Ashburn Ruritans Recognize ‘Outstanding Student Citizens’

Awards presented to elementary and middle school students; high school awards to be presented later this month.

Elementary and middle school students from all over Ashburn received awards from the Ashburn Ruritan Club last week for being Outstanding Student Citizens. Principals and teachers recommended the students who received awards at a May 15 ceremony during which Broad Run High School Principal Douglas Anderson served as host. This year marks the 18th year the club has presented the awards. Award winners received plaques engraved with their names to be displayed at their schools and certificates of recognition. In addition, donations were made in their names to the charities of their choice. In 1995, the Ruritans presented the awards to students from three schools serving Ashburn students; this year, the club presents awards to students at 21 …

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Stephanie Hoaglund

2:07 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013

Here's the video of my daughter's teacher explaining why DTES Hannah Hoaglund received her award... http://youtu.be/sNOdQFu904E   more ›

Student Voters Abroad Cast Ballots

Improvements over the years have made participation easier for those overseas who want to vote.

By Mark Robinson Capital News Service Millions of college students will head to the polls Nov. 6 to cast their vote in the 2012 presidential election, but Ricardo Adams won’t be one of them. By then, his vote will already be cast. Adams, a junior at Virginia Commonwealth University, is currently studying abroad in Vina del Mar, Chile. He’s a part of a bloc of U.S. students overseas whose potential impact on the election is seldom discussed. Turnout among youth voters overseas has traditionally been inconsistent. Despite improvements made to the absentee registration and voting process, Americans who choose to vote abroad face the prospect of an extended ordeal that begs the question: Is it worth it? For Adams, it was a no-brainer. “…

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Loudoun Students Attend Job-For-A-Day Program

Career building experience for area kids provides incredible learning opportunities.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s an all-too familiar question for high schoolers. But how many get the chance to actually try it out for a day? Over 350 area Loudoun County High School juniors had an opportunity to explore various fields of work on Wednesday, at the 10th Annual Job-For-A-Day Program. The event was sponsored by Loudoun County Public Schools and the Loudoun School-Business Partnership Executive Council. Participating businesses and organizations included AOL, Lockheed Martin, Fairfax Fire and Rescue, the Central Intelligence Agency, as well as Inova Loudoun Hospital Center. “The job for a day program provides high school juniors a great opportunity to experience a career of their choosing and can help shape …

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Parents Lose Lunch Visits at Newton-Lee

Change in policy marks change in tradition due to lack of space, resources.

Parents of children who attend Newton-Lee Elementary School are used to showing up during the day and being welcomed for all sorts of school-related activities – parent-teacher conferences, school concerts, fundraisers and other PTO events, as well as volunteering. But starting this school year, one event to which the school has swiftly disinvited parents is sharing a quick lunch meal with kids in the school cafeteria, a tradition of sorts in Ashburn. As of the 2011-2012 school year, officials at Newton-Lee have initiated a new policy that bans parents from being able to visit their children during lunchtime. Citing overcrowding and space issues, school leaders told parents in August that they would be allowed one single visit during the …

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Weller Dad

8:24 am on Monday, November 14, 2011

This comment thread may have begun in response to Newton-Lee's school lunch policy, but is reflective of the hostile environment many parents perceive to exist within LCPS schools and the adversarial relationship between the parental community and school administrators. To foster effective learning, children need an emotionally safe and nurturing environment -- even more than they need …   more ›

Ask Dr. Mike

Self-Confidence and Setting Boundaries

Dr. Mike responds to questions from Ashburn parents with a range of questions.

The Importance of Saying ‘No’ Dr. Mike, My husband and I parent pretty well together; however, he has a difficult time saying “no” to our 2-year-old son when our son wants something. So if we’re at a store or a restaurant, or anywhere for that matter, he will immediately relent to the escalating demands of our child and purchase items. Last night, for example, my husband purchased a rubber ball for our son while grocery shopping, even though our son has plenty of balls at home. I fear that we’re teaching our boy to be spoiled and entitled. I’ve brought my concerns to my husband who has told me that I am overreacting to his behavior.  M M, It is never too young to set limits with our children. By setting limits, your child will learn to …

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Ruritans Honor Ashburn's Outstanding Student Citizens

Tuesday's ceremony at Broad Run High School marked the club's 16th year giving the awards.

Ashburn Ruritan Club President Barry Dwyer established the theme for the club’s 16th annual “Outstanding Student Citizen Awards” Tuesday night with a description of 2003 award winner Ryan Scofield’s accomplishments. After winning, Scofield, then a Broad Run High School student, went on to William and Mary, where he became student body president. Later, he was awarded a full scholarship to Duke University School of Law without applying ­– it was based on his outstanding record in high school and at William and Mary. Scofield graduated Law School and now clerks for a judge on the Delaware Supreme Court. Dwyer then encouraged the 2011 award winners to continue the work they had done to earn their awards at the next educational level they …

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LCPS Students Named to All-State Chorus

Students from Ashburn schools comprise 42 of the county’s 66 spots.

Nearly one-third of the 66 Loudoun County Public Schools students recently named to the Middle School and High School All-State Chorus attend Ashburn area schools. The vocalists won positions in the chorus after an audition and will rehearse and perform April 28-30 at Salem High School in Virginia Beach. The Virginia Music Educators Association has agreed to sponsor the high school group, while the Virginia Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association plans to sponsor the middle school group. LCPS students participating in this event include: High School Chorus (alphabetical; Ashburn student in bold): Middle School Chorus

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Students Work ‘Job for a Day’ at Inova

Program gives Loudoun County Public Schools juniors a taste of potential careers.

As part of the School Business Partnership’s Job for a Day program, more 350 students from around the county this month shadowed area professionals in an attempt to figure out their futures. Businesses across the county participated this year. Inova Loudoun Hospital hosted more than one-third of the participants, including three who met briefly with Patch on March 16. Tuscarora High School’s Michael Stefanick, 17, participated because he “possibly” may go into a medical field. “We’re doing a project in my biology class,” he explained. “That got me thinking.” Inova Loudoun Radiology Clinic Coordinator Judy Iskandar took Stefanick under her wing after learning his interests. “He likes computers and toys,” she said, as she demonstrated how to…

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