Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

PRINCIPAL�S MESSAGE Dear Hornet Nation, I addressed the students, faculty and staff on the intercom with my observations about Herndon High. I prefaced the comments with the fact that I had walked the halls, entered classrooms, talked with teachers, students and staff and had participated in meetings with various groups and organizations, including a PTSA night. Here is a summary of my comments and I quote: �It is easy to assess that our students are some of the best and brightest in Fairfax County. We have a wonderfully dedicated teaching staff that arrives early and stays late. Our guidance staff has worked long and hard advising Herndon students. Our administrative assistants help everyone and always with a smile. Our award winning custodial and support staff keeps our building immaculate. The cafeteria staff keeps us well fed and happy. Our security staff and police officer ensure that this is a very safe school. The administrative team has supervised this building with great vigor. Our PTSA is very active in supporting everyone at HHS. In closing, I find HHS a place where students can flourish and grow under the direction of a dedicated staff.� Herndon High School is a great place to work and I am honored to be the Principal. If you have any questions or just want to make a comment, please call me at 703-810-2212. Garland L. Cooper Principal (Interim)

Submissions for the HHS PTSA Newsletter may be emailed to: johnsdjje@verizon.net

Contents Principal�s Message - - - - - - - - 1 New Attendance Office - - - - - - 1 Driver�s Educ. News - - - - - - - - 1 President�s Message - - - - - - - -2 Orchestra News - - - - - - - - - - - 3 Choir Happenings- - - - - - - - - -3 Art Department News - - - - - - -4 Latin Department News - - - - -4 Parent Pledge - - - - - - - - - - - - -5 Creative Writing News- - - - - - -6 Future Quest - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6 Reston Comm Cen News - - - - - 7 From the Cafeteria - - - - - - - - - 7 Call for Volunteers - - - - - - - - -7 Grocery Receipts Program - - - -7 Class of 2010 News - - - - - - - - -8 ANG Party News -- - - - - - - - - -8 After Prom Committee News - -8 Class of 2011 News - - - - - - - - - 9 Class of 2012 News - - - - - - - - -9 Library News - - - - - - - - - - - - -9 Principal Selection Update - - - 9 Career Center News - - - - - - - 10 PTSA News - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11 Notes from the Clinic - - - - - - -11 PTSA Membership Form - - - - 12 Bldg & Equip Improve Patrons - - 13 FCPS Comm Budget Dialogues - -14 Northwest Fed Credit Union - 14 HHS Calendar - - - - - - - - - - - 14

Notice: New Attendance Office for 2009-2010 ALL students must check in and check out through the new attendance office, Room 151, the first room on the left as you enter through Door 11. Please call 703-810-2282 or 703-810-2283 to notify HHS if your student is absent, tardy, or needs to check out early.

DRIVER�S EDUCATION NEWS A Parent Education Driving Assembly, "Partners for Safe Teen Driving" will be held Thursday, December 10th @ 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Starting January 2010 this will be a mandatory program for all parents and guardians before a driver's license will be issued to teenagers in Fairfax County. The program will have a speaker who will address the background of this new law. John Fulcher Driver's Education

Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

PRESIDENT�S MESSAGE

1 Quarter Down � 3 to go! We have wound down the 1st quarter, and we are off to a great start! The PTSA would like to thank so many volunteers who have helped in so many ways!

Thanks to everyone who helped with all the Homecoming activities: the Powder Puff game, Bonfire, Parade, and Dance all displayed our great community spirit! Thanks to all who came to Back-to-School Night and all the volunteers who helped �man the tables� in the cafeteria! Thanks to Jennifer Boysko and the Herndon Coalition for an important evening of parent education, �Responsibility: It is a good thing for our kids!� Thanks to Sarah Rousset for organizing our volunteers and Sue Altshuler for launching a great membership drive. Thanks to JoAnn Skinner for assisting with the successful Senior Parent Night. Thanks to Gabriele O�Bryan for producing a fantastic Student Directory. Thanks to Claire Levin for staying on top of the Grocery Receipts Program. Thanks to our wonderful All Night Grad Committee (Leslie Petty and Lisa Fagan) and After Prom Committee (Laura Medvene and Lorri Ronis), for working tirelessly to get these events ready. And, of course, thank you to those in the Herndon High School community for joining the PTSA! There are many more opportunities to volunteer and you can join any time. The PTSA would like to WELCOME Mr. Garland Cooper, Interim Principal at Herndon High School. Mr. Cooper will be with us until a new Principal is assigned to our school. Thanks to all who came to the Community Principal Selection Process Input meeting on October 14th. The search is winding down and the panel of parents, teachers, student, and administrator will be meeting on Monday, November 9th, to interview Principal candidates. Stay Tuned!!! Friday, November 13th, is Touching Bases, an opportunity for parents to �touch base� with your child�s teachers and check on their progress. It will run from 7:30-9:30 a.m. and students will have a 3-hour delayed opening that day. Touching Bases is always well attended, and we remind parents to get there early and bring your child�s schedule, so you know the teachers� names and what period

your child has that teacher. Remember, this is ONLY a chance to �check in� with the teacher. You will have 3 minutes with each teacher, and some of the lines will get long, so pick the most important teachers you feel you need to see. Your cooperation in keeping your meeting very brief is very much appreciated. If you need more time, please contact individual teachers and set up conferences. Directories are for sale all year in the Guidance Office main desk for $5/each. On page 5 of this newsletter you will find a list of parents who have signed the Parent Pledge, enforcing responsible and acceptable behavior in the home. Thank you to these many, many conscientious parents! The next PTSA meeting is Wednesday, November 11th at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria. We will have a brief presentation from the Northwest Federal Credit Union on their community services/business partnership with HHS. Also, we will have Clarence Jones from the FCPS Student Safety and Wellness Office, give a brief presentation on alcohol and drug use � what to look for. Don�t miss this important topic! Hope to see you there! In an effort to help the Herndon community, the PTSA is requesting donations of canned food/non-perishable food be brought to all PTSA meetings to help support LINK, the local Herndon food pantry. We will NOT have a PTSA meeting in December! Thank you for your continued support! If you have any questions or concerns, don�t hesitate to contact me at Leefortna@comcast.net. I wish everyone a healthy, happy Holiday season � we have a lot to be thankful for! Thanks so much! Lee Fortna HHS PTSA President

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Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

ORCHESTRA NEWS The Herndon Orchestra Boosters Organization is hosting a spaghetti dinner at the Herndon United Methodist Church on Wednesday, November 18th, from 5-7 p.m. Plan to enjoy dinner out, accompanied by our own Herndon Orchestra musicians. Stay tuned for further announcements. The Herndon Orchestras and Drama Department have joined forces to sell fresh-baked pies from Mom's Apple Pie Company. Select from 19 delicious pies, which will be delivered in time for Thanksgiving. The order deadline is Monday, November 16th. Pies will be delivered on November 23rd.

The Orchestra Winter Concert will be held Wednesday, December 9th at 7:00 p.m. in the HHS auditorium.

CHOIR HAPPENINGS! Congratulations to seniors Sara Talebian, Joey Truncale, and Claire Vogel for being selected for this year's Virginia Music Educators' Association State Honors Choir. Also to be congratulated are Trevor Morgan and Mary Peterson, who placed as alternates. On November 7, auditions will be held for the prestigious 2010 District XII Chorus. The audition is open to all choir students in grades 9 through 12, and is mandatory for members of the Herndon Chorale and Madrigals. Selected students will participate in the District XII Chorus event from February 11-13, 2010, at Oakton High School. In other choir news, Herndon High�s choir teacher, Dana VanSlyke, was recently interviewed for a series of articles published on the National Association for Music Education (MENC) website. The MENC is a national professional association for music teachers in grades K�12. The three-part MENC series, "Success with Special Learners," addresses the inclusion of special education students in the choral music classroom. To read the complete article, visit the HHS choral website at www.herndonchoir.com for the link. Mark your calendars for the following upcoming choir events: • Nov. 2: (Teacher work day) Cabaret auditions, which are open to all HHS students. See Ms. VanSlyke to schedule an audition time. • Nov. 11: HHS Madrigals will attend a University of Maryland Invitational where they will participate in choral workshops throughout the day and perform in the evening. • Dec. 21: The HHS Choirs� Annual Winter Concert.

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Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

ART DEPARTMENT NEWS The Art Department will be collaborating with the Science Department this year in an art show at GRACE- Greater Reston Arts Center. Wayne Zink (art) and Tony Petras (chemistry) will be coordinating the show where 12 art and 12 science students will team up to produce a show in March! Look for it in March. Congratulations to Nick Fagan who was chosen for the prestigious National Gallery of Art High School Seminar. Nick, an AP studio student, will be studying American art behind the scenes and then giving a presentation on an American artist in March. Congratulations to Tammy Morin for her photograph "Converge," which was selected for the Fairfax Art Teachers Show at the Ernst Cultural Center in Annandale in November! For those seniors who need portfolios for college, be sure to have digital photos taken of them by December for college deadlines.

Lesley.Casey@fcps.edu Art Teacher Herndon High School

Two of our favorite events are happening soon! Members of the Latin Club will meet at Mediterranean Breeze on Tuesday, October 27th at 5 p.m. for the annual Latin Club Dinner. Lots of pasta, lots of conversation, lots of laughter, lots of fun!!! The Virginia Junior Classical Convention will be held on Sunday, November 22nd and

Monday, November 23rd at the Convention Center in Richmond. Thirty six HHS Latin students will be attending this convention along with 1800 Latin students from the State of Virginia. The students will be involved in academic competitions that include testing of Latin literature, language, classical mythology, history, vocabulary, and more. There will also be competitions in English and Latin oratory, storytelling, dramatic interpretation, costumes, and graphic arts. The students will also attend presentations by professors on a variety of topics. On Sunday evening, we will all dress in our togas and attend a Roman banquet followed by dancing, movies, karaoke, and games. These two days are filled with incredible experiences for our Latin students! Latin IV and AP Vergil students who have an A in Latin and B GPA are members of the prestigious National Latin Honor Society. The members are Sahar Amin, Cara Buchanan, Diana Grace, Brady Halleen, Lindsay Irish, Bryan Kadlec, Laura Kirkpatrick, Jillie Klarman, Rachel Kubi, Erin Mancini, Michael Milazzo, Jonathan McMann, Yousaf Salim, Daniel Shill, Tyler Slate, Mary Sternitzke, Jack Radcliffe, Zach Reif, Ben Renne, and Chris Ward. The HHS National Latin Honor Society members will tutor students after school on Thursdays, late-bus days. If your student needs some help with homework, reviewing information, or studying for quizzes and tests, we invite them to come to Room 202 or 233 for help.

LATIN DEPARTMENT NEWS Mrs. Guppy and Ms. Ann Graham and Ms. Katie Mayhew, our two new Latin teachers, happily welcomed all the Latin students to HHS for an exciting 2009 � 2010 school year! There are 12 classes of Latin students at HHS studying Latin 1, 2, 3, 4, and AP Vergil!!! WOW!!! One hundred and eighty five Herndon High School Latin Students have joined the HHS Latin Club!!! Membership in the HHS Latin Club is open to all Latin students. When you join the HHS Latin Club, you are also a member of the Virginia Junior Classical League and the National Junior Classical League. We are excited to have so many HHS students in the Latin Club! Forty-five students attended the first Latin Club meeting on October 8th. The Latin Club and the Latin Honor Society Officers welcomed the members and discussed some of the plans and events which have been scheduled. The Latin Club Officers are Chris Ward, Brady Halleen, Sahar Amin, Mary Sternitzke, and James Snow. The Latin Honor Society Officers are Tyler Slate, Jonathan McMann, Rachel Kubi, and Jack Radcliffe.

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Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

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Gias Ahmad Hayres Albert Sue & Alan Altshuler LeAnne Anies Jo Bagley Elaine Bango Kathy & Skip Banks Susan & Jon Barnes Amy V. Barrett Kevin Bennett Rita Berlin Michael & Kathleen Betti Kathleen Blystone Sharon J. Bonneau Eric & Wendy Booma Charlie & Mary Boswell Jennifer & Glenn Boysko Lisa Brininstool Jennifer C. Brooks Carla Patrick-Brown (Brown) Annette Delaney (Buchanan) Joyce M. Burd Cindi Burger Lisa Carlson Denise Casto Nancy M. Cazenas Valerica Cernea Donna & Jeff Clark Mary Pavlik (Clark) Deborah Conner Sally Cors Susan H. Coulter Carol Powers-Coyer (Coyer) Sandra Coyner Wendy S. Culbertson Wanda Dalling Lori Devlin Philomena Donaldson Laura Dudziak John Dudzinsky Charline Dunne Elaine Kelly (Dyke) Dolores Elles Kathleen Emery Lisa Fagan Nina & Craig Falci Carolyn Faraday Bridget C. Fico Joanne Flemming Bob & Lee Fortna Alan Foster Frank & Jenny Podczerviensky (Foster) Gail Fox

Karen McDonald (Frazer) Timothy & Melissa Fraiser Michaela Madsen (Friedman) Bernadette M. Galloway Susan W. Garrison Tracy & Fred Glazier Jill Anne & John Graney Susan & Christopher Green Stephan Greene Martha Guaglione Samantha D. Smith (Hall) Janelle Hansen Tom & Dana Harold Christine Hatch Sylvia Headon Eliza & Jim Hepfinger Mary D. Herod Robin Highberg Deborah Hill Meg Hinders Beth Hitchings Ruth Holt Susan Horting Suzanne Hughes Julie George (Hundle) Tino & Judy Impellizzeri Sarah Rousset (Jackson) Jeannie & David Johns Janan Jones W. Jovel Marie Jun Sarita B. Kaplin Michele Chu & Michael Keegan (Keegan) Kerry Kelly Judith H. Kinas Carol Kinney Laura Kohl Susan Olinger & Dan Kole (Kole) Susi Koppenhaver Christina & John Kronkaitis Karen Kucik Sonya & Ron Erin Latimer Steven & Stephanie Lee Nanette Lem Jeanne Leonard Claire & Dale Levin Eleanor Light Courtney Linden Esmeralda Llanes Mary Ellen & Christopher Lloyd Ia Meurmishviti (Lomidze) Carole Z. Lopes

Sally Redfern Lyver Dana & Cathy Malec Mary Glenn & John Mancini Mary & Roger Mann Teri Marcus Peter & Daria Mark Victoria M. Baker (Marques) Beth Martin William Martin Jacqueline Mathews Russ & Jan Mattern Dawn McAllorum Chrissy McKibbin Jeanne Loveland & John Mendonca (Mendonca) Tammy L. Meyers Elizabeth Charles & Mark Milazzo Jennifer Miller Troy & Anita Miller Debbie & Tom Millon Nancy Mirr Evlyn Monos Vicki Morse Michele Moses Steve & Robin Mullet Judy & William Murden Brenda N. Couteras & Catalino Najarro (Najarro) Willye Nance Cindy & Richard Nance Trina & Stuart Neel Blaine & Caroline Newlon Susan & John Nixon Hassina Noorzai Lynn Noren Deborah Ollerhead Ginger O'Rourke Belinda Otih Lisa Overberg Christopher Overton M.Carolyn Best (Ozimek) Linda Ozycz Nancy Jensen (Peery) Leslie Petty Kathie Pfeffer-Hahn Mina Phillips Barbara K. Kochanowski (Poirier) Kathy Powers Jeff & Kelli Radcliffe Lori & Michael Rayburn Sally Lyver (Redfern) Eden Regalario

Deborah Reilly Nanette Richardson Kara Rider John Roberts & Mimi Kramer-Roberts Cheryl Rodakowski Theresa Roethel Julie Gibbons (Rosenbaum) Jack & Cathy Rosenquist Glenn & Ann Marie Ruskin Karen Sawatski Carolyn Richter & Roger Sayre Michael W. Schick Linda Scimeca Vorinda Seng Priscilla Sequeira Roseanna E. Sevillano James & Marty Shaw Lori & Bill Shelton Claudia Sherman Walt & Jeannie-Kay Shill Jennifer Skinnell Jo Ann Skinner Lourdes Sleem Margie & Mark Smith Kathleen & Peter Snow Kathleen Sowder Susan & Ed Walker Angela D. Sykes Jeanne Talbot Patricia Tamaccio Karen & Gary Temple Pamela Thomas Bill and Carine Donna Tisdale Maureen & Joe Truncale Eddie Mae Walker Gretchen Ward Natalie & Larry Ward Holly Weatherwax Don & Gail Weber Kathy & Ken Webster Cynthia & Michael Wei Deborah Broady (Williams) Leslie Minnix & Jeff Wolfe Daniel W. Woycke Michele Wrigley Carol A. Wynne Yamil Yusuf Juan R. Zarco

PARENT PLEDGE The HHS PTSA feels that parents need to establish a Drug/Alcohol Free policy in their homes. By signing the Parent Pledge, parents can help students understand that drug and alcohol use is not acceptable in their home. Please join the list of concerned parents and sign the Parent Pledge.

I pledge to be present at all youth social activities in my home and to ensure that they will be free of drugs and alcohol. I further pledge that I will remain visible as an additional deterrent to drug and alcohol usage in my home. In the event that I must be out of town, I pledge to take precautions against any social activities being held in my absence.

Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

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FUTURE QUEST A free College & Career Forum for Students with DisAbilities, Parents and Professionals is being offered at George Mason University Johnson Center on Saturday, November 21, 8:30 a.m.-2:40 p.m. For information, go to: www.VaCollegeQuest.org. The forum is titled: Facing Your Future: Steps to Creating the Life You Want.

CREATIVE WRITING NEWS The Creative Writing 1 and Creative Writing 2,3,4 classes are holding a fundraiser so they can publish this year's Scribe, Herndon's award-winning literary and art magazine. They will be selling regular and flavored coffee in 16 oz. bags from November 4th-19th. See a creative writing student, or Mrs. Casserly in Room 216 (Constance.Casserly@fcps.edu) to order your Hornet Brew.

Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

RESTON COMMUNITY CENTER NEWS Reston Community Center Virginia College Tour Join us as we tour Longwood University, Roanoke College, Virginia Tech, and Radford University. The two day trip will include a campus tour and information session with the admissions department of each school. The fee includes charter bus transportation, hotel accommodations (4 people per room/ 2 beds per room), lunch on both days, dinner on Monday night, and breakfast on Tuesday. All other meals must be purchased on your own. The trip is chaperoned by RCC Teen Department staff. Check in at RCC Hunters Woods Lobby. Monday-Tuesday, November 2-3, 2009 5:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Registration # : 801007-0A Cost: $100 (R)/ $150 (NR) 2 Day Trip Thank you, Katherine Schires Teen Programs Assistant Reston Community Center 2310 Colts Neck Road Reston, VA 20191 703-390-6179 www.restoncommunitycenter.com

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS Thank you to all who have volunteered for all recent events and to those who have sent in forms for future events. We still have many volunteer slots to fill and would love to hear from more of you. There will be a Health Screening conducted on November 4 & November 5 and we need your support on November 5th for the following slots ( 7:20 - 9:30 a.m. / 10:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m. / 12:45 - 2:00 p.m.). If you can assist in any of the time slots for even 1 hour, I would love to hear from you. Please contact me immediately at sarahr1402@aol.com. Sarah Rousset Volunteer Coordinator

GROCERY RECEIPTS PROGRAM EVERYONE can help earn free money for Herndon High School! Giant, Safeway, Harris Teeter and Bloom will contribute money to our school when you register your grocery bonus cards and designate Herndon High School using the school codes listed below. • GIANT � Register at the store or www.giantfood.com � School Code 01949. • SAFEWAY � Register at the store or www.escrip.com � School Code 6514554. • HARRIS TEETER � Register at the store or www.harristeeter.com � School Code 5166. • BLOOM � Register at customer service � School

Code 01012. Need school supplies? OFFICE DEPOT has registered HHS for its �5% Back to Schools Program.� This Program runs all year long! Each time you purchase basic school supplies at Office Depot, HHS will earn 5% of the purchase price. Just tell the cashier at the start of your transaction to designate 5% back to Herndon High School � School Code 70103942. If you have any questions, please contact Claire Levin at cmlevin@hotmail.com. Thank You! Claire Levin PTSA Grocery Receipts Program

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FROM THE CAFETERIA Healthy Tips for the Winter Season: • Choose a variety of foods from MyPyramid which include grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, and meat/beans. • Start the day with breakfast and energy to tackle all projects. Be sure to visit our two �Breakfast on the Go� carts located by the main office and library. • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. • Eat lighter meals at night. Eliminate night-time stress-related grazing. Go to bed feeling light not �full.� • Remember to exercise 60 minutes per day. • Limit portion sizes of food, especially desserts. Enjoy your winter meals with family and friends. See you in the Lunch Line! Diana Dickerson, Linda Hatton and Susan Douthat Cafeteria Managers

Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

CLASS OF 2010 � SENIORS The senior class is very proud of the �Best In Show� award for their innovative float in the Homecoming Parade. We wish to thank the Kane family for hosting the float building at their house, EE Lyons for the flatbed truck, Mrs. Crawford, Mr. Bates, Mrs. Faul, Ms Watkins and all of the parents that helped in the process. Remember to take advantage of Mrs. Boyke�s expertise in the career center. She has great suggestions on the college application process and can tell students about scholarship opportunities. If you have any questions about ordering transcripts, getting teacher recommendations, appropriate testing dates and the time table for college deadlines, please contact your guidance counselors. They are experts at the process. Remember the Goal: Graduation Day is June 22, 2010! Jo Ann Skinner Class of 2010 Parent Liaison ALL NIGHT GRAD PARTY Get Your Holiday Shopping Done and Help Raise Funds for All Night Grad. Beginning in November, the ANG committee will be taking orders for gift cards to local, popular merchants. The cards will be distributed in early December and will make great teacher gifts or holiday treats. Keep an eye open for information about when these cards will go on sale and support ANG while getting your shopping done!

Join Us for Dinner and Support ANG, Too! Why Cook When You Can Help Raise Money for the All Night Grad and Get Everyone Fed at the Same Time? Mark your calendar now to support the ANG Party on Wednesday, November 4. Dinner

begins at 6 p.m. and will be a Soup and Salad Bar. The cost is $5 per person. Dinner will be held at the Herndon United Methodist Church, directly across from the high school. Tickets are available at the door. Premium Reserved Graduation Seat Raffle Ticket Winner Gets a Full Front Row Reserved for your Family at the Patriot Center for Graduation� No Need to Show Up Hours Early to Get a Good Seat! Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. The order form is available on the HHS Website. Proceeds go to provide an outstanding party for our graduating seniors.

ANG Party Tickets Are On Sale! Party tickets are $40 per student. Purchase your party ticket by December 15 and receive 2 free entries into the Reserved Seat Raffle plus and additional $3,000 in casino cash for the student to use at the party. Ticket reservation forms can be downloaded from the HHS website (go to the class of 2010 page, then click on All Night Grad) or you can pay online using PayPal (a service fee applies for online orders). Downloaded forms can be sent in to school to the 12th grade office. Consider buying an extra ticket so that all our graduates can attend this exciting event. ANG will also continue to sell HHS Fleece Blankets until they are sold out. Look for the table at school events or contact Leslie Petty at lespetty@verizon.net. Blankets cost just $10 and make a great addition to the game gear packed in the back of your car at this time of year! ANG is on Facebook! Check us out - search for Herndon High School 2010 All Night Grad Party, "Hang Ten."

AFTER PROM COMMITTEE The After Prom Party planning has kicked off successfully. We had our first meeting and have filled almost all of the lead positions for committees; HOWEVER, we still need volunteers to help with planning and working the party. Lorri Ronis and Laura Medvene are co-chairing the May event and have set meetings for the first Wednesday of each month in the Guidance Counselor Conference Room (right across from the clinic). Our next meeting is Wednesday, November 4th at 7 p.m. Please try to come to the meeting�we keep them short and have food!! This is a fun event with lots of different opportunities to share your talents. If you have any questions, please contact Laura Medvene, LM6687@aol.com or Lorri Ronis, lmronis@yahoo.com.

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Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

CLASS OF 2011 The Class of 2011 has started the important task of planning this year�s Prom. The date and location is set: May 15, 2010 at the Waterford. All Juniors are encouraged to participate in the next steps of prom planning, choosing a theme, selecting the colors, and creating working committees. This is your opportunity to lay the groundwork for a truly awesome event! Watch for planning meetings and contact Jeff Sinclair at jksinclair@msn.com. Class of 2011 is also selling Herndon Hornet fleeces. The fleeces are $45 and proceeds will benefit Prom 2010. For more information, go to HHS website to download the pre-order form. Return completed forms and checks to Room 192 or to Ms. Moon's or Ms. Amado's mailbox. Questions? Contact Keysha Moon at Keysha.Moon@fcps.edu. Finally, congratulations on a job well done with this year�s Homecoming Float. The class continued the tradition of award-winning productions and lots of fun. Special thanks to the Sinclair family, for once again providing their home and yard for construction of the float.

CLASS OF 2012 Sophomores were proud to be awarded 1st Place Float in the Homecoming Parade. Thank you to our class sponsors, Lauren Eckert and Dave Serensits and Assistant Principal Sheila Cobert-Alzate for the time and leadership they extended to the kids. Special thanks to the Hill Family (Debbie, Roger, and Parker) for hosting the float building activity over several fall weekends. The float was amazing and the sophomores worked together as a team! Wave the Hornet Flag! The Class of 2012 is selling Herndon Hornet flags. The full-size 2' x 4' flags can be flown from a pole, or hung on a fence or wall. The flags are $30 and will be available at the October 3rd Homecoming Game. Supplies are limited. Order forms are on the HHS web.

Ann Marie Ruskin and Lesley Aschenbach Class of 2012 Liaisons

LIBRARY NEWS Come one, come all to Barnes & Noble Book Fair on November 27th through the 30th at the Spectrum Center in Reston. Herndon High School�s library will receive a portion of the proceeds based on the amount of sales. This is a perfect time to purchase that special holiday gift and benefit your child�s library. All proceeds will be used to purchase new books and/or AV equipment. Be sure to ask the sales associate at the counter for a voucher or download one from Herndon�s web page. Printed vouchers will be available in the library and main office. Your librarians have been busy the past two months giving freshmen orientation and plagiarism presentations. Be sure to ask them about Noodlebib and what it can do for them. We are also busy teaching them to use our many databases when completing their assignments (much better than Google)!! Our databases can be accessed remotely with the passwords available in HHS Media Center account in Blackboard. Check them out!!!

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PRINCIPAL SELECTION � UPDATE Assistant Superintendent Marty Smith announced the following details on the principal selection. • November 9th- Panel meets • New principal will (hopefully) be announced before Thanksgiving Break • New principal will be in place by December 1st Parents and community members are invited to submit written input addressing skills, experiences, and leadership characteristics needed at your school as well as challenges and issues the new principal will face.

Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

CAREER CENTER NEWS CAREER CENTER CALENDAR 11/2-3 Teacher Workdays - Best time to visit college campuses 11/11 ASVAB for sophomores, juniors and seniors sign up in the Career Center during lunch by November 9 11/17 Financial Aid Night for Parents � Auditorium 7-9 p.m. 12/21 Returning Graduate Panel for juniors and seniors 12/23 2-hour early dismissal 12/24-1/1 Winter Break � Seniors: Work on FAFASA and CSS Profile (if required); complete college applications with February or March deadlines FREE SAT PREP INFORMATION for students who received scores for the PSAT exam: My College QuickStart is an easy-to-use, online, personalized college and career planning kit, available free of charge to all students who take the PSAT/NMSQT. The information and answers your child provided when they took the test are incorporated into this useful tool and it presents their data back to them in four main parts:

� My Online Score Report - an enhanced score report that allows students to review each test question, the student�s answer, and the correct answer with answer explanations.

� My SAT Study Plan - a customized SAT study plan based on student PSAT/NMSQT test performance, highlighting skills for review and practice.

� My College Matches - A starter list of colleges based on the student�s state and indicated choice of major.

� My Major and Career Matches - Major and career matches that are compatible with the student�s general interests and personality type.

Access is available using the access code printed on the student�s paper score report. The tool can be utilized throughout high school. Visit www.collegeboard.com\quickstart. ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11. Sign up by November 9 in the Career Center. The ASVAB contains 8 short individual tests covering general science, arithmetic reasoning, word knowledge, paragraph comprehension, mathematics knowledge, electronics information, auto and shop information and mechanical comprehension. The results of the test

correlate to careers. This free 3-hour test is available to sophomores, juniors and seniors who sign up to take it. Students are responsible to make up class work missed during the test. There is no military obligation connected to the ASVAB. JUNIOR AND SENIOR Classes will have the opportunity to attend the Returning Grad Panel on December 21. Fresh from taking their final exams for the semester, some of last year�s seniors will be in the cafeteria to talk to this year�s juniors

and seniors about their college experiences. Topics range from strategies for living with roommates to the relative difficulty of courses compared to those at HHS.

A student who is not in an all-junior or all-senior class at the times the sessions are scheduled may sign up for an individual pass to attend. FINANCIAL AID: FAFSA4caster is an online financial aid estimator that provides students and families an early estimate of the student�s federal student aid eligibility. Go to: www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov. Winter break is the ideal time to gather around the trusty computer with your senior to get a head start on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Apply for a PIN (electronic signature), if you and your student each haven�t already done so. Go to www.PIN.ed.gov. Fill out the online FAFSA form at: www.FAFSA.ed.gov. Use estimated figures based on last year�s Federal Income Tax Return and submit that form as soon after January 1 as possible for the best outcome. Some private schools require you to fill out the CSS/Financial Aid Profile in addition to the FAFSA to qualify for financial aid. Check www.collegeboard.com.

Find timely scholarship information on Family Connection. Log into Blackboard click �Family Connection.� From the left menu under �About College� click �Scholarship List.� All scholarship information, national, state, county and local is available here.

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Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

PTSA MEMBERSHIP Thank you to the 424 parents and staff who have joined the HHS PTSA to date. We would love to have more of you join the PTSA and take advantage of the opportunities available to members. Reasons to join are:

• Obtain materials and practical information on a variety of topics of interest to parents and families. • Learn about important issues affecting the children and schools in your community. • Share concerns, ideas, and experiences with other parents and educators in the community. • Be a voice for your children � and all children � by communicating and partnering with school and community

leaders on important issues. • Support school activities and enhance your child�s academic environment. • Learn about local and state legislation affecting education and health programs. • Take advantage of opportunities and programs offered by our State PTA and National PTA.

You can now join the PTSA online using Pay Pal. Just follow this link to join: http://www.fcps.edu/HerndonHS/ptsa/ptsa_org/membershipPay.html. If you would prefer, you can still submit a paper form with check or cash to the HHS main office. The form is on page 12 of this newsletter or may be found at http://www.fcps.edu/HerndonHS/ptsa/ptsa_org/membership.htm. Forms should be mailed to:

HHS PTSA 700 Bennett Street Herndon, VA 20170

NOTES FROM THE HHS CLINIC Dear Parents, Greetings from the School Health Room formerly known as the Clinic! We would like to ask your help in controlling the spread of illness through Herndon HS. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to be the �enforcers.� We have had too many students coming to school sick to take a test, because they have a game or practice, or just because they don�t want to miss school. By the time they get to us, they have spread their germs to their busmates, classmates, the teachers and staff here at HHS. You need to keep your student in bed when they have a fever or are sick. Remember that they will never do as well on a test or in a game if they are concentrating on being sick. We also want you to know that we are tracking attendance daily to keep abreast of the level of illness and absences at HHS. To that end we are asking the following:

Please keep your student home if he/she is sick. It is difficult to learn when you have to concentrate on being sick. A student who is sick shares germs with everyone around him/her.

When you call your student in sick, please tell us if your student has a fever and/or if they are experiencing a cough or sore throat (signs of influenza-like illness) or vomiting or diarrhea. This will help if we need to investigate an alert for a high number of absences (and save you a phone call in the bargain).

Students should be fever free (without meds) and not have been vomiting or had diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school.

If your student will need medications, you may check the HHS web page under �Student Services� and �Clinic� (http://www.fcps.edu/HerndonHS/guidance/clinic/clinic.htm) for links to the FCPS med regulation and forms to download or you may call Robin Weinstein in the clinic at 703-810-2210.

Healthy students learn better!

Virginia Wilkinson, MSN, RN, NCSN School Public Health Nurse

Robin Weinstein School Health Aide 11

Thank you for supporting the HHS PTSA!

Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

09 Join the PTSA 10

Your active commitment to Herndon High School is vital to the success of our PTSA, and your support enhances your child�s academic environment. By joining the PTSA, you will help support school activities such as After-Prom Celebration, All-Night Graduation Celebration, School Directory, Newsletters, Scholarships, and more. Please show your support of the HHS PTSA and join today! We encourage you to give an additional donation to help fund our PTSA programs. We do not have any fund-raisers other than this request, and any amount you can give would be appreciated. A suggested amount of donation is Gold, $35; Silver, $25; and Bronze, $10. Parent Name__________________________________________________

E-mail Address_________________________________________________ Phone Number_________________________________________________ Student Name & Grade___________________________________________

! Individual Member ($10 per person) ! Staff Member ($5 per person) Additional donation to help fund PTSA programs. ! $35 ! $25 ! $10 ! Other ________ This check is for the following items � ! PTSA Membership ($10 per individual, $5 for staff)

! Additional Donation (Any amount is welcomed & appreciated)

! Newsletter Subscription ($5 per address. Be sure to include separate subscription form included in this packet) Check Amount $ _________

Please make all checks payable to HHS PTSA and mail to: HHS PTSA, 700 Bennett Street, Herndon, VA 20170

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Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

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H E R N D O N H I G H S C H O O L P T S A

BUILDING & EQUIPMENT IMPROVEMENT PATRONS

Our Building is a vital part of Herndon High School. The Herndon High School PTSA Building & Equipment Improvement Patron program was developed to help fund new equipment to support our building. Fairfax County Public Schools only funds a small amount of what is needed to keep our equipment up-to-date. Our Custodial Staff and Building Maintenance Staff have been using very old equipment that requires constant repairs and maintenance. Donations from previous years were used to replace worn, outdated equipment in the Clinic, a Media Center computer station renovation project, create the Hornet mural outside the cafeteria and fund SmartBoards. We would like to thank the following patrons for their donations.

Red and Black Patron - $25

Fred & Jo Bagley Kathy & Skip Banks Anonymous Charlene Dunne Carolyn Faraday Joanne & David Fleming Susan Harford Sylvia Headen Susan Horting Beth & Dave Hitchings Judith Impellizzeri Susan Olinger & Dan Kole

Dale & Claire Levin Beth & Steve Martin Bill & Judy Murden Blaine & Caroline Newlon Cheryl & Scott Rodakowski Sarah Rousset Alicia & Kent Schmitt Laurie Tazbin Bob & Pam Thomas Holly Weatherwax Cynthia & Michael Wei

Hornet Patron - $50

Sandy Coyner Nina & Craig Falci Lee & Bob Fortna Dan & Sue Jason Sally & Jon Lyver Susy & John Nixon

Otis & Belinda Otih Anonymous Vornida Seng Daniel & Annabel Sheron Jeanne & Scott Talbot Gretchen Ward

Platinum Patron - $100

Alan & Sue Altschuler Michael & Kathleen Betti Yvon Brind'Amour John & Ellen Findley Courtney & Lindsey Linden Jeanne Loveland & John Mendonca Maureen & Gary Newell

Mimi Kramer-Roberts & John Roberts Anonymous Robert & Karen Shoemaker Tony & Donna Tisdale The Walker family Mark Wrigley Anonymous

Herndon High School November/December 2009 PTSA Newsletter

FCPS COMMUNITY BUDGET DIALOGUES (Text from FCPS Flyer http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/government/budget/fy2011-budget-input-flyer.pdf) Fairfax County is projecting a significant budget deficit for FY 2011 (beginning July 1, 2010). We are in the midst of a multi-year, cyclical downturn requiring that county decision-makers continue to make expenditure and revenue adjustments. Our ongoing challenge is to develop a budget with an appropriate level of services that are both sustainable and acceptable to the community.

Fairfax County Government and Fairfax County Public Schools invite you to register and attend one of 12 Community Dialogues being held this Fall to share your feedback on the impacts of recent budget reductions as well as seeking for solutions to close the FY 2011 budget gap. County decision-makers will use your input as a key factor to help guide the development of criteria for making budget decisions.

The format will be based on the same, successful format used last year: County and Schools� budget presentations followed by staff facilitated small group discussions. Registration is required. For more information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/budget or call 703-324-2391, TTY 711.

If you are unable to attend one of these community dialogues, we still want to hear from you. If you have suggestions or comments, please call the Budget Hotline at 703-324-9400 or complete the Budget Feedback Form online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/budget. The LAST meetings are on Saturday, November 14, 10 a.m. to noon at three locations, Kings Park Library, Sherwood Regional Library, and George Mason Regional Library.

NORTHWEST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION BUSINESS PARTNER Northwest Federal Credit Union (NWFCU), a not-for-profit financial cooperative, began partnering with Herndon High School in 2008. With assets exceeding $1.6 billion, NWFCU serves over 100,000 members nationwide. Pay less for your loans, cars, and home. Earn more on your money. Compare our rates. NWFCU offers student services, education loans, 3,300+ locations, 33,000+ free ATMs, and more. Education planning services are also available. Members of the Herndon High School PTSA and their families are invited to join NWFCU by opening a savings account with $5 or more. Visit our website, www.nwfcu.org. Join online today by selecting Herndon High School PTSA as your qualifying organization! Northwest Federal Credit Union Foundation promotes and manages NWFCU�s charitable activities, and participates in financial literacy education and other programs that reflect the interests of our membership and the community as a whole. NWFCU Foundation offers scholarship opportunities to deserving students, provides volunteer opportunities, and supports numerous events throughout the year. Two HHS students were awarded $5,000 scholarship last school year. NWFCU employees also volunteered at the Homecoming Parade, Class of 2009 Reality Store, and test proctoring. Thank you, Greg Ferentinos Business Development Specialist

Northwest Federal Credit Union 200 Spring Street, Herndon, VA 20170 E-mail: gferentinos@nwfcu.org Website: www.nwfcu.org Phone: (703) 925-5123 Fax: (703) 925-5117

HERNDON HIGH SCHOOL CALENDAR (Events subject to change, please consult HHS website for latest updates.) November 4 WOW dinner to Benefit All Night Grad Committee 6 p.m. at Herndon United Methodist Church 7 SAT 10 Tag Day Band Concert 7:00 p.m. 11 ASVAB Testing (preregistration req in Career Center) 11 PTSA Meeting 7:00 p.m. 12 Madrigals � U. of Maryland Choir Invitational 12 Parent Coffee- �Teen Mental Health & Depression� 7-8 a.m. 13 Touching Bases 7:30-9:30 a.m. (3-hr delayed opening) 16 Winter Sports begin 20 NJROTC Change of Command 23 & 24 Fall Sports Banquets 6:30 p.m. 25 Two Hour Early Release 26-27 No School 30 Winter Sports Parent Meeting 6:30 p.m. December 1 Honor Roll Reception � Time TBA 3 & 5 Drama Dept Production �OKLAHOMA� 7:30 p.m. 4 Baseball Boosters Silent Auction 6 �OKLAHOMA� 2:00 p.m. 5 SAT 9 Orchestra Concert 7:00 p.m. 12 ACT 14 Band Concert 7:00 p.m. 16 Guitar Concert 7:00 p.m. 17 Financial Aid Night 7:00 p.m. 21 Returning Grad Panel 21 Winter Chorus Concert 7:30 p.m. 23 Two Hour Early Release Dec 24 � Jan 3 No School

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