FCPS Awarded Grant to Help Homeless Families
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded a 2009 Virginia Governor’s Office of Substance Abuse Prevention grant from the state’s Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities funds. FCPS, through its Student Safety and Wellness section and its Homeless Liaison office, will use the grant to offer a free five-session parenting program throughout the 2009-10 school year that aims to strengthen parent-child connections and build parenting skills for homeless families in transition shelter programs.

FCPS Awarded Grant to Help Homeless Families
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded a 2009 Virginia Governor’s Office of Substance Abuse Prevention grant from the state’s Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities funds. FCPS, through its Student Safety and Wellness section and its Homeless Liaison office, will use the grant to offer a free five-session parenting program throughout the 2009-10 school year that aims to strengthen parent-child connections and build parenting skills for homeless families in transition shelter programs.

The parenting program, Guiding Good Choices, is a nationally recognized program that also reduces risk factors related to alcohol and other drug use while teaching communication and refusal skills. The five session program is geared to parents of children aged 9 – 14. During parent sessions, participants’ children will receive tutoring and homework help by FCPS tutors; in some of the sessions parents and their children will be together practicing specific skills. For more information, contact Diane Eckert at 571-423-4278 or diane.eckert@fcps.edu.
Headfirst Offers Mini Shake Camp
Mini Shake Camp is for the camper who loves to spend his or her day being active and having fun, but not wanting to focus on one particular program. The indoor and outdoor camp is geared towards beginner campers, aged 4 – 5, who want to experience a variety of sports and camp activities. The program offers a variety of team sports, traditional camp games, and adventure events all mixed into one program. It will also introduce campers to two of the most popular camp activities: The Headfirst Adventure Rock Climbing Wall & Headfirst Water Play, including the Headfirst Water Slide. Throughout the week campers will enjoy, play, and participate in basketball, soccer, baseball and flag football.
The next session begins Monday, July 27 and concludes Friday, July 31. The camp is held at St. Luke School (7005 Georgetown Pike, McLean) and the fee is $355. For more information, visit www.playheadfirst.com.
McLean Community Center Offers Movie Camp
The camp’s theme is Digital Movie Making, instructed by Sandra Beyer and held at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean). Using computer-based, movie-making programs students will shoot, edit footage and burn three-minute movies to a DVD. With their new skills, young directors can make short movies with titles, captions, credits and transitions. For ages 7 – 10, the camp will be held Monday, July 27 – Friday, July 31 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. It is $146 to register, $108 for McLean district residents. There is a $15 material fee due to the instructor on the first day of class. To register, call 703-790-0123 or visit www.mcleancenter.org.
Virginia Academy of Fencing Holds Camp in McLean
The Virginia Academy of Fencing is offering a summer camp for children that explores sword fighting disciplines, allowing them to use the rapier (the traditional dueling sword) and the two-handed sword (the knightly, European medieval sword). Practice swords will be used in class called shinai (made of bamboo) and foil. Students will use protective jackets, masks and a pair of gloves. The camp will be hosted in the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean) Monday, July 27 – Friday, July 31 for children ages 9 – 13 from 2 – 5 p.m. The fee is $170, $126 for McLean district residents with a $29 equipment rental fee due on the first day of class. To register, call 703-790-0123 or visit www.mcleancenter.org.