WSHS is SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) accredited for 5 more years! Congrats to us!!

The 2008 Renovation Queue Study is now available on the WSHS website.

This is the document promised by Dean Tistadt at the May 6, 2008 Town Meeting.

It includes a description of the metrics that are being used by the third party consultant to evaluate school renovation priorities.

The Madrigals will sing the National Anthem at a May 20th Nationals game against the Phillies. This will be their first time in the new stadium! Go Nats! Go WSHS Madrigls!

UPDATED! FCPS Students Excel in Dupont Challenge National Science Essay Contest!

Receiving honorable mentions in the senior division of the 2008 contest were the following FCPS students:

Our Joe Dolan of West Springfield High School for his essay, “Is the Study of Antimatter Worth the Cost?", Kelly Snow for his essay "How Valid Are Clains of the Biological Basis for Sexual Orientation?" and Paul Grillot for his essay on "Do Trans Fats Have Any Dietary Benefits?"

SPECIAL NOTE: Only one other high school had three winners in the senior division--University Laboratory High School from Urbana, Illinois. Of the over 6000 entries in the competition this year from throughout the United States and Canada, West Springfield students earned 3 of the 33 Honorable Mentions! There was only one other winner in Virginia (from Thomas Jefferson) and none in Maryland or D.C. The students were mentored by Physics teacher Ed Linz as part of the WSHS Honors program. (The entire list is at: http://thechallenge.dupont.com/seniorwinners.html)

Congratulation Joe, Kelly, and Paul and their teacher Ed Linz!!

Virginia History Day Competition in Williamsburg.

Ist place - Historical Paper - Becky Koenig (Senior)
1st place - Website - Tim Wing, Beth Stinson, Joe LaCroix (Seniors)
2nd place - Individual Documentary - Marissa Beale (Sophomore)
3rd place - Historical Paper - Katy Egan (Senior)

2007-2008 Students of the Third Quarter
*Designates Multiple Nominations

Grade 9
Bridget Aker
Melissa Baiden
Erik Bakke
Lindy Balla
Bryant Garcia
Gaby Garcia
Lizette Gonzalez
Nicole Kiwus
James Lee
Jordan Lewandowski
Mark Ragan
Michael Salussolia
Joseph Samuels
Caitlin Stevens

Grade 10
Jung Yoon Chang
Jennifer Henry
Makayla Holmes
Suk Oh Jeong
Da Min Kim
Donna Kim
Matthew Kim
Mario Matarrita
Jeanne Moore
Ross Rosenblatt
Matt Rose
Jastine Saunders
Alya Shearer
Justin Strickland
Alex Woolsey
Khatara Zamani

Grade 11
Nick Flynn-Tanner
Wayne Hawkins
Julia Lisowski
Rosy Maldonado Pena
Soraya Mayel
Mike Montevidoni
Charles Nagy
Gonpo Tenzin
Andrea Williams *
Daniel Williams

Grade 12
Tyler Bitancurt
Andrew Bryan
Erinn Evans
Jimmy Jiron
Audrey Karney
Michael Manion
Maria Garcia Marchioro
Brian Olivar

PTSA Reflections winners who advanced to higher levels of competition are:

LITERATURE: Drew Bigelow, Outstanding Interpretation at Cluster level; Award of Merit at District level
PHOTOGRAPHY: Elisabeth Havinga, Outstanding Interpretation at Cluster level; Award of Merit at District level
VISUAL ARTS: Jinsil Park, Award of Excellence at Cluster level

3rd Quarter Honor Roll Numbers

All As
9th - 19
10th - 17
11th - 8
12th – 11

As/Bs
9th – 150
10th – 127
11th - 113
12th - 84

Congrats!

The National Forensics League awarded Madeleine Deliee, English teacher and Forensics Coach, a full scholarship to the coaches' training seminar sponsored by George Mason University this summer.

Once again, we finished in the Giant Bonus Bucks Top Ten, finishing in the eighth spot! Thanks to everyone for supporting this very important program!

2007-2008 List of Top Ten Earning Schools
School
Archbishop Spalding High School $16344
Mater Dei School Inc $14680
Monsignor Slade Catholic School $14201
St Pius X Regional School $13483
Charles E Smith Jewish Day School $12825
Atholton High School $10769
McLean High School $9690
West Springfield High School $9159
St Jane De Chantal School $8927
St John The Evangelist-Forest Glen $8760

Family Connection Goes Live!

FCPS and West Springfield High School are pleased to introduce Family Connection, a web-based service designed especially for students and parents. Family Connection is a comprehensive website that you can use to help your student make decisions about academic plans, colleges, and careers.

Parents who have registered for an FCPS 24-7 Learning Parent View account are now able to click on the Family Connection link to view information about their students’ postsecondary plans, interests and opportunities. If you do not have a Parent View account, you may register by going to http://fcps.blackboard.com Login using the following information: Username: parentreg, Password: newuser.

To learn more about Family Connection and its many features, visit http://www.fcps.edu/ss/CareerConnections/fconnect/fconnect.htm
or use your FCPS 24-7 Learning Parent View account to directly access Family Connection.

West Springfield High School Band will hold its 3rd annual Big Band Dinner Auction on Saturday May 17, 2008 at 6:00 pm in the West Springfield High School Cafeteria.

There will be Live Music, Games, and a Silent Auction.

Admission will be $20 for adults, $10 for children age 5 - 12, and children under 5 are free.

For more information or advanced reservations, please visit
www.wshsband.org/auction or call 703.451.0549

AP Summer Academy
August 18-19, 21-22, 2008

Prospective Advanced Placement students are invited to participate in the 2008 AP Summer Academy. The program is an opportunity for your student to strengthen academic foundations and refine learning skills prior to the start of the 2008-2009 school year. If you would like your child to attend, please have him/her complete the registration form through the Guidance Office. The deadline for registration is April 30.

What…
What is the AP Academy? Students will attend various sessions to work with West Springfield AP teachers on strengthening their academic foundations related to specific courses (Biology, Physics, Calculus, US History, European History, German, English Language and Composition, English Literature, Psychology) and refining their advanced learning skills in general.

When…
When does the AP Academy take place? The program runs Monday, August 18 and Tuesday, August 19 from 5pm – 9pm and Thursday, August 21 and Friday, August 22 from 8am – noon. Students can choose to attend both evening sessions, both morning sessions, or all four sessions.

Who…
Who is invited? All West Springfield students who are registered for an AP course in the 2008 -2009 school year are invited to participate.

Details…
Are there any costs? No. It is totally free for your student to attend this year! Brunch or dinner will be provided at all sessions.

What about transportation? That is your only obligation. Your student will need to find his/her own means of getting to and from West Springfield High School for each session.

Please do not hesitate to contact the AP Summer Academy Coordinator at Ann.Wong@fcps.edu or by phone at 703.913.3891 should you need further information.

Blackboard or 24-7

Since so many teachers use FCPS 24-7 Learning, an Internet-based learning system, to post homework, assignments and other communications with your child – Parents now have the opportunity to create an FCPS 24-7 Learning account of their own.

There are three steps to get your own FCPS 24-7 Learning Parent View account:

1. Online Registration – (which can be done at any computer)

• Using your Internet browser, go to http://fcps.blackboard.com
• Log on using username: parentreg and password: newuser
• Under the Parent Portal Registration heading, click on Click here.
• Fill out the online form and follow the prompts.
• At the end of the process, print or write down your unique registration key.

2. Onsite Verification – (which can be done during school days from 7:00 – 3:30)

• Bring a photo ID and the unique registration key to the front office your child’s school. Do not send this with your child. You must do this in person.• The school will give you your FCPS 24-7 Learning Parent View username and your password
will be emailed to you.

3. Log in to the FCPS 24-7 Learning Parent View (Blackboard) Portal

• Using your new username and password, you can log in to the FCPS 24-7 Learning Parent View and have access to all of your children’s Blackboard accounts. If you need assistance contact the FCPS 24-7 Help Desk at 1-866-434-8880.

We hope you will make use of this new opportunity to be involved in your child(ren)’s academic life in Fairfax County Public Schools.

*FCPS 24-7 Learning is also referred to as Blackboard.

Please remember to sign up for all the grocery store education programs. We received over $8000 from Giant Food alone (www.giantfood.com/aplus). It is such an easy way to contribute doing something you will do anyway without costing you any money. More details will follow. Thank you in advance.