Debate Can Be Civil, Too Remembering on Memorial Day
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SpringfieldSpringfield Franconia❖Kingstowne❖Newington Follow on Twitter: @SprConnection on Twitter: Follow Classified, Page 10 Classified, ❖ Entertainment, Page 8 ❖ Opinion, Page 6 Students from Robert E. Lee High School take to the dance floor at the Day Prom. ‘A‘A DayDay toto Remember’Remember’ News,News, PagePage 33 Remembering On Memorial Day 2017 Debate Can Be Civil, Too Editorial, Page 6 News, Page 12 Photo by Margaret Rembisz www.ConnectionNewspapers.comJune 1-7, 2017 online at www.connectionnewspapers.comSpringfield Connection ❖ June 1-7, 2017 ❖ 1 5 2017 Special VIP Offer for your Toyota ALEXANDRIA TOYOTA 2 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ June 1-7, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Springfield Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Photos by Ashley Claire Simpson Claire by Ashley Photos Students from nine high schools – Chantilly, Herndon, Lake Braddock, Lee, Oakton, Robinson, Stuart, Westfield and Woodson — participated in the Day Prom at the Waterford on May 24. Students with special needs enjoy ‘A Day to Remember’ their own Day Prom. By Ashley Claire Simpson intervention as they try to communicate The Connection with any of the other students here, we’re here to step in and help them facilitate a ore than 16 years ago, Pop- conversation,” said Andreani, who also lar Tree Elementary School’s works at West Springfield. “Being here al- Mthen special education Rembisz by Margaret Photo lows us to see how our kids are reaching teacher, Chris Pascarella, their communication goals outside the class- had a vision of her students’ upcoming high room. And, for the kids here who do go to school experience. She just couldn’t accept the general ed prom with their own school, the reality that the students before her, who Day Prom is great preparation.” loved music and moving to all kinds of Pete enjoys being at Day Prom both to rhythms, might not get to experience a high see her students demonstrate what they’ve school prom. Pascarella felt that they de- learned in the classroom, and to witness served a signature dance where they could them enjoying themselves in a typical so- make some lifelong memories. So, she or- cial setting. ganized a small prom specifically for high A group of students from Lee High School gather for a photo at the “We like to see our kids out in the com- school students with special needs. Day Prom. munity, and, in this case, getting to have a Since the early 2000s, this prom, with prom of their own,” Pete said. “They don’t each year’s theme being “A Day to Remem- two days. This year, the two dances took everything else.” have to miss out on fun things. Here, they ber,” has grown into an annual springtime place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednes- The morning of Wednesday, May 24, stu- get to enjoy what everyone, including the event that brings hundreds of students to- day, May 17, and the again on Wednesday, dents from nine high schools arrived at the gen ed kids, does.” gether from schools across Fairfax County May 24. Waterford – Chantilly, Herndon, Lake Even though their time at the Day Prom Public Schools (FCPS). This May, 336 high “Of course, it’s so rewarding to see Day Braddock, Lee, Oakton, Robinson, Stuart, was a work day for school staff members, school students were able to experience the Prom come together every year,” said Westfield and Woodson. the teachers said there is no way that Day 16th Annual Day Prom — all with the help Pascarella. “The students start asking about Girls stepped off the school buses in vi- Prom can compare even remotely to a regu- of 205 teachers and general education stu- it at the beginning of every school year.” brant dresses, and the young men entered lar day in the classroom. dent volunteers. Although this prom is not an official FCPS the Waterford in button-down shirts, suit “For most of these kids, a late night prom “When I taught special needs students at event, its execution takes the collaboration jackets, and, many in ties. Before they en- would just be too much,” said Marianne Poplar Tree, I knew they loved music,” and cooperation of special needs teachers tered the ballroom, with a wide wooden McKeon, a career preparation teacher at Pascarella said. “When they were old and Parent Teacher Student Associations dance floor surrounded by round tables for Robinson. “Here, they get to experience a enough to be going to high school, I started (PTSAs) from each school that participates. taking breaks and eating lunch, teachers semi-formal dance. They all love music so organizing a small dance for the special The Waterford donates the space to hold and student volunteers pinned boutonnieres you get to see their little walls come down. needs students at Herndon High School and the event, and the deejay contributes his to the boys’ suit jackets and slid corsages This is a day they can be with their bud- two other schools. At first, we had the event time and service free of charge. The rest of onto the girls’ wrists. dies, having a good time, without us hov- at the Hyatt in Reston, but we’ve since out- it is up to teachers and parents to make sure ering.” grown that space. It grew from three these students get the prom they look for- TEACHERS and case managers from spe- Just like any classic high school dance, schools, to now students in special ed pro- ward to every year, even getting creative cial needs programs attend the dance as teachers stood at the edge of the dance floor grams from 18 schools.” where necessary. both chaperones and as part of a support nodding to the beat of both today’s hits and “In previous years, many of the schools system for their students. more classic party songs like the “YMCA” DAY PROM, hosted at the Waterford in Fair used to send the students in limos,” Speech pathologists Erin Andreani and and “The Cupid Shuffle.” At this prom, some Oaks, has become an annual event that stu- Pascarella said. “Many schools now use the Stacy Pete, both from Lee High School, teachers and student volunteers were on the dents anticipate for much of the academic FCPS buses. Some schools fund-raise, and came to the dance prepared to help their dance floor, making sure that everyone, year. The annual dance has gotten so large some PTSAs make donations in order to students exercise communication skills. even the students in wheelchairs, could lose that organizers had to break the event into collect money for food, transportation, and “If we see one of our students needing an themselves in the cheerful music. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Springfield Connection ❖ June 1-7, 2017 ❖ 3 News Some of the attendees sitting on Old Town Square’s splash-pad area. Photos By Bonnie Hobbs Old Town Square is jammed to the brim for the season’s first Rock the Block concert. The Darby Brothers Thousands Throng perform rock music from the ’70s and To Rock the Block ’80s. ld Town Square was the place Darby Brothers brought a couple thousand to be, last Friday night, May people to downtown Fairfax to make the O26, for the City of Fairfax’s event a huge success. Weather permitting, first Rock the Block of the sea- Rock the Block is held on the fourth Fri- son. The perfect spring night, food and bev- days of the month, 6:30-9:30 p.m., from erage vendors, plus live rock music by the May through October. School Notes Send notes to the Connection at [email protected] or call 703- 778-9416. Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event. Kami Richter, of Alexandria, graduated from Girl Scout Presents Fort Lewis College (Durango, Colo.) in December. Richter received a bachelor’s degree with a major ‘Bee-lieve in the in anthropology. U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Kelly C. Honey Bee’ Quispe graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Quispe is the daughter of Nicanor and Workshop Edelvina Quispe of Springfield. She is a 2007 Ambassador Girl Scout Kate graduate of Bishop Ireton High School. Forrest, of Springfield, is earning her Camille Thompson, of Alexandria, was Girl Scout Gold Award by providing named to the fall 2016 dean’s list at the University a free workshop of fun activities for of Dallas (Irving, Texas). girls and boys age 6-10 years old on Photos contributed Sarah Tripplehorn, of Alexandria, was Saturday, June 10, 2017, from 8 named to the fall 2016 dean’s list at the University a.m. to 2 p.m., at Burke Presbyterian of Dallas (Irving, Texas). Church in Burke. The “Bee-lieve in the Honey Bee” Victoria Cullo, of Alexandria, was named to the fall 2016 dean’s list at Hofstra University workshop features games, activities, (Hempstead, N.Y.). interactive challenges, and lots of teamwork, with the focus on how to Claire Malkie, of Alexandria, was named to preserve and save the precious the fall 2016 dean’s list at Hofstra University (Hempstead, N.Y.). honey bee. Registration is required so parents should send an email to The following students from Alexandria were [email protected] named to the dean’s list at The University of Ala- to register.s bama (Tuscaloosa, Ala.): Matthew P. Huling, Austin James Neuberger, Aubrie G. Smith, and Alexander K. Thiebes. Joseph Faddoul, of Alexandria, a freshman sport management major at York College of Penn- sylvania, has been named to the dean’s list for the spring 2017 semester.