Organized for School Year
Local organizers offer suggestions on dealing with the summer mess.
When summer comes to a grinding halt in a few weeks, a new school year will begin. From alarm clocks and school bells to piles of homework assignments and sports schedules, maintaining a coordinated household can be difficult, however. Local organizers are offering simple suggestions to help make the transition from summer to the start of the school year seamless.
Write Now, I Just Don’t Know
The biggest writing problem that I have, other than the ones you regular readers generally know about, is writing a current column on the weekend immediately preceding the next Wednesday’s publication date, when I am still waiting on results from my most recent CT Scan. This isn’t like putting the cart before the horse, this is more like putting the horse in the cart and pulling it.
Homelessness: Source of Trauma for Children
Nearly 700 children live in emergency homeless shelters in Fairfax County at some point during the year.
Summer vacation is wrapping up; kids everywhere are gearing up for the return to school. Stores are filled with school supplies; back-to-school advertising fills our TVs, radio and mailboxes. Many families are hustling from store to store getting supplies, backpacks, clothes and haircuts. As children, while we hated to see summer end, we fondly remember the yearly ritual and the excitement and anticipation of getting all those new things.
Classified Advertising August 13, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Week in Fairfax
Weekly happenings in Fairfax.
Willow Springs Elementary Teachers Learn New Ways to Teach Science
Next fall, students in Fairfax will join a growing movement of innovative science achievement and learning in Virginia. Teachers from Willow Springs Elementary were selected to join a year-long, free professional development project designed to change the way science is taught in schools across the state.
Letter: Partnership for Children
To the Editor
Novus/Cafritz has been a supporter of Fairfax CASA for several years as a sponsor of our Run for the Children, which is held each May at the Fairfax County Courthouse. This past fall, we met with Novus and they offered to provide free office space in their new development when it is built!
Nonprofits Launch Housing Challenge
FACETS, five other nonprofits announce effort to get more vulnerable people housed.
FACETS, a nonprofit that opens doors by helping parents, their children and individuals who suffer the effects of poverty in Fairfax County—along with five other Fairfax nonprofits—is challenging itself throughout the next year to find homes for even more precariously housed and homeless people. Every quarter the group of six will set new, high goals as part of this Fairfax Housing Challenge (#ffxhousingchallenge) in an effort to end homelessness.
Chinese Get Glimpse of American Schools
Group visits Lanier Middle and Fairfax High.
In mid-July, an envoy from China visited the United States – but the trip had nothing to do with politics. Instead, a group of teenage students, plus some parents and teachers, visited Lanier Middle School and Fairfax High to see firsthand what schools are like in the U.S. They were here via a program sponsored by the City of Fairfax and the American Assn. of School Administrators (AASA).
City Council Mulls Traffic Changes
When the City of Fairfax reconfigured Main and North Streets from one-way to two-way streets in 2006, it did so in hopes that the change would benefit the downtown area. Now, though, the City Council is revisiting that decision.
‘It Was Definitely Humbling’
Chinese and Fairfax High students share impressions of each other.
The teenagers played soccer, ate ice cream, joked with their friends and walked with their heads down, eyes on their Smart phones and tablets. In short, they looked just like their American counterparts – except these students live in China.
Residents Honored for Their Homes’ Yards
The City of Fairfax’s Community Appearance Committee has honored three homes with Residential Appearance Awards. Committee Chairman Kirk Holley presented them to the winning homeowners at the July 22 City Council meeting.
Honored by Supervisors
Norma Heck, who has been an owner of a home in North Springfield since 1956, was recognized last week by the Board of Supervisors for her service and dedication to the community.
Letter: Lifesaving Community
To the Editor
I wanted to write and publicly thank everyone who helped with my blood drive on Aug. 1. So many people helped, from St. Andrew's Catholic Church who hosted us, Joyce Krolicki from Paul VI and Brenda Tingen from Inova who supported and guided us, my friends
Letter: Global Warming Is Impacting Us Now
To the Editor
On Wednesday, July 30, I joined hundreds in Washington, D.C. to show my support for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan by testifying at the public hearing.
Environmental Leader Joins NOVA Parks Board
The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks) has welcomed Laura Grape to its Board. Grape will replace Jean Packard, who recently retired from the Board after 24 years of service.
Neighbors, Police, Firefighters Promote Safe Neighborhoods
Supervisor John C. Cook visits neighborhoods on National Night Out.
Neighborhoods throughout Fairfax County held National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime” events on Tuesday, Aug. 5. These events are designed to promote crime prevention activities, partnerships between law enforcement and the community, and neighbors getting to know each other.
George Mason Athletes Inspire
Student athletes from George Mason University discussed their experience facing challenges in school and sports to students in the Summer Extending Learning Time (SELT) Program at Robinson Secondary School cafeteria in Fairfax on July 31.
Principals Visit Island in Chesapeake Bay
Environmental lessons will be incorporated in classroom teaching.
From July 30 to Aug. 1, 24 principals from elementary and middle schools in Fairfax County embarked on a journey to Port Isobel, located near the island of Tangier Island in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay.
Traffic Changes on I-95
Left-turn Lanes to Close at Franconia-Springfield Parkway Interchange
On Aug. 8, or shortly around this date, all left turns from Franconia-Springfield Parkway and left turns to and from I-95 north and south will close to allow for widening of the ramps connecting the I-95 HOV Lanes and Franconia-Springfield Parkway.