Education Learning Fun /The Connection Vienna/Oakton Connection Lousie Krafft ● Camps & Schools Photo by www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Vienna/Oakton Connection ● September 2009 ● A+ Education, Learning, Fun ● CampsSeptember & Schools 2009 ● 1 ● ● Peter Piper Preschool Education Learning Fun Lewinsville and Scotts Run Road clowns ●Local School Tuition SOURCE: school Web sites and the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. cotton candy 55th NAME LOCATION TUITION (GRADES) Anniversary Celebration Alexandria County Day School Alexandria $19,830 (K-3) $21,430 (4-8) (1954-2009) Bishop Ireton High School Alexandria $10,400 (parishioner) $11,800 (Catholic non-parishioner) Everyone is Invited $14,950 (non-Catholic) Open House-Fun Fair Bishop O’Connell High School Arlington $9,200 (parishioner) $10,630 (Catholic non-parishioner) $13,245 (non-Catholic) balloon drinks Browne Academy Alexandria $12,975 (preschool) es Moon Bounce $21,505 (K-8) sculptur facepainting Burgundy Farm Country Day Alexandria $20,575 (jr. K/K) magician $21,520 (1-5) Sunday, September 27, 2009 • 2 to 5PM $22,675 (6-8) Information call 703-356-5811 Commonwealth Academy Alexandria $28,336 The Congressional Schools of Virginia Falls Church $17,770 (K) to $20,500 (8) Episcopal High School Alexandria $40,875 (boarding) Flint Hill School Oakton $21,370 (jr. K) $24,050 (K-4) $26,460 (5-8) $27,510 (9-12) MUSIC MASTERS Gesher Jewish Day School Fairfax $15,950 Green Hedges School Vienna $11,754 (pre-K) to $20,924 (8) Where You’ll Love To Play The Langley School McLean $12,600 (pre-K) $24,140 (K-5) $25,410 (6-8) Specializing in music instruction • Instrument Rentals The Madeira School McLean $35,050 (day student) Monthly student performances • Popular and classical music $46,160 (boarding student) Oakcrest School McLean $14,721 (6-8) Music supplies and more! • Special orders welcome $15,696 (9-12) Special teacher discounts • Instrument Repair Oakwood School Annandale $26,400 Paul VI High School Fairfax $9,270 (parishioner) INSTRUMENT RENTAL $12,140 (non-Catholic) The Potomac School McLean $24,340 (K-3) $25,930 (4-6) 8455-H Tyco Rd. • Vienna, VA 22812 $27,445 (7-12) St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School Alexandria $20,400 (jr.K) $22,840 (K-5) $24,710 (6-8) 703-848-9403 $26,925 (9-12) E-mail: [email protected] • Web Site: www.music-masters.org Westminster School Annandale $16,856 Give Your Child An Educational Edge High School Diplomas College Prep Tutoring Services Learning for Life Skills Classes College Admission Advisement Career Choice Coaching After School Enrichment Programs UUNITEDNITED CCULTURALULTURAL AACADEMYCADEMY Great Alternative to Public & Private Schools helping youth make a better world 2 ● A+ Education, Learning, Fun ● Camps & Schools ● September 2009 ● Vienna/Oakton Connection www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Education●Learning●Fun Athletes Hit the Books Coaches, administrators in Fairfax County stress the importance of academics to athletes. By Rich Sanders we really back up. Most of our kids do a The Connection good job and they know they can get help if they need it.” tudent-athletes at the high school Sheaffer, a physical education instruc- level might be sick of hearing it, tor at Herndon, credits members of his but coaches and school adminis- coaching staff with also helping their trators, for the most part around players on the study front when they can. SNorthern Virginia, cannot stress enough One of his assistant coaches, former the importance of attaining high aca- Redskins player Todd Liebenstein, demic achievement and disciplined study teaches history at the school. Another, habits in the classroom. Larry Stroud, is an AP history instructor. “All of our coaches do a real good job Sheaffer stresses to his players that in of trying to develop the entire person,” order to go to college or to perhaps said Marty Riddle, the director of student continue their athletic careers in college activities (DSA) at Robinson High School. requires solid study habits. Many col- “If you’re a disciplined kid who focuses leges, according to Sheaffer, are setting on assignments in the classroom, that higher standards for admission. will carry over to the field or on the “You have to take harder classes [in court.” high school] and do well on SATs. You Riddle, who in the years prior to his have to be a good student or they won’t DSA duties at Robinson held head want you. Most of our [football players] football coaching stints at Mount Vernon, understand that.” Lake Braddock and Chantilly High Jim Patrick, McLean’s second year head Schools, said Robinson athletic coaches football coach and the assistant director are responsible for being aware of their Madison runner Katy Reines. of student activities at the school, said players’ classroom progress. student-athletes on his team who are “Each coach monitors the academic League (VHSL), the state’s governing gram last year and led it to the Liberty struggling with their grades attend a progress for the kids involved in their body of high school sports, student- District finals and an appearance in the study hall following afternoon practice program,” said Riddle. “High school athletes, in order to remain eligible to Northern Region playoffs. sessions, and players with poor grades coaches have to wear a lot of different compete in sports, must have passed at Vanni’s team is winning early on this must attend a mandatory Wednesday hats and are in tune to those things.” least five of their classes the previous year as well. The coach said players are morning study hall session, affectionately In recent years, 40 percent of student- semester. That is a minimal requirement. required to achieve no worse than ‘C’ known as “Highlander Time.” athletes in Fairfax County have achieved Schools can enforce more strict academic grades in all of their classes in order to “Academics at McLean are very impor- impressive grade point averages of 3.5 or guidelines for student-athletes. remain on the team. She said her players tant,” said Patrick, whose father, Bruce better, according to the Fairfax County Academics certainly come first for are high achievers in school. Patrick, is the Fairfax County Coordinator Public Schools system. In FCPS written members of the McLean High girls’ field “To be honest, I never have a problem,” of Student Activities and Athletic Pro- guidelines, it states, “[Students’] grades hockey team. said Vanni. “[Grades] are certainly grams. “We monitor grades [four times a are routinely monitored by the high “Academics are very [much] stressed - stressed by our coaches and our parents school year] at interim time. If they are school at midterm and at the end of each at home and [at practices],” said Summer are aware of it.” bad, they go to study hall after practice. marking period. Parents may request an Vanni, McLean’s second year head coach. Katy Reines, a senior member of the “But we have motivated kids,” said academic or athletic progress report at “They know their school work comes Madison High girls’ cross country team, Patrick, of his players. “Parent involve- any time.” first.” said Warhawks’ head coach Craig Chasse ment is there. … You want them to According to the Virginia High School Vanni took over the Highlander pro- regularly encourages his athletes to work perform at their highest level [at school], hard at their school work. and it will carry into athletics. More “It’s always academics first and athletics colleges will be open to them.” second,” said Reines, a fourth year member of the Madison cross country JOHN ELLENBERGER, the South Lakes program. “Our coach is always stressing High football coach, said his top priority that we need to keep up our grades. is to help prepare youngsters for college [Being a student-athlete] teaches you and beyond. And that means strong study how to manage your time real well.” skills are a necessity. Members of the South Lakes football program are re- AT HERNDON HIGH SCHOOL, football quired to fulfill summer reading projects. coach Joe Sheaffer does not start his “We are just continually on them about football practices right after school. their academics,” said Ellenberger. “My Instead, following the final bell, he goal is to help the kids get into a [col- allows for an hour-plus window of time lege] and out of Reston to see what it is at the end of the school day so that his like out there. So then [one day] they can players can tend to their studies. That come back to the community and con- allows for them to visit a particular tribute. That’s what I’m here for – to help teacher or to get started on homework. kids get into school.” “I set my practices back to make sure Student-athletes do not automatically my kids get help whenever they need it,” understand the importance of strong said Sheaffer, who a year ago led the study habits in high school and the Hornets to the Div. 6 region playoffs for ramifications of not achieving academic the first time since 2003. success. Riddle said a love for an extra- Photos by Craig Sterbutzel/The Connection “They can get help academically every curricular activity at school, such as ‘Attitude and Effort,’ the words written across football coach Joe Sheaffer’s Herndon day if they need it,” said Sheaffer. “I think sports, can help things begin to kick in Hornets’ t-shirt, are meant to apply to both the gridiron and the classroom. the phrase ‘student athlete’ is something for a student-athlete. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Vienna/Oakton Connection ● September 2009 ● A+ Education, Learning, Fun ● Camps & Schools ● 3 ● ● Education Learning Fun ●Private School Search Timeline SEPTEMBER ● Finalize schools that you plan to inquire about.