DEPARTMENT NEWS Continues

South
lakes
high
“Your Connection to South Lakes High School”
school
11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston, VA 20191
Jan 2008– Issue 4
Main Office (703) 715-4500
Message from the Principal, Bruce Butler
Amazingly, the first quarter is over. After exciting and
rewarding visits, our exchange
students from Germany and
Russia have left--thank you to
the families who hosted our
guests. Our students have
demonstrated a great deal of
school spirit and academic
focus thus far. November and
December have been very
special months at South Lakes
High School, highlighted by
the Theatre Department‘s riveting production of The Crucible; amazing performances
by our band, choral and or-
January
2
3
7
Return to school
Senior Parent Coffee
JrROTC Battalion
Silver Diner Dinner
10
Financial Aid Night
15
IB Parent Info Night
16
PTSA Meeting
21
MLKJr. Holiday
23
2008 Silver Diner
Dinner
25 – 28 Student Holidays
30
Science Fair
30
Summer Camp Fair
31
Curriculum Night
chestral students both at school and
throughout the community; and the
German Honor Society‘s 2nd Annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest in which over 30 teams
competed.
Another highlight was the Academic Awards Ceremony honoring
student academic performance. At
that ceremony, Helene Weiland
was recognized for her eight years
of leadership in support of our
academic programs. Also, we
were pleased to learn that South
Lakes was cited in the Washington Post for making the most significant increase in the ―Jay
Mathews Index‖ which represents
the level to which students at a
school engage in challenging
higher level course offerings. We
applaud our students for their effort and dedication and our faculty
for working collaboratively to design instruction. If you have any
questions about the performance of
your student, and you weren‘t able
to attend Touch Base with Teachers on the morning of December
7th, please contact your student‘s
counselor to arrange a parentteacher conference.
In early December our new
band, chorus, and orchestra rooms
opened. Our new main office and
guidance suite will also be released
for occupancy. The final phases of
construction are focused on the
South Lakes Drive portion of
school and several areas on the
first floor. In late June our sub
school and classroom hallway wall
surfaces will receive protective
coverings and the final exterior
landscaping will be finished. The
gym bleachers, sound system, and
floor will also be refurbished.
On the athletic front, our winter
teams are well into their seasons
and representing our greater school
community with commitment and
sportsmanship. We were pleased
to welcome many former players,
students and community members
to the ceremony formally naming
the field house ―The Wendell G.
Byrd Gymnasium‖ in honor of our
long-time basketball coach.
As you know, the Fairfax
County Public School District is
presently undergoing a school attendance boundary study that may
bring additional students to South
Lakes High School. Increasing our
membership
will provide our
students with
greater core
academic options and enhance our elective opportunities. Adding
students will
also improve our activities and
booster programs. The PTSA is
both prepared and excited to represent the best interests of South
Lakes High School in the process.
Our students who chose to attend
the boundary meetings have distinguished themselves county-wide
and served as the best possible
ambassadors for our school. I wish
to thank everyone for their support
and leadership during this process.
As we enter the new year, I want
to thank all of you who consistently provide such incredible support for our school and our students. Your dedication and ideas
make South Lakes High School a
great place to learn and work.
On behalf of South
Lakes, I wish you and your family
the best for the new year.
Message from PTSA President, Elizabeth Vandenburg
On December 12, 2007, Dr. Steven Fuller, the Director for
Regional Analysis, School of Public Policy, George Mason University and the Dwight Schar Faculty Chair and University Professor
took time out of his busy schedule to address the South Lakes High
School‘s fall 2007 Academic Awards ceremony.
Launched in 2000, the Academic Awards Ceremony, organized by Ms. Shannon Tully and the Academic Boosters/PTSA,
awards Academic Letters, similar to Athletic letters, to students
who achieve a 3.7 GPA in the preceding academic year. This year
we had 220 sophomores, juniors and seniors so honored. Additionally, we honored the IB Middle Years Program Certificate Recipients and the National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students. Most of these students also participate in sports, extra curricular activities and community service.
Here are Mr. Fuller‘s remarks to these outstanding students and their parents. I wanted to share them with the entire community because his words were insightful. Here is what he said:
“First, let me congratulate you all on your significant
academic achievement. I also want to recognize your teachers
who were keys to your success and your parents for their support
and guidance.
I will have my 50th HS reunion in 2008 and this has
caused me to reflect on my HS experience relative to my life’s
work. While there are many turning points in one’s long life, I
have pinpointed the last two years of HS as being the most important in explaining my personal and professional success. I will
explain how later.
But let’s first look to the future.
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 2…)
Page 2
January 2008
2006-2007
PTSAOFFICERS
OFFICERS
2006-07 PTSA
President
Elizabeth Vandenburg
703-648-1697
703-774-7796 (cell)
[email protected]
Secretary
Norma Morris
703-758-4843
703-989-3907 (cell)
[email protected]
Treasurer
Ellen Jennings
703-860-3064
Vice President
Maria Allen
703-648-3239
703-915-9332 (cell)
[email protected]
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor
Kim Sigle
703-860-1819
Vice President
Nonye Oladimeji
703-668-9501
[email protected]
Hospitality
Lou Ann Armstrong
703-471-1855
[email protected]
Academic Booster
& Membership Chair
Helene Weiland
703-648-9388
[email protected]
ANGP
Molly Quackenbush
703-758-9741
[email protected]
[email protected]
By-Laws Committee
Elizabeth Cline
703-860-0483
[email protected]
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
South Lakes High School
Principal
Bruce Butler
x4502
Director, Student Services
(Guidance)
Shannon Tully
x4522
Director of Student
Activities
Linda Jones
x4518
Security Resource
Officer:
Scott Bacon
x4516
President’s Pen...continued from front page
In 5 years or so when you enter the workforce, there will be
a shortage of qualified workers in just about every field or
profession, skilled and unskilled. The demographic cycles
and continuing expansion of the US economy favor your
generation. So, you will have the opportunity to pick and
choose what you may want to do for a living.
But do not be in a hurry to settle on that choice.
Your work life will last 40-plus years and over that period
you are likely to change jobs and possibly career directions
many times. So, while preparing for this future is important,
you should take your time in choosing your career path. My
advice is to get the best education you can over the next four
to six years. And, do not prematurely foreclose your opportunities by narrowing your career options by specializing too
soon.
Your focus now and over the next several years
should be on breadth and on mastering the learning and
thinking skills. Stretch yourselves, take on subjects that take
you in different directions. At the same time, build on your
strengths!
I’ve taught college students for almost 39 years,
only Masters and Doctoral students. They were all very
bright. They were probably just like you when they were
your age. My continuing complaint about their academic
preparation is: (1) their writing and general communications skills are poor and (2) their analytical or thinking
skills are weak.
There are certain fundamental skills you must master to succeed in your career whatever it is—being able to
communicate clearly, concisely, and intelligently is #1 and
#2 is being able to synthesize; that is, to focus your knowledge, understanding and judgment into a finding or conclusion. Being able to explain the “so what” of your analyses is
very important and is a powerful skill.
This is what I learned in HS. I had great teachers
who would not let me get away with poor writing and forced
me to verbalize and defend my position in class discussions.
I am an introvert and would have gladly sat in the back of
the room. My teachers would not accept that and pushed me.
I learned to push myself. As a rule, I never say
“no” to a new challenge or opportunity. I just assume first
off that I can figure out how to do what is required and
rarely fail. And, failing is OK, as you always learn from that
experience. This has kept me learning new things and made
my work my hobby. It all started right where you are sitting
tonight.
As a teacher for more than 39 years I have had the
opportunity to advise many students. I tell them what I
would tell you: (1) to master the fundamentals—
communications and analytical skills—as these are universal to all careers, (2) to take risks and push yourselves by
taking on new challenges, (3) to keep learning and to be
prepared to reinvent yourselves multiple times over your lifelong career, and (4) while you are students, to sit in the front
row and engage your teachers in order to learn as much as
possible from each class.
By following these guidelines, you will grow beyond
what you ever could image today. Your future is bright but
it is also in your hands. You are in control. The opportunities will be there. It is up to you to reach for them and to
keep stretching yourself. With your proven academic abilities and hard work, you can accomplish whatever you want
if you build this solid foundation and keep on learning until
the very last day of your career. I am sorry to report to you
that there is no coasting if you want to get ahead and stay
ahead. You have shown you can meet this challenge by being here tonight. You are the future. I wish you well.
Again, congratulations on your academic achievements.”
You will find inside this newsletter the names of all the
honored students. Congratulations to them AND the
faculty who inspire them!
Page 3
January 2007
The South Lakes High School Class of 2008
All Night Grad Party
The SLHS Class of 2008
All Night Grad Party
―Let‘s keep ‗em safe on THE night to celebrate‖
December ANGP 2008 News
The Class of 2008 All Night Grad Party will be held at the at the YMCA on June 12, 2008 and planning is underway! We
look forward to the BEST CELEBRATION EVER for ALL of our graduates and we need YOUR HELP to make it happen.
Here‘s how you can support the ANGP:
**Buy a ticket for your student now (see reverse side)
**Be a ―Friend of the ANGP‖- make a tax-deductible donation— funds will be used only for the ANGP.
**Use Giant Gift Cards purchased from ANGP 2008 (delivered to you); sell them to your friends and neighbors.
**Volunteer- _____I would like to be on a committee or ______ work at the party on the night of June 12, 2008.
**Attend monthly ANGP meetings-Are you on the ANGP mailing list?
Name____________________________
E-mail__________________________________.
You will be contacted via email with details.
For more information, to buy gift cards, or to volunteer contact Molly Quackenbush [email protected] or 703-7589741.
Thanks to the following Friends of ANGP:
Platinum
Silver
Bronze
Kathy & John Kennedy
Bob Cox
Laura Bachman
Karen Hastings & Steve Hazelton
Stu & Adrienne Gibson
Lindsey Crutcher
Be a Friend of the Class of 2008
I wish to support the SLHS ALL NIGHT GRAD PARTY 2008 as a:
_____Bronze Supporter ($1-$25)
______Silver Supported ($26-$50)
_____Gold Supporter ($51-$99)
______Platinum Supporter($100+)
Enclosed is my check made payable to ANGP 2007 (Please write “Friends of 2008” on the
memo line of your check)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name
Student Name (if applicable)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address
Phone Number
Thank you-Your kindness and generosity are true gifts to our students
Please mail this completed form along with your check to ANGP 2008, Attn: Friends of the Class of 2008,
c/o South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston, VA 20191
All contributions are tax deductible and will be used solely for the purposes of the ANGP. All Friends of the Class
of 2008 will be recognized and publicly thanked in future mailings.
Page 4
January 2007
The South Lakes High School Class of 2008
All Night Grad Party
June 12, 2008
10:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. June 13
THIS TICKET & LIABILITY FORM MUST BE COMPLETED, SIGNED & RETURNED FOR ADMITTANCE TO
THE ALL NIGHT GRAD PARTY
I, ___________________________, am the parent/guardian of ____________________________,
(Print Parent/Guardian Name)
(Print Student Name)
a member of the South Lakes HS Class of 2008, and I acknowledge that he/she plans to attend the South Lakes
High School Class of 2008 All Night Grad Party (ANGP).
The Class of 2008 All Night Grad Party is a chaperoned, alcohol-free and drug-free event held in the Reston
area. No one who has been using alcohol or drugs wll be permitted entry. I understand and acknowledge the
rules of the party require my student to arrive at the All Night Grad Party on June 12, 2008 between 10:30 p.m.
and 12:00 a.m., and to remain at the party until its conclusion at 5:00 a.m. on June 13, or until he/she signs out
prior to the party’s conclusion. I further understand and acknowledge that if my student leaves before the party
concludes, he/she will not be readmitted and I will be contacted at the phone number(s) below.
I agree to release the All Night Grad Party 2008 and the South Lakes High School PTSA from liability for any
accident in which my student is involved. Should an accident occur or medical treatment be required, I
acknowledge that my medical insurance will be the primary coverage.
Parent/Guardian Signature____________________________________________Date______/______/______
Parent/Guardian phone number:_________________________________________________
Email address for ANGP
unications______________________________________________________________
Please return this form along with a check for $50.00*,made payable to:
SLHS 2008 ANGP
Mail to: South Lakes High School
Attn: ANGP Tickets
11400 South Lakes Drive
Reston, VA 20191
*Ticket price is $20.00 for students who receive FCPS free/reduced price lunch.
Questions? Contact Molly Quackenbush at [email protected]
Page 5
January 2007
South Lakes’
Class
of
2008
Diner Night Fundraiser
at
11951 Killingsworth Ave., Reston
Wed. Jan. 23, 2008
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
All are invited to join friends, families & teachers for dinner.
Come support the 18 seniors who will be volunteering.
PTA POC: Molly Quackenbush
www.silverdiner.com Claudia_ [email protected]
If school gets closed due to *snow* then fundraiser is cancelled.
Page 6
January 2007
Yearbook
Page 7
January 2007
Academic Booster Message
The Academic Boosters would like to extend many thanks to everyone who helped at the the November Honor Roll Breakfast. 470 kids were invited, and we're hoping for even more next time!!
Also, if you can volunteer at or send in food for the next Honor Roll Breakfast, Friday morning, February 15, please
contact: Juli Westfall ([email protected]) or Susan Zaboji ([email protected]).
The past few months have been busy for Academic Boosters members and supporters! THANK YOU to everyone who has
helped to:
fold and staple Directories which were distributed to every student free of charge at the end of October;
assist at the College Applications Workshops held after school and in the evening in October, November and December
to help students complete their applications or work on their college essays;
provide food items and/or set up for the 1 st Quarter Honor Roll Breakfast held on November 16 th to reward a record 460+
students who achieved a 3.5 GPA in the first quarter.
fold and ribbon programs or provide refreshments for the Academic Awards Ceremony/Reception held on December 12 th
to recognize another record 220+ students who achieved a 3.7 GPA in the previous school year.
help with classroom or after-school tutoring support. There is still a need for a volunteer to work one-on-one with an
ESOL student on basic math skills (contact ESOL teacher Patty Meagher, patricia.meagher @fcps.edu).
Congratulations to all the students for their hard work and accomplishments!
220 students
were honored
at the Academic
Awards
Ceremony on
Wednesday,
December 12.
National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists
Maya Goodwin
Riley Keenan
Bianca Van Der Meulen
Commended Students
Jeffrey DePaso
Diana Gal
Alexandra Isaacs
Jyoti Jindal
Arvand Moein
Caitlin Mott
Simone Peer
Alexa Schwartztrauber
Page 8
Academic Letter Recipients
10th GRADE
Josue Abarca
Mohamed Abdelrahman
Hajar Ahmed
Jordan Albert
Lauren Angel
Lorena Arias Arias
James Armstrong
Yitbarek Asfera
Natasha Babiarz
Mathew Barkan
Stefanie Brown
Kathleen Busch
Rachel Byrum
Jesica Cabrera Caballero
Lauren Cavalieri
Bethany Cobb
Jesse Curling
Jennifer Dawson
Marcy Delos
Bradley Dillon
Jason Duffy
Megan Dunn
Gina Fu
Alvaro Garay Lopez
Patrick Garziglia
11th GRADE
Arfa Aijazi
Aida Alemu
Dilsa Alfaro Reyes
Joshua Anton
Sadia Anwar
Sophia Armstrong
Ivan Avalos Ventura
Alissa Avilov
Mariam Awad
Lisa Batres
Grace Bauer
Emma Baum
Elisa Becker
Sarah Binger
Natalie Burkhart
Chuan Chang
Kevin Chung
Kaitlyn Clinage
Paulina Chanel Codera
Elizabeth Gohn
Morgaine Gooding-Silverwood
Laura Gurtz
Melissa Gusdorf
Alexander Hassanzadeh
Jordan Hataway
Nicholas Hazelton
Stephanie Heimburg
Tania Herrera
Devin Hill
Waveney Hudlin
Hannah Humphrey
Kendra Jackson
Shannon Jacyna
Anne Jennings
Prince Jindal
Jasmine Jones
Andrew Jung
Natalie Kendall
Leon Kolankiewicz
Katherine Kraus
Shruti Kuppa
Kristin Kurtz
Anna La Valley
Quynh Le
Ryan Lewis
Brittany Lockwood
Elizabeth Loftin
Madison Crutcher
Teresa DeAtley
Devin Erickson
Noor Hachwi
Davisson Han
Tyler Harned
Jasmin Harper
Mark Hyland
Imikomobong Ibia
Aylin Kaya
Anne Keady
Momin Khan
Erna Kukic
Regina La Valley
Madeleine Lane
Elliot Layton
Rachel Midura
Behzad Mohammad Daud
Rowan Moody
Sharle Nataren
Binh Nguyen
Richard Macgregor
Robert McLenigan
Alexander Miles
Reza Moghaddasnia
Riham Mohamed
Valerie Moyer
Azeem Mufti
Nimat Musa
Denise Nguyen
Yoan N'Komba
Sarah Nolta
Charleen O'Brien
Omotara Oladimeji
Shawn Rana
Monica Rivera
Heather Saba
Ramin Shaheedian
Tessa Speek
Julia Springfield
Hedya Sultani
Jessica Tran
Emma Volpe
Alison Westfall
Sean Williams
Josephine Yarwaye
Jenny Zhan
Kim Cuc Nguyen
Ngoc Nga Nguyen
Rose Pleskow
David Rabinowitz
Michael Rabinowitz
Edward Reed
Mark Richards
Trevor Richards
Alexis Robertson
Alexander Seto
Jessica Shaddy
Erica Shockley
Margaret Sigle
Pallavi Sirajuddin
Bradley Standerfer
Alan Sudy
Liya Temin
Alessandra Van Der Meulen
Allison Whitlock
Wiaam Yasin
Christopher Zaylah
Page 9
January 2007
Academic Letter Recipients (continued)
12th GRADE
Doina Alexei
David Ames
Nataly Avalos Ventura
Julia Berger
Sejal Bhojani
Elizabeth Borsetti
Jenna Brightwell
Leilani Brower
Susan Carrai
David Cavalieri
Dennis Chia
Sara Chiaravalle
Ian Cline
Lauren Coho
Trevor Cox
Christopher Cummins
Adrian De La Lama
Jamie Dean
Suzanne DeHoratiis
Evan Demick
Jeffrey DePaso
Matthew DePaso
Laura Dillon
Rohit Elwadhi
Sarah Francis
Diana Gal
Maya Goodwin
Guest speaker
Roger Gorkhalee
Elizabeth Greenspan
Jessica Guest
Amanda Gurley
Ryan Gurtz
Majoni Harnal
Sarah Hazelton
Chelsea Huber
Rasika Jayaweera
Jyoti Jindal
Chanel Jost
Riley Keenan
Markus Khan
Paul Kirchner
Margaret Kraus
Farihah Kuraishi
Casandra Leary
David Lloyd
Sameera Navidi
James Nguyen
Rhode N'Komba
Melissa Pakel
Simone Peer
Megan Peevy
Rakinya Raveendran
Scott Reed
Elise Roache
William Rosenmund
Matheson Russell
Valerie Saba
Sonia Sahgal
Marshall Severin
Julie Shayka
Nachamai Singaram
Kelly Smith
Vanessa Stephenson
Noah Sweet
Kathryn Tiller
Kristen Toth
Vivek Vakil
Bianca Van Der Meulen
Nicholas Vaughn
Aleksi White
Evan Wiley
Melissa Workman
Chianna Wu
Marko Lukic
Tamir Manayeh
Brian Mancuso
Kenneth Mayer
Sean McCoy
Naomi McCrea
Rebecca Meyers
Arvand Moein
Julia Moran
Caitlin Mott
r
Dr. Steven Fulle
Reception
following th
e Awards.
Page 10
January 2007
Welcome New Staff Members!
Stephanie Arnold runs the Leadership and Resiliency Program and
Jennifer Sexton runs the Student Assistance Program. Both are
joint programs with the Fairfax County Government that are now
based at SLHS and serve our student body.
OUR SCHOOL MASCOT
by John Farrell, Parent of students in Class of 2000, 2006, 2008 & 2010
For the almost two decades that I've had children interested in South Lakes sports‘ teams, and it is rumored
that our mascot is a mythical bird. On the contrary, the South Lakes Seahawk is very real indeed.
South Lakes was founded not long after the creation of the Seattle Seahawks NFL team and South Lakes
"borrowed" their logo and teams colors. Who could blame them? The alliteration was irresistible. If you
look through the older yearbooks, you'll see that South Lakes football teams even wore the silver grey helmets and pants at one time. The idea that the seahawk was mythical may have come from the NFL team's
materials.
But, please know South Lakes Seahawk fans, the Seahawk is real and it‘s one of your seasonal neighbors.
It spends every summer nearby along the Potomac and the Chesapeake. If you've ever crossed the Bay
Bridge, you've seen its nests by the score on your drive. Its nests are made of large branches frequently located in high light standards, trees or on navigation structures in estuaries and rivers and are often mistaken
for eagles‘ eyres.
The seahawk is the only raptor that dives into the water for its prey (maybe that's why South Lakes has always had a strong swim team! Right, Coach Brown?) and is the largest raptor capable of hovering as it
stalks its prey.
The seahawk (commonly referred to by the non-South Lakes fans as an osprey) has white and very dark
brown plumage in a striking pattern. The field marks for the seahawk are the distinctive mask across its
eyes and face and the twin dark "elbow" patches on the inside of its wings which are readily seen when
viewed from below.
As a member of the birding world, I'd be happy to start a fund to paint a proper Seahawk on the gym wall
and/or commission a proper drawing of the Seahawk for use by the school and its teams. Any takers?
Page 11
January 2007
Student Events and News
GERMAN CLUB GINGERBREAD HOUSE BUILDING CONTEST
South Lakes High School German Club's Second Annual Gingerbread
Decorating Contest took place on December 12th and 13th. Participation in the
event tripled from last year with almost 200 SLHS students participating.
The event was kicked off with Gingerbread House construction by the
MOD/SD students on Wednesday. Special Education instructor Allison Gilmour
and her students, with the assistance of IB German students, built and decorated
six Gingerbread homes. Both IB and MOD students had fun working together.
On Thursday, 25 student groups, almost 200 students, designed, constructed, reconstructed and decorated their Gingerbread houses in the orange
cafeteria. Groups ranging from the "Cool Group" to the "Jolly Rancher" to the
"Stadt Hof" created amazing Gingerbread entries. Entries ranged in style from
the traditional to the unique--houses to villages to castles to pirate ships. The
creativity and team work was phenomenal and many new friendships were developed.
The top awards went to the following groups: Most Original - Team
Fish Tank; Most Colorful - Merry Gumdrops; Most Artistic - Deja Vu and Most
Thematic - In Defense of the Gingerbread Forest. The Grand Prize went to the
Peppermint Demons with their outstanding Gingerbread Winter Village.
We look
forward to
next years
entries!
Page 12
January 2007
South Lakes High School
Guidance and Career Center Newsletter
January 2008
703.715.4592
http://www.fcps.edu/SouthLakesHS/guidance/guidance_index.htm
GUIDANCE STAFF
A-Ci
Ms. Campbell
Cl-Go
Mr. Campbell
Gr-Ji
Ms.Wittenschlaeger
Jo-Mo
Ms. Clark
Mu-Sc
Ms. IbachDurham
Se-Z
Ms. Culin
Dir of Student Services Shannon Tully
Career Center
Marie Assir
715-4571
715-4562
715-4582
715-4581
715-4558
715-4563
715-4522
715-4592
WHAT‘S COMING UP?
should make a time management chart to determine their
academic load based on the time they will be able to spend
on homework, jobs, sports teams and extracurricular activities. Most academic classes require an average of 2-4
hours per week for homework. PreIB and IB classes can
require 1-2 hours more. All sports teams practice 11/2-2
hours; 6 days a week, and most clubs and honor society
organizations have service hour requirements. Many students want to know how many advanced classes they can
or should take. This depends on how many other activities
January
10
Financial Aid Night, 7 pm
21—31
Junior Career Unit
31
Curriculum Night, 7 pm
February
1
End of semester
1
Report Cards issued
4-5
Course Recommendation Days
7-13
Rising 12th grade Registration
14-22
Rising 11th grade Registration
25-29
Rising 10th grade Registration
Course Registration and the Connection to
the Future
During the months of February and March counselors will
meet with students to review graduation requirements,
course sequences and elective choices. Each student will
receive a Course Description Guide that included a planning worksheet and registration forms. Because teacher
input is a vital part of the registration process, we encourage you to review your student‘s choices in conjunction
with their current progress. Teachers should consider the
following as they work with students and course recommendations:
Is the student taking an academic load that is challenging? Some upper class students say they want to take an
―easy load‖ their senior year. Students should make a list
of colleges to which they plan to apply, and then, take the
time to research the entrance requirements. College admissions officers tell us that the strength of a student‘s
transcript plays an important role in the admissions process.
Is the academic load reasonable for the student’s abilities and availability to spend time on homework? The
most important rule starts with balance. All students
students are involved in and how willing they are to spend
time daily on out of class assignments.
Has the student explored electives that enhance his/her
abilities and interests? Counselors can give students general information about available electives, but students are
also encouraged to seek out the teachers of the elective
courses to find out more information. Getting involved in a
satisfying elective enhances the whole school experience
for many students.
Does the student know what is expected in an IB or
PreIB course? Students who enroll in PreIB and IB
courses will be expected to attend information meetings
where course requirements will be given. In addition students who plan to take PreIB and IB courses must complete
and turn in a Recommendation Form at the time of registration. Students should select their courses carefully. No
student may drop a PreIB or IB course during the first quarter.
When is Registration?
Student Registration February 7th –March 12th.
Career Units
The career center will conduct the Junior career unit
with all juniors through their US History class. This is
an introduction to defining a plan for after high
school. Students will receive a Junior Guide with
valuable information to assist them through their junior year and into their senior year. The juniors will
also complete several valuable sections on Family
Connection and began to research colleges/careers for
life after high school.
Page 13
January 2007
PSATs
To help you understand, interpret and use the scores
from the PSAT please take advantage of the resources
on www.collegeboard.com
What You Need to Fill Out the FAFSA
(BOTH the student’s and parent’s information,
if applicable)
- Social Security Number
- Date of birth
Collegeboard has FREE access to My College Quick- Date parents were married, separated, or
Start™, a free online personalized planning kit based
divorced
on the students test results. Students are able to take the
- Date of legal Virginia residency
next steps towards college with these unique features:
- Alien registration information
- W-2 Forms
An online score report, including projected
- 2006 or 2007 Tax Return*
SAT score ranges, state percentiles, and the
- Current checking and savings account
power to sort answer explanations by diffibalances
culty and by question type;
- Untaxed income records
A customized SAT study plan;
- Investment records
Personalized lists of colleges, majors, and
careers.
Seniors – Apply for a PIN NOW!!!!
Access to MyRoad™ - a college, majors, and Go to www.pin.ed.gov to apply for a PIN which will be
careers exploration tool.
used to sign your electronic FAFSA form. You and
one of your parents will need a PIN number. Stop by
Also, as part of My College QuickStart, students get
the career center to get help with your PIN or your
access to MyRoad to help them plan their futures in a FAFSA form.
productive and engaging way:
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Students register for My College QuickStart by visiting If you have questions, be sure to join us at SLHS on
www.collegeboard.com/psatextra and entering the ac- Wednesday, January 10th when a financial aid advisor
cess code printed on their official PSAT/NMSQT paper from George Mason University will be on hand to anscore report along with some identifying information. swer all your questions about the FAFSA form.
If you or your student needs assistance with registraIf you're a senior planning to attend a postsecondary
tion, please contact our guidance department.
institution next fall, January is the time to file your Free
Student can also view additional information from
collegeboard on blackboard, click on career center
and then PSAT.
Don’t miss the Financial Aid Night at
SLHS on January 10th
Seniors…Don’t forget to complete
your FAFSA after January 1st
Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Information from the FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid programs - grants, loans
and work-study.
You can find the FAFSA:
- Online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
- In the Career Center
- From a college financial aid office
- From a local public library or
- From the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1
-800-4-FED-AID (1/800-433-3243)
Make sure you check financial aid deadlines! The
FAFSA will list deadlines for federal and state aid.
Also check the requirements at the colleges you're interested in applying to. Some require additional financial aid forms.
Page 14
January 2007
SPORTS NEWS
Award Recipients at
the
Fall Sports Award
Presentation
Linda
Jones and
Bruce
Butler
accepting
the Athletic Booster Club's
check of $25,000.
!
Spring NFL Flag Football Registration Opens January 15th, 2008
NFL Flag Football provides boys and girls ages 5-17 a fun opportunity to engage in non-contact, continuous
action while learning teamwork and football skills. Team selection is March 24th, team practices begin
March 26th, and our first games are April 6th. For more information, visit www.herndonyouthfootball.com
or call Mike Marshall at 571-434-0227 or Danny Corum at 703-638-3984.
Page 15
January 2007
www.seahawkboosters.com
JOIN THE SEAHAWK BOOSTERS!!!
HAVE FUN….. SHOW SUPPORT….. BE INVOLVED….. CATCH SEAHAWK PRIDE!
Seahawk parents, families, friends and students make up the Athletic Booster Club and play a vital role in sustaining
and advancing community spirit for the athletics program at South Lakes High School. Public funding is simply insufficient to adequately supply our children‘s sports teams and to maintain the sport facilities. The mission of the Booster
Club is to bring the community together to provide the funding and volunteerism necessary to give the Seahawks athletes the supplies, facilities and community support they need to reach their full potential as athletes. Single game
ticket price is $5 (up $1 from last year). Ticket prices are established by Fairfax County Public Schools.
*** 2007 – 2008 WINTER/SPRING SPORTS MEMBERSHIP FORM ***
Parent/Guardian Information:
Name (Please Print):
Mailing Address:
Home Phone:
Email:
Membership Options
Seahawk Pride - $200
Four Passes, single household (parents and children under 18) to all regular season home sporting events*
Two ―Seahawk Booster‖ car window decals; or Two Seahawk key rings
Name:
Name:
Name:
Name:
Seahawk Talon - $40
Single Student Pass to all regular season home sporting events*
Seahawk key ring
Name:
Name:
Seahawk Green - $65
Single Pass to all regular season home sporting events*
One ―Seahawk Booster‖ car window decal; or Seahawk key ring
Name:
Seahawk Blue - $55
Additional Passes to all regular season home sporting events*
One ―Seahawk Booster‖ car window decal; or Seahawk key ring
Name:
Name:
*Does not include entry into tournaments, playoffs and powder puff games. Booster Club Memberships are non-refundable. Lost passes
will be subject to a $5.00 replacement fee.
Tax Deductible Donations (Please circle one):
$100 $75
$50
Other: $________
Make checks payable to: SLHS Athletic Booster Club. Send form and check to: 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston, VA 20191,
January 2007
Page 16
Boundary Study
The Seahawks community has been actively involved in the West County Boundary Redistricting Study (the
―Study‖) now being conducted by Fairfax County Public Schools (―FCPS‖). As many of you know, the impacts of the redistricting -- and the quality and character of SLHS -- continues to be hotly debated. Many
SLHS students, parents, staff, and members of the Reston community have participated in trying to show the
true face of South Lakes as a positive, welcoming place of learning. All are welcome to attend and to participate in the upcoming meetings.
This process officially began in mid-July 2007 and is expected to culminate on February 28, 2008 with a
vote by the FCPS School Board on the final recommendation to be offered by FCPS staff. The Study looks
at boundaries affecting six FCPS high schools -- South Lakes, Herndon, Oakton, Chantilly, Westfield, and
the so-called ―Madison Island‖ located north of the Dulles Toll Road adjacent to the South Lakes district
boundary.
The Study is based on the following four principal factors and objectives:
Enrollments and capacities at several schools are out of balance
Access to and equitable distribution of programs and resources
Improve balance of socioeconomic characteristics among these schools to the extent practicable
Contiguous school attendance areas – eliminate attendance area islands.
In accordance with FCPS School Board regulations, three town hall meetings were scheduled to allow community input. The first meeting on November 12th at Chantilly HS focused on comments on the approach
and criteria for the proposed Study. The second meeting on December 3rd at Westfield HS allowed comment
on four separate boundary options developed by FCPS staff. The third and final town meeting was held at
Oakton HS on December 19th to discuss a modified boundary scenario that Staff developed based on input
and comments from the earlier meetings.
FCPS facilities staff will send its final recommendation to the School Board by January 10, 2008, and the
Board will then hold a January 30, 2008 public hearing on that recommendation. The School Board expects
to take final action on February 28, 2008, with the new boundaries effective for rising freshman in the 200809 school year.
More information can be found at the SLHS PTSA website:
http://www.southlakesptsa.org
Page 17
January 2007
ol
cho he
S
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t
Hig ted in ngs.
s
e
i
Lak rticipa meet
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Sou nts pa ussio
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stud ary dis
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Show your school spirit by purchasing a SLHS car magnet
Only $5.00 each!
To purchase a magnet send an email to: [email protected]
Magnets are also available for sale at all Band concerts
For more information, go to http://www.southlakesband.org
Page 18
January 2007
DEPARTMENT NEWS
Automotive Technology
On Thursday, December 13, the Automotive Technology students participated in a field trip,
along with students from Falls Church High School and Fairfax High School, to Blairsville,
PA. There they went to visit WyoTech Technical College which is just east of Pittsburgh.
They observed WyoTech students building Tuner Imports, Hot Rods, Race Cars, and OffRoad Trucks. They observed the six different airplane hanger type buildings where WyoTech
taught: Automotive Technology, Automotive Collision and Refinishing, Street Rod Technology, Chassis Fabrication, and Automotive/Marine Interiors. High School students were
treated to a snowy drive and free pizza.
Auto Tech students have prepared one Student Auto Sales vehicle that is ready to be purchased. People interested in donating a vehicle, be it a car, truck, boat, or motorcycle, can
contact Mr. Magnusson at 703-715-4602 or Mr. Scango at 703-714-5526.
Business and IT Department
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
FBLA members attended the DECA-FBLA Day with the Wizards on Friday, 12/7/07. The students visited the National Portrait
Museum, learned about the business side of running the Verizon Center, and listened to Antonio Daniels tell his story of how he
entered the NBA. Since we arrived early, we sat in the first row. Three students won Wizards‘ jerseys when the dancers threw
gifts to the crowd of 4,000. We watched the basketball players warm-up and took lots pictures of Grant Hill (1990 South Lakes
alum) warming up for the Suns. After practicing, Grant came over to our Seahawk section to say hello and welcome us to the
game. College recruiters set up displays on the mezzanine and talked to the students about opportunities
Page 19
January 2007
DEPARTMENT NEWS Continues
Business and IT Department (continued…)
On November 16-18, nine FBLA members participated
in the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Buffalo, NY. Students listened to two renowned motivational speakers. They were able to attend numerous 1
1/2 hour workshops, including team building/problem
solving, business etiquette, stepping out of the box for
your future, high school to college to career, tips for
becoming a better leader, and many more. Students returned highly motivated and ready to do new things both
for our FBLA chapter and for themselves!
The State leadership conference, where students will be
able to compete in a variety of competitions from Web
Page Development to Accounting, will be held in
Reston, VA in March. If students do well at States, they
will be invited to Nationals, which is in Atlanta, GA in
June. Over 10,000 FBLA members from across the
world are expected to attend!
English
To help you discuss your students’ English class with them more specifically, here are
some syllabus highlights for January:
English 12—Macbeth. Shakespeare’s tragedy is about a royal couple’s lust for power, deceitful means of
attaining it, and the mortal outcome of immorality. Hamlet. Shakespeare’s tragedy is about a royal uncle’s lust
for power, deceitful means of attaining it, and the mortal outcome of immorality.
IB-2—Othello. Shakespeare’s tragedy which, because of its varied themes involving racism, love, jealousy
and betrayal, remains relevant to the present day. IB-2 students will be preparing for their OC Commentary the
first week in February.
English 11—American Romantic Poets and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain’s famous tale
of a boy and a runaway slave is a satirical indictment of racism in the post-Civil War era. Juniors will also be
doing a research paper on whistle blowing.
B-1—The House of Spirits. Isabel Allende’s novel is about a Chilean family’s journey of self-discovery. Students will also be doing their oral presentations.
English 10—Night. Elie Weisel’s candid and deeply poignant memoir tells about his survival as a teenager
in the Nazi death camps.
Pre-IB 10—A Tale of Two Cities. Dickens’ classic about the French Revolution.
English 9—The Odyssey. Homer’s epic poem recounts the ten-year wanderings of Odysseus on his way
home from the Trojan War and the mess he found there when he finally arrived.
Pre-IB 9—Oedipus Rex. This ancient Greek classic is part of a trilogy by Sophocles about the inescapable
consequences of one’s own fate.
The English Department is inviting 10th graders on a first come, first served basis to attend a performance of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar at the Shakespeare Theater in Washington on April 27 at 7:00 p.m. There
will be seats for approximately 80 students. Details (such as ticket prices) are now being finalized
and will be published in next month’s newsletter. Interested parents may contact Ms. Surette
([email protected]).
Page 20
January 2007
DEPARTMENT NEWS Continues
ESOL
Ten principals from schools in Jordan visited South Lakes High School on October 30 as part of a Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange program. Martin Van Opdorp, a former Fulbright exchange teacher and Kim Retzer, Assistant Principal for ESOL led the Jordanian educators on tours of
classes and facilities at South Lakes. The Jordanians were chosen by Fulbright because of their outstanding reputations and English language proficiency. They represented a variety of schools, including gifted and talented, technical programs, and schools for Palestinian refugees. They were particularly interested in learning about our technology classes, ESOL, IB, and other aspects of the American
education system. They were impressed by the diversity of the student population, the rigors of IB
classes, the student interaction they observed, and the creativity and commitment to students on the part
of faculty and administrators. The principals from Jordan marveled at the new facilities, especially the
Media Center. The one-month Fulbright exchange program tour will take the Jordanians on visits to
schools in Washington, DC, Maryland, North and South Carolina, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Colorado, Arizona, and the state of Washington.
SLICE International Club made over $500.00 at their after school fundraiser luncheon on November
15. All proceeds will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association in honor of former Seahawk student,
Nate Lama. Students in the club donated dishes from their cultures to sell at this annual event.
Patty Meagher was one of two ESOL teachers chosen by the FCPS ESOL Program to attend the annual
meeting of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in New York City in April.
Ms. Meagher was chosen for her contributions to the ESOL Program. TESOL, a global professional
organization headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia has more than 13,000 members in over 140 countries.
Parent Liaisons play an important role in the life of South Lakes, especially with the ESOL program.
They interpret for parent conferences, call home to relay messages to parents, help administrators
check on attendance, and provide a link between home and school for the many families who speak a
language other than English in the home. We have two parent liaisons this year: Martha Martinez and
Feda Abbasi. Martha Martinez joined SLHS last year, and said she ―loves her job and the school.‖
She hopes her own children will be able to attend South Lakes. Martha is from Columbia, South
America; she is fluent in Spanish and English. She moved to the U.S. 18 years ago. She and her husband Richard have three children: David, a music major at VCU; Gabriel, a 7th grader at Rachel Carson
Middle School; and Ana, a 6th grader at Floris Elementary. Feda Abbasi joined South Lakes in November of this year. She is an Arabic-English speaker from Jordan. Feda and her husband, Sal have
three boys: Tarek, Chris, and Amro. Martha and Feda share an office in the 10th grade subschool.
They can be reached by phone at (703) 715-4782. They are also on e-mail: [email protected] and [email protected].
Page 21
January 2007
DEPARTMENT NEWS Continues
ESOL (continued)
Marty Van Opdorp won a grant of $500 from the Horace Mann Companies to sponsor a Cherokee sweat lodge
for ten or more ESOL students and some students from IB and Art. The lodge will be hosted by Marty's friend,
Mama Mary Sunbeam of the Cherokee Nation. The program, called "Foreign Exchange Begins at Home" will
include a creative writing project with other teachers and students. Kathy Schenker, Mindy Koeninger, Matt
Ravenstahl, Rita Gigliotti, and Marty will work together to publish a literary magazine and create a musical
presentation in the spring.
Foreign Languages
The Foreign Language Department nominated the following students to the Governor’s Academies for Foreign Language: Sarah Nolta and Emma Baum (German), Allison Whitlock and Jasmin Hraper (French) Chang Chuen and
Mohammad Doud Behzad (Latin), Cameron McPhie (Japanese) and Sarah Binger (Russian). The candidates will be
notified in Spring of their acceptance.
French
The French classes celebrated National French Week in November. Students
read facts of the francophone world over the announcements and we had a well
attended crêpe party after school.
Mrs. Finley’s French 1 students are continuing to learn about school and
schools in France. Students are preparing their "backpacks" with French supplies.
Mrs. Bachman’s French 3 students have been working hard on the IB Middle
Years assessments and have started a chapter of responsibilities in the home
and community. The IB 1 classes put together fantastic projects on cuisine of
the francophone world in which they had to present authentic dishes and traditions of regions such as Vietnam, Morocco, Switzerland and Lebanon. They did a great job. The IB classes have working assignments that are designed to
help prepare them for the IB exam in May. They recently finished a study on the environment and are now discussing
various problems that affect the world.
German
German 2 students are currently learning about the culture and people of Bavaria Germany and the students have prepared presentations ranging from the city of Munich, King Ludwig who built Neuschwanstein
the castle which Disney copied.
German 3 in conclusion of our study of the geography of Germany, students prepared cookies in the
shape of Germany, label and answer geography questions "auf Deutsch"
IB German students will be sharing photos and cultural information about Germany from their travels in Germany
this summer. The class is also preparing Weihnachten plays to present in class on December 21st.
Latin
Mr. Cave’s students are practicing in teams to compete in their first "Certamen" a form of Latin "Its Academic"
The first contest will be at Flint Hill High School in Vienna with trophies for the winning teams and participation
certificates for all.
Spanish
Mrs. Carlos’ Spanish classes were very busy in December. Spanish 2 had a Season Greetings Card
Contest in Spanish. Prizes were awarded for first and second place winners. Spanish 4 completed a
project on inventors/future tense: Einstein, Leonardo Da Vinci, Jules Verne and Ferdinand Von Zeppelin. The theme of the project was how they affected our lives and to imagine the technology of our
world in 100 years. Spanish 3 worked on a project describing their volunteer spirit. They had to make
a poster showing a community service activity. If you’re in the building, come by the Spanish classrooms in the 400
level of see some of these terrific projects that are now on display.
Page 22
January 2007
DEPARTMENT NEWS Continues
History
The South Lakes Model United Nations Team, sponsored by history teacher
Brian Vagts, competed in November at the VAMUN conference at the University of Virginia. Representing the nation of Argentina, 9 SLHS students
tackled international problems such as child soldiers, migrant workers and
the use of weapons in space. Two of our students competed as representatives of Iran and Iraq in a crisis simulation. Both of these students earned
awards, a notable achievement given the size and competitiveness of the
conference. The Model UN team’s next conference is the IB MARCMUN
Conference at Gar-Field HS in Woodbridge January 11th and 12th.
JROTC
Seahawk Battalion Steps up to the Challenge!
The 2007-2008 school year is well on it's way and the first quarter has come to an end. The Cadets have
been busy with their regular classes, JROTC activities and task. Our Color guards have already participated in a number of events such as Football games, pep rallies, homecoming parades and Veterans Day
celebrations. The Drill competition rifle platoon participated in the Homecoming parade and homecoming football game ceremonies. The rest of the JROTC classes also marched in the homecoming parade. All of the drill competition squads and teams are practicing every Monday and Thursday after
school in preparation for their first competition at Thomas Stone High School, Dec 8. 2007. The Raider
team is busily preparing for their first Raider challenge Dec 1, 2007 at Fort Bragg NC.
One of the highlights of the quarter was a briefing that the Leadership class prepared and presented to
school administrators. The class outlined a number of projects and task that they will be undertaking this
year. The task/projects are those things that the program needs to make it a strong and viable program for
the year and beyond. The briefing was well received and all the administrators offered their support as we
build our program.
We have also started a couple of fundraising activities, funds from these fundraisers will be used to pay
for buses, lodging, entrance fees and uniforms that are needed for the activities mentioned above. Stop by
the JROTC classrooms or stop a Cadet and make sure you put your order in for the world famous Otis
Spunkmeyer Cookie dough. This is the same gourmet dough that the company uses in it's stores. All you
do is scoop out the dough, put it on a cookie sheet, bake and you have some of the best tasting cookies.
On 10 Dec, 2007, we will have our annual Potluck dinner. This will be a chance for the parents, Cadets,
guest and instructors to relax, eat some good food and get to know each other.
As you can see we are very busy with many extra activities and not to mention the regular JROTC curriculum. Along with the regular syllabus, we've added a self-paced communication and writing program
that will help the Cadets improve their English skills and ultimately improve their SOL scores. We are
excited about this year and hope you can share and support our goal of making the South Lakes JROTC
program the premier program in Fairfax County Public Schools. I invite all of you to share in our quest
and support the students as they STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE.
Page 23
January 2007
South Lakes’ Seahawk Battalion
Diner Night Fundraiser
at
11951 Killingsworth Ave., Reston
Mon. Jan. 7, 2008
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
All are invited to join friends, families & teachers for dinner.
Come support the 18 students who will be volunteering.
POC: Major Schuler
www.silverdiner.com Claudia_ [email protected]
If school gets closed due to *snow* then fundraiser is cancelled.
Page 24
January 2007
DEPARTMENT NEWS Continues
Marketing
An Association of Marketing Students – (DECA)
The South Lakes chapter celebrated Virginia DECA Day on November 14 by making the school aware of Virginia‘s
history with the organization. Morning announcements and posters were displayed through out the school. The first Virginia
DECA club was organized in March, 1938.
Holiday Gift Wrap at Fair Oaks Mall on November 29th – Over 20 students participated to help make our day a
success. We would like to thank all participants and parents who purchased and brought gifts for us to wrap. The money raised
will go to the chapter to support upcoming events.
We participated in DECA / FBLA Day with the Wizards on December 7, 2007. 45 students had an opportunity to
learn about the NBA organization and had the opportunity to see South Lakes‘ graduate Grant Hill of the Suns play. Some students won authentic jerseys, seat upgrades, autographed basketball, etc. They were also given the opportunity to enjoy some art
at the Portrait Gallery in DC.
EFE Co-Op Student of the Quarter – Congratulations to Khalida Ahmadi on her fantastic job at Sears. She has
been promoted to a higher responsibility position that includes a pay raise!
Upcoming Events:
District Leadership Conference (DLC) – January 25 at Lake Braddock Secondary School - Marketing students
will be competing against marketing students from all over the county. The winners will go on to compete in the state competition in Norfolk.
Volunteers Needed: Judges are needed for the January 25 competition. You would be assigned a specific role play
category and would rank the competitors. Lunch is provided and it would be a four hour commitment.
Parents are always welcome to serve as chaperones and guest speakers. We are actively searching for guests who are
willing to share their knowledge about careers or employment expectations.
Contact Marketing Department: Ms. Ricks & Ms. Forman 703 715-4725
January 2007
DEPARTMENT NEWS Continues
Marketing (continued)
KHALIDA AHMADI
Education for Employment (EFE)
Cooperative Work Experience Student of the Quarter
Khalida Ahmadi, senior, received the “EFE CoOp Student of the Quarter” award. Khalida was recognized for her: outstanding on-the-job performance; attendance record; individual and team participation in the EFE classroom; and commitment to her current and future academic studies.
Khalida has been employed with Sears-Fair Oaks Mall for two years and recently earned her third
promotion. According to our EFE CoOp Student of the Quarter’s immediate supervisor, “Khalida is
very professional and an asset to Sears. There isn’t a task she cannot handle. She is very talented,
sharp and a real people person.” Khalida is shown in the above photograph with her EFE teacher,
Kallie Forman.
The EFE program at South Lakes provides students with an understanding of the skills necessary to
succeed in today’s workplace. Students develop employability, leadership and independent living
skills. Students also explore careers and plan educational goals related to their specific interests
and abilities. EFE students may also elect to participate in the cooperative work experience program
(CoOp) for additional credit.
Mathematics
Absences and Student Achievement- How to Catch Up (and Avoid Falling Behind)
It is inevitable that students will be absent from school at some point because of illness, or miss class for field trips or
other pre-arranged absences. As we head into the cold and flu season, the math department would like to send a reminder that
absences can have a significant effect on student achievement. Math concepts and problems taught in class build on work done
in previous classes, so being absent for one class of a unit can prevent a student from understanding following classes, even if
the student is back in class and diligently taking notes. For that reason, we have compiled some ideas to help students get back
on track in case they miss class.
First, please take advantage of the FCPS 24/7 Learning website. Students or parents can log in and see what the assignments were for a given day. Many teachers also post lecture notes or class materials. Unless a student is feeling too ill to do
so, students should attempt any work that was assigned while they were absent from school. In addition to FCPS 24/7, students
should also utilize their textbooks and math resource websites such as www.purplemath.com.
Page 26
Janaury 2007
DEPARTMENT NEWS Continues
Mathematics (continued)
Second, students should take advantage of late bus days on Mondays and
Thursdays. Students should plan to stay after the very first Monday or Thursday after
their absence. The sooner a student obtains the notes and assignments, the easier to
catch up. While information and materials are often available online, reviewing
missed material with the teacher will allow students to ensure they are familiar with
valuable connections, problem-solving methods, and other teachings discussed during the absence. In addition to late bus days, some teachers allow students to come
for extra help during lunch. Depending on schedules and availability, this may be an
option for your student.
Finally, students should be proactive in making up work and obtaining
missing lecture notes. This may involve seeking out other students in the class who
take reliable notes and who generally understand the material. Some teachers set up a formal buddy system for missed work.
We are very dedicated to helping all students succeed, and try to make every class valuable to students‘ learning. This
causes absent students to fall behind, but the impact is minimal if students meet with teachers as soon as possible. Students should
recognize that it is their responsibility to stay on track with class material and homework, even if they miss school. Students should
expect to make up any missed tests or quizzes immediately upon their return to school, unless other arrangements have been made
with the teacher. Teachers do their best, but it is nearly impossible to stay on top of the specific lecture notes and work that each
absent student has missed. Teachers generally give students extra time to complete homework that was assigned on the day of an
absence, however each teacher has his or her own policy for late or missed work. Please see your student‘s syllabus for the
teacher‘s specific policy after an absence.
News from the SLHS Clinic
Be sure to check out this entertaining 5-minute
video on the etiquette of sneezing!
http://www.coughsafe.com/index.html
PARENT VOLUNTEERS: YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!
By Mary E. La Valley, SLHS Clinic Room Aide
In October, the South Lakes Clinic held its' annual 10th
Grade Hearing & Vision Screenings. (Note: During 10th
grade, all students are checked one last time to make sure they
can see the white board and hear the teacher adequately in the
classroom. If they fail the screening, we ask parents to take
the student to a health professional for follow-up, care and
correction.)
The volunteers helping this year were:
Amy Burke, Rich La Valley, Laura Greenspan, Tawana
Langhorne, Sara Short, June Lopez, Angie Carrai, and
Joan Burkhart. Marymount student nurse Mike Rome, PHN,
from the health department also helped.
We could not have accomplished this year's screenings
without generous support from the Athletics Department
and the PE staff. Linda Jones was very kind to allow us
to use her conference room - and this really made all the
difference with the hearing testing. MANY THANKS!!
Food and beverages were provided by the PTSA Hospitality Committee. Fresh baked goodies, fruit and bagels
kept the volunteers occupied during breaks. Delicious!
You all helped make this a very enjoyable screening.
I hope to see you (and others) next year in October.
This year we tried to screen 388 students—10th graders and
students 'new' to Fairfax County Public Schools.
Here's how we did:
- We saw a total of 363 students over two days
- 36 students failed either hearing or vision test (or both)
- 24 students forgot their glasses and will have to be retested.
- The rest were absent and we'll test them separately.
Every student we can help by finding an unknown or
neglected hearing and vision issue is a student who
has a chance to be more academically successful.
Page 27
January 2007
FLU Season Is Here
BE PREPARED!
CLINIC TIPS
1. GET EVERYONE A FLU SHOT! See your doctor or County
Clinic.
2. Cough or Sneeze into your sleeve (NOT into your hands) or use a
tissue and throw it away. KEEP YOUR GERMS TO YOURSELF!
3. Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing. Use soap, warm water. Scrub for 20 seconds. Use alcohol
alcohol--based hand cleaner if necessary.
4. Watch for sustained fever of 100 degrees. Please stay home and
seek medical care. Return to school after fever is gone for 24
hours.
5. Parents may send over
over--the
the--counter flu or allergy medicine to the
clinic without doctor‘s signature for 10 consecutive school days
ONLY. Always send medication with a signed Medical Authorization form.
South Lakes IB
South Lakes is proud to be an IB school!
The International Baccalaureate (IB)
Diploma Programme is a challenging
two-year curriculum, that leads to a
qualification that is widely recognized
by the world‘s leading universities.
Students learn more than a collection of
facts. The Diploma Programme prepares students for university and
encourages them to:
ask challenging questions
learn how to learn
develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture
develop the ability to communicate with and understand people
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop
inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful
world through intercultural understanding and
respect.
To this end the organization works with schools,
governments and international organizations to
develop challenging programs of international
education and rigorous assessment.
These programs encourage students across the
world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people,
with their differences, can also be right.
Page 28
January 2007
Alcohol and Drug Youth Services (ADYS)
Student Assistance Program
Jenny Sexton, MA
Student Assistance Program Specialist
South Lakes High School
(703) 715-4729
According to the 2005 National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
112 million Americans age 12 or older reported illicit drug use once in their lifetime
14% reported use of an illicit drug within the past year
8% reported use of an illicit drug within the past month
The South Lakes High School Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a partnership between FCPS and
the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, Alcohol and Drug Youth Services. It is designed
to work collaboratively with students, parents, school personnel and community representatives to foster resiliency in students. The goal is to help students reduce risk issues that may interfere with their
success in school and their community.
What services are provided?
 Student screenings at school (with parental permission)
 Facilitating a substance abuse evaluation and treatment if needed
 School consultations with school staff
 Consultations with concerned parents or any person who wants information related to substance
abuse
 Guest speaker at PTSA, school & community organizations
 Classroom presentations
Support groups
Who can make a referral?
Anyone can make a referral: administrators, counselors, school resource officer, security staff, school
attendance officers, parents, teachers, self-referrals.
When a student participates in a screening at school with the Student Assistance Program Specialist,
it may involve a brief conversation to determine whether or not the individual is using drugs and/or alcohol and the frequency. It is a preliminary step to determine if the student may need a more formal
drug assessment. In other circumstances, the parent can request a formal assessment without the
child being seen. If it is determined that a formal assessment is needed, the counselor will work with
the family to arrange an appointment at ADYS. The assessment for school referrals is free of charge
and all information is confidential. The parent accompanies his or her child to the assessment
where a clinician gathers information from the student and family, including: background information,
details of their substance use/abuse history, and familial history. Additionally, a free urinalysis will be
provided. If treatment is necessary upon completion of the assessment, it is at the family’s discretion
to determine if they will follow through with recommendations. There is no obligation to follow through;
however the family now has all information necessary to make an informed decision regarding treatment options for their adolescent.