003. 

David Chavern, former Falls Church City Council member and the foundation president, said “Money raised by the foundation pays for items not funded by the school budget, allocations like teacher travel and advanced classroom technology, and the explosive-proof freezer for a George Mason science lab.”  Mr. Chavern also announced that the Woman’s Club of Falls Church will transfer their sizable scholarship fund to the Foundation to continue stewardship of this award which provides two scholarships of $2,000 to two graduating seniors who have demonstrated exemplary achievement in community service and academics.

Proceeds from this year’s Gala will support teacher grants in all four schools, new technology to support student learning (link to video), classroom libraries at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, and the Pathway to the Baccalaureate program for junior and senior students at George Mason High School to facilitate their transition to state higher education colleges and universities. 

The FCEF is engaged in a campaign to build a $10 million permanent Endowment Fund to help ensure that our students are prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century.  For more information on the Foundation and how you can help sustain our community’s commitment to strong support for public education, contact Executive Director Donna Englander at (703) 538-3381.

March 9, 2011

Twelve Teams from Falls Church took part in the Regional Finals of the Odyssey of the Mind competition March 5.  Nearly 100 boys, girls, and parent coaches solved problems, answered questions, and performed skits. Teams performed in front of judges and an audience at West Potomac HS in Alexandria.  Teams had worked on the various questions and problems for over two months perfecting their skills as showmen, engineers, and scholars in a quest to be chosen to go on to the next level.

Here is a description from the official Odyssey of the Mind web site, http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/learn_more.php

The Odyssey of the Mind teaches students to learn creative problem-solving methods while having fun in the process. For more than twenty-five years, this unique program has helped teachers generate excitement in their students. By tapping into creativity, and through encouraging imaginative paths to problem solving, students learn skills that will provide them with the ability to solve problems — great and small — for a lifetime. The Odyssey of the Mind teaches students how to think divergently by providing open-ended problems that appeal to a wide range of interests. Students learn how to identify challenges and to think creatively to solve those problems. They are free to express their ideas and suggestions without fear of criticism. The creative problem-solving process rewards thinking “outside of the box.” While conventional thinking has an important place in a well-rounded education, students need to learn how to think creatively and productively.

This year there was a total of five questions that teams could chose from, there were 14 divisions and a total of 38 teams from the Northern Virginia area that competed.  Winners will be going on to the State Finals on April 16^th at TC Williams HS in Alexandria. Here are the results for the Falls Church Teams:

Problem: Extreme Mousemobiles Div I, Field of 16 Teams

5th                THOMAS JEFFERSON ELE SCH TM C #33339

10th              MARY ELLEN HENDERSON MID SCH #2119

Problem: As Good as Gold…berg Div IA, Field of 15 Teams

1st                 MARY ELLEN HENDERSON MID SCH #2119

Problem: As Good as Gold…berg Div IB, Field of 16 Teams

8th               THOMAS JEFFERSON ELE SCH TM B #31547

15th             THOMAS JEFFERSON ELE SCH TM C #33339

Problem: Le Tour Guide Div IA, Field of 17 Teams

7th               THOMAS JEFFERSON ELE SCH TM B #31547

8th               THOMAS JEFFERSON ELE SCH TM C #33339

Problem: Le Tour Guide Div IB, Field of 16 Teams

4th                THOMAS JEFFERSON ELE SCH TM A #2118

11th              MARY ELLEN HENDERSON MID SCH #2119

13th              THOMAS JEFFERSON ELE SCH TM D #34343

Problem: Full Circle Div IB, Field of 14 Teams

10th              MARY ELLEN HENDERSON MID SCH #2119

Problem: Full Circle Div II, Field of 6 Teams

5th                MARY ELLEN HENDERSON MID SCH #2119

CONGRATULATIONS to all of the teams that participated you’ve made us proud and we’ll see all of you back next year for the continuing odyssey of learning creative problem solving, and growing.

By Carol Sly
Special to the Falls Church Times

March 2, 2010

The very talented cast and crew at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School performed a lively and delightful performance of “High School Musical,Junior” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights to standing room only crowds. The cafetorium was packed and the show enchanted the audience with its exuberant singing and dancing.

Including the cast and crew, over 60 MEH students contributed to the show’s success. The group was enthusiastically directed by the more-than-capable Barbara Piscopo, the long time drama teacher. She was supported by many teachers at the school including Debbie Baird (art), Connie Jenkins (music), Lauren Glass (music), Brett Sparrgrove

(tech/set), and many more. Several George Mason students also lent their talents to make the show a success including Shannon Upton (dance/ choreography), Andrew Finen (lighting/tech), and Ashley Brooks (tech).

The play, which is an adaption of the Disney “High School Musical,” starred sixth grader Lydia Gompper as Gabriella Montez, and 7th grader George Castillo as Troy Bolton. With Gabriella being new to East High, the cliques and divisions within the school are challenged as her “brainiac”/ science label is stretched when she auditions for the school play. Likewise Troy goes beyond what’s expected as star of the basketball team when he auditions with her.

Annie Washa (7th grade) did a thoroughly convincing job as the unkind, ambitious drama queen Sharpay whose dominance in theater is uncertain for the first time. Bryan Nelson played her brother Ryan and danced his way into the hearts of the audience. Bailey Franklin channelled her inner drama teacher and portrayed Ms. Darbus providing constant laughter for the audience. Coach Bolton was her foil as the serious basketball coach who knows sports are more important than drama. He was earnestly portrayed by Seamus Murphy. Jack Scott, the voice of East High, was done by Raheem Lawal for 2 nights and Braxton Puentes for the third. Many, many more students excelled in their roles, and the audience clapped and cheered at the curtain calls to show their appreciation.

If you see people around Falls Church smiling, humming and singing as they go about their routines, you can bet they were lucky members of the audience this weekend. It will be a long wait until next year’s performance by the talented students at MEH.

High School Musical Junior” will be performed by a cast of dozens on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 24-26th. The performance begins at 7pm. This lively musical productions features student groups in a high school working through their differences and ultimately knowing “We are all in this together!”. The thespians, brainiacs, cheerleaders, skateboarders, basketball players and others will sing, dance and delight for three nights.

This is sure to be a great show with capacity crowds. Tickets for all ages are $8.00. Concessions will be available during each performance. Doors open at 6:30. Enter through the front door at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, 7130 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. Ample parking available at the school

The dance is chaperoned by Recreation and Parks Department staff and runs from 7:30-10:30pm. An eating contest and 3-on-3 basketball tournament will be held. In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, all youth wearing green will be given a free prize! Admission is $5.

Once participants arrive, they cannot leave until they are signed out by an adult. Pizza and sodas will be sold. Please leave valuable items at home.

For more information, please contact Amy Maltese, Teen Coordinator at 703-248-5307 or amaltese@fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability call 703-248-5077 (TTY 711)

By STEVEN VALLEY
Falls Church Times Staff

Peer2Peer Tutors is excited to partner with the Falls Church Education Foundation to launch once per week student-to-student tutoring to the Wilden Project at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School.  This year marks the third anniversary for this popular program. The Wilden Project is an after-school program for students in grades 4 through 6 who are at-risk for academic failure.  Students who would not otherwise have a computer at home are given a computer and attend the after-school program three days per week.  Now, tutoring will also be available to these students free of charge with Peer2Peer Tutors.  Initially, the Wilden Project was made possible through community member Bob Wilden’s generous contribution to the Falls Church Education Foundation.   Since then, other community members and companies have made contributions to continue the effective after school program.

Peer2Peer Tutors is a network that utilizes the outstanding academic talents of area juniors and seniors in high school to provide individualized instruction and mentoring to elementary, middle or high school students in all subjects.  The company was founded in 2004 by Erik Kimel during his senior year in MCPS, and has already created over 500 jobs for top high school students and served over 750 students in the DC metro area.  We are committed to supporting the communities we serve: feel free to contact us at 240-744-2470 or at www.peer2peertutor.com.

The Falls Church Education Foundation http://www.fcedf.org/ is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization established in 2003 to provide supplemental support for the Falls Church City public schools. The FCEF is engaged in a campaign to build a $10 million permanent Endowment Fund to help ensure that our students are prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century.