Fairfax Education

Robinson Chorus Prepping for World Choir Games

Two ensembles from Robinson will travel to Latvia this summer.

After a Skype session with composer Sydney Guillaume, members of Robinson Secondary School’s choral group Robinson Singers were ecstatic. “It was just so exciting because he knows exactly what he wants it to sound like,” said junior Molly Wise. “It was so cool to have the composer teach us and to take the time to help us.” Guillaume is the composer of “Twa Tanbou,” one of the pieces Robinson Singers will be performing at the World Choir Games in Latvia this summer.

Promoting STEM in Schools, Budget Hearings

Nifty Fifty STEM education events continue as students advocate for STEM at Fairfax public hearings.

As part of an effort to inspire students to pursue STEM careers and to spark interest in math and science, scientists visited Fairfax County Public Schools last week to talk about their careers and to provide insight on the field.

Fairfax Arts Programs Receive Federal Grants

Seven local organizations involved in the arts and literature are receiving a total of $230,000 in federal grants from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) said.

Area Robotics Teams Compete at Patriot Center

Several NOVA teams win awards at FIRST Robotics Competition Greater D.C. Regional

Over 50 teams, including several from Fairfax County, spent the weekend at the two-day FIRST Robotics Competition Greater D.C. Regional, using their engineering and science skills to compete for a spot in the world championship.

‘Goal Is to Spot Kids in Crisis’

Police, others take suicide prevention training.

Although there have been four recent incidents of teen suicides in Fairfax County, the Police Department has planned to offer Suicide Awareness and Intervention Training for its officers since October 2013.

‘Luck, Be a Lady Tonight’

Paul VI presents ‘Guys and Dolls.’

Featuring a cast and crew of 90, Paul VI High presents one of Broadway’s most popular musicals ever, "Guys and Dolls." The school’s Cappies show will burst upon the stage Friday-Saturday, April 11-12, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 13, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $13, adults; $8, students and senior citizens, at www.PaulVI.net, and $15 and $10, respectively, at the door. "The actors are creative and enthusiastic, and they really wanted to do ‘Guys and Dolls,’" said Director Katherine Miller. "They knew the songs were terrific, and this show has lots of roles for boys – and I’ve got lots of male actors this year. I’ve also got tremendous singers, comic actors and physical actors, all dedicated to this show."

Fairfax County Hosts Students from Japan

23 students also visited Japan last summer.

Last summer, 23 students studying Japanese at Lake Braddock, Hayfield and South Lakes High Schools received a full scholarship to visit Japan for ten days as part of the KAKEHASHI Project, a cultural exchange program that aims to connect students from Japan and the U.S.

‘The Taklimakan Desert Is in Which Country?’

Fairfax boy, 10, to compete in state Geography Bee.

Rohil Bhinge is one, smart boy. A fifth-grader at Mosby Woods Elementary, he’ll represent his school, April 4, in Farmville, at the state Geography Bee.

‘Unsung Heroes of the School’

Robinson students create yearbooks year after year.

Although they’ve faced multiple snow days this year, staff members of Above and Beyond, Robinson Secondary School’s high school yearbook, are well on their way to completing the 2014 edition.

‘Proud of Our Young People at Woodson’

It was standing room only last week in Woodson High’s auditorium when some 1,100 people, mainly parents, gathered for comfort and advice in the aftermath of two student deaths.

Help Offered in the Wake of Tragedy

Organizations provide information, guidance.

Woodson parent Karen Cogan called the March 5 meeting "a good first start. A lot of us were here to band together and let everyone know we’re there for each other." "It was a great community turnout, and I appreciated the school-system support services being here to give us some guidance," she said. "They told us what’s available to parents and kids and what [comprises] a crisis team." Parents also gave written answers to questions they’d received before the meeting. They shared their ideas to better support students, plus what resources could help. Students answered similar questions.

Honored for Promoting Peace

The Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County honors 22 students.

The Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County, presented by the Herndon Friends Meeting, honored a group of 22 juniors and seniors who were nominated for their dedication to peace and conflict resolution on March 2.

Robinson High Student Attends College, Inspires Others

Rachel Keith will graduate from NOVA and Robinson this spring.

Rachel Keith, a 17-year-old Fairfax Station resident and senior at Robinson Secondary School, has been thinking about college long before many of her peers. It was this forward-thinking that led Keith to take college classes at Northern Virginia Community College as a dual-enrolled student.

Robinson Student Receives DAR Good Citizen Award

Katie Rogers awarded for patriotism, service, leadership and dependability.

Judy Erickson, a member of the Thomas Lee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, has known for years that Katie Rogers would make a great candidate for the group’s Good Citizen award. Erickson met Rogers and her mother, Mariana Vervena, when Rogers was a child. The two are neighbors in Fairfax, and Rogers sold Erickson Girl Scout cookies for years.

School Board Votes For Longer SLEEP

Money saved from annual bus route review will be earmarked for implementation of later start times.

According to SLEEP, a local group advocating for later high school start times in Fairfax County, 72 out of 92 counties in Virginia have a high school start time of 8 a.m. or later.

Fairfax Connection