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SEPTEMBER 2009
A new dental classroom made its debut at Falls Church Academy this September. The expansion of the dental careers program to Falls Church brings a total of three dental careers classroom/labs that are available for high school dental careers student use. The classroom features two new dental chairs, an infection control center, and dental radiography equipment for students to gain practical skills while exploring future dental career opportunities.
Three Fairfax County Public Schools Health and Medical Sciences students attended the HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) National Leadership Conference which was held June 24-27, 2009, in Nashville, Tennessee. All three are level 2 Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy students, who are pursuing postsecondary education for eventual professions in physical therapy.
The West Potomac Academy dental careers program has just completed making mouth guards for the Edison High School girls’ field hockey team. The dental careers students are in the process of creating mouth guards for the West Potomac football team. Their goal this year is to furnish mouth guards for at least nine FCPS teams.
Twenty eight Fire/EMS students have earned both the health care provider level CPR and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) certifications.
MAY 2009
Penny Kelly, Fire and Emergency Medical Sciences (Fire/EMS) teacher at Falls Church High School Academy, earned the Outstanding Emergency Medical Services Pre-Hospital Educator of the Year award. This award is given by the Northern Virginia Emergency Medical Services Council, Inc. In addition to her award, she also organized and implemented the first EMT State Test site exclusively for Fairfax County Public Schools Fire/EMS on May 19, 2009.
Thirty Fire/EMS students participated in the state test. The state test was a culmination of several years of planning and was granted the approval from state and local authorities. The test event, which is comprised of practical skills stations and a written test, requires coordination of professional first responders as evaluators and volunteer victims. Several former students were on hand to assist with the state test.
The pharmacy technician students have completed their internships at CVS and are currently testing for their Pharmacy Technician certification.
MARCH 2009
Pharmacy technician students have begun their clinical experience with CVS/Pharmacy. Pharmacy tech students from Chantilly Academy, Falls Church Academy and West Potomac Academy will be interning at local CVS Pharmacies now through May 30, 2009.
Twenty-five dental careers students volunteered at the annual “Mission of Mercy” which was held at NOVA’s Medical Education Campus on March 13 and 14. This effort provided dental care to over 500 needy patients. They volunteered as translators, sterilization support, and as chair-side assistants. Governor Tim Kaine and Senator Mark Warner stopped by to give their support to this effort.
Students had the opportunity to interact with dental and medical professionals and they also met some of VCU’s dental students. The organizers of the event were impressed with the students’ abilities and the students were excited to use their developing skills in a clinical setting. Many students expressed happiness at being able to help these patients who would not be able to get care without this worthwhile event.
Five dental careers students had the opportunity to meet with Senator Mark Warner and NOVA’s President Dr. Robert Templin on Friday March 13. They were asked to help kick off a new state web site: “vawizard.org.” The web site was developed to aid students in exploring various careers that might be of interest to them. The introductory event was held at NOVA’s Medical Education Campus and included nursing and dental hygiene students from NOVA. Careers in healthcare were highlighted as there are projected employment shortages in this field. The site helps estimate college cost, shows job availability in a students area and helps plan financial aide.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department hosted a field trip to their training academy. Thirty-eight fire and EMS students spent the day at the academy learning life saving skills at the direction of Lt. Evelyn Edwards.
Level 2 practical nursing students have begun clinicals with Capital Hospice, a new clinical partner that provides students with the unique experience of being paired with a nurse preceptor in a home care setting. Level 2 students also participated in a field trip to the anatomy cadaver lab at the NOVA Medical Education Campus. Students also attended professional seminars at INOVA Learning network full day workshop HIV Prevention: The Facts and Invitation to Life with Cancer mini-medical school.
The West Potomac Academy dental careers class has expanded clinical opportunities by obtaining four additional dental offices to the internship list.
Dr. Guttenberg (oral maxillofacial surgeon) a DDS, MD from DC spoke recently. He performs cosmetic surgery and works in a hospital most of his time. He presented a case that he did, and explained that cosmetic surgery originated from Oral Maxillofacial Surgery.
Dr. Jose Colon, a forensic dentist, spoke and highlighted some of the work he has done. He is presently one of three forensic dentists in the United States. He was the dentist who identified the three girls found in a basement in DC through dental records and DNA. Also, he is the doctor who identifies all soldiers brought home.
Fairfax County Public Schools health and medical sciences students earned a total of 26 awards at the HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) State Leadership Conference held on February 27 – March 1, 2009 in Williamsburg. HOSA is a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education that provides leadership development opportunities and recognition to health and medical sciences students. Fifty-seven students enrolled in health and medical sciences courses at Chantilly Academy, Falls Church Academy, Stuart High School, and West Potomac Academy participated in competitive events and leadership activities during the three-day conference. The courses represented included dental careers, physical and occupational therapy, pharmacy technician, practical nursing, and other health and medical sciences classes. Of the 26 awards, 19 were first, second, or third place awards that qualify the students to advance to the HOSA National Leadership Conference in June in Nashville.
In addition, a Stuart High student was elected vice president of Region IV, two Stuart HS students each won HOSA scholarships, and another was awarded the Outstanding State Leader Award. The West Potomac Academy Physical Therapy-Occupational Therapy program was named Outstanding HOSA Chapter. Volunteer Service awards were won by West Potomac Academy Physical Therapy-Occupational Therapy students. Participation in HOSA helps prepare students to become qualified health care workers who, upon graduation, can help meet health care industry shortages.
FEBRUARY 2009
The advanced health sciences students at Chantilly Academy have earned their American Hearth Association First Aid certifications. They are currently studying blood and phlebotomy which includes a guest speaker from the INOVA Blood Donor Services and observation of a blood drive. All three classes had the opportunity to observe open heart surgery at the INOVA Fairfax Cardiac Dome.
The Edison animal science program has been conducting a Rescue Dog Wash one Saturday a month. The Edison Academy animal science students provide free grooming services to the pets that are up for adoption. These events are targeted exclusively for rescue groups and pets in foster care that are looking for homes. Students spend the day in the animal science lab offering their skills and services to pets in need to help out rescue organizations.
Over 20 Fire/EMS students have completed their ride-along requirements with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue department. Eighteen students are members of local volunteer fire/rescue departments and participate in active duty after school hours. Students have assisted with CPR, trauma, and medical calls.
JANUARY 2009
Health and medical sciences students at Chantilly Academy are participating in an observation project consisting of three hours observation through the Fairfax INOVA Observership Program or a healthcare facility of their choice. Students observe, interview, write a paper, and share their experience with the class. All 21 advanced health sciences students earned their AHA Healthcare Provider CPR certification and are currently working on First Aid certification. The HOSA organization conducted a fund-raiser bake sale and met their goal. They were able to purchase wooden puzzles for each Head Start student at Chantilly to take home. They also purchased four puzzles to keep in the Head Start classroom. After researching the developmental level of four-year olds and giving class presentations, each HOSA student spent one-on-one time with a Head Start student working on a puzzle together and observing developmental skills.
The pharmacy technician classes at Chantilly Academy taught the exploring and advanced health science classes how to read prescriptions and about SIG codes.
Pharmacy technician students at Falls Church Academy attended a field trip on December 17 to the Virginia Commonwealth University campus at Inova Fairfax Hospital where they toured the pharmacy and had the opportunity to visit with pharmacy students.
NOVEMBER 2008
The practical nursing level 2 students assisted with vision and hearing screening at Falls Church High School. Other practical nursing students administered flu shots at Inova Commonwealth Care Center to 30 residents during their clinical rotation in October. The students initiated distributing “I Got My Flu Shot” stickers to those who received their flu shot. Those who were able also received a piece of sugar-free red licorice after their shot and it was later learned that the combination of the sticker and candy was the talk of the unit among residents.
The animal science teachers at Chantilly and Edison Academies attended American Red Cross training to enable them to offer Cat and Dog First Aid certifications to their students.
The advanced health sciences class at Chantilly Academy held a Vital Sign Clinic for fellow dental careers and pharmacy tech students. The advanced health sciences students checked vital signs on approximately 50 people. Students measured temperatures, pulses, respiration rates, and blood pressure, conducted check-in procedures to verify name and DOB and charting the readings. The advanced class developed a project with Head Start, including a puzzle drive. An advanced health sciences student is paired with a Head Start student and will work a puzzle together. This activity reinforces the concept of developmental age abilities of the pre-school child. All students are now practicing Visual Distance Acuity testing to provide vision screening on November 6 and 7 to help screen the vision for 10th graders at Chantilly High School.
West Potomac Academy health and medical sciences teachers and some student volunteers participated in the innovative event of CSI (Career Search and Investigation) Career Camp. The participants solved a CSI mystery using skills from all of health and medical sciences courses offered at West Potomac Academy including dental tooth impressions (dental careers), making of a hand sanitizer (pharmacy tech), discovering bones (PT/OT), and measuring vital signs (advanced health sciences) . This event coincided with National HOSA week and provided a venue for several HOSA week activities.
JEB Stuart high school planned many HOSA activities each day of the week including a flu shot clinic for the faculty. Students came to school on their day off to support the mobile Inova Flu Clinic where 29 faculty received their flu shots. On Election Day, students hung posters they prepared with the theme “The Future of Health Care.” Other HOSA events held that week included a Health Careers Display, Public Speaking Competitions, the Film “I am a Legend” and accompanying discussion of vaccine development.
OCTOBER 2008
West Potomac Academy pharmacy technician students networked with their local pharmacies and did a poster presentation of the layout of that particular pharmacy. This was a huge success and it familiarized students with the pharmacy and allowed them to "sell themselves" by making their own relationships with possible future employers.
The exploring health science students at Chantilly Academy are studying Infection control and viewed a variety of bacteria through microscopes. The class made their own slides and viewed them.
The advanced health sciences class at Chantilly Academy held the Vital Signs Clinic with dental and pharmacy classes as visiting “patients.” The class is also collaborating with a George Mason graduate nursing student. The class identified interesting topics involving Tuberculosis, Meningitis, and Lyme disease.
The pharmacy technician students at Falls Church Academy promoted "Don't flush drugs down the drain” week. Students made posters, which were displayed in the cafeteria, to promote proper, safe drug disposal for the environment and water supplies.
The students are completing the code of ethics for pharmacy technicians and are sending a letter to the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians governing board with student thoughts on how the code of ethics could be revised to include respecting a patient’s religion and ethnicity.
The animal science class at Chantilly Academy went on a field trip to the State Fair of Virginia where they were able to see large animals not commonly found in Fairfax such as Texas Longhorns, sheep, dairy cows, hogs, etc. They also saw many different breeds of chickens, pigeons, ducks, and rabbits.
Forty-three Fire/EMS students received their Bloodborne Pathogen training given by Captain David Tobin of the Fairfax County Fire/Rescue Department.
Nine Fire/EMS students joined volunteer fire/rescue stations this month.
SEPTEMBER 2008
An Edison Academy animal science student attended the National SkillsUSA competition in June, 2008.
Three health and medical sciences teachers attended the New Teacher’s Institute in Williamsburg this summer and are applying the skills they learned in their classrooms this year.
A Chantilly Academy health and medical sciences teacher attended a Biotechnology workshop offered by NVCC this summer.
NVCC is partnering with FCPS in offering a unique opportunity available in the radiology/ diagnostic imaging field to health and medical sciences students.
Falls Church Academy is expanding its health and medical sciences offerings by including a new pharmacy technician program. The popular course has excellent enrollment for a newly offered course.
The Fairfax County School of Practical Nursing is piloting a satellite level 1 course at Reston Hospital Center. Eligible hospital employees have the opportunity to enroll in the program in which the level 1 course is being taught on-site at Reston Hospital Center by a FCPS nursing instructor. Reston Hospital Center is funding the employees’ tuition for the practical nursing program.
Forty-three fire/EMS students earned their AHA Healthcare Provider CPR certification this September.
The advanced health sciences class at Chantilly Academy is reviewing taking Vital Signs to become proficient to conduct Vital Sign Clinics, possibly once a month. The dental and pharmacy technician classes have already been invited to participate in the clinic. The Vital Signs clinics are designed to foster student proficiency and are not used as a legal diagnostic tool.
Students have begun visiting the Inova Cardiac Dome as a part of the exploring health sciences class at JEB Stuart High School
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