What are your plans after retirement?

I will leave West Potomac on June 26 and leave the next Monday for Estonia to see the huge song festival (30,000 voices) that happens there once every four years.  Then I come back to work with Assistant Superintendent Kim Dockery in Fairfax County Public School’s central office until September 1.   Beginning in September I will be travelling, visiting friends and family, caring for my grandchildren, and going through about 365 boxes that are in my house.  During the time that I have been at West Potomac I have lost my mother, my mother-in-law, and two of my favorite uncles.  I have many of their things, plus boxes from my own activities that I haven’t had time to sort. 

Describe your experience as principal of WP in one word.

I can’t do it.  Every day is different and every day was Exciting – Rewarding – Loving

How have you seen WP change over the four years?

I’ve been the principal of West Potomac for five years.  I’ve seen it move from a school in crisis toward a more caring and respectful community.  My first year here there were fights between big, rude, and angry kids in the building, even some parents and some gang intimidation.  Teachers and students told me that they were afraid in the halls.  There are still problems that come to us every day, but people now realize that this is a safe learning environment and we are determined to keep it that way.  We have very many outstanding teachers and students.  The community feels welcomed in the school. 

What do you feel your biggest mistake as principal was, if any?

I should have pushed a little harder to make sure that the teachers moved more quickly and aggressively into Professional Learning Communities.  Some departments moved more easily into those patterns than others.  Some departments are still not able to take full advantage of such collaboration.

What is the funniest/craziest thing that has happened at WP in your opinion?

One of my favorite funny stories that I tell over and over again happened within the first couple of weeks that I was principal.  I was upstairs in Quander just as the bell rang for class to begin.  The hall cleared almost immediately except for two very tall boys who were standing in front of an open locker next to a classroom.  As I walked closer to them I said, “Come on, guys, get to class.”   One of the boys immediately responded, “OK, our class is right here,” and he closed the locker as I passed them.   I listened as I walked down the hall to see if I heard the classroom door open and close.  I heard the second boy say, “Who’s that?”  The first boy responded, “That’s the principal.”  “Principal of what?”  “She’s the principal of the whole school.”  There was a moment’s pause and the second boy said, “She can’t be the principal of the whole school.  She’s too short.”The classroom door opened and closed and they were gone.  I laughed all the way down to my office.

What advice would you give the new principal?

What a lot of expertise there is in this school and this community!!  Work hard.  Listen actively and openly to everyone in the community.  And most of all, love your students and staff!!  They’re an amazing group of people and together you can accomplish wondrous things!!

How do you want to be remembered?

With kudos and love for a job well done.

   Current Thomas Jefferson High School administrator Cliff Hardison was selected to become our school’s new principal, following Rima Vesilind’s resignation on July 1, 2009.
   The decision was announced in a letter to students and faculty on May 22. Hardison served as the Director of Student Services at our school from 1992-1997. “I left with a specific purpose of becoming a principal, to become a better leader,” Hardison said. The best part about our school is the open horse-shoe shaped campus that allows students to get fresh air, he said.

   Hardison plans to follow some of Vesilind’s initiatives, such as improving Standards of Learning (SOL) scores, enrolling more minorities in Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes, and sending more graduating seniors to college. “My understanding of WP is that Mrs. Vesilind has done a wonderful job of building a nice, solid groundwork and platform. My goal is to continue that, build another rung,” he said. “Mrs. Vesilind has great hopes for WP, and I want to make sure we continue with those great hopes.”
   A major component of Hardison’s policies will be ensuring that minority students are represented in advanced classes to avoid creating a school that is divided between students in different levels of classes. Also, the new principal will work to make sure every student is challenging. Hardison also believes every student should take four years of math. “[High School] is just one step in life. Education is a primary tool. I want kids to love learning…I want a safe environment where you get to explore social responsibility as well,” Hardison said.
   The new principal will also listen to faculty and students on ways to improve our school. He plans to look into alternatives to the Flex period.       “I’ve hard lots of mixed messages about Flex,” he said. “I want to make sure everyone is in agreement with what Flex means and its purpose is. It’s worth considering option.”
   Hardison feels that teachers will adjust to the new 10-point grading scale and that colleges already identify the standards. “I do not care. An A is an A and a B is a B,” Hardison said.
   On the issue of cell phone usage in school, he believes that if students are not allowed to use them, then neither should adults. “There’s nothing more annoying then faculty meetings with phones ringing off,” he said.
Hardison was born in Texas, however he was raised in Fairfax County, Virginia. “I’m a Fairfax County boy,” he proudly said. He went to West Springfield High School and participated in track, cross country, and Boy Scouts of America, where he earned the Eagle Scout rank. He then attended George Mason University and ran track. Later, Hardison earned a masters degree in consoling from Virginia Commonwealth University. Hardison plans to stay at our school for as long as he can. He said, “I’ll be here for awhile.”

WPA Fashion Show Event: On May 16, our school’s Fashion Design classes debuted their runway collection, All for the Love of Design in our school.  All of the clothes were designed by the graduating level-two students.  The show featured models from CW television network’s America’s Next Top Model and Miss Washington, DC 2008.  The show was hosted by CW television personality and Evolution Look owner Paul Wharton, in which a part of the proceeds from the show was donated to the Heart of America charity.

WPA Design Week:  On May 18, our school’s Pro Graphics class had launched the first Design Week for the metro area.  The Design Week centers attention to the ways that design figures everyday life and to support those interested in the industry.  The event was created through support from the educators in design, design organizations and related companies.  To find more information about events from the Pro Graphics class visit www.freshpickedstudio.com.

Summer Enrichment Programs and Courses: Each high school is offering summer programs that will support students who need either credit recovery or Standards of Learning (SOL) remediation or those who are in the English Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) program.  Fairfax County Public School’s (FCPS) will also offer new courses through its Online Campus.  The course dates will differ depending on the program.  The summer academic programs are reliant upon final approval of the FCPS budget by the School Board on May 21, according to fcps.net.    

West Potomac Hosting Tennis Tournament:  It was tennis week for the first three weeks in May at our school.  During those three weeks our school hosted the Patriot District Boys Tennis Tournaments and the Northern Region Girls Tennis Tournament.  The Boys Singles was able to place in the top six teams in two of the games.  While the Girls Singles and Doubles just did not make it into the third round.

   Physics and math teachers Garrett Hubbard and Allison Satterwhite will be bringing new ideas to the National Honor Society (NHS) next year as the society’s new sponsors. 

   Hubbard and Satterwhite chose to sponsor the organization at the request of Christine Spaulding, one of the current sponsors.  They also are excited to work with the NHS students as a way of promoting the values that NHS stands for and improving the community.  “…I think NHS is a great organization…I look forward to working with them,” said Hubbard.  “Second, I am looking forward to sending threatening letters to kids who don’t complete their service hours.” 

   Both of the new sponsors are hoping to expand the National Honor Society’s projects for next year, such as the tutoring program that it ran in the past.  “Next year we will definitely continue to focus on the tutoring program, and ensuring that the service is advertised and available to all WPHS students in need of extra help,” said Satterwhite.  Hubbard feels that instituting the tutoring program would be appropriate because of the NHS’s obligation as an honor society to help the school. They also hope to get long term projects started that would involve community service and improving the school in other ways. 

   As for their role in running the organization, Hubbard and Satterwhite hope that their student officers will take leadership initiative.  “NHS officers run for election aware of the responsibility they will be taking on, and thus I envision that student leadership will involve a great deal of work in the management and organization of our chapter,” said Satterwhite concerning student officer roles. “That being said,” said Ms. Satterwhite, “both Mr. Hubbard and myself have mad skills in telling kids what to do, so I am fully prepared to make the officers our little minions ready to lead NHS under our direction.”  Hubbard believes that the officers should be learning skills such as organizing meetings, keeping records and planning events as part of being a leader in an honor society, but both teachers plan on overseeing and guiding students through their tasks in the society. “Basically if we can make the officers younger versions of us (Hubbard and Satterwhite) that would be awesome,” said Hubbard about teaching leaderships skills to the students. “We are two of the best people at West Potomac.” 

   The society’s Vice President for next year, Maggie Berrigan, has expressed her excitement to have two of her past teachers sponsoring the club.  “I think they’ll be really good for the program; bring in some new ideas.”  She also related her hope to get the club more involved, because she feels it was not able to do much this year.

After many disputes the Fairfax County Public School’s (FCPS) grading scale has been changed to a ten point grading scale.
After many parents of students have voiced their complaints about the FCPS grading scale the School Board debated over the subject of changing the grading scale. FCPS staff and parents collaborated to come , up with a grading scale that works for all. According to fcps.net, the School Board announced on May 7, that the grading scale will be changed to a ten point grading scale including pluses and minuses. This scale will be put into action during the 2009-2010 school year. By using this scale, the grade point average (GPA) should increase for all students, especially for students taking Advance Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and honors classes.

According fcps.net, the Superintendent Jack Dale recommended to put into action the increased weighting for AP or IB courses on all transcripts issued at the end of the first semester of this school year. The increased weights for selected honors classes will begin in the 2009-10 school year. However, it is possible to apply both changes for the next school year. But a delay would eliminate any of the possibilities benefiting some current of the seniors seeking merit scholarships or, honors at admissions.
In January 2009, the School Board debated over additional changes to the schools grading scale by increasing the grade point weight for specific classes. AP, IB and selected Dual Enrollment and Honors classes were given an additional .5 weight or a total of 1.0 added to their GPA for each yearlong AP or IB class the students have taken. Also, students that have taken or are currently taking a semester long Dual Enrollment class will receive and additional .25 weight or a total of .5 added to their GPA. (QUOTES)
Next year all students taking an Honors class will receive an extra .5 added to their GPA for each relevant Honors class. In July 2009, the Superintendent Jack Dale and the School Board will have a list of recommended Honors classes in which the addition .5 will be added the students GPA. However, there has been no verdict of whether the .5 weight for Honors classes will be retroactive for this school year for current FCPS students.
Many teachers think that this grading scale will be beneficial to the students. Long-term substitute for Cynthia Hawkins, Sean Bethel thinks that the new grading is “for the most part it is going to make the grading scale here the same with other counties [grading scales]. But on the low end, they kept an “F” starting at 64, so it does not make it easier to not get an “F” but at the same time it gives you more range for each grade. I think it is a good thing.”
Many students are excited that the grade scale change is going to increase their GPA and they will then have better grades. In regards to how the new grading scale will affect FCPS students getting into college, Bethel commented “I think it will level the playing field so that students in Fairfax County are held to the same standards as the students in other counties.”
However, some people are not happy with the grading scale change. Barbara Conner, from the College and Career Center at our school is outraged that the grading scale has changed. Connor said “I think it is unfortunate [that the change in the grading scale]. I think one of the reasons that Fairfax County has a top ten school system reputation in the nation is because our grading system has always been rigorous and frankly when a student applies to college from Fairfax County it says something about the academic preparedness that that student has had going through twelve years of Fairfax County. Fairfax County parents whined and complained and got the system watered down and I don’t think this helps our students in the next few years.”
Unlike Brethel, Conner thinks that the change in the grading scale will not be beneficial to students applying for colleges. Conner stated that “college’s admonitions folks are going to look at transcripts and they are going to see an “A” and they are going to say, “Is this really an “A” or would this have been a “B” in what we know of Fairfax County. And now it has just been inflated to reflect this new [grading] scale. It will make Fairfax County seem less prestige than all of the other counties and I think it is unfortunate.”

“Did you see that game last night?”   Depending on the season, the team, and, of course, its record, that question echoes around not only school walls, but around the area.  Most recently we have experienced such a sports following from the Capitals and their Stanley Cup Playoff series.  However, a fair few of those same fans actually care about the team when they are not doing as well.

   Junior Frankie Gerow is what might be called “a true Caps fan.”  As a season ticket holder and avid game attendant, Gerow knows all about the Capitals and is with them through the good times and the bad. 

   “I don’t mind [people on the bandwagon] too much because it makes it that much more exciting when I go to the games, but what makes me angry is when the team starts going downhill and they act like they aren’t a fan.  If you are going to be there for the game, at least be there for the team,” said Gerow.

   This happens in other sports as well, not just hockey.  Junior Cara Yaworske, a self-identified, hardcore Redskins fan is less than pleased with the bandwagon.  “I think it’s stupid when people join bandwagons because they aren’t true fans, a true fan sticks with their team despite how well they are doing,” said Yaworske.  “One of my friends became a Titans fan last year just because they were undefeated and it just pissed me off,” added Yaworske.

   Now, nothing is inherently wrong with a sports team’s ability to make someone, who could not have cared less before about a team, into a true fan, but unfortunately, that is hardly the case.  For the most part, these people are really into the game for a brief period and then, as quickly as they became fans, they no longer cared.

   Compare this to someone who was a friend and it would not be tolerated.  If anyone were only available for emotional support, at the best of times, they would do no one any good and beyond that no one would want to be a part of that kind of relationship.  So why should it be okay for a “sports fan”?

     Our boat put so much effort into planning our initiation: holding a sleepover the night before, making t-shirts for our freshmen, and gathering all our ridiculous spandex and hats to lend them. We wanted it to be as perfect as possible —we slaved over those t-shirts for hours— so that the new girls would always look back on that day with fond memories. We made sure we had exciting and fun activities for the freshmen to do, such as rowing through the hallways and being given a pop quiz.  At the same time, we took special care to make sure we did not plan anything disruptive to the school environment or anything utterly humiliating for the girls.

     Nevertheless, some parents, teachers, and students always seem to have a problem with sports doing initiations. Often, they term the event as “hazing;” a far more harmful form of initiation intended to terrorize the new athletes. Our team took great precautions to assure that our initiation would not come close to hazing at all. We called up all the girls parents first, making sure that they were fine with our plans; we purposefully planned activities for them to do that, while they might feel somewhat silly, they would have fun doing —we wanted to make sure that we did not give them anything too demanding to do.  We also expressly stated that they were not to leave class at any point to do something initiation related, such as coming to one of us to get a quiz answer. When parents, teachers, or students complain about sports holding initiations for new athletes, it often seems that they do not actually take the time to see what these initiations are like. They have heard rumors about horrifying initiations and automatically assume that all initiations are traumatizing. If the people who complain about the damages caused by initiation were to take the time to actually watch the events unfold, they would see that they often end up simply being an amusing, somewhat embarrassing day for the new athletes.

“I hate it! I wish I was not the quiet girl!” While many know her as soft-spoken at school, “at home, I’m not a quiet person.” Why? Flustered and laughing at the same time, she shook her head. “I don’t understand it myself.”

   Grace Powell describes herself as “simple-minded” and “silly,” and someone wants to live a “calm, straight life.” Her life is indeed simple; however, there is more to this self-proclaimed “self-conscious person.”

   Living in the same house – a real estate dating back to the Washingtonian era – in Alexandria all her life has brought a “sense of security with my family,” she said. Family and faith are very important to Grace because “they have shaped who I am today in all aspects.”

   Powell has spent her entire life with her twin sister, Gloria, whom she loves to death. “We understand everything about each other,” she explained. “We’ve always had the same experience.” While both have the same guilty pleasure (macaroni and cheese); however, each has a unique aura about them. “Grace is more sensitive and I am more assertive. I am a theatre geek and she’s a writing genius,” described Gloria. “And yes, for the record, Grace is taller but I’m getting up there! ”Gloria is the more outgoing while Grace is a little more reserved, but that does not keep the two apart. “Being a twin with Grace is priceless,” said Gloria.

   The Powell twins also have an older brother, Stephen, who is 22. “Being in a close family shelters you from things that could have been worse,” she shared.

   Religion is also an integral part of Powell’s life, as it guides her every day. As a Christian, Powell attends Sunday school regularly and has developed strong values for her and others. Common courtesy, she said, was a big thing in her family. Saying ‘hi’ and being polite are normal practice. “Those values have been instilled in me since childhood.”

   It is no surprise that her father is a Pastor, just like her granddad. Powell paused before sharing a touching story about her mother’s dad who lived a “hard life” and grew up in the slums of 1920’s. Then, he lived a nomadic life, but today, he is a successful carpenter. “He makes me realize that I owe it to them [my parents] and myself” to do well in everything. “I feel guilty” because “people have worked to get me a good life.”

      “She’s very much open to anything and rarely judgmental– two qualities that are hard to find in people these days,” said friend Stephanie Simmons.

   It was the summer of 2008 that really transformed the “classy” Powell. It all started with the book Do Hard Things by twin brothers, Alex and Brett Harris. “The book challenges young people to step out of comfort zones,” she explained. “I regret not pushing myself.

   Junior year was stressful for her, and she “needed a break” from school. A service trip to Lima, Peru, last summer was exactly what she needed. However, that trip provided her with the inspiration she needed to get back on track. Peru is a third-world country with “poverty, broken, homes, dirt roads – I was prepared for it all,” she said. “What I wasn’t prepared for was how it would affect me.”

   On the mission trip, Powell and the group washed the hair of children and mothers, helped fix a church, aided with washing clothes, handed out toys, and put on a gospel play.   Every night, a new speaker spoke with a different message. One of the statements that struck to Powell was “I urge you brothers to live a life worthy of your calling.” However, living in a resort made “me feel guilty,” because “you wanna go through and experience” of what they’re going through, and you can’t, really. She questioned, “What is the point of learning about it if you can’t do anything about it?”

   Overall, the trip was worth it. “Mission trip made me fee like I wasn’t living up to my potential,” she said regretfully. “I had wasted so much of my life.”

   When she came back from the trip, she wanted to start her own club at the beginning of senior year. Procrastination and laziness got in the way. It wasn’t until January of this year that she finally started the “H Project,” a club targeted to address homelessness “because it exists everywhere.”

   “At first, I was scared about membership,” she said. “But things got together.” The club accomplished two main projects this year. Through the “Teens for Jeans” drive in late March and early April, the H Project collected a total of 640 pairs of jeans, which were then donated to a local homeless shelter called New Hope Housing. In May, the club also donated $600 to the shelter from the “Walk-it-Out” walk-a-thon. “I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished in such short amount of time and I really hope it continues next year.”

   “You make an impact, but there is so much more to be done,” she said, with pitched tone.

   The mission trip changed Powell for the better. “Getting me throughout this year has been that change,” she said in a reflective, mellow tone.

   The changed Powell will be attending Patrick Henry College in Purceville, Virginia, a small liberal arts college. “I chose PH because it was strong in writing and had extremely high standards.”

   Powell enjoys different forms of art and so she started playing the piano in fifth grade. The “calm, quiet, and artsy” nature of it “has so many different layers to it” that “I want to continue and play something beautiful.” From day to day, Powell just wants to “sit down, knock out a beautiful song, and call it a day.” Just as simple as that.

  Ten years ago senior Mariya Ilyas knew how to say five words in English: Hello, my name is Mariya. To say she has come far is an understatement; she has traveled leaps, bounds, and literally miles from the girl she used to be in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

   Her story begins with five brothers. One of those brothers was Ilyas Hussain; he turned out to be the more ambitious and studious of the five, a dreamer.  He was the only one to venture outside of the family for a wife and the only one to go to America. In Pakistan, the five brothers all lived with their families on one large compound. All of their children played together and their wives swapped cooking recipes and gossip; it was a life centered on family and community.

 “Today I am the opposite of everything I was in Pakistan…it all comes down to education.” Ilyas said she was an unmotivated student in Pakistan, her behavior often earned her beatings with a ruler or stick – in front of the whole classroom. “I didn’t care because I didn’t know I was supposed to care.”

   Yet, the dreamer wanted more for his daughters. “My dad was one of those people who believed in completing his education,” said Ilyas. So the family moved to Doha, Qatar for one year, where Ilyas remembers spending most of her days at the beach. Then in 1997, a lucky star fell upon Hussain, who was sponsored to live in America. After two years, he called his wife and four girls to join him.

   “In 1999, my life took a U-turn.” The Ilyas’ came to the United States amidst the pre-millennial mayhem, amidst the gigapets and Y2K bugs, a culture completely foreign to their own. The girls were thrust into the highly competitive Fairfax County School system. But this time, Ilyas was determined to succeed. Though she struggled to adapt to a new country and language, she graduated from the English Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) program at the end of sixth grade. This was one of her proudest moments. “After sixth grade, I really had a grasp of my ability.” Yet the momentary victory was halted by a wake-up call: that summer she returned with her family to Pakistan. “That experience was nothing more than clashing…I was an American, I had forgotten…”

   When they visited Pakistan in 2003, Ilyas said her family was looked at differently– the girls who wore American clothing were told to change the next day. “I felt like an outsider in the very home I grew up in.”

   Yet, at the end of the summer, Ilyas returned to America and everything took off from there. She immersed herself in schoolwork “I want[ed] to make straight A’s…I would cry when I got C’s.” Ilyas ran for class president in the seventh grade and won. “I was completely shocked!” she said.

   Ilyas’ high school career is nothing short of a whirlwind. She is a go-getter. She has helped champion the Student Government since her freshman year, serving as Treasurer, Historian and currently, as Class President. She has been involved in the Young Democrats for three years, this year serving as co-president. She volunteered yearly at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, was a part of the National Honors Society, and the Key Club. Yet, her heart remains dedicated to our school paper, The Wire. Ilyas had no idea what she was getting into when she signed up for Journalism. Her older sister Maryum encouraged her to take the class. When she learned the ins and outs of journalism, the court cases that dealt with first amendment rights, and the dizzying fast pace of this new world, she fell in love with it. “It really is just a unique, unique activity.” This year Ilyas served as Editor-in-Chief and plans to continue writing for the paper at Bowdoin College. “I owe it to Ms. Pierre” who as the adviser for three years helped guide and mentor Ilyas.

   “I will never forget Mariya Ilyas” said Spanish Foreign Language teacher Victoria O’Connor, “I was surprised that she didn’t learn English until she was eight years old…and how far she’s come,” she continued, “Her determination is an inspiration and I expect great things out of her.” Mariya is indeed an inspiration. She said that she has worked so hard because of her background. “I take that challenge because I was deprived of it, that opportunity didn’t exist [for me].” To say she is heading toward a bright future is also an understatement; she is sprinting, literally running to achieve her goals, and nobody will stop her.

   The girls are back in action.  Soccer super stars, such as Abby Wambach and Kristine Lilly, return to the professional league of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS). 
   As many students know, there was once a professional women’s soccer league called WUSA.  That league housed players like Mia Hamm, who had achieved international success back in the late ‘90s and early 2000s.  Sadly, the League ended abruptly on September 15, 2003, because it did not receive any financial backing.  Due to this, the league was not able to complete its third season and also suffered a huge loss when their star player, Hamm decided to retire after the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.

   However, a new league is back and better than ever.  In 2008, negotiations began, creating a completely new professional women’s soccer league.  Only a handful of players from the WUSA came to the negotiations, reported womensprosoccer.com.  However, this league differs greatly from the WUSA league.  The WPS has many international players including British players Kelly Smith and Alex Scott (Boston Breakers players), French player Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom), and Japanese player Homare Sawa (Washington Freedom).  Each team is made up of at least two players from a different country.

   The returning fans from the WUSA League are not the only ones excited for the WPS.  Girls varsity soccer captains, juniors Linnea Markson and Morgan Carter, are thrilled that there is a new professional women’s soccer league.  Both Markson and Carter encourage their teammates to watch the women’s soccer games on television or go to the games that are played in Maryland at the SoccerPlex. 

   One of the reasons that Markson thinks it is so important to watch the games because “[everyone] can always learn something new [from watching professional sports].”   Carter agreed with Markson saying, “It is always helpful to watch professional league games to get better, especially in high school [sports].”  Markson continued to mention that she thinks it is a great idea a new league has been created because “it is something for young girls to look up to.  They get a chance to look up to [the players] and see that that they have a chance to play in a professional league like the boys have had a chance to look up to people and now girls are able to do that.”  Carter also thinks it is “nice that women now have the opportunity to play alongside men in a different League but the same opportunity.”

   The new professional women’s soccer league has created quite a stir in the girl’s high school teams.  Now there are more athletic women role models for younger girls.