May 29
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 7:50 am
Marshall Parents (all grades):
The annual GCM high school All Night Grad Celebration (ANGC) will be held Friday, June 13 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. at the Spring Hill RECenter. It takes more than 100 volunteers to decorate the facility, run all the games, serve the food, check everyone in and out, give out the prizes, and manage the crowd. (See below for a full description of all volunteer opportunities.)
We need your help! Please send an email indicating your availability and preferred assignment to Marcia Wise at sevenwiseguys@hotmail.com. If possible, please consider signing up for the 2nd shift (2 a.m. to 5 a.m.) as it is always the hardest to fill. Thanks in advance for making this a safe and memorable night for our graduating seniors.
Marcia Wise
ANGC Volunteer Chair
* * * * *
List of ANGC Volunteer Opportunities
Decorations
The decorating crew will be working for several days during the week leading up to the event to turn the RECenter into a beach resort. This is a great assignment for those who are unable to work the night of the ANGC but still want to help. Please indicate what day(s) you are available and whether you prefer a daytime or evening shift. You must commit to at least one three-hour block.
Check-In
Help check-in students and volunteers or work the bag area where student belongings (e.g., swimsuits and towels) are kept during the event. Shifts are 11pm-2am and 2am-5am.
Activities
Help run one of the rides or games such as skeeball, bowl-o-rama, bungee run, music video mania, and diving for dollars. All jobs are fun and require no special skill. Shifts are 11pm-1:30am and 1:30am-4am.
Casino
We need blackjack dealers, bingo callers, and bankers. Students play for chips; not money. A professional pit boss will be on hand to teach you the games. Shifts are 11pm-2am and 2am-5am.
Food
Volunteers are needed to serve food, replenish drinks, run snacks to people at other stations, and keep the food area clean. Shifts are 11pm-2am and 2am-5am.
Prizes
Supervise the prize bins and help give out raffle prizes and other goodies. Shifts are 11pm-2am and 2am-5am.
Security
Man the exits, sit by the fire alarms, or serve as a parking lot escort. (Bring a book.) Shifts are 11pm-2am and 2am-5am.
May 29
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 7:48 am
On Thursday, June 5 at approximately 7:30 a.m., George C. Marshall High School will stage an accident in its front parking lot. Police and fire personnel, including a police helicopter, will respond. The intent is to raise awareness around the consequences of drinking and driving just prior to prom and graduation.
Officer Harrington and Steve Williams will coordinate this event. FCPS School Scene will cover the "accident" for Red Apple 21.
More details will be released early next week.
May 27
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 8:50 pm
Member Benefits
Numerous benefits are available to dues-paying units and members.
Individual members have access to a number of exclusive benefits too, including:
- Online parenting resources, including select articles from "Our Children" magazine.
- E-newsletters on parenting and legislative issues.
- Exclusive National PTA member benefits and sponsor offers from companies such as Office Depot and Barnes & Noble.
- Leadership training opportunities in person and online.
- Discounted member rate for PTA's annual national convention, magazine subscriptions, and more.
- The Member-to-Member Network, connecting you to Congress when help is needed on issues important to children, schools, and families.
Member Benefit Providers
Additionally, because of the size of our organization, PTA is able to partner with businesses and negotiate special discounts, fundraising opportunities, and other valuable benefits exclusively for PTA members. When you make purchases from these companies, not only will you receive a discount, but National PTA will also receive a percentage of royalties from the sale.
PTA is working diligently to establish relationships with additional Member Benefit Providers to provide you with even more exclusive benefits in other categories. When you see the Proud Member Benefits logo, you'll know the company has established a relationship with National PTA to provide special services or discounts exclusively for PTA members.
2008-2009 Member Benefit Providers
Access the Exclusive Member Benefits
PTA members can access the exclusive benefits and save money. LOG IN
Barnesandnoble.com
National PTA and Barnesandnoble.com have developed a discounted online bookstore for PTA members featuring over one million titles of books, textbooks, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and videos. Members will save 5% on all purchases ordered from this site in addition to any normal site discounts of up to 40 %. New titles and special discounts will be featured periodically. Orders of $25.00 or more qualify for Fast & Free delivery within 3 business days or less (see site for details).
Kidz-IDZ
The Kidz-IDz School ID Card Program enables all students attending PTA-affiliated schools to get a hard plastic School ID Card – for free! School ID Cards play a key role in maintaining student safety, as they can make the difference in a missing or injured student being quickly identified and provided with the appropriate assistance.
Liberty Mutual
As a member of the PTA you qualify for a special group discount on your auto, home, and renters insurance through Group Savings Plus® from Liberty Mutual. With Group Savings Plus, you can enjoy the ease and convenience of paying your premiums through checking account deductions or direct bill. You'll also enjoy fast, easy round-the-clock claims service and a variety of discounts including multi-car, multi-policy, safe-driver, passive restraints and anti-theft device discounts.
MedicAlert Foundation
MedicAlert Foundation has partnered with PTA to provide peace of mind to parents through discounted memberships to the MedicAlert Kid Smart® program. The program provides 24 hour child emergency ID and family emergency notification services that safeguard and identify children in an emergency. With a single phone call, emergency responders can talk with a representative to access medical history and records.
Sharp Electronics Corporation
Sharp Electronics Corporation is offering PTA members special purchase opportunities on AQUOS liquid crystal televisions and other audio, video, home appliance and home office products. Sharp is a world leader in the liquid crystal television category, and is pleased to offer these state-of-the-art flat panel TVs and their other products at extremely attractive discounts.
Southwest Airlines Vacations
Southwest Airlines Vacations has teamed up with National PTA to offer PTA members an exclusive discount on vacation packages. Members can save 5% on vacation packages to more than 40 exciting destinations, in addition to everyday low rates and ongoing special offers.
Southwest Airlines Vacations offers convenient and affordable vacation packages, perfect for busy parents trying to plan their next getaway! Simply choose your destination, select your flights and hotel accommodations, then add theme park tickets, tours, rental cars, and more — all in one place, for one low price.
Southwest Airlines Vacations Benefit Banners: Use these downloadable banners in your newsletters or on your PTA website to tell your members about this Exclusive Member Benefit.
May 21
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 7:02 pm
Preparing for Hurricane Season
Virginia Sales Tax Holiday May 25-31
To underscore the importance of emergency preparedness as the hurricane season approaches, Virginia will hold its first sales tax "holiday" for purchases of hurricane readiness supplies May 25-31.
One of three sales tax "holidays" approved by the General Assembly, the May event exempts products like batteries and lanterns, ice packs, first aid kits, containers for storing food and radios as well as larger items like generators costing $1,000 or less.
May 21
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 7:00 pm
Diploma Seal for Excellence in Civics Education
Applications for the Diploma Seal for Excellence in Civics Education are due to guidance counselors by Monday, May 27.
The application may be downloaded from the GCM Web page (under the 'Guidance Office' section). Students who need help completing the Civics Seal application should see their U.S. Government or IB Topics teachers.
May 15
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 8:16 pm
In cooperation with the Department of Defense, eKnowledge Corporation, along with a group of NFL players have donated more than $16 million worth of multimedia SAT/ACT Test Preparation products to Service members and their families worldwide. For more information, see the flyer HERE.
May 15
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 8:06 pm
"Reality Check" is a joint parent/student safe teen driving program offered at Inova Fairfax Hospital.
This is a 2.5 hour program offered on periodic Saturdays that gives teens a real-life look at the consequences of unsafe driving behavior and poor decision-making. The parent portion of the program offers parents information on coaching and mentoring teen drivers, talking to children about drugs and alcohol, and implementing a parent-teen driving safety contract.
For more information on this program, please see the brochure HERE. If you have further questions, you may also call 703-776-3259. A date for the upcoming Reality Check has not yet been set; however, one will be offered this summer. Check the Inova website periodically (www.inova.org) for upcoming program dates or call the number above.
May 14
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 4:27 am
Food Donations Sought
As the All Night Graduation Celebration approaches we are seeking donations for the food committee. CLICK HERE for a list of items needed for the ANGC.
This is a list of items that have been a “hit” with the students, are easy to eat and serve. If you would prefer, you may make a monetary donation instead of sending food items.
Thanks in advance!
~Diana Chafetz and Kathleen LaBarbera
2008 ANGC Food Co-Chairs
May 14
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 4:17 am
Congratulations to Sonia Guzman!
Sonia Guzman, Past Vice-President, Past President, current co-chair of ANGC, and volunteer extraordinaire, was awarded the "Northern VA District Volunteer of the Year" (Secondary division ) representing the Fairfax County Council.
Mimi Carter, of Mount Vernon Community School, won for the Primary Division (Alexandria City Council).
The winners were announced and awards were presented to them at the Northern VA District dinner meeting on April 17 at the Old Town Hall in the City of Fairfax.
MARSHALL PRIDE!
May 6
2008
Posted by: DMK
at 3:44 am
Project Hospitality Tackles Underage Drinking
The Safe Community Coalition (SCC) along with Fairfax County leaders join the Acting Surgeon General of the United States, Rear Admiral Steven Galson, MD, MPH, in calling on all citizens to reduce underage drinking and to restrict teenagers’ access to alcohol. Rear Admiral Galson states recent research demonstrates that alcohol harms developing adolescent brains and that young people who start drinking before the age of fifteen are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald Connolly, Police Chief David Rohrer, and School Board Chairman Daniel Storck strongly support the Countywide Initiative to Reduce Underage Drinking and the “Parents Who Host, Lose the Most” (PWH) public awareness campaign to educate parents about the dangers of providing alcohol to those under 21 years old. This campaign was initiated by the nineteen school-community coalitions under the Safe and Drug-Free Youth Section of Fairfax County Public Schools and implemented by the Countywide Initiative to Reduce Underage Drinking task force consisting of over 35 organizations including the school-community coalitions, county agencies, the police, the school system, faith leaders, and community organizations. The objectives of Parents Who Host, Lose the Most are:
-to inform parents about the health and safety risks of serving alcohol to teens.
-to increase awareness of and compliance with the 2006 revised Virginia underage drinking laws.
Project Hospitality is an initiative of the Safe Community Coalition and a key component of the “Parents Who Host” campaign in Fairfax County. Through this community-wide education program, the program urges parents to plan alcohol-free post-prom parties for their graduating seniors. Founded 13 years ago by Margi Vanderhye, a McLean parent and current member of the Virginia House of Delegates, Project Hospitality each spring brings together area hotels, motels, restaurants, the public and private schools of Fairfax, Arlington, and Alexandria, and the police to promote safe prom nights for high school seniors. Through this initiative the project hopes to persuade parents to chaperone the parties they host and discourage unchaperoned post-prom parties in hotels. Because many parents are unaware that the legal age for drinking is 21 parents are informed that there are legal consequences for them and their teens if they permit underage drinking.
Parents are also made aware that if they rent a hotel room for a post-prom party, the hotels require them to be there chaperoning the party the whole time. If there is an accident, the adult signing for the room is legally liable. The program warns parents about the dangers of teens driving under the influence of alcohol that night, and urges parents to offer their own teens and their friends a ride out of any risky situation with no questions asked. In circulating the dates and places of the proms to area hotels, restaurants, and the Arlington and Fairfax County police, the whole community is united in promoting common sense and safety for area youth on prom night.
County law enforcement, business, and community leaders strongly support SCC’s program of uniting the community in an effort to keep seniors’ special night free from accidents and tragedy.
Colonel David M. Rohrer, Fairfax County Chief of Police, has endorsed the initiative, stating, “During the 2008 Prom Season, the Fairfax County Police Department has reaffirmed our partnership with Project Hospitality. It is through community partnerships like this one that we can have a positive effect on underage drinking and promote a safe and memorable prom experience.”
Jim Wordsworth, the Virginia Director Emeritus of the National Restaurant Association and Chairman of the Small Business Council of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, expressed his enthusiasm for Project Hospitality, commenting, “This program has two measurable goals – the immediacy of further reducing the incidents of underage drinking and bringing the Hospitality Industry, local law enforcement and parents together on this life threatening issue with our young people.”
Paul Giovanini, General Manager of the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, agreed with Project Hospitality's objectives and stated, "Our hotel, like many in the Northern Virginia area, will be host to a number of local High School Proms. Under no circumstances will prom attendees or non- prom party crashers be allowed to rent guestrooms or suites without full-time parental attendance and supervision. We will also screen all reservations prior to the event and monitor check-in registration for absentee parents."
As Margaret Vanderhye, Project Hospitality’s founder, points out, “In the happy and expectant atmosphere surrounding prom season, students may easily blur the distinction between adult settings and privileges that accompany prom night with adulthood itself. Parents should communicate clearly that the consumption of alcohol, the use of hotel party rooms, or the total suspension of rules and expectations are not acceptable. Our goal is that students and their parents remember Prom 2008 as a special highlight of the school year.”
For Further Information, Contact Sherry Wells, SCC Project Hospitality Committee Chair
sbwells@cox.net; 703-241-0335
For information on “Parents Who Host, Lose the Most” contact Sara Freund, co-chair of the Countywide Initiative to Reduce Underage Drinking at sara.freund@verizon .net
Note: the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Carrier Section will provide verification that the limousine companies available for prom night hire have proper operating authority in the state. (Call toll free: 1-866-878-2582)
For additional resources to help keep our youth safe during prom season, check:
www.buzzfreeprom.com
www.sadd.org: Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) has a Contract for Life between parents and children.
