INSIDE TRACKFALLS CHURCH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

IN THIS ISSUE

OCTOBER 2010

Three Important WordsLois Berlin, Superintendent

2Summer Adventures

Kudos

Baby News

3Wedding Bells

4Morning

AnnouncementsBBQ Feedback

Financial Check-Up

5Run for the Schools

Retirement Check-UpGrocery Programs

Science Speaker

6Things to Know

Community Calendar

“All we have

to decide is what

to do with the time

that is given to us.”

~ J. R. R. Tolkien

It’s hard to believe that a month has passed since I welcomed you back for a new school year at the Welcome Back BBQ and Convocation. Since that hot day in the stadium, the weather has noticeably improved, and you have all been busy doing what you

do best – teaching and supporting our students. My favorite part of this job is when I am in the schools, seeing you inter-acting with students. This year after each visit, three words come to mind: excitement, frustration, determination.The excitement stems from your embrace of new approaches and opportunities. It is exciting for me to see your ongoing dedication to providing the best possible teaching and learning opportunities for all of our students. The frustration comes from two places. Many are disappointed at the results of last year’s SOL testing - a single measure of our students’ success. So many of us worked hard last year to make AYP, and are feeling very frustrated at the results. It is also frustrating to think about doing more with less funding. The reality of our budget situation for FY2011 and beyond is that we really do have to do more with less.The determination is what makes FCCPS a premier school division. I’m so impressed with your determination to make sure that all of our students succeed. It is clear in the way you are engaging students and each other in discussions on how we deliver in-struction and gauge student achievement.I am optimistic and confi dent that, despite fewer resources, we can meet the challenge of teaching every student successfully. I am also prepared to support you in whatever way I can in that endeavor. I have often said that if any place can meet that challenge, it’s Falls Church.

In the weeks and months to come, we will have discussions on an issue that is important to all of us – student growth. There are a number of questions that must be answered in order to clearly understand what we really mean when we refer to student growth. What are the components of student growth? How does our practice relate to student growth? How can we use Access to paint a clear picture of student growth? I hope to engage the school board, staff and community in discussions that will help frame what we mean when we refer to student growth.In the meantime, I am thankful for your dedication, your commitment and your hard work each and every day.

FCCPS Tops the Charts There are many measures by which FCCPS shows stellar success. These numbers and recognitions are worth repeating because they clearly show what a good job we are doing as educators.

TJ Elementary’s SOL scores were so • impressive that the school received an award for excellence.The Class of 2010 had the highest-• ever SAT scores, and more students took the test. In a year when state and national averages remained stagnant, the GMHS combined scores rose 83 points over the previous year - to a school record of 1795.Class of 2010 ACT composite scores • were also well above state and national averages.The GMHS Summer PyGames team • (part of the Robotics team) won a competition to design an educational computer game. Judges cited the team’s “great game play, graphics, scoring, and well-written essays.”Seven GMHS students were named • National Merit Semifi nalists.Our On-Time Graduation Rate remains • one of the highest in the state.

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TJ teachers Heidi Lang, Lisa Allan, Cindie Carlson and FCCPS retiree Renie O’Neill at the Temple of Zeus in Greece.

Aliyah Noelle Nelson thinks Grama Alice Nelson is funny.

Five new Curriculum and • Instruction Resource Teach-ers (CIRTs) who are serving FCCPS. Brett Sparrgrove, K-12 Career and Tech Ed; Kate Brodeur, 5-7 English; Elizabeth Rizzi, 8-12 English; Kristin White, 5-7 Math; Kim Cherry, K-4 Special Education. GMHS teacher • Suzanne Planas who was honored by Cornell University as part of the Special Teachers are Recog-nized (STAR) program. She was selected by 2006 GMHS graduate Eric Brooks, a Cor-nell graduate because of her infl uence in is life. A one-time $4,000 STAR scholarship has been established in her name, and will be awarded to a Cor-nell student from Falls Church.

Adele “Bubbe” Eskin greets baby Esther in Paris.

Lyla McConnell

GMHS teacher Jill McConnell and her husband, Tommy, welcomed a baby girl on July 9th. Lyla Michelle McConnell weighed in at 9 pounds, 11 ounces. Her big sister, Maria, thinks she is pretty cute!

Mt. Daniel teacher Alice Nelson became a grandmother on June 14th. Being with her granddaugh-ter, Aliyah Noelle Nelson, made it a wonderful summer.

Cora BraggTJ teacher Cindy Bragg and her husband, Meredith, awaited the start of summer because they knew that a birthday was not far behind. Baby Cora arrived on June 24th, and weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces.

If it’s summer, it must be time for another far-fl ung trip for the TJ trav-elers. This summer globe-trekking teachers, Lisa Allan, Heidi Lang, Cindie Carlson, and longtime school psychologist, Renie O’Neill, journeyed to Turkey and Greece. Two of their favorite places were Athens and Ephesus in Kusadasi, Turkey.

The Steubing family has many connec-tions to GMHS: Larry Stuebing, Class of 67; Roni Stuebing Reynolds, Class of 68; Superintendent Lois Berlin; Mustang Mom, Jean Frankfourth; Vanessa Stuebing Engle, Class of 74; Lisa Stuebing, Class of 81.Superintendent Lois Berlin es-caped the August heat with a family reunion trip to Idaho. The Steubing family, which includes four GMHS alumni, enjoyed time together in Priest Lake, Idaho.

MEHMS librarian Adele Es-kin spent three weeks in Paris, France, visiting her daughter and son-in-law, awaiting the arrival of her second grandchild. The baby took her time arriving, and Adele had to extend her stay in Paris so that she could meet her grand-daughter, Esther Rose Van Orman. Her birthday was August 25th, and she weighed 9 pounds.

Baby News

Kudos to: Summer Adventures

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MEH teacher Maureen Warfi eld married ENS Brian Taylor on June 19th. The wedding took place in the gardens of Windmill Island in Hol-land, Michigan. The couple honey-mooned in the Dominican Republic where the new Señora Taylor could practice her Spanish.

GMHS teacher Mark Sokolowski married Courtney Jo Andes on Au-gust 7th at the University of Virgin-ia. Mark and Courtney met at UVA, where they were working on their Master’s Degrees in Education. After a honeymoon to St. Lucia, Mark is back in the GMHS science wing, and Courtney is a third-grade teacher in Fairfax County.

On July 10th, daycare assistant director Stefanie Williams married Chris McMaugh at The Waterford in Fair Oaks, Virginia. The mother of the bride is Robin Williams, TJ daycare supervisor and outdoor classroom coordinator. Both Stefanie and Chris are gradu-ates of GMHS, and are settling in with Stefanie’s daughter, Brooklyn, in Falls Church.

Liz Mackie, special education and student services director, married Doug Germer on August 21st at Rust Manor House in Leesburg.

Liz’s daughters, Kaitlin and Brian-na, were her bridesmaids. Liz and Doug are planning a honeymoon to Jamaica in November.

Brian and Maureen Taylor take a celebra-tory carousel ride.

Courtney and Mark Sokolowski walk down the aisle after their wedding cer-emony.

Doug and Liz Germer

The Chesapeake Bay Beach Club was the setting for the July 31st wedding of TJ teacher Jill Hocutt and Todd Prince. In August they traveled to Hawaii, where they visited Maui and Kauai.

Jill Prince and her new husband, Todd.

Stefanie Williams McMaugh surrounded by family and friends at her July 10th wedding to Chris McMaugh. In front is her daughter, Brooklyn, and far right is her sister, Scarlett Williams, a Mt. Daniel paraprofessional.

On August 22nd GMHS teacher Breanne Smith married Damian Rodino at Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, VA.They honeymooned on Grand Cayman Island before returning to Virginia.

Breanne Rodino and her new husband, Damian.

Wedding Bells

INSIDE TRACK PAGE 4

Have you had your daily download of Morning Announcements today? Seems like everywhere you go, people are talking about the photo of the day or “Caught on the Web.”It’s become a very effective com-munications tool that reaches many FCCPS audiences - staff,

parents, community leaders and more. Here’s how you can get your info into Morning Announcements.1. Make sure that the information on the FCCPS Google Calendar is correct for your events. Check date, time and location.2. Alert FCCPS Communications staff if there is an event coming up that needs publicity.3. Share photos of classroom events, school assemblies, visitors and any other special events with FCCPS Communications Staff.

Do You Take Your Morning Announcements with Coffee?

Little City News

To receive news about Falls Church City beyond the schools, sign up for Falls Church eFocus - the bi-weekly city newsletter. Click here to sign up.Anyone can become a fan of Falls Church City on Face-book. Click here to sign up.Sign up for daily updates, analysis and unlimited comments from the Falls Church Times, a local non-profi t online newspaper, published by Falls Church citizens.Pick up your weekly free copy of The Falls Church News-Press, or see it online at www.fcnp.com.

Although it seems like ages ago, the Welcome Back BBQ and Convocation was just last month, and the post-event survey yielded some great suggestions.As always, everyone’s favorite things about the event are con-necting with colleagues and enjoying a meal. The quality and variety of food provided by FCCPS food services received high marks. Many were delighted to have veg-etarian options and cold watermel-

on.Most respondents appreciated the change of venue, and were pleased that it was held at lunch-time. Most were uncomfortable in that hot sun, and a handful of folks did not come because of the sun, although a few said they loved the heat! Suggestions for next year in-clude having the assembly portion inside, and the meal outside.

Welcome Back BBQ Feedback

4. Put a note in your class newslet-ter to make sure that all parents are receiving Morning Announce-ments. Interested people can eas-ily subscribe.5. Keep reading it, sending com-ments and cor-recting errors.

Thanks to the sponsors, no school money was spent, and many people have made an ef-fort to thank the sponsors for their support.The sponsors were Apple Federal Credit Union, BJ’s, Elementary PTA, FCCPS Band Boosters, GMHS Athletic Boost-ers, GMHS PTSA, John Kwacala, Capital Asset Management Group (ING 403b), MEHMS PTA, Sysco Food Services, VALIC.

Kim Cherry and Denise O’Neil enjoy watermelon.

All enjoyed a picnic lunch, courtesy of FCCPS Food Services.

The view from above as the picnic begins.

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Retirement Check-Up with VALIC Did you know that 46% of work-ers surveyed are not confi dent that they will have enough mon-ey to live comfortably throughout their retirement years?* Your VALIC fi nancial advisor can help you feel more confi dent about a secure retirement. National Save for Retirement Week is October 17-23. What better time to meet with a fi nan-cial planner? FCCPS employees who are using VALIC for their 403B retirement plan can set up a free meeting with Mario Orozco, your

FCEDF Run for the Schools Raises Funds for FCCPS

Giant, Safeway and Harris Teeter programs

VALIC fi nancial advisor. He’ll help you take full advan-tage of the time you have before retirement. To contact Mario Orozco click here or call 571-451-4405.

*Source: Employee Benefi t Research Institute 2010 Retirement Confi dence Survey

Runners hit the street for the annual Run for the Schools race in downtown Falls Church on September 12th.

More than 400 runners regis-tered for the Falls Church Edu-cation Foundation Run for the Schools on September 15th. GMHS Wrestling Team had the fastest team fi nishing time, and GMHS Teachers on the Run fi elded the largest team. Also seen on the course were teams from MEHMS, TJ and the Cen-tral Offi ce Coconuts.Click here for the race results.

It’s time to designate FCCPS schools on your grocery cards. Giant, Safeway and Harris Teeter have programs that send a portion of their sales to schools designated by the customer. Even if you have done this in the past, every program requires that you re-register every year! It is easy and won't cost you a penny. You'll need your grocery discount cards at hand.

Giant A+ Bonus Bucks www.giantfood.com/aplusUse these school codes.GM 1925MEH 2930MD 1935TJ 1938

Safeway Escrip www.escrip.comUse these school codes.

GM 6654115MEH 500016504MD 6540686TJ 6577369

Harris Teeter Together in Education www.harristeeter.com/com-munityUse these school codes.GM 5693MEH 5100MD 5097TJ 5098

GMHS to Host ScientistGeorge Mason High School is actively participating in the USA Science and Engineer-ing Festival by hosting a “Nifty Fifty” speaker. On Octo-ber 14th, astrophysicist Mat-thew Bobrowsky, University of Maryland, College Park, will be speaking about taking the cosmos into the classroom; what it means to be a scientist and what challenges he had to overcome. It’s all part of a na-tional effort to get students of all ages to love and embrace science and engineering. For information about the festival, click here or contact GMHS science teacher Bryan Harris.

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Here’s a little-known FCCPS benefi t. All FCCPS employees and their families get free admis-sion to all theatrical performanc-es and sporting events at GMHS & MEHMS.Just show your employee ID at the gate and you’ll get in for free. One thing to note: the staff member has to be present to take advan-tage of this benefi t, which means teenagers can’t take a parent’s ID and request free admission.Follow the links to the Fall sports schedules. Varsity Football, JV Football, Girls Cross Country, Boys Cross Country, Varsity Volleyball, JV Volleyball, Golf.

Newseum Teacher Open House Washington, DC, October 2, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Open House for all teachers includes free admission with a valid ID and $10 admis-sion for up to fi ve guests.Click here for details.Farm Day October 9th Cher-ry Hill Park 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Enjoy life on the farm with kid-friendly activities for the entire family to enjoy. Corn grinding in the barn, tours of the house, hay rides, and more. Click here for more info or call 703-248-5081.Falls Church Farmers Mar-ket Recogntion as Best Mid-Size Farmers Market in America 300 Park Avenue, October 9th 10:00 a.m. With its 45 vendors, the Falls Church City market beat out hundreds

EZ Parking at COFree for Staff School SuppliesMany generous community and staff donors supported the Fam-ily Assistance Fund’s school supplies drive. FCCPS social worker Susan Sinclair reported that, “we provided backpacks, school sup-plies and Staples gift cards to 40 students this school year. This has been our largest back to school drive ever!”

If you have had trouble fi nding a parking space at the Central Of-fi ce, here is some good news.The parking lot at 706 West Broad Street (next to the Burger King) is available for use by 800 W. Broad St. tenants and guests.The auto en-trance to the lot is from W. Broad St., how-ever, there is a short pathway between the parking lot and N. Oak St.Although the existing signange says that the lot is for 450 W. Broad, it will be altered in the near future to refl ect that tenants of the Flower Building can park there. Start using it today!

The Falls Church City Public Schools Employee Handbook has been updated! It can be found on the FCCPS website. Click here. Hard copies are in school offi ces and libraries.

Employee Handbook

of similarly-sized markets throughout the country. Falls Church also fi nished fi rst in vot-ing among all Virginia farmers markets regardless of market size.

MEHMS Night at the Mus-tangs October 15th Moore Cadillac Field at GMHS 7:00 p.m. MEHMS students get in for $1 with a paying adult. Music students will play with the GMHS pep band and the mascots will race. Free popcorn for MEHMS students.BJ’s Grand OpeningOctober 16th BJ’s is adopt-ing TJ for its inaugural year. Grand Opening will feature a visit from the TJ Tiger and other TJ VIPs.

Got news for Inside Track? Send it to Marybeth Connelly or call 703-248-5691.

Reading a printed version of Inside Track? To use the links, visit http://www.fccps.org/news/it/oct10.htm, or call 703-248-5691.

Community Calendar

What’s your favorite thing about Fall?A. Back-to-SchoolB. Apple ciderC. Cooler tempsD. Football seasonE. Turning leavesF. OtherClick on your answer, and tell us why or call 703-248-5691 to reply.

What Do You Think?

USA Science and Engineer-ing Festival October 23rd and 24th, Washington, DC. Click here for information about this free, two-day Expo on the National Mall and surrounding areas that will feature over 1500 fun, hands-on science activities and over 50 stage shows and performances on four stages.