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TJHSST Summer Tech Institute 2008
TJ will be offering one-week day camps this summer for rising 8th and/or 9th graders. Registration opens on May 12th, and the camps are scheduled during July and early August. For detailed information about the offerings, visit the TJ website, including the Summer Tech FAQ. For ALL information regarding applications and the registration process, please visit the FCPS web site or ACE web site. Registration for the TJ Tech Institute will NOT be accepted at TJHSST.
Music Opportunities for K–12 — May 28
Does your child love music? Is he or she looking for opportunities to rehearse and perform outside of school? Come hear about music programs in this area for elementary, middle and high school students. The program will include five panel members, who will provide information about options for beginning to very advanced string, wind, brass and percussion instrumentalists, as well as singers. Panelists include: Tomoko Azuma, Executive Director of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras; Caroline Desmond, Managing Director of the Fairfax Choral Society; Tina Dove, Director of the Virginia campus of the Levine School of Music; Kerry Silva, Director of the Performing Arts Camp of Shenandoah University; and Susan Kervick, an experienced FCPS music department chair.
This program is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28, at 7:30 PM, in the Luther Jackson MS auditorium, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church, Virginia. It is sponsored by the Fairfax County Association for the Gifted. Admission is free and open to the general public. For more information, contact Louise Epstein at (703) 917-7960.
FCPS Transportation Task Force
SLEEP has been participating in a FCPS Transportation Task Force (TTF), which is exploring proposals to restructure bus transportation to enable base high school students to sleep later. Some preliminary TTF proposals could affect bus transportation to and from GT Centers and TJ. For more information, visit the SLEEP website.
Proposed Budget Cuts by FCPS
In January 2008 Dr. Dale proposed to reduce bus transportation to and from elementary and middle school GT Centers and from TJ. Dr. Dale also proposed to charge students to take PSAT, AP and IB tests, and to participate in high school sports. In February, the School Board voted not to adopt these budget cuts. Depending on funding received from the Board of Supervisors, FCPS may revive these budget cuts and/or find additional budget cuts later this spring. (See: FY2009 Budget) If you have concerns about proposed budget cuts and/or suggestions on other ways FCPS could save money, contact the School Board.
2008 Camp Fair — Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who helped with our camp fair, including A Class Act Acting, Audobon Naturalist Society, Best Academy, Brain Relief, Cardigan Mountain, Camp Friendship, Camp Watonka, Camp Rim Rock, Camp Hidden Meadows, Camp Horizons, Christchurch School, Fairfax Collegiate School, Ferrum College, Flint Hill School, GWU, JHU/CTY, JKST, Inc., Levine School of Music, Madeira School, MathTree, Mercersburg Academy, Nysmith, Northwestern University, Phillips Academy, Russian Music Academy, Score, TIC Camp, Traveling Players, and Wesleyan Summer Gifted Program for their donations.
FCAG Summer Enrichment Camp Fair — January 30, 2008
On Wednesday, January 30th, the annual FCAG Summer Enrichment Camp Fair will be at Oakton High School, 2900 Sutton Road, Vienna, Virginia 22181, from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM. The fair will feature representatives from mostly-local camps with academic, artistic, dramatic or other forms of summer enrichment. The fair is free and open to the general public. FCAG's 2008 Summer Camp Guide will be mailed to FCAG members by mid-January, and additional 2008 guides will be available for $5 at the camp fair. For more information, contact Louise at 703-917-7960.
SLEEP — Start Later for Excellence in Education Proposal
Although the School Board did not vote this spring to reduce transportation to traditional GT Centers, this issue continues to be worth watching. For more information, visit the SLEEP website.
Middle School GT Centers
This spring, the School Board voted to create a new middle school GT Center at Jackson MS. In 2007-08, gifted students who live in the Luther Jackson MS area will attend its new GTC. In 2008-09, gifted students who live in the Thoreau MS area are supposed to attend the new Jackson GTC. Vienna parents have asked FCPS to create a new GTC at Thoreau MS. For more information, contact Jill Hecht at 703-281-2094.
Nation Deceived
Although educators often recommend enrichment over acceleration, research indicates that acceleration benefits most gifted students. To see an analysis and summary of the research on the impact of acceleration, visit A Nation Deceived website.
2006-2007 Events
For 2006-07, FCAG monthly meetings generally are scheduled for the third Monday of every month, at 1134 Litton Lane, McLean 22101, starting at 7:30 PM. In 2007, monthly meetings are scheduled for January 29, February 26, March 19, April 16, and May 21. These meetings are open to all FCAG members. For more information, call 703-917-7960.
In addition, FCAG has two general meetings and one summer enrichment camp fair every year. The 2007 summer camp fair is scheduled for Tuesday March 27, 7:30 PM at Oakton HS 2900 Sutton Road, Vienna VA 22181. For more information call Louise Esptein at 703-917-7960.
Previous Years Summer Guides
2005 Events
May 4, 2005: FCAG discussion on developing Mathematical Talent (flyer)
February 2005: Dr. Mel Levine conference (flyer)