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FALLS CHURCH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS June 2010

What a Year!
Summer Lois Berlin, Superintendent
afternoon - I think its fair to say that
over the past year, we saw
Summer afternoon... both the best of times and
the two most beautiful the worst of times. The
2009-2010 school year
words in the English brought us many challeng-
language. es including H1N1, a brutal
budget process, back-to-
-Henry James back blizzards and the loss
of our dear colleagues,
Mary Anne Graves and Carey Gray.
We also had many shining moments such
as celebrating the school divisions 60th
anniversary, recognizing this years Ag-
nes Meyer and Support Staff of the Year
award nominees and winners and cheer-
ing our high school students on to six state
IN THIS ISSUE championships more than in any other
year. Academically, all of our schools were
2 recognized for excellence by the Virginia
Board of Education, our high school finished
first in the Washington Post Challenge Index
and was ranked among the 100 best in the
nation (number 44) by Newsweek magazine.
In addition, our students scored above the
national and state average on standardized
tests.
All of our successes, especially in the face
of adversity, are a testament to the extraordi-
nary commitment each of you demonstrates
to our students on a daily basis. Even in the
face of adversity, your devotion to our stu-
dents has been truly inspiring, and I cant
thank you enough for the work you have
done and continue to do to help our students
succeed in a global society.
I wish you all a safe and restful summer. May
we return in the fall with a renewed spirit of
optimism that has served our school division
well for 60 years.

Congratulations FCCPS Retirees

Remembering
Carey Gray
FCCPS Travelogue
Run for the Schools

3
Baby News
FCCPS Weddings
Did You Know?
Going Out of Business

4
Kudos
Community Calendar
FCCPS retirees are all smiles as the guests of honor at their May
Pop Quiz 26th retirement celebration. Counterclockwise from left: Jose
Bedoya, Shelley Feuerstein, Jean Lewis, Dottie Salvatierra, Kathy
Poff, Helen Albader, Janet Kremer.
Remembering Carey Gray
Thomas Jefferson Elementary
reading specialist Carey Gray
passed away on June 5th after
a battle with cancer. Carey will
be remembered for her kindness
and laughter, her dedication as a
teacher and her dance moves.
Carey Gray builds lego pyramids with
second grade students.
Carey taught second grade and
reading at TJ for ten years and she
made lasting impressions on chil-
dren, families and colleagues.
TJ teacher Sharon von Schrader
is creating a scrapbook to give to
Careys family. To share a special
memory, send words or photos to
Sharon by July 30th.
FCCPS Travelogue
Destination: Washington, DC on a
motorcycle as a participant in Roll-
ing Thunder
Who: Assistant Superintendent
Gloria Guba
Why did you do this? Gloria said,
From the first time I saw Rolling
Thunder, standing on Memorial
Bridge, Ive always wanted to par-
ticipate in this moving tribute to our
veterans.
Motorcycles line up at the Pentagon in
preparation for Rolling Thunder.
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Careys family set up a memorial
fund in her name at Mary Riley
Styles Public Library. Contributions
will be used to purchase books for
the childrens room at the library.
Colleagues at TJ are bringing to
life a reading program that Carey
envisioned to help struggling read-
ers. A Book to Call My Own will
provide books to children who do
not have personal libraries. Teach-
ers who have Scholastic book
points can donate them to this
program. Book donations will also
be accepted. Contact TJ librar-
ian Jennie Ehrenzeller for more
information.
Carey Gray helps a student with
word study, one of her favorite
lessons.
Assistant Superintendent Gloria Guba
on the Mall for Rolling Thunder.
How did it happen? MEHMS
teacher Mo Smith arranged every-
thing with her Fairfax Hog Friends
so that Gloria took three rides as
a passenger during last months
Rolling Thunder parade.
Best part: Gloria will always
remember, waving the American
flag and blowing kisses to enthusi-
astic spectators along the parade
route from Fairfax to Washington.
When I think of Carey and every-
thing I have ever seen her do or heard
her say, I smile. I think of the word,
gently. Andy Hosier, systemwide
special education teacher
When we worked with a group of
at-risk fourth grade readers, we just
clicked; we made music together with-
out even trying. The students knew
this, and waited in anticipation for our
next show! We created lifelong read-
ers together at TJ. No one could ask
for anything more in this life. Mary
Klink, TJ teacher
Carey had the ability to make all of
the students bloom. We taught lan-
guage arts together, and the hour that
she spent in my classroom was the
happiest time of the day. She never
missed an opportunity to make others
feel special. Jed Frei, TJ teacher
Carey was a bright light of love that
shone where ever she went. Denise
ONeil, TJ teacher
Careys enthusiasm for teaching
children to read was inspirational. She
always had the perfect book for every
situation, whether it be to encourage
a reluctant reader, welcome a new
baby into a family, or teach a lesson
to a young child. Sarah Romer, TJ
teacher
Run for the Schools
Save the date, and start training
for the 6th annual Falls Church
Education Foundation (FCEF) Run
for the Schools.
This 5K race gets better every
year. It starts and ends at Cherry
Hill Park, and winds through Falls
Church neighborhoods.
Mark your calendar for Sunday,
September 12th, 2010 at 8:00 a.m.
Register and train with friends this
summer. To register, click here or
call 703-538-3381.
PAGE 2
Baby News
Elisha Jehu Josey
Accounts Payable Specialist Ro-
chelle Josey and her husband,
Juan, have a new baby boy. Elisha
Jehu Josey was born on May 14th
at 2:20 p.m. He weighed 5 pounds,
10 ounces.
Rochelle reports that Elisha sleeps
exactly like his dad - with his hand
under the side of his head, and he
snores, too!
Did You Know?
Ever wonder how Mt. Daniel para-
professional Sue Thackrey keeps
calm, even in a classroom of en-
ergetic pre-school students? Sue
honed her talent for grace under
pressure in Nashville, Tenn., where
she was a stagehand for 17 years.
Sue worked on three live music
variety TV shows as the spotlight
operator. She was also a stage-
hand at the Grand Ole Opry, where
she helped the stage manager
determine what the performers
needed on stage. She said she
always made sure they got it!
Sue said that the work was very
physically demanding, especially
the award shows. Working on live
TV was exciting and fast-paced.
Although performers have the rep-
utation of being demanding, Sue
said that most of them were really
great to work with. She especially
enjoyed Pam Tillis, Porter
Wagoner and Little Jimmy Dickens.
PAGE 3
Adele Eskin reads to her grandson.
MEHMS librarian Adele Eskin
became a grandmother on May 7th
when her grandson, William
Joseph Van Orman was born.
Williams parents are Adeles son
and daughter-in-law, Daniel and
Sarah Van Orman, who live in
Portsmouth, Va.
William weighed 9 pounds, 4
ounces. Adele wasted no time
introducing him to Dr. Seuss.
Little Jimmy Dickens and his brother
pose with Sue Thackrey after a show.
Sue Thackrey in a moment of calm at
the Grand Ole Opry.
Wedding Bells
Briana and Tony Solomita
TJ teacher Briana Platt married
Tony Solomita on Saturday, June
12th. They were married at The
City Club in Wasington, DC. In
July they will take a honeymoon to
Hawaii and Alaska.
Congratulations and bon voyage!
Going Out of Business
After 20 years of serving the Falls
Church community, Aladdins
Lamp Childrens Bookstore will be
closing at the end of June.
Owner Alina Gawlik has gener-
ously shared both knowledge and
largesse with FCCPS. Teachers
and librarians have relied on Alad-
dins Lamp to provide high-quality
books.
Alina has supported numerous
programs, arranged author visits
to the schools, provided gifts and
discounts to staff and was a sup-
porter of the Falls Church Educa-
tion Foundation from its inception.
The Going Out of Business sale
is in progress. Stop by before
June 30th to take advantage of
Aladdins Lamps rich inventory
of books, puzzles, puppets and
more.
Be sure to tell Alina how much
she will be missed by her friends
in Falls Church.
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Kudos to:
GMHS teacher Linda Gantz,
who received a Ph.D. in edu-
cation from George Mason
University.
Communications director Karen
Acar, who was accredited in
public relations.
Mt. Daniel teacher Phyllis
Kravinsky, who received two
masters degrees this year: or-
ganizational management from
George Washington University
and reading from University of
Virginia.
Mt. Daniel teacher Shane
Spindle, who earned a mas-
ters degree in elementary
reading and math from Walden
University.
Mt. Daniel paraprofessional
Cathy Lindiakos, who earned
a masters degree in early child-
hood special education from
George Washington University.
Community Calendar
Kokolopori Art Show Open-
ing June 16th, 7:30 p.m.
Falls Church ArtSpace 410
S. Maple Ave. A Day in the
Life of a Kokolopori Woman
Enjoy a display of more than
100 works of art by FCCPS
students. Art show will be open
to the public through September
6th.
Chipotle Eat Out Night June
24th, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
358 W. Broad St. Check out
the new Falls Church Chipotle in
Broaddale Village. Donate $5.00
to Falls Church City Community
Events, and youll get a burrito,
chips, salsa and soda.
Got news for Inside Track?
Send it to Marybeth Connelly or call 703-248-5691.
Reading a printed version of Inside Track? To see the links, visit
http://www.fccps.org/news/it/jun10.htm.
PAGE 4
Mt. Daniel teacher Sharon
Lightbourne, who earned a
masters degree in elementary
reading and math from Walden
University.
TJ teacher Kyle Evans, whose
article about using technology
ito teach weather was pub-
lished in Science and Children.
Click here to read the article.
GMHS teacher Joy Wagener,
who won the Cay Wiant Teach-
er Scholarship to the Northern
Virginia Writing Project.
GMHS IB coordinator Asheesh
Misra, who is president-elect
of the Mid-Atlantic Association
of IB World Schools.
GMHS baseball coach Adam
Amerine, who was named Bull
Run District Baseball Coach of
the Year.
GMHS girls lacrosse coach,
Courtney Gibbons, who was
named Dulles District Girls La-
crosse Coach of the Year and
Free Concerts in the Park
Thursdays 7:00 p.m. Cherry
Hill Park Click here for the
full schedule.
June 17 FC Concert Band
www.fallschurchconcertband.
org
June 24 Randy Barrett and the
Barretones www.fallingmoun-
tain.com/barrett.html
July 1 Andrew Acosta and the
New Old Time String Band
www.andrewacosta.com
July 8 Doris Justis and Friends
www.dorisjustis.com
July 15 Mike Thornton Quartet
www.mikethorntonjazz.com
July 22 Tom Principato
www.tomprincipato.com
July 29 Billy Coulter
www.billycoulter.com
August 5 Judo Chop
www.judochoprock.com
the Washington Post All-Area
Girls Lacrosse Coach of the
Year. GMHS teacher
Jennifer Parsons, who was
named Bull Run District Girls
Soccer Coach of the Year.
Communications specialist
John Brett,who received an
electronic media award from
the National School Public
Relations Association (NSPRA)
for The Vault.
Communications director Karen
Acar and former FCC-TV
student videographers Hank
Smith and Alex Makuch who
received an NSPRA electronic
media award for the FCCPS
60th Anniversary Retrospective
video.
Communications director Karen
Acar and former FCC-TV vid-
eographer Danny Olewine who
received an NSPRA electronic
media award for the Mount
Daniel Kindergarten Experience
video.
Pop Quiz
We hope you gleaned some
interesting nuggets about Falls
Church by reading the Pop Quiz.
The May winner was GMHS
maintenance man Gabe
Fernandez, who knew that the
hot air balloon ascension on Civil
War Day commemorates the May
1862 event when Thaddeus Lowe
launched the first military hot-air
balloon reconaissance mission,
right here in Falls Church.
No prize this month, but heres a
Pop Quiz question for everyone
to celebrate.
When is the last day of school?
a. June 17th
b. June 18th
c. June 21st
d. June 30th
e. None of the above
If you picked a, b, c or d, you are
correct! Seniors finish June 17th;
Other students finish June 18th;
most professional and parapro-
fessional staff finish June 21st.
Most 11-month employees finish
June 30th. Enjoy your summer!
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