Fairfax Connection ● Camps & Schools

Education Learning Fun

/Connection

Gina J. Uricoli Fairfax Connection ● Camps & Schools

Photo by www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Fairfax Connection ● July 2009 ● A+ Education, Learning, Fun ● Camps & SchoolsJuly 2009 ● 1 Give Your Child An KENWOOD SCHOOL Educational Edge Educational Excellence at an Affordable Price High School Diplomas College Prep Tutoring Services Preschool Learning for Life Skills Classes thru College Admission Advisement Sixth Grade Career Choice Coaching •Financial Aid Available After School Enrichment Programs •Small Classes UUNITEDNITED CCULTURALULTURAL AACADEMYCADEMY •Individual Attention Great Alternative to Public & Private Schools Register before Aug. 31 & save $150 off Sept. 2009 tuition.

4955 Sunset Lane Annandale, VA 703-256-4711 www.kenwoodschool.com helping youth make a better world Established Since 1957

Adat Reyim Preschool Is Your Little One Ready is currently registering for Preschool? and filling fast!

The Preschool – located at 6500 Westbury Oaks Court, Springfield, near Burke – _____provides children with a safe and nurturing environment while emphasizing Jewish experiences and values. The small student/teacher ratio enables staff to focus on each student’s social, problem solving, and decision making skills as well as their physical awareness, and fine and gross motor skills. Adat Reyim Preschool offers programs for ages 21 months to five years old. School hours for our 2- and 3-year-old classes are 9:30 am- 12:30 pm, with an additional hour option for Lunch Bunch from 12:30 pm- 1:30 pm, and 9:30 am- 1:30 pm for our 4-year-old and Pre-K classes, with Lunch Bunch included in their day. We offer Enrichment classes twice a week from 1:30 - 2:15 pm as well. If your child is ready for preschool and you’re looking for a caring early educational setting, Adat Reyim Preschool is the place for you! All children are welcome! For more information or to set up a tour, visit www.adatreyim.org or contact Liz Bayer, Preschool Parent/Chair, or Gail Froehlich, Preschool Director, at 703-455-PLAY (7529).

2 ● A+ Education, Learning, Fun ● Camps & Schools ● July 2009 ● Connection Newspapers www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Education●Learning●Fun NVCC ‘Guarantees’ ●Transfer, Guaranteed Community college Northern Virginia Community College students earning an associate’s degree can earn graduates with certain guaranteed admission to many four-year colleges, including UVA and William and Mary, if they meet certain course requirements and GPA, courses, can win earn a certain grade point average (GPA.) Those who use the community college’s automatic acceptance. “guaranteed admissions” program transfer into undergraduate programs as juniors because the By Julia O’Donoghue credits earned for their associate’s degree count toward their freshman and sophomore The Connection years of school. The exact GPA and extra course require- hen Suzanne Spatz ments needed for automatic admission vary, depending on the university or college the graduated from student wishes to attend. Woodson Secondary Here is a list of schools that will automatically School in 2007, her accept Northern Virginia Community College familyW knew she wouldn’t be able to graduates if certain requirements are met, including the following GPA threshold: attend a four-year college or university right away. School GPA Needed Art Institute of Washington None listed Even though she received excellent Christopher Newport University 3.5 grades in high school, Spatz suffered College of William & Mary 3.6 from Lyme disease and was too sick ECPI College of Technology 2.5 Emory & Henry College 2.5 to go away to college at the time. So Ferrum College 2.0 the teenager opted to attend North- George Mason University 2.75 ern Virginia Community College and Georgetown University - Liberal Studies 3.0 The George Washington University live at home while her health stabi- – Pharmacogenomics 3.0 lized. Hollins University 2.5 “We never would have thought James Madison University 3.0 Liberty University 2.0 about it until she became ill,” said Longwood University 2.5 Melody Spatz, about the decision to Lynchburg College 2.0 * enroll her daughter, Suzanne, at a Mary Baldwin College 2.5 Marymount University community college. – Business Administration 2.5 Both Melody Spatz and her hus- Marymount University band had attended the University of – Interior Design None listed National-Louis University 2.5 Virginia and always assumed their Norfolk State University 2.0 children would enroll in traditional Nyack College 2.0 four-year undergraduate programs. Old Dominion University None listed Park University None listed Initially, Melody Spatz worried Radford University 2.8 Suzanne would not be an attractive Photo by Louise Krafft/Connection Randolph College 3.0 transfer applicant for selective four- Pre-med students Aisha Bashir and Rabia Aslam relax in the courtyard between Regent University 2.0 classes on the Northern Virginia Community College Annandale campus. Regis University 2.0 year universities because she would Strayer University 2.0 be coming from a community college. Sweet Briar College 2.5 ● Western perspective” course. Trinity University (Washington D.C.) 2.5 Find Out More Troy University 2.0 BUT Suzanne Spatz’s time at North- For more information on Northern Virginia “I am very happy that I did it. It was United States Sports Academy 2.0 ern Virginia Community College Community College’s guaranteed admission kind of nice to know I could guaran- University of Mary Washington 3.25 helped, rather than hindered, her program, see www.nvcc.edu/about-nova/ tee my admissions somewhere,” said University of Virginia directories—offices/administrative-offices/ – College of Arts and Sciences 3.4 admission to one of the top public academic/guaranteed-adm/ Spatz. University of Virginia’s College at Wise 2.5 universities in the country. Virginia Commonwealth University 2.5 ** The teenager was automatically Students like Spatz, who earn a IN ADDITION to the University of Virginia State University 2.0 Virginia Tech 3.4 accepted to the University of Virginia grade-point average (GPA) of at least Virginia, about 38 other colleges and Virginia Tech after meeting all the requirements 3.4 on a 4.0 scale, can be assured a universities have signed “guaranteed – College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 3.0 laid out in a “guaranteed admissions” slot at the University of Virginia admissions” agreements with North- Virginia Tech – College of Engineering 3.0 Virginia Union University 2.0 agreement between Northern Virginia through the arrangement. ern Virginia Community College over Virginia Wesleyan College 2.5 Community College and the highly In addition to the GPA cut off, the the last two years. competitive state school in students must earn at least a “C” or Some of the schools participating *Community college students earning a 3.5 GPA or higher will automatically receive a Charlottesville. higher in all of their community are among the state’s most presti- $10,000 scholarship to Lynchburg, students The arrangement allows the com- college classes and a “B” or higher in gious – including the College of earning a 3.0 to 3.49 GPA will receive a $7,500 munity college graduates to bypass two required English courses. They William & Mary, Virginia Tech, James scholarship to Lynchburg, students earning a 2.5 to 2.99 GPA will receive a $5,000 scholar- the regular application process and also have to take a certain number of Madison University, George Mason ship to Lynchburg ensure their transfer to the University community college credit hours in University, The George Washington of Virginia if they meet certain aca- foreign language, social science, University and Georgetown Univer- **Community college students earning a 2.75 GPA or higher will be eligible to compete for a demic thresholds while earning their humanities and historical studies. sity. special scholarship at Virginia Commonwealth associate’s degree. They must enroll in at least one “non- See NVCC, Page 6 University www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Fairfax Connection ● July 2009 ● A+ Education, Learning, Fun ● Camps & Schools ● 3 Education●Learning●Fun Scouts Update Their Status

as a way for parents to have a few Away-from-home experience at summer camp talking points ahead of time. It’s also a has changed with today’s technology. way for the girls to do something together at camp that might not By Jason Mackey really hard to show other people how involve glue sticks and crayons. The Connection exciting girl scouting can be. Some “I love embracing technology with people may think that it’s really the girls,” said Hunter. In addition to atie Thompson and her boring and lame, but really it’s an working as her own troop’s leader, Girl Scout troop had been awesome experience that helps you Hunter is responsible for training a in the middle of a 10-mile out later in life.” cadre of group leaders. Technology, as hike along the “In a time where we’re always trying she eventually learned, has always KMassanutten Trail 19 months ago to encourage girls to stay in Girl been a point of contention among when they had to stop for a moment. Scouts and [we’re trying to] recruit those in charge. It wasn’t as if someone was tired or Girl Scouts, what greater publicity is “It’s interesting when we talk train- needed a drink of water. The view there than having one girl call a friend ing, there are some old-school folks from one of the mountain’s ridges, and say, ‘This is so cool … look what that say, ‘I prohibit cell phones,” quite frankly, was too much. I’m doing,’” said troop leader Barb Hunter said, “and I’ll say, ‘Let’s talk Once at a standstill, members of the Hunter. about that.’ Because these girls … group peered out over the ridge, Indeed, cutting-edge technology has that’s part of their very being. which bisects the Shenandoah Valley been welcomed within Troop 5002. Photo courtesy of Doug Donnell At Marriott Ridge in Fauquier County, Ben Clark, right, and Jonathan and overlooks Luray, Va. This was a Hunter, who works for the Air Force “Some old-school folks Bocktler from Troop 1018 learn to build a fire. Doug Donnell, the troop’s Photo courtesy of Barb Hunter moment and a view unlike many the during the day and is an admitted leader, started a blog three years ago to recount a trip to Switzerland for Members of Barb Hunter’s Girl Scout troop 5002 take a break during a recent whitewater rafting trip. They are, from left, teenage girls from Fairfax Station and “geek at heart,” wouldn’t have it any say, ‘I prohibit cell those back home, ‘It was very well received,’ he says. Quinn Kratovil, Katie Ray, Amy McCormack, Jennie Allen and Kaylee Ahnberg. Lorton had ever seen and it had to be other way. In fact, the group has phones,’ and I’ll say, recorded for posterity. Bragging, as embraced Facebook as a way to fingers started to make contact with organize troop activities and even ‘Let’s talk about that.’” nectivity … see you in a week.’ I THREE YEARS ago, Doug Donnell rather innovative idea: He started a from Reston, Herndon and Great Falls map.” buttons on the girls’ cell phones, publishes a daily E-Newsletter to send — Barb Hunter, know some enjoy that quite well.” took his Troop 1018 to Switzerland blog. were doing and how the trip was would be required. to parents, recapping what happened Girl Scout Troop 5002 Like many, Hargreaves doesn’t for two weeks. With international cell Troop member Dan Carew volun- going. MIKE DONAGHUE remembers the “I really enjoyed being able to do that day at camp. have a carved-in-stone rule when it phone restrictions, Donnell knew that teered to write and blogged, posting “It was very well received,” Donnell days when he used to have to travel that,” said Thompson, who, along Well aware that beginning an over- comes to the use of cell phones; he his Boy Scouts likely wouldn’t com- daily updates and photos, from Swit- said. more than 5 miles from the Goshen with her troop, started snapping dinner conversation with one’s teen- “Prohibiting [cell phones] would be does, however, recommend that his municate all that much with those zerland. It was a hit. Parents logged This year, troop member Harry Scout Reservation to the community’s pictures and calling friends to remem- age daughter might rival a difficult like saying to someone in their 30s scouts leave them at home. back home, so he decided to try a on to read about what the children White will carry on the tradition as public library just to check his e-mail. ber the moment. “Before, if you didn’t mountain climb, Hunter started the that you’re going to prohibit them Hargreaves did say that Donnell and Co. will travel to Every third day, Goshen said, he’d have the technology to do that, it’s Daily Prophet E-Newsletter program from ever using a computer again.” sometimes it’s the parents who Switzerland again July 16-29. power on a computer and flip have the toughest time adjust- Members of Donnell’s troop through his messages. YET WHILE Hunter ing. Often, there will be parents have also been some of the first Now, Goshen is one of the few, if not views technology as a unable because of work to go a to earn merit badges based on the only, scout sites that houses its vital part of the scouting few days with checking e-mail computer literacy. When his son own computer lab. Twelve Dell desk- experience, others have or monitoring text messages, William Donnell earned his tops were installed four years ago so been holding out as long which will result in a scurry for merit badge for the program, Goshen could offer the merit badge as possible. Stephen the nearest cell phone signal or he had to draw a map of the program that William Donnell breezed Hargreaves, the troop Wi-Fi access point — not a scout camp in Goshen, Va. through. leader for Boy Scout restroom. William Donnell, meanwhile, After breakfast every morning the Troop 893 in Centreville, Scott Romans, the leader for took things a step farther, computer lab fills to capacity, views scouting expedi- Springfield-based Troop 1518, drawing a three-dimensional, Donaghue said. Scouts are permitted tions as a way to get said that as a leader, having a interactive map of his sur- to access the computers, whether it’s away from technology cell phone provides him with a roundings with a video game researching material for another and a way to re-connect bit of assurance, knowing that if called Operation Flashpoint. A badge or completing the computer- with nature. something did happen, help former computer science major oriented badge program. It’s a sce- “They get enough of it would not be all that far away. at Virginia Tech, the project nario that Donaghue envisioned when at home, and when “When it’s distracting to the wasn’t all that hard for some- the computers were donated by they’re here, we’re trying main point of the activity, we’ll one like Donnell. McLean-based Booz Allen Hamilton. to get them to do scout suggest that [the cell phone] be “I was just having fun with it, “We wouldn’t have built it if we things,” Hargreaves said. put away,” Romans said. “Hav- and I like computer stuff so it didn’t think it would be an attractor,” “We’re away from it for a ing said that, let me tell you was pretty easy for me to get Donaghue said. “We’re not aware of week where we can’t be that as a leader, when you go carried away,” he said. “I had any other camp that’s outfitted like we contacted. It’s pretty out camping with scouts, the more fun with the map than I are, especially with this particular Photo courtesy of Barb Hunter much, ‘Hey, I’m at scout ability to use a cell phone is did with the game. It was technology center. I guess we’re Quinn Kratovil, from left, Kaylee Ahnberg and Amy McCormack light a ceremonial candle. In Troop Photo courtesy of Doug Donnell 5002, leader Barb Hunter has tried to integrate technology into the scouting experience. ‘I love camp in the middle of reassuring.” During Boy Scout Troop 1018’s hike through the Shenandoah National Park to prepare for an definitely above and beyond maybe a little more advanced.” embracing technology with the girls,’ says Hunter. nowhere with no con- upcoming trip to Switzerland, Joseph White looks over a map, as his son, Harry White looks on. using a computer to draw a 4 ● A+ Education, Learning, Fun ● Camps & Schools ● July 2009 ● Connection Newspapers www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Fairfax Connection ● July 2009 ● A+ Education, Learning, Fun ● Camps & Schools ● 5 Education●Learning●Fun Guarantee? From Page 3 and I couldn’t take as many [Ad- drew Flagel, Mason’s director of vanced Placement] courses as I admissions. “The arrangement covers normally would have because of “There is a pretty strong corre- some private and virtually all my health,” said Spatz, who gradu- lation between a student’s GPA at the public institutions in Vir- ated from Northern Virginia Com- a community college and a munity College’s honors program student’s GPA at a four-year col- ginia, except for [Virginia Mili- with almost a perfect 4.0 GPA. lege. Actually, the indicators we tary Institute],” said Bob Students who are accepted to have for student success from high Templin, president of Northern four-year undergraduate pro- school – their GPA and test scores Virginia Community College. grams could also save a lot of – are very weak predictors of how Required coursework and money by attending community they will do in college,” said GPA cut offs for automatic ac- college for two years and transfer- Flagel. ring to a four-year school for the ceptance vary, depending on second half of their undergradu- THERE IS some fine print to read which four-year college or univer- ate program. as students navigate the guaran- sity a student would like to attend. Community college graduates teed admissions program. But all students are obligated to who use the “guaranteed admis- The guaranteed admissions ar- earn an associate’s degree before sions” program are given the same rangements do not always apply taking advantage of the “guaran- academic standing as a regular to specialized or highly competi- teed admissions” arrangement. junior when they transfer to their tive programs at a particular col- Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Students who take some com- new school. They could graduate lege or university. 2009-2010 Season munity college classes but do not in the same amount of time as stu- For example, McLean resident Christopher Zimmerman, Music Director earn their associate’s degree are dents who attended the four-year William Law was interested in us- not eligible for “guaranteed ad- All concerts at 8:00 p.m. at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts institution for their entire under- ing the guaranteed admissions ar- missions” and have to use the tra- graduate career, thereby saving a rangement at the University of Vir- SUBSCRIBE NOW! ditional application process at all lot of money. ginia, until he discovered it did Assure your seats for Maestro Zimmerman’s exciting first season. colleges and universities who par- “[Northern Virginia Community not apply to the school’s business Visit www.fairfaxsymphony.org or call 703-563-1990 ticipate in the program. College] is cheaper than any other program, the McIntire School of According to Templin, students Media Partner school in our area and it can save Commerce. Single tickets will be available after August 1, 2009. who earn an associate’s degree Please note – programs and artists are subject to change. our students a ton of money. … “Since I had my heart set on tend to perform better academi- They pay less in tuition. They can getting into McIntire, I did not cally at four-year institutions. stay at home and not pay room want to make a binding agree- “When you complete the degree and board costs. And they can ment with any other college/pro- program, your chances of doing maintain their current job,” said gram,” said Law, who will attend well at the university are much Joan Zanders, Northern Virginia the business school next fall, in better than if you come in and Community College’s director of an e-mail. “I think the [guaranteed sample a few courses before trans- financial aid. The two-year admissions agreements] are an ferring,” said Templin. school’s tuition is approximately excellent tool and certainly a ma- $105 per credit hour compared to jor selling point for those consid- AS THE PUBLIC hears more approximately $573 per credit ering NVCC. When I talk to people about the “guaranteed admis- hour at George Mason, $282 per about NVCC, that is generally one sions” arrangements, Northern credit hour at Virginia Tech and of the first things I mention.” Virginia Community College will $790 per credit hour at the Uni- Melody Spatz said it can often become more popular among stu- versity of Virginia, according to be very difficult to keep up with dents who have always intended those school’s Web sites. all the requirements and dead- to earn a bachelor’s degree, said “We are a good option for lots lines associated with the guaran- officials. of folks who would normally go teed admissions agreements. “I Competition to get into to a four-year school directly but think it is a good program but you Virginia’s top-tier state colleges are having a difficult time because have to be really well informed. and universities has grown so of the economic crisis. … You can We made flow charts with all of fierce among Northern Virginia still get the degree of your choice the deadlines on them. …It is not high school students that even but, for two years, you will have an easy process. There are a lot of one of the South County Second- much lower tuition. ” said George things you have to keep up with,” ary School’s recent valedictorians Gabriel, vice president for college said Spatz. was not able to get into the Uni- advancement at Northern Virginia Northern Virginia Community versity of Virginia. Community College. College’s enrollment numbers are “For students who are inter- Students who perform well at up 15 percent from last year, ested in going to some of the Northern Virginia Community when the total student population more selective universities in the College tend to be very good pu- was approximately 67,000. Offi- state, this is a huge opportunity. pils at four-year schools. cials said there has been a surge For a lot of students, they find it The University of Virginia found of applicants. difficult to get into these institu- Northern Virginia Community Northern Virginia high schools tions from Northern Virginia,” College graduates who trans- collectively graduated the largest said Greg Schuckman, president ferred to their programs achieved class of seniors in the history of of the Northern Virginia Commu- as much or more than those who the region this year, said nity College’s Board of Trustees. came to the school directly from Schuckman, president of the “If I had applied to UVA out of high school, said Schuckman. NVCC’s Board of Trustees. Among high school, I honestly probably George Mason University found Fairfax County Public School stu- wouldn’t have gotten in. My similar results when it compared dents, Northern Virginia Commu- grades were pretty good but my community college transfers to its nity College is the most popular SAT scores were not very good other undergraduates, said An- destination, he said.

6 ● A+ Education, Learning, Fun ● Camps & Schools ● July 2009 ● Connection Newspapers www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Education●Learning●Fun

A flexible and innovative high school curriculum

Enroll Now for Fall 2009

• An informal, intellectual culture in which individuality is prized • Classes averaging 8 students accommodate varied learning styles • A talented faculty inspires life-long scholarship • A convenient Dupont Circle location Jason Caputo demonstrates how fake blood is Maggee Albertson shows used to mimic the effects of a gun shot wound. campers one way to duplicate a www.emersonprep.net vampire bite using a baggie of fake blood. Jason Caputo bravely stands in as her victim. 202-785-2877 Campers watch intently as their counselors demonstrate the next improvisation exercise that they will play.

ON THE COVER: Participants of the Robinson Secondary School Drama Camp practice a musical number for their end of the week show. Photos by Gina J. Uricoli The Connection

Madison Auch, Sami Grozbean, Ben Johnson, and Chris Caputo demonstrate an Improvisation game in which two people speak for the actors on stage, which must complete the exercise in silence. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Fairfax Connection ● July 2009 ● A+ Education, Learning, Fun ● Camps & Schools ● 7 Dr. Pamela Marzban Experience how subtle changes can transform your health, your confidence, and your life

With sedation What is Sedation Dentistry? Many of you have heard the term sedation dentistry…so what is it? It dentistry, you is the act of taking anti-anxiety pills to help relax you enough to have dental treatment done. Through my years of practice, I seldom meet people that don’t have some level of fear of the dentist. Some fear “the shot”, can regain your some “the sound”, and some the “entire experience”. Regardless of what health and have the fear is, there are ways to work through them. The process is simple. After a careful review of the patient’s medical history, I will choose the appropriate medication(s) and level of sedation to the fabulous best meet their needs. On the day of treatment, the patient will be driven by a companion, because most likely they will have taken a single pill smile you before arriving at the office. More medication may be given depending on the type of procedures being performed and the duration of the appoint- ment. When treatment is complete and our patient is ready to go home, always wanted! the companion will drive them home and stay with them until our patient is fully recovered (about 4-10 hours). Due to the amnesic proper- ties of many of the medications, PATIENTS HAVE LITTLE-TO-NO MEMORY OF THEIR TIME IN THE DENTAL CHAIR BY THE NEXT DAY! Sedation dentistry is safe and it works when it is done by a trained doctor.

If this sounds like it may be what you’ve been waiting for, I want you to know that at our office, we understand and appreciate that your fears are real and completely legitimate. Fear and anxiety are normal, and something that you can’t always control. You don’t have to feel embarrassed, just get started. We welcome you to visit our office by calling us or checking out our website.

703.323.8200 www.marzbandds.com 8996 Burke Lake Road, Suite 101 Burke, Virginia 22015 e-mail: [email protected]

8 ● A+ Education, Learning, Fun ● Camps & Schools ● July 2009 ● Connection Newspapers www.ConnectionNewspapers.com