Springfield Junior Ayu Lisanework stands in front of her artwork during Edison High’s ‘Skart’ exhibit. Franconia ❖ Kingstowne ❖ Newington ‘Skart,’‘Skart,’ NotNot ArtArt News,News, PagePage 33 Classified, Page 13 Classified, ❖ Sports, Page 8 ❖ Renovated Library Opens News, Page 2 Entertainment, Page 10 Where Coffee, Music Meet News, Page 3 PERMIT #86 PERMIT Martinsburg, WV Martinsburg, PAID U.S. Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT Photo by Db Cobb/The Connection Photo www.ConnectionNewspapers.comFebruary 10-16, 2011 online at www.connectionnewspapers.comSpringfield Connection ❖ February 10-16, 2011 ❖ 1 Springfield Connection Editor Michael O’Connell News 703-778-9416 or [email protected] Local School Unveils ‘Place To Read and Teach’ Franconia Elementary debuts renovated library on Feb. 2. By Lisa Gillespie a lot of time over the past years looking at The Connection how to integrate technology into daily learning,” said Dade. “Now that we have he first comprehensive renova- Smartboards in each classroom, we can re- tion of Franconia Elementary ally utilize new technology.” Tmarked its halfway point last Smartboards, created in 1991 and inte- week with grated into public the opening of a new school classrooms a library, an art room “One little girl came in few years ago, com- and second grade bines a white board classrooms. and said we had the with a computer to Franconia has gone teach students. Though most class- through several differ- best library in all of Photo Donated ent stages of renova- rooms are now tions since opening in Fairfax on the first day equipped with them, 1932, which could be just a few years ago, seen in each addition we opened.” Franconia had only and renovation. Con- — Diane Gawalt, Franconia four. struction began in “A few years ago, a Elementary librarian Franconia Elementary opened an expanded library on Wednesday, Feb. March 2010, five few first grade teach- 2, part of an ongoing renovation project. years after the initial ers took the first bond referendum was approved to renovate Smartboards, which was quite a big deal the now 511-student school. back then,” Dade said. “It increased the book space. years past, when Gawalt gathered them for “This is about having a better use of energy in the building and those teachers “All the furniture before came from do- reading time. Now, the library has a story space,” said principal Merrell Dade, who is taught other teachers on how to incorpo- nations or were so old,” said librarian Diane nook with three levels of risers, a reading in her fourth year at Franconia. “Because it rate it into the lessons.” Gawalt, who manages the 14,000 book col- chair and spotlights. Gawalt said the space was such an old building, you could see the Another major change comes with the lection and space for two classes. “It worked can also be used to put on plays and for changes in each addition.” Many of the new library, which includes a television stu- fine and was cute and quaint, but in com- poetry readings. The new shelves also in renovations also included a better integra- dio, reading corner including risers for stu- parison to this, it looked bad.” See Place, Page 4 tion of the newest technologies. “We spent dents, seven new computers and additional Students used to sit on a “reading rug” in /The Connection Student Zach Jordan asks NBC4 meteorologist Tom Kierein, NBC4 meteorologist Tom Kierein ‘What is your favorite tool to use?’ Kierein responds, ‘Radar.’ shows a page from his book ‘Weather: A National Geographic Deb Cobb Action Book.’ He said that he had to consult with several paper Weather Reporter engineers to get a pop-up tor- Photos by Photos nado in his book. n Wednesday, Feb. 2, NBC4 meteorologist Tom Kierein vis- NBC4 meteorologist Tom Kierein discusses ited second graders Newington Forest Elementary in Spring- tornados. ‘It is important for you to pay O field. Kierein talked about the tools he uses to forecast the attention to the weather forecast because it weather and taught the students some key meteorological terms. Kierein can affect your life a lot,’ says Kierein. meets visits about 25 schools annually. 2 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ February 10-16, 2011 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News Snap, Snap — It’s Coffeehouse Time West Springfield High “It’s fun to get together School Guitar Club with people and be able hosts Coffeehouse to make music for fund raiser. everyone there.” — Lauren Marquez By Amber Healy The Connection “I get nervous about messing up, but once I’m on stage it isn’t so bad,” said Lauren or the 10th year, the West Spring- Marquez, a senior at West Springfield who field High School Guitar Club is has been playing guitar for six years and preparing for its Coffeehouse, an who participated in the Coffeehouse last F Photo Donated afternoon of free-form music year. played by the school’s guitar students. She got her start playing instruments even “The Guitar Coffeehouse was started to easier, she said. give the kids an opportunity to perform their “My grandpa played guitar for me when own music,” said Keith Owens, the school’s I was little and sent me my first guitar,” she guitar teacher, who started the Coffeehouse said. “I also play piano and ukulele.” event. “We spend a lot of time educating West Springfield High School Guitar Club members Jeremiah Richards At the Coffeehouse, she plans to play students how to play and exposing them to and Lorenz Cruz will be performing in the Feb. 17 coffeehouse. some cover songs with her friend, Maeve music we feel is important and influential. Nash. The Coffeehouse gives them the opportu- ents and other audience members.” Coffeehouse. The delivery truck will have “It’s fun to get together with people and nity to play the music that they feel mat- Laurie McCreedy, president of the booster some additional items available for pur- be able to make music for everyone there,” ters or even play their own compositions.” club, echoed Owens’ eagerness for this chase the night of the event, McCreedy said, she said. It’s a relaxed atmosphere, set up in the year’s event. and the proceeds from the fund raiser go to Joining her will be Mitch Faulkner, an- school’s cafeteria, and the students are free “I think the students like going to a place help the booster club pay for its annual other senior, who has been playing guitar to play either solo or in groups, said Owens, that is fun, warm, and they can basically spring trip. Any sales that are not associ- for five years and who also happens to play who has taught at West Springfield for all play guitar together without worries,” she ated with a particular student will be ap- the ukulele. 20 years of the school’s guitar program. said. plied to the overall guitar program, she said. “The guitar always caught my attention “It’s basically an organized open mic Unlike previous years, the booster club is Even more excited than the parents are when I would see people play it and I night,” he said. “The Guitar Boosters make also offering a fund raiser with Schwan the students, of course, but a few admit wanted to learn, so I did,” he said. “I enjoy sandwiches and other baked items and lo- Foods, having taken orders over the past they’re a little nervous to perform in pub- cal coffee shops donate coffee for the par- few weeks which will be delivered after the lic. See Strumming, Page 5 Junior Fahmida Azim’s art features an empow- Sophomore Annalisa Sheldahl spent about 20 ered woman who sees beyond the problems of hours working on the acrylic painting of a Koi today, represented by newspaper headlines, Pond. into the future. Featured in the piece are the words, ‘I will rise above the world.’ Edison High Opens Art Gallery Art Space gallery doubles as teacher Andy Neal’s classroom. n Thursday Feb. 2, Edison High School hosted Edison Teacher Andy Neal conceived of the scholarship Oan art gallery opening featuring student artwork and, with the collaboration of Edison teacher Teresa Rose, for sale to the public. the theme of this exhibit the art club and gallery, known as Art Space, was born. was “Skart” or skateboard art, in which the canvas of choice Last year, the club hosted six gallery openings and raised was a skateboard deck. a total of $1,300 for the scholarship program. The “Skart” Artist Sarah Wrobel, a senior from Springfield, Half of the proceeds from sales goes to the student artist exhibit was the first of this year and raised $750. explains that her art represents pollution. and the other half goes to Art Space Scholarship program, which funds graduates studying art in college. — Photos by Deb Cobb www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Springfield Connection ❖ February 10-16, 2011 ❖ 3 Week in Springfield News Fairfax Animal Shelter Hosts ‘Be Mine, Feline’ Event The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is currently hosting a special adoption, through Feb. 28, called “Be Mine, Feline,” highlighting cats and kittens available for adoption. The shelter is including a special assessment of each cat’s per- sonality to help prospective adopters find the right feline for their family. In November 2010, the shelter received 161 cats from a hoarding case at a single home. Many of those cats are now healthy and ready to go to safe, loving, permanent homes. Many other cats and kittens staying at the shelter this win- ter are also available. “Throughout February, the shelter will be in the business of matchmaking, helping adopters match the right cat for their lifestyle and their home,” said Dr.