Hayfield Secondary School will once again be offering the Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) Summer Institute this summer. This institute is available for Hayfield students in grades 9-11 who are enrolled in one or more Honors and/or AP classes during the 2012 – 2013 school year. The institute will be held Monday, July 30 through Thursday, August 2 from 6pm to 9pm. Despite FCPS budget constraints, the institute remains free-of-charge for all students. More information, including directions for the application process, will be distributed in May.

The Fairfax County School Board has approved a revision to the 2011-12 school year calendar since FCPS has used only one of its three weather-related makeup days. At its April 12 regular meeting, the board voted to schedule the last day of school for Friday, June 15 (a full day), rather than on Tuesday, June 19. The Board has now reassigned June 18 and 19 as teacher workdays. However, if any unforeseen emergency closings should be required, schools may require make-up days. For details on the agenda item, please visit http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=8T3CUY32C99F.

The Fairfax County School Board voted to offer an additional five English and social studies honors courses in high school. The following courses will be offered to Fairfax County Public Schools students in time for the 2012-13 school year: English 11 Honors, World History and Geography 2 Honors, English 12 Honors, Virginia and U.S. History Honors, and Virginia and U.S. Government Honors. 

Descriptions for the honors courses will be based on FCPS’ existing standard level courses, but with increased depth and rigor. 

In addition, the Board voted to initiate an in-depth discussion of the K-12 curriculum and possibly revise existing policies to more fully integrate its Student Achievement Goals in the FCPS program of studies. This review would address the delivery methodology of standard, honors, and advanced programs of study and include a discussion of how to ensure increased and equitable student access to advanced academic offerings.

For more information, go to http://www.fcps.edu/news/advanced.shtml.

Hop on a flying carpet to visit the exciting city of Shammar in Old Arabia! Meet the adventurous Aladdin and his mischievous monkey, Alakazam. Aladdin will encounter the magician, Jammal, and his wicked sister, Halima, who need Aladdin for their evil plan involving a magic lamp with a strange genie inside. And, of course, watch as Aladdin meets his love, Princess Jasmine, and has to save her from the evil magician. You'll meet not one, but three genies, the whining Ali "Bubba" and his umbrella, the fire-breathing dragon, and the haughty Sultan's wife. All are joined by many other fun characters such as snakes, lizards, birds, monkeys, and spirits in this musical fantasy that will delight audiences of all ages.

Performances will be held at Hayfield Secondary School (7630 Telegraph Rd, Alexandria) on Friday, April 13 at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 14 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door ($5 for adults, $3 for children). Concessions will be available.

World Heritage Student Exchange Program, a highly respected, non profit, public benefit organization, is seeking local host families for high school boys and girls from Portugal, France, Germany, Brazil, Thailand, Korea, China, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Italy, the Middle East and the former Soviet Republics. Students are already awaiting word on their host family for the 2012-2013 academic school year. Host families provide room, board, and guidance for a teenager living thousands of miles from home. Couples, single parents, and families with and without children in the home are all encouraged to apply.

The exchange students arrive from their home country shortly before school begins fall 2012. Each World Heritage student is fully insured, brings his/her own personal spending money and expects to bear his/her share of household responsibilities, as well as being included in normal family activities and lifestyles.

The HSS PTSA is helping recruit volunteers for the Hayfield Book Fair, in partnership with Scholastic Books, Mon., Feb. 27 – Fri., March 2, 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., each day. Plus, we will have special evening hours for Hayfield families on Tues., Feb. 28 and Wed., Feb. 29 from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Lots and lots of books will be available for sale – right in our own library. And, teacher wish lists will be posted during the book fair! Cash, checks (made payable to “Hayfield Secondary”) and credit cards will be accepted. Our goal is to have purchases of at least $2,000 – at that level, we receive 25% of the total in cash! (Of course, the more we sell the more we earn for our school!) All proceeds benefit Hayfield Secondary.

 We will also have a book fair website – http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/hayfieldsecondary – so you can purchase books online from Feb. 20 – March 5.  Just follow the steps on the website! The online fair includes even more titles than our book fair.  Books purchased via the website will be delivered to your child’s English teacher approximately two weeks after the online fair closes.  And, there are no shipping charges for books purchased through the online fair. 

 Of course we need volunteers to make this event really successful! Please sign up at www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0A49AFA92DA46-book with the password “hayfieldhawks.” Dates and times available for volunteering are listed. If you have any questions, please contact Annalee Schnebele, Hayfield Secondary Library, ASSchnebele@fcps.edu. Please see the attached document (below) for additional details!

Restaurant Night at Chili's on Tues., Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., 6250 Inter Parcel Rd., Alexandria, VA, 703-922-5100. Time to sit back and relax since college apps and FAFAS are done! Eat in or carry out. Gift card purchases count, too. You do NOT need to be a senior to participate. Download the flyer from either Hayfield or ANGP website https://sites.google.com/site/hayfieldangp2012/

Senior parents, ANGP tickets prices go up Feb. 29! Buy your student’s ticket online for only $60. https://sites.google.com/site/hayfieldangp2012/tickets Ticket sales end June 4. We’re NOT kidding!

Get your Prom and Date Night raffle tickets before they’re gone…40 prizes to be awarded! Drawings are Feb. 29. We will be at Chili’s on Tues., Feb. 21 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. selling our goodies. Visit the web for more info https://sites.google.com/site/hayfieldangp2012/

Please send your boxtops to the school by Feb. 21. Label the boxtops “PTSA,” send them with your student and drop off in the main office. Boxtops mean more fundraising dollars for Hayfield Secondary!! Thanks so much!

The HSS PTSA is helping recruit volunteers for the Hayfield Book Fair, in partnership with Scholastic Books, Mon., Feb. 27 – Fri., March 2, 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., each day. Plus, we will have special evening hours for Hayfield families on Tues., Feb. 28 and Wed., Feb. 29 from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Lots and lots of books will be available for sale – right in our own library. And, teacher wish lists will be posted during the book fair! Cash, checks (made payable to “Hayfield Secondary”) and credit cards will be accepted. Our goal is to have purchases of at least $2,000 – at that level, we receive 25% of the total in cash! (Of course, the more we sell the more we earn for our school!) All proceeds benefit Hayfield Secondary.

We will also have a book fair website – http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/hayfieldsecondary – so you can purchase books online from Feb. 20 – March 5.  Just follow the steps on the website! The online fair includes even more titles than our book fair.  Books purchased via the website will be delivered to your child’s English teacher approximately two weeks after the online fair closes.  And, there are no shipping charges for books purchased through the online fair. 

Of course we need volunteers to make this event really successful! Please sign up at www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0A49AFA92DA46-book with the password “hayfieldhawks.” Dates and times available for volunteering are listed. If you have any questions, please contact Annalee Schnebele, Hayfield Secondary Library, ASSchnebele@fcps.edu.