Reston Association’s A Healthy Place — Reston Association ranks No. 3 on the 2014 Washington Business Journal’s “Healthiest Employers” list. RA scored high marks for its wellness initiatives and available information for employees. [Reston Association]
Help The Homeless Walk Oct. 2 — Cornerstones’ Reston Town Center Help the Homeless Walk returns next week. The event is a lunchtime walk on a Thursday from Mayflowers at RTC to the Embry Walker Community Shelter and back. [Cornerstones]W
Hornets Pummel Seahawks — Senior quarterback Ryan McLaughlin passed for three touchdowns and ran in another one as Herndon defeated South Lakes 49-0 in football’s annual Baron Cameron Bowl. The Hornets improve to 2-1. South Lakes falls to 0-4.
Reston Planner Anthony P. DeVito Dies — Anthony P. DeVito, 89, who had a central role in the planning and design of Reston in the 1960s, died Aug. 30 at his home in Washington. He had Parkinson’s disease, said his wife, Mary Ann Hancock. DeVito was born in Brooklyn and began his career as an architect and planner in New York and New Jersey. He worked on the development of Reston from 1963 to 1965. He later participated in the planning for Columbia, Md. and worked as a Department of Housing and Urban Development Official. [Washington Post]
Jaguars on display Sunday at Celebrating Jaguars – 50th Golden Anniversary Jaguar Club Car Show/Credit: Reston Town Center
Summer is about to end, and so is the the Pyramid of Light.
The public art project built by South Lakes High School art students is slated to be dismantled on Friday.
The project — a pyramid on the base of the concrete spilllway that features brightly painted plexiglass panels — was constructed on the Lake Thoreau spillway in early May.
It was originally supposed to remain in place for half the summer. But the pyramid proved to be a crowd favorite, and the students got permission to leave it up through the end of August.
They even returned to the site in July to repair the structure, which had seen many of its plexiglass panels blow away during storms. The repairs worked and the pyramid has been standing intact since.
The student artists worked on the project for more than year, taking it from sketches to construction. The students had to go through the Reston Association’s Design Review Board process.
Turning the spillway into public art was the idea of James Pan, a Reston resident who suggested the concrete square that can be seen from South Lakes Drive would be a great space for art. He offered financial support if the students would work on a project, said Anne Delaney, executive director of Initiative for Public Art Reston, which sponsored the project.
South Lakes High School art teacher Marco Rando, the advisor for the project, has said he would like to see more projects constructed on the spillway in the future.
New South Lakes High School football coach Trey Taylor knows this will be a rebuilding year for the Seahawks.
Only four players with varsity experience return to the team. But with nearly 20 years as a coach, Taylor believes he can get South Lakes where it needs to be.
“We’re in a building stage,” he said Tuesday as the Seahawks practiced in preparation for Friday’s opener against Madison. “The team graduated 25 seniors. The good part is we are learning a new system and everyone is new. The bad part is, everyone is new.”
The Seahawks finished 5-6 in 2013, making a return to the playoffs, where they lost to eventual state champs Centreville.
Taylor, 42, replaces Marvin Wooten, the South Lakes alum who coached the team for three seasons. Wooten resigned last spring.
Taylor is a former West Springfield and Frostburg State (Md.) player who has coached at a long list of Fairfax County Schools. Taylor was the defensive coordinator for South County last season. Prior to that, he spent two years as head coach at Robinson.
Taylor’s most successful run was five years at Woodson, going 31-23 and leading the team to the state semifinals in 2004 and the regional final in 2009.
Taylor says he sees potential in many South Lakes players, but there is some “ground to make up in the weight room.”
“Longterm, there is a very positive outlook here,” he said.
With the opener just days away, Taylor is still figuring out who should start at quarterback. Top candidates include senior Tavarius Lee, who mostly played defense but saw some time at quarterback in 2013, and former offensive tackle Matteo Rule.
South County, which averaged more that 40 points per game last year, used an up-tempo offense. Look for Taylor to incorporate that style into the Seahawks’ offensive plan.
Returning to Seahawks is Darius Hawkins, who will play both receiver and free safety.
Underclassman to watch include Damon Johnson, Chris Logan, Kevin Miles, Spencer Alstad and Noah Seneca, said Taylor.
“To be replacing nine [positions] on both sides of the ball a little unusual,” he said. “But we have some good kids coming up.”
South Lakes High School students, parents, siblings, teachers and the whole community are invited to the 5th annual Seahawk Block Party on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.
The block party, which takes place in the student parking lot, is SLHS’ back-to-school carnival. There will be reps from various South Lakes student organizations and teams, Reston Association, Reston Community Center and other groups.
There will be a moon bounce and face painting for younger kids, as well as food trucks and stands including Tropical Smoothie, Honey Baked Ham, Lucia’s Italian Restaurant, Potbelly and Jerry’s Subs.
After the party, South Lakes varsity football will open the season against James Madison High School at 7:30 p.m. South Lakes has a new coach, Trey Taylor.
Block party admission is free; game admission is $5.
To see the full Seahawks football schedule, visit the South Lakes Athletics website.
The 2014-15 school year begins Tuesday, Sept. 2. Parents can take part in a meet-and-greet with counselors on Thursday, Aug. 28 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Want to mark your calendar for Back to School nights? Find info on the Fairfax County Public Schools website.
File photo of South Lakes Football 2013
More than $11,000 has been raised to help injured Reston go-kart driver Ayrton Climo, but the teen’s parents are having trouble obtaining insurance authorization to transport their son back to the United States, The Washington Post reports.
Climo, 18, graduated from South Lakes High School in June. An experienced go-kart racer, he was on a practice run Aug. 1 in Quebec prior to the Le Monaco de Trois-Rivieres, Canada’s biggest karting event, when he crashed on a 90-degree turn. After hitting hay bales, he hit other cars.
Climo suffered a serious head injury. He had brain surgery and was placed in a medically induced coma. He is now showing small signs of improvement and his parents, Lisa and Ed Climo, want to return him to Virginia. The Climos have insurance through Fairfax County Public Schools, where Lisa Climo is a teacher.
The transport is expected to cost more than $20,000. Ayrton Climo, who was supposed to attend James Madison University this fall, is facing more than a year of rehabilitation.
Reports Tom Jackman on the State of Nova Blog:
But the Climos said CareFirst and Fairfax County, which as the self-insurer has ultimate say on the policy, have denied coverage for the transport home. Ayrton can rehabilitate in Quebec, the Climos were told. The policy with CareFirst does not cover international transport home, they said. Insurance experts said this is not surprising — some policies cover such a situation, some do not, said Clare Krusing of America’s Health Insurance Plans, the trade association of health insurers.
Lisa Climo, stunned, has been pushing Fairfax County schools to step in, to make an exception as the self-insurer. Fairfax schools officials said Friday they could not discuss the case without a waiver from the Climos, but that the insurance companies typically handle all the decisions on coverage, and that customers can appeal decisions.
The Climos have amassed additional expenses as they have been living in Quebec as their son recovers. Members of the racing community have set up the #KEEPFIGHTINGAYRTON fundraising page on GoFundMe.com.
Photo: Ayrton Climo/Credit: Go Fund Me
A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help the family of Ayrton Climo as the Reston teen-ager remains in a Canadian hospital.
Climo, a member of South Lakes High School’s Class of 2014, was severely injured in a Go Kart crash in Quebec a week and a half ago.
Climo is an experienced Go Kart racer. He was on a practice run at Le Monaco de Trois-Rivieres when he made contact with the hay bales ringing the track and was thrown from his cart.
Climo suffered a head injury and underwent immediate surgery. His parents are reportedly in Quebec with him.
From the Go Fund Me site #KEEPFIGHTINGAYRTON:
Dear friends, family and Karting Community around the World.
We are hoping you would help a young man by the name of Ayrton Climo.
Ayrton was involved in a serious kart racing incident in Trois Rivieres, QC Canada last week and remains in the hospital under the great care of the Medical Team in Trois Rivieres.
Ayrton lives in the USA. Please help us help Ayrton and his Mom, Lisa and Dad, Ed during this very difficult time. Your donations are gratefully received. Please also keep Ayrton and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.
Recent South Lakes High School graduate Ayrton Climo was seriously injured last weekend in a street course go-kart accident in Trois-Riveres, Quebec, according to the Canadian Karting News website.
Climo was on a practice run at Le Monaco de Trois-Rivieres when he made contact with the hay bales ringing the track and was thrown from his cart.
From Canadian Karting News:
Following an immediate surgery to relieve the pressure on his swelling brain from the impact, Climo was medically induced into a coma to allow the swelling of his brain to reduce. All of his vitals, bones and muscles are in good condition and the swelling in his brain is going down although as of Monday he still remains in the induced coma in critical but stable condition.
The Eastern Canadian Karting Championship and Coupe du Quebec were held last weekend in Trois-Riveres. Go-Karts can go up to 60 mph on that track.
Climo has been racing since he was 10 years old. He first tried it after watching Formula One races, he told the South Lakes Sentinel in 2010.
“You have to be able to think quickly,” he told the Sentinel. “The racing I do is left and right. I am not saying NASCAR is easy, but karting is hard. … You are literally an inch off the ground going really fast. It’s crazy.”
Racers and friends have started a #keepfightingAyrton Twitter hashtag to support the teenager.
The “Pyramid of Light” is getting a makeover.
The temporary public art project created by South Lakes High School students and unveiled in May, has suffered the effects of this summer’s wind and rain storms. A large portion of the plexiglas panels has fallen off the pyramid-shaped structure that sits atop the Lake Thoreau spillway.
The students — Sammy Nazam, Gabriella Rando, Margaret Lashley, and Tehmeena Salahin — have been working during summer break to create about 100 new brightly colored panels. On Wednesday, they, along with art teacher Marco Rando and other helpers, were at the site replacing the panels with new reinforced hanging materials.
The project has received approval to remain in place until the end of August.
The SLHS students teamed with the Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) to turn the spillway into public art. In addition to creating the work, they had to go through a lengthy approval process with Reston Association’s Design Review Board.
The graduating seniors of South Lakes High School, their families and the South Lakes PTSA extend their heartfelt thanks to all those who donated so generously to the All Night Graduation Party held on June 18.
The party was a huge success and was attended by more than 350 students. A great time was had by all, in a safe, drug-free and alcohol-free environment. This much-loved South Lakes tradition, stretching back 28 years, would not be possible without the support of our community. Thank you.
Platinum Sponsors
Reston Association
The Eyewear Gallery at Reston Town Center
Gold Sponsors
St Anne’s Episcopal Church
St John Neumann Catholic Church
Town Center Orthopaedics
Kyle Knight Insurance Agency Inc
Clyde’s Restaurant Group
Beloved Yoga
Glory Days
Ledo Pizza
Moe’s Southwest Grill
LaRock Family
Christine Gambrel
David W Houghtailing
Bryan and Traci Nicol
Ferzoco Family
Mott Family
Stephanie Baird
Paul Baumgartner and Linda Johnson
Ana Woodward
Joan Burkhart
Amy Persil
Barbara Papile
Joanne Woestman
Beaulac Family
Payne Family
The Pyramid of Light public art project that was built on the Lake Thoreau spillway in early May will remain there through the end of August.
The Reston Association Design Review Board has approved a request from the South Lakes High School art students that created the colorful project. The student artists — Margaret Lashley, Sammy Nazam, Gabriella Rando and Tehmeena Seher Salahin — originally had permission to keep the installation, which has received high praise from area residents, on display until the end of June.
The students turned the concrete platform into the base of a pyramid built of colorful hanging plexiglass panels.
Turning the spillway into public art was the idea of James Pan, a Reston resident who suggested the concrete square that can be seen from South Lakes Drive would be a great space for art. He offered financial support if the students would work on a project, says Anne Delaney, executive director of Initiative for Public Art Reston, which sponsored the project.
South Lakes High School’s Class of 2014 held commencement exercises at the Patriot Center at George Mason University on Wednesday.
Megan DeSisti was honored with the Bruce Butler Leadership Award. Student speakers were Melissa Thomas and Antonia Nagle.
Diplomas were awarded to 576 students. See where the college bound-members are heading next fall in this previous Reston Now story.
Mural painting. Tasting foods of the world. Basketball (outdoors). Dance off. Field Trip to Lincoln Summer Cottage. College essay workshop. Kickball.
These are a few of the more than 45 choices South Lakes High School underclassmen will have when they attend school June 23 and 24.
The partial days, along with June 25, were tacked on to the school year because Fairfax County Public Schools used 11 snow days in 2013-14. While several snow days are built into the school calendar, once the allotted days are used, the schools must make up the days.
The FCPS school board is considering eliminating early release Mondays for elementary school students as a longterm solution to the “snow days problem.” Rather than requiring students to attend 180 days, the system could opt, under state law, to have children in school 990 hours. The new system would have greater flexibility on snow days.
If the school board votes the hourly calendar into effect, it could change as early as next year.
That does not help 2013-14, though, where administrators must fill up the extra days even after teacher grade books have been completed.
SLHS Principal Kim Retzer says the administration is “excited that so many staff volunteered to offer our students a variety of learning experiences on June 23 and 24.
“We know many families have already made plans, so we are expecting a smaller number of students attending those days. At this point we are planning for several hundred [students].”
Many students will skip those final days, though. SLHS says if they are not coming, just send a note and it will be an excused absence.
If the SLHS student is going to attend, they need to sign up for their mini course by June 16. See the complete list of offerings on the school’s website.
Over at Herndon High, students will have a seminar/field day on June 23 and 24.
“This day will include a motivational speaker in the auditorium, meaningful breakout sessions around topics such as cyberbullying, college and career readiness, SAT/ACT prep, honors/AP information and Kids At Hope updates,” principal William Bates wrote in an email to HHS parents. “Students will end the morning with a field day and opportunities for service learning.”
Herndon administrators also understand that people already have plans for that week, snow days or not.
“Families are encouraged NOT to alter vacation, camp, or summer enrichment plans in order to attend our June 24 and June 25 activity days,” Bates said in his message. “These will be excused absences.”
Will your high school students stay or play? Take our poll or tell us in the comments.
Twelve South Lakes High School athletes were among the top finishers at the VHSL 6A Track and Field Championship in Newport News Friday and Saturday.
Leading the way were Senior Grace Gillen, juniors Claire Nieusma, Delaney Wickman and sophomore Golden Kumi-Darfour, who placed third in the 4×400 meter relay with a 3:55.44. They will compete at Nationals this weekend in Greensboro, N.C.
Wickman also finished fifth in both the 200 meters (25.54) and 400 meters (57.25). Kumi-Darfour ran a school-record 2:12.81 for fifth place in the 800 meters. The old mark of 2:13.27 was set by Jeraldine Cofie in 1998. Both Wickman and Kumi-Darfour will compete in those individual events at Nationals as will Devyn Jones, who qualified for the freshman triple jump.
Kumi-Darfour and Gillen teamed with senior Abby Reinhold and junior Augusta Durham for seventh in the 4×800 meter relay (9:33.73). They earned All-State honors along with teammates:
- Senior Khayri Denny, 4th, long jump, 21-08.50
- Sophomore Eric Kirlew, 7th, triple jump, 44-05.50
- Boys 4×400 meter relay team (seniors Michael Kerr, Luis Rivas, Daniel Johnsen, junior Sam Arpee), 6th, 3:23.10
Other SLHS performances at the state championship:
- Senior Danielle Hale, 11th, long jump (16-01.75); triple jump, 13th (36-00.75)
- Junior Claire Nieusma, 13th, 300 meter hurdles (47.09 personal best)
- Jones, 10th, 100 meter hurdles (15.92)
- Denny, 9th, 100 meters (11.29); 13th, 200 meters (22.66)
- Johnsen, 13th, 400 meters (50.15)
- Kerr, 12th, 800 meters (1:57.35)
- Rivas, 22nd, 800 meters (2:00.45)
- Girls 4×100 meter relay team (Hale, freshman Nikayla Hoyte, juniors Ozioma Chinaka, Jordan Lozama), 13th (49.43)
- Boys 4×100 meter relay team (Denny, seniors Ben O’Connor, Anthony Mayo, sophomore Skander Ballard), 17th (44.16)
- Boys 4×800 meter relay team (Kerr, Rivas, junior Andrew McCool, sophomore John LeBerre), 12th (8:08.91)
— Submitted by Valerie Lister; photos courtesy of Ed Lull via Facebook.
Twenty-five athletes from the South Lakes High School track team will compete in the 6A State Outdoor Track and Field Championship June 6-7 in Newport News, Va.
The girls team will be paced by senior Danielle Hale, who won the region title in the long jump and will be competing in that event as well as the triple jump and 4×100 meter relay. Senior Grace Gillen, juniors Claire Nieusma, Delaney Wickman and sophomore Golden Kumi-Darfour ran a season best 3:54.35 en route to the 4×400 meter relay region title at the 6A North Regional meet at Robinson Secondary School May 29-30. That relay team is ranked third in the state going into the state championships and helped SLHS to finish fourth out of 26 schools at the region meet.
SLHS girls’ state-bound team also includes both in the 4×100 (freshman Nikayla Hoyte, Ozioma Chinaka, Jordan Lozama, Hale) and 4×800 (Gillen, Kumi-Darfour, senior Abby Reinhold, junior Augusta Durham) relay teams. The Seahawks will also be represented in individual events:
- 100 meter hurdles: freshman Devyn Jones (4th at Region championship)
- 200 meters: Wickman (3rd at Region championship)
- 300 meter hurdles: Nieusma (6th at Region championship)
- 400 meters: Wickman (2nd at Region championship)
- 800 meters: Kumi-Darfour (4th at Region championship)
Senior Khayri Denny, the Region champion in the long jump, will compete in that event as well as the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4×100 meter relay. As with the girls’ team, both the 4×400 (seniors Michael Kerr, Luis Rivas, Daniel Johnsen, junior Sam Arpee) and 4×800 (Kerr, Rivas, junior Andrew McCool, sophomore John LeBerre) meter relay teams will compete at the state competition.
Kerr and Rivas will also compete in the 800 meters. Johnsen will also run the 400 meters. Eric Kirlew finished fourth at the region meet in the triple jump and is the state’s top ranked sophomore in that event. Seniors Ben O’Connor and Anthony Mayo will team with Denny and junior Brandon Terry or sophomore Skander Ballard on the 4×100.
— Submitted by Valerie Lister
Photo: SLHS boys 4×800 relay is headed to the state 6A meet/Credit: Ed Lull
Fairfax County Public Schools officials were at South Lakes High School Tuesday to discuss with the community plans for changing high school start times.
What they found there was mostly enthusiastic support, with some criticism. Most in attendance welcome the changes.
“We are unanimously for the later start times.” said Jennifer Boysko, whose daughters have gone through Herndon High. “We all have high schoolers who have suffered. I believe getting sleep is most important.”
After a 2012 decision committing to changing high school start times, FCPS paid experts at Children’s National Medical Center more than $100,000 to study the impact on lack of sleep among teens and formulate scenarios for bell changes.
FCPS high schools currently begin at 7:20 a.m. The proposals all have high school starting between 8 and 9:15 a.m., with various bell changes to elementary and middle schools as well. See all four proposals in detail on the FCPS website.
The proposals will cost between $2.7 million and $7.6 million to implement, mostly to purchase new buses. Last week, the FCPS school board approved the 2015 budget, but received less than expected from the county board of supervisors, had to make $97 million in cuts, and will offer employees delayed step raises.
Some parents at the SLHS meeting said they fear that existing programs will be cut in order to pay for the new arrangement.
“Money is being wasted,” said one mother of two high schoolers. “Teachers are not being paid. Classes are getting bigger. And these proposals will cost more money.” Read More
