Insiders’ Tips
Cherishing Franklin Glen
Franklin Glen has been a wonderful place to raise our family. We moved here in 1985 and our children are now grown. Many of the friendships they made here have continued into their adult lives. The swim team was perhaps the greatest "glue" of all. It was a wonderful experience for both children, especially our daughter Molly, who waxed philosophical at her final team cookout at age 18. She had compiled and read aloud numerous nuggets of wisdom entitled "Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned on the Franklin Glen Swim Team." My favorite from that list is "Winning doesn't always mean finishing first." Our children didn't always finish first, but that team was a huge part of the "village" that helped them and so many others to feel like winners.
Time for School
Advice on how to transition from a laid-back summer to a hectic academic year.
When Ellen Feldman’s 5-year-old son started school for last fall, one of the biggest adjustments for the single mother of two was having to adhere to a schedule. “All of a sudden we went from being able to do things on our own time frame to having to wake up and be at a certain place at a certain time,” said Feldman. “Sending my son off to school for the first time was exciting, but also difficult.”
Food, Fun And Festivities
Neighbors, firefighters and police celebrate National Night Out.
It could have been just an ordinary Tuesday night — families eating quiet dinners in their homes, behind closed doors. But instead, last Tuesday, Aug. 7, residents of Centreville’s Sully Station II community joined together in four neighborhoods for outdoor block parties.
Centreville Roundups 8/16
Roundups
‘Born to Be an Educator’
Franklin band director retires after 28 years.
Lawrence Walker was at Franklin Middle when it opened in 1984. But now, after 30 years with Fairfax County Public Schools — 28 of them at Franklin — the school’s band director has retired.
Pakistan Festival at Bull Run Park
The Pakistani-American community will celebrate the 65th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence at the Pakistan Festival on Aug. 26 at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville.
Editorial: Starting School Prepared
First day of school is Sept. 4; local nonprofits provide school supplies and weekend food.
With school beginning in a few weeks, area charitable organizations have been collecting contributions of new backpacks, calculators, other school supplies, money and gift cards and winter coats to help the tens of thousands of truly needy Northern Virginia students.
Making Beautiful Music
Students participate in Franklin’s Band and Orchestra Camp.
Take 710 students, 35 teachers and musical instruments of every size and shape and you get Franklin Middle School’s Band and Orchestra Camp.
Letter: No Enemies on TJ Admissions Front
To the Editor:
FCPS is not being honest, straightforward or holding itself accountable for the fact that too few of these disadvantaged kids are achieving as well as others relative to their populations and too few are fostered appropriately so they can be identified for and take advantage of advanced curricula, including advanced academic programs (AAP) and thence TJ and high school honors, AP and IB programs. The leaders in this system have had years to figure out how to make serious improvements, but they have hidden and spun or not even bothered to gather data and have excluded individuals and groups that could be partners in resolving this situation. Thus, we have a segregated system, as the data show.
Learning History Firsthand
Veterans tell Rocky Run students about WWII.
Each year, WWII comes alive for seventh-graders at Rocky Run Middle School. That’s because, besides what they learn about it from their textbooks, they get to hear firsthand from those who lived through it.
Realizing a Dream
Garrett begins job of deputy fire chief.
Since he was a boy, William Garrett knew he’d grow up to be a firefighter. Although he and his family have lived in Centreville six-and-a-half years, he was born and raised in Alexandria’s Gum Springs community — and that’s where the spark was ignited.
Chantilly Pain Clinic Owner Is Convicted
Oxycodone distribution, healthcare, tax fraud.
The owner and president of a pain clinic in Chantilly was convicted Friday, Aug. 3, in Federal Court of conspiring to distribute and actually distributing oxycodone, a controlled drug.
Something To Cheer About
All-star gym for competitive cheerleading opens in Chantilly.
Susan and Mark Culin and Jelaire Grillo have something to cheer about — literally. They’ve just opened Phase Cheer & Dance, an all-star gym in Chantilly where they’ll train competitive cheerleaders.
Centre View Bulletin Board 8/8/12
Centre View Calendar
Centre View Roundups 8/8/12
Centre View Roundups