School Notes

Here are some people and events making news at your Fairfax County Public Schools.

• The Hunters Woods Elementary PTA and Bikes for the World will be collecting gently used bicycles at the school on Saturday, September 22, from 10 a.m. to noon. The bikes will be shipped to nonprofit organizations in receiving countries, including those in the Caribbean, Asia, Central America and Africa. The bikes, which are provided to citizens at no cost, enable people without resources to get to work, school, and health clinics. Since its founding in 2005, Bikes for the World has donated more than 70,000 bicycles internationally. Members of the PTA fitness committee will be on hand to provide information about pedestrian and bike safety.
• Key Center  students are taking on new, daily jobs at their school in an effort to offer them additional opportunities to interact with staff members and classmates. Beginning Monday, September 24, students in Mandy Binsted’s class will be delivering mail to teachers in their classrooms and will pick up empty envelopes that will be used to deliver mail the next school day. Specialists and staff members will be added to the mail delivery service in the near future. Students in Kim Hudson’s class will be watering plants for Key Center staff members.
• Two assemblies to combat bullying will be held at Cameron Elementary on Tuesday, September 25, at 10 and 11 a.m. MerMan Productions will present the assemblies, designed to teach students that by taking care of each other, speaking out against bullies, and working together, they can combat this negative behavior. The presentation, which features theater, audience participation, magic, comedy, storytelling, and puppetry, is funded by the Cameron PTA and a grant from MerMan.
• Key Center students will enjoy a performance by Yojo, a seven-foot tall living cartoon character, on Friday, September 28, at 9 a.m. in conjunction with a health and wellness program, Treat Your Body Right. Yojo will encourage students to follow the new MyPlate icon, developed by the USDA as part of the food pyramid program; to be physically active every day; and to get a good night’s sleep. He will use humor, sound effects and music, and athletic demonstrations to share his message of good health.
• Marshall High students have established a new Nutrition Club, which is working to create a healthy school environment for all students. In collaboration with Whole Foods of Tysons Corner and Real Food for Kids (RFFK), a community-based, parent-led program, the club recently held a healthy smoothie tasting. The local Whole Foods store is working with the Nutrition Club on future events to teach students how to cook easy, delicious meals and encourage them to make healthy choices every day.
• Three FCPS schools — Stuart High, Glasgow Middle and Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences – are the beneficiaries of a partnership between the Rotary Club of Bailey’s Crossroads and Our Daily Bread. The organizations were responsible for donating seven carloads of backpacks, calculators, and school supplies to some of the neediest students in the Stuart High Pyramid as part of the Collect for Kids program. Approximately $4,500 of supplies were collected by the Rotarians and Our Daily Bread.
• Artwork by Woodson High student Angelina Namkung has been selected to travel with the national exhibition, ART.WRITE.NOW. This exhibition allows audiences to view the winning works from the 2012 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, announced last spring. Namkung’s mixed media painting, entitled “New Identity,” will be part of the exhibition, which will travel to Virginia Beach, Detroit, Fort Worth, and Kansas City. Namkung is a member of the Woodson High Class of 2012 and is currently studying art in college.