Students Get Free Tickets to Show

By Falls Church Times Staff

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.

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. 

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FC Education Foundation Gala Raises $90,000 Funds for School Programs

SPECIAL TO THE FALLS CHURCH TIMES

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.

Falls Church City’s…

By STEVEN VALLEY
Falls Church Times Staff

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. Read more

“As they reached for the stars…”

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.

FRIDAY 2/25: MEH to Perform ‘High School Musical Jr’

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

SATURDAY 3/12: Middle School Dance

The 2011 Clover Dance for youth in grades 6-8 at the Falls Church Community Center.

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)

Tutoring Now Provided in Wilden Project at MEH

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.

Wodiska Denies FCT ‘Story’; Shields Cautious on Finances

By GEORGE BROMLEY
Falls Church Times Staff

September 27, 2010

Falls Church City School Board Chair Joan Wodiska tonight denied that Mary Ellen Henderson School might be torn down. Earlier today a column in the Falls Church Times speculated that such action could be under consideration.

Speaking before the City Council, Ms. Wodiska noted that Thomas Jefferson Elementary will reach student capacity in 2012.  “For this and other reasons the Board  has been exploring all options, including low cost federal and state funding authority, to address the needs of our aging, energy inefficient, and limited building capacity.”

According to Ms. Wodiska, a master school facility plan will be presented in 18 months or sooner.  She advised that “the Board will continue to work with the Council and Planning Commission to explore cost effective options to meet growing long term school facility needs and to improve the Capital Improvements Program process.”  A new School Board facility advisory committee will be created to assist in this effort.   Three members of the Council will serve on that body.

Ms. Wodiska stated that the Board would continue to hold private discussions concerning property ”in order to protect the city’s negotiating position.”  She stressed that any violation of the confidentiality of such meetings was a serious matter and grounds for censure or other punishment of a public official.

During last Friday’s Council retreat Ms. Wodiska presented a report on school facilities.   The document states current enrollment is 2,052 students and that the schools’ total capacity is 2,330.

City Manager Wyatt Shields provided a briefing on Falls Church’s financial situation.  The closing undesignated fund balance for FY 2010 was just over $5 million, about $1 million higher than the spring projections.  The City began the year with a balance of only $2.9 million.  The fund balance situation for the current fiscal year is dependent upon the question of the FY 2009 water fund transfer to the general fund, a matter still under judicial review.

The City faces challenges in the years ahead, due primarily to declining commercial assessments.  In FY 2012 overall valuations are expected to decline by 3 to 4.5%, with commercial real estate dropping 8 to 10%.  All other revenues are expected to be flat or only slighter higher.

Mr. Shields acknowledged that significant tax increases could be in the offing “if the only lifting was done on the tax rate (i.e., revenue) side.”  Councilwoman Johannah Barry noted that the tax rate by 2016 could be as high as $1.55.  The current rate is $1.24.

Water and sewer rate studies are underway.  The city manager stated that significant sewer rate increases could be expected due to plant upgrades.

Mr. Shields’ slide presentation of the financial overview is available on the City website, as are additional documents presented at the Council retreat.

The city manager thanked the Falls Church public safety personnel and the Arlington and Fairfax County fire units that responded to Saturday’s fire on Hillwood Ave.  Forty-six firefighters were on the scene at the height of the two-alarm blaze.  Two Fairfax firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion.  City Economic Development Office representatives were on hand to provide assistance and support to businesses seeking to relocate.  The fire now is under investigation.  Foul play currently is not suspected.

Mr. Shields stated that over 100 pounds of perscription drugs were collected at a DEA-sponsored event last Saturday.  Next Saturday, October 2, is leaf mulch loading day from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.  Free mulch will be available for residents with trucks.

Commissioner of the Revenue Tom Clinton reminded residents that personal property tax bills are due on Tuesday, October 5.  Decals should be affixed to vehicle windshields by November 15.   Mr. Clinton stated that drivers who have trouble removing the decals should drop by the office for assistance.

A  resident of S. Virginia Ave. stated that he and several neighbors had asked the City to improve signage on their street, but had not received a satisfactory response.  Mayor Baroukh requested the city manager to follow up on the matter, which had been pending since January.  The resident’s request was prompted by what he termed “an inordinate level of errant traffic” on the street.

The mayor advised the Council that Vice Mayor Dave Snyder’s absence was due to business travel.

The Council unanimously approved second reading of an ordinance to amend the City’s Traffic Code concerning fees for traffic infractions, traffic emergencies, and towing for unpaid parking tickets, and enacted a section dealing with parking in time-limited zones.

At the conclusion of public business the Council went into a 30 minute closed session to discuss property issues, presumably a follow-up to last Monday’s joint session with the School Board and Planning Commission.

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