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Neighborhood Weekly Tells the Story of COVID-19 Life in Arlington
Teenager starts her own paper to keep herself and neighbors engaged.
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Arlington: Wakefield High School Welcomes French Lycée Teacher
Parlez-vous ... Arlington?
Encouraging Language Study When Katy Wheelock began teaching at Wakefield, there were seven sections of French. By the time she received the Exemplary French Program award, there were nine. Wakefield also began offering two additional higher level classes, French 5 (a pre-AP class) and Advanced Studies of French (a post-AP class which APS is hoping to offer as a dually-enrolled class in the future). Under her leadership, Wakefield: * had an active chapter of the French Honor Society the “SHF”, or Societe’ Honoraire de Francais, and took part in the Grand Concours. * had two candidates who were wait-listed for Virginia’s Summer Governor’s Academy program, * students entered the Creative Writing Contest sponsored by SHF and wrote original poetry, in French, which they read aloud for World Languages Week at a countywide public event. * has gotten involved with Sister City Arlington-Reims committee for exchange opportunities (outbound to Reims 2013, inbound 2012, 2014); * had numerous guest speakers: David Biette, director, Canada Institute, Wilson Center (Jan 2015) and Idriss Fall, reporter, Voice of America (focus on Senegal, Africa) (Feb 2015) * established pen-pals for individuals; * Skyped with a Peace Corps volunteer about her life, usage of French etc. * welcomed five French high school students into their homes; * has set up a French Club; * students travelled to Reims for Spring Break 2014; * held a Declamation Contest, a juried contest in front of nearly 600 students. Miss Virginia International, Kristyn Admire, a linguist herself, came to encourage students to continue their foreign language studies in the future. * took part in a contest sponsored by the French Embassy in Washington D.C. called “Dis-moi dix mots qui te racontent” * allowed Wheelock to go on a French Embassy sponsored “Stage Pédagogique de Courte Durée” (short term teaching course) where she was one of 10 U.S. teachers in the country selected for an teacher immersion at CAVILAM in Vichy, France. Wheelock said she hopes to be able to visit middle school French teachers and students in level 1, at least once per year, to encourage more students to continue to level 2. She would like to see more students go on to language in high school and would like to see world languages become a core subject, as it is all throughout Europe. Wheelock also hopes to establish a stronger “college link” to show students the college opportunities for language study, how successful completion of advanced classes can earn college credits, how language can lead to studying abroad, internships, and and eventually, job opportunities.
Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Pandemic Priorities
Foresight helps keep pandemic at bay in local detention centers.
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Arlington: Residents Express Frustrations over Process
Public commentary voiced on Saturday, July 16, about the county’s plan to put a temporary Fire Station 10 on the Wilson School/HB Woodlawn playing fields reflected common themes heard around North Arlington last week.
Fathers in Jail Reunite with Their Children in Arlington
Men have high praise for system run by Sheriff Arthur.
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Mount Vernon: Ethiopian ‘Political Football’ Lands at MVHS
Protesters attempt to disrupt Ethiopian-American football league game.
It was graduation day at Mount Vernon High School on June 16 and some parents were annoyed. A group of protesters had gathered outside the school. “It’s graduation day for our kids,” the parents complained to the protesters. “Can’t you go somewhere else?” The protesters responded that they were there because children in Ethiopia can’t always get to high school, or graduate, without dying of hunger, or being arrested or killed for their political beliefs.
Arlington: Threading Your Way Through the Maze
Help for dementia patients and their families in Arlington; excellent services but many people don’t know what they are.
Laura “Fayse” Howard lives in the house her husband Allen built in South Arlington. The side entrance looks out on bird feeders hanging from a tree he planted. There is a bench big enough for two in the garden. The kitchen is the way kitchens used to be: cozy, galley size. In the living room, there are pictures of family, an antique organ, crocheted blankets, and a rescued dog named Diva who is keeping an eye on things from “her” armchair.
Pandemic Patience: Counselor at NVFS Calms New Mothers
Tele-mental health during COVID-19 is the new normal for the Healthy Families Program.
Mental health counselor Bianca Molinari Anez knows what it is like to encounter postpartum depression; she experienced it herself. That’s one of the reasons she is so devoted to the group of women she counsels.
Claudia Morales Is Arlington’s 2020 Foster Parent of the Year
Arlington's foster parent program will face major need post-pandemic.
How often does a young, single, professional person have the desire and capacity to become a foster parent? Claudia Morales of Arlington did. Nine times. Morales was officially approved in 2015 to become a foster parent, and since then she has had 9 children join her family.
Arlington All In Conference Addresses the Dangerous Years
“It’s your job to explain to me the consequences of my actions,” teen tells mom.
Mother and son sat on the stage of the George Mason Founder’s Hall auditorium last Saturday, and talked as though they were in their kitchen at home. Kate McCauley and David Balick were discussing those dangerous years between 6th and 12th grade, when teens may exercise poor judgement and parents may overreact, or not react enough.
Alexandria: Sharing Lifestyle That Keeps Her Young
Everyday is a 10 out of 10 for Annie Scheppach.
Annie Scheppach does not look her age. She looks almost two decades younger.
Bridges to Independence Merges
Green Valley Neighborhood will benefit from merger.
Bridges to Independence announced a merger with Bonder & Amanda Johnson Community Development Corporation (BAJCDC) last week.
Arlington’s Tree Canopy in Need of Another Study?
Tree canopy planning is integral to county environmental issues.
Arlington’s Civic Federation, also known as CIVFED or the ACCF, wants the County Board to fund a new tree canopy study.
Alexandria/Arlington: Neighborhood Health Offers Health Care Safety Net
Community health center provides comprehensive primary care, dental care, and behavioral health services.
Dr. Basim Khan walks toward the door of the Casey Clinic of Neighborhood Health in Alexandria’s West End, stopping to greet two of his patients by name: “Hey, how is your foot?”
Joanna Cameron Can Be So ... Hypnotizing
Local hypnotist has seen her skill help addiction, ADHD, PTSD, and golf scores.
Brock Harris says Joanna Cameron saved his life. When he lived in Arlington 10 years ago his neighbors were heavy smokers, as he was.
Arlington: Thrive’s 40th Anniversary Gala Raises Over $140,000
Thrive Arlington community depends on its volunteers and neighbors.
At that point in the George Washington Parkway Ten Miler where you aren’t sure you are going to make it to the end, Kim Kenney and Mary Bohan were amazed to see Thrive Executive Director Gerry Shannon cheering them on from the sidelines, shouting out their names with encouragement.
Four Comstock Challengers Discuss Foreign Policy in Tysons
George Washington University student moves crowd to tears.