Ravensworth Weekly Update
January 7, 2010
Winter concert: The winter concert postponed due to snow on Dec. 22 has been rescheduled for Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. This annual concert showcases Ravensworth’s strings, chorus and advanced band. Please come out and support our young musicians. Contact Stephanie Trachtenberg at satrachtenberg@fcps.edu for more information. PTA Meeting and FCPS budget presentation: The PTA will combine its January and February meetings on Jan. 19. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. for regular business. Fairfax County School Board Vice President Tessie Wilson will be our special guest at 7, along with an FCPS budget administrator. The two will present information on Superintendent Jack Dale’s proposed FY 2011 budget (scheduled for release Jan. 7) and take your questions and comments. Like last year, FCPS is facing dramatic reductions in services. Cuts under consideration include larger class sizes, the elimination of elementary foreign language programs, the elimination of strings and band in elementary; and the elimination of school-based technology specialists and summer school.
Several grass-roots groups have formed to advocate against cutting particular programs. Two of them are:
- Fairfax FLAGS (Foreign Language Advocacy for Grade Schools), which works to preserve not only foreign language programs, but all elementary programs at risk of cuts. For more information, go to: http://www.fairfaxflags.org/
- Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education (FACE) works to prevent cuts to music and arts programs in the schools. For more information, go to: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/save-our-fairfax-county-public-schools-band-and-strings-programs
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