Floris Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was wondering if there is some way of
> finding out how many single family homes in Reston
> feed to South Lakes vs. Towns and Condos.

A little time on a real estate sales site can give you an estimate by zip code. You can screen by price, number of bedrooms, type (SFH, TH, ...). Of course, all houses aren't for sale, but the number that are can give a reasonable sampling.

Also, you can use Google Earth to do a little aerial reconnaissance. You can see how many and how big.

restonforreal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As for SF Homes that feed into South lakes:
>
> -Across from the school, Tanbark and streets off
> of that
> -Glade between Twin Branches and Soapstone
> -Soapstone from Glade all the way to the end in
> the direction of Lawyers
> -Lawyers Road and off-streets from that
> -Solaridge and Beacon Hill off of Twin Branches,
> Thomas View Road off Twin Branches, Hunters Crest
> Way in Vienna and the neighborhood right before it
> and right across the street
> -Purple beach, and surrounding neighborhoods
> (durand)
> -neighborhoods surrounding sunrise valley elm
> -upper lake drive
>
> ect, ect, ect
>
> there are tons of single family homes that are
> actually extremely pricey in the South Lakes
> district, all the above are within a mile of the
> school in the heart of south reston. There are
> many more not mentioned as well.

Where do all those wealthy students go to high school? It's not South Lakes.

Forum Reader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen,
> Can you post a source that we can quote that the
> one and only AP course South Lakes has decided to
> offer next year is Human Geography?
>
> Offering AP Government to pre-IB tenth graders
> would make sense because it can satisfy an
> SOL-tested requirement, but Human Geography?

You need to ask the South Lakes PTSA officers. I am sure there are some here who could verify that Bruce Butler has told them that next year South Lakes will offer Human Geography.

Honestly, I do feel sorry for the students at the South Lakes and for parents who want a serious academic program. They have been short changed in the past, and now it appears they will continue to be short changed.

Oh well, we get the government, and the government school system, that we deserve. The people of Reston spoke when they voted.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2008 01:28AM by Neen.

>>>>Is that also an attempt to thwart pupil placement out so that they have an AP course called Human Geography? The very word, AP course available at the school so that pupil placements are denied because there is an AP course there? Yes, certainly nuts to run a school especially when there is no input from the parents, etc..<<<

NO! South Lakes cannot claim that they have an AP program because they are offering Human Geography! That would be hilarious if they tried.

I am making an assumption base on logic that one course does not constitute an AP program. However, I cannot attribute any such logic to our school system so I may well be incorrect.

Forum Reader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> IBVeritas Wrote:
> > I think we need to focus on IB courses
> themselves
> > and not on the IB diploma. ... The real
> > comparison is between IB courses and AP courses
> > individually, (though IB has the advantage of
> > having teachers work together among different
> > courses so they are not siloed).
> >
> > ... if any discussion about AP vs IB is done,
> > diplomas should be left out of it. It's an
> > aspirational goal that should be encouraged and
> > that sets it apart from AP, but it isn't a fair
> > comparison.
> >
> > ... SLHS should have the same courses
> > available as other schools, and kids should not
> be
> > shut out of available courses at higher rates
> than
> > they are at other schools -- which can only
> happen
> > when it has a population of kids that can
> support
> > it.
>
> I agree that AP and IB courses should be compared
> individually, one by one. What is the difference
> between IB SL French, IB HL French, and AP French?
> What is actually taught, and how? The only such
> official comparison that I found is the one I
> posted from November 1999. Does anyone have
> anything more current? Not anecdotal stories
> (which will vary teacher by teacher) but an
> official FCPS comparison?
> -----------
> To understand IB, you must understand the IB
> Diploma Programme (DP), which must be the focus of
> any IB high school: “Without a doubt, the
> all-important reason for teaching the IB is the DP
> and the benefits that are to be derived from it by
> diploma students. ... It must be unquestionably
> shown that any certificate courses they may be
> intending to offer are subordinate to their DP,
> and will be specifically for students who are not
> intellectually or academically able to undertake
> the full diploma” .
>
> Diploma Candidates comprise a special group of
> highly organized and highly motivated students.
> The group has a special full-time staff member
> just to oversee their academic needs, and the
> entire school’s master schedule MUST revolve
> around the academic requirements of the few DP
> students whose courses MUST be taught, even if
> less than a handful of students sign up for them.
> Since South Lakes, like all FCPS high schools, is
> strapped for teaching positions, the classes of
> other SL students often face elimination or
> overcrowding. Perhaps worse, existing classes are
> harmed when the school tries to force combined
> courses in which one teacher tries to teach both
> courses simultaneously in the same room.

SOOOO.........other students, out of SL's current boundary, must go to South Lakes because the constraints of the IB program prevent flexibility in their schedules and limit the number of courses and classes available for ALL students?

Alger Hiss Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> restonforreal Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > As for SF Homes that feed into South lakes:
> >
> > -Across from the school, Tanbark and streets
> off
> > of that
> > -Glade between Twin Branches and Soapstone
> > -Soapstone from Glade all the way to the end in
> > the direction of Lawyers
> > -Lawyers Road and off-streets from that
> > -Solaridge and Beacon Hill off of Twin
> Branches,
> > Thomas View Road off Twin Branches, Hunters
> Crest
> > Way in Vienna and the neighborhood right before
> it
> > and right across the street
> > -Purple beach, and surrounding neighborhoods
> > (durand)
> > -neighborhoods surrounding sunrise valley elm
> > -upper lake drive
> >
> > ect, ect, ect
> >
> > there are tons of single family homes that are
> > actually extremely pricey in the South Lakes
> > district, all the above are within a mile of
> the
> > school in the heart of south reston. There are
> > many more not mentioned as well.
>
> Where do all those wealthy students go to high
> school? It's not South Lakes.


Funny that people with so little sense, political or otherwise, are so obsessed with boundaries. Neen cavorts with Red birds.

Forum Reader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thomas More Wrote:
> > It's not up to the County.
> >
> ----
> TM, can you elaborate?

It's easy to confuse annexation which generally is by consent of both governments with the issuance of a municipal charter which is the province of the General Assembly. Counties are merely administrative conveniences created by and subordinate to the General Assembly.

slgrad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thomas,
>
> IB diploma students do take political science. It
> is an elective, it does not count as a history
> course.

Are you referring to an IB SL course an IB HL course or a general ed course in political science because I don't see it in last years course catelog

SLVerity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Even if Reston becomes a Town, the school will
> still be a part of the Fairfax County School
> system. If the school were to become separate, we
> Reston citizens would be responsible for paying
> taxes to Reston to cover the cost of the schools
> and that is not going to happen. Even though
> Vienna and Herndon are incorporated, their towns
> are not running the schools. I don't think the
> town would have any say over the schools.

Thus a reason for Reston to become a city.

But practically, if Reston were a town, the School Board would never consider for a moment dividing it between to high schools. All of the incorporated Town of Herndon goes to Herndon. All of the incorporated Town of Vienna goes to Madison. If the School Board were ever to suggest dividing either to two high schools, the mayor and the Town Council would politically crush them.

Thus both high schools benefit from having a united business and political community supporrting their high school.

Sadly South Lakes cannot have the benenfit of a united Reston supporting it.

It's a loss for South Lakes and a loss for Reston and those responsible for this outcome have a lot to answer for.

Joseph Welch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
I knew Joe Welch, Joe Welch was a neighbor of mine. You are no Joe Welch.

Get it right Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> While many people who live in Reston would have
> liked to see North Reston students go to South
> Lakes, they aren't necessarily closer and it would
> impact Herndon High school a great deal.

HHS's FRL before Option 4 was 18% after option 4 19%. Thus almost no impact on Herndon.

> Zip codes and addresses don't mean much in an area like NoVA where there aren't > defined town boundaries.

Reston has defined boundaries and has had them since 1965, longer than Fairfax has been a city.

But this is yet another reason for Reston to become a town or better a city since dividing Reston would never happen if it were incorporated as either.

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Joseph Welch Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> I knew Joe Welch, Joe Welch was a neighbor of
> mine. You are no Joe Welch.


Thanks, Lloyd.

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> slgrad Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Thomas,
> >
> > IB diploma students do take political science.
> It
> > is an elective, it does not count as a history
> > course.
>
> Are you referring to an IB SL course an IB HL
> course or a general ed course in political science
> because I don't see it in last years course
> catelog

See page 31 of the SLHS 07-08 catalog, the last social studies class listed.
"POLITICAL SCIENCE (245100)
Grades: 12 Credit: one-half or more
Corequisite: Virginia and United States Government
During the first semester, students examine theories and practices of government. During the second semester, students are interns for 8-10 hours per week in government and government-related offices. They participate in seminar discussions. The first semester offers one-half credit and is a prerequisite for second semester. Second semester is optional. The full two-semester course offers one and one-half credits."

Forum Reader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> See page 31 of the SLHS 07-08 catalog, the last
> social studies class listed.
> "POLITICAL SCIENCE (245100)
> Grades: 12 Credit: one-half or more
> Corequisite: Virginia and United States
> Government
> During the first semester, students examine
> theories and practices of government. During the
> second semester, students are interns for 8-10
> hours per week in government and
> government-related offices. They participate in
> seminar discussions. The first semester offers
> one-half credit and is a prerequisite for second
> semester. Second semester is optional. The full
> two-semester course offers one and one-half
> credits."

This is a general ed course that my oldest took in 1999-2000 before IB was instituted and is available to both IB and Non-IB students. Because of low enrollment it is not offerred every year.

How do IB students take this course since they don't take the co-requirement, Virginia and United States Government, senior year, but 20th Century Issues instead.

BTW remember that those who drop out of the IB Diploma track have to take freshman US history senior year.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2008 12:00AM by Thomas More.

Thomas More Wrote:
> How do IB students take this course since they
> don't take the co-requirement, Virginia and United
> States Government, senior year, but 20th Century
> Issues instead.
>
> BTW remember that those who drop out of the IB
> Diploma track have to take freshman US history
> senior year.

[I don't know if or how IB Diploma Candidates take this course; all I was doing was looking for it in the catalog for you since "slgrad," your previous correspondent, may be in bed by now.]

This man has the answers to all of your problems.
Attachments:

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SLVerity Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Even if Reston becomes a Town, the school will
> > still be a part of the Fairfax County School
> > system. If the school were to become separate,
> we
> > Reston citizens would be responsible for paying
> > taxes to Reston to cover the cost of the
> schools
> > and that is not going to happen. Even though
> > Vienna and Herndon are incorporated, their
> towns
> > are not running the schools. I don't think the
> > town would have any say over the schools.
>
> Thus a reason for Reston to become a city.
>
> But practically, if Reston were a town, the School
> Board would never consider for a moment dividing
> it between to high schools. All of the
> incorporated Town of Herndon goes to Herndon. All
> of the incorporated Town of Vienna goes to
> Madison. If the School Board were ever to suggest
> dividing either to two high schools, the mayor and
> the Town Council would politically crush them.
>
> Thus both high schools benefit from having a
> united business and political community
> supporrting their high school.
>
> Sadly South Lakes cannot have the benenfit of a
> united Reston supporting it.
>
> It's a loss for South Lakes and a loss for Reston
> and those responsible for this outcome have a lot
> to answer for.

Why can't Reston become a town? Wasn't there a petition advocating that with the support of Robert Simon? If the people of Reston want it to be a town, who is stopping that from happening? The current politicians on the board of supervisors who fear losing their power?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2008 01:37AM by Neen.

This fight is still ugly at best. Yes the school board has the right to do what they are doing....they were given that right in a vote in Fairfax County. If you bought your house after that...sorry. Your children are all students of Fairfax County (one of the best school systems in the country), no matter their ethnicity. Something, I bet many of you did not have.

I still see people attacking children. The two schools who seem to be the most attacked are those from South Lakes and those from McNair, as many of you don't want to go to South Lakes or you do not wish to go with McNair. Let me remind you....these are children. How dare you say one is better than the other because of the padding in your wallet. It is really disgusting.

My children are affected by this change...and I voted in the election giving the power to the school board, as I am a long time resident of Fairfax County, although I did not attend school here. Children respond to the teacher and the parents. You get out of it, what you put into it. There are great teachers in schools with problems and there are teachers who don't care in schools with stellar records. Yet we all seem to survive.

Live and let live. IB and AP are not the do all and end all of any college education. I have to ask...what about the average student...or God Forbid, the special education student? Clearly, every parent thinks their child is exceptional....but some do have children that need help, and some have children that don't qualify for help, but could do better with some. But who cares? Your children obviously don't need their boundaries stretched. You obviously have all the answers. Maybe you are the people who should be the teachers here. As you who did your homework when buying your home seem to have all the answers. This whole thing makes me sick.

You are right, this is all sickening. The process of pitting neighbor against neighbor has been very ugly.

It's obvious that people care deeply for their children and their children's education. Every family has different standards, and different ideas about how best to educate their children. They want to choose what they think will work best for their children and their family. They did their homework, and made that decision. Now that is being taken away from them. For those who care the most about education, it is very upsetting. For them 'good enough' is simply not good enough. Their values are different from your's.

I join you in asking, for whom is this boundary change being done? The high end learners? So that South Lakes can have more HL IB courses and fewer split classes? The average student (if there is such a thing) who wants more electives like journalism and drama and piano lessons? Or the disadvantaged students because our staff and school board believe that more high achieving kids will help to educate the children who are not doing well? Or is it something else? Why are we doing this redistricting? Who will it help? In asking people to make a HUGE sacrifice, their schools, and the AP program that they have chosen, they need to know the reason. Our staff, our school board, and the redistricting advocates need to be to explain to parents exactly why they must change schools.

Perhaps if people from South Lakes could tell us for whom this being done, and how they will be helped, it might help all of us to understand why they are asking parents to give up their current schools.

The Man,
I don't think children under 13 are permitted on this forum. PLUS, you are up far too late on a school night! Go to bed, before someone tells your mother you are awake and on the internet. Scoot!

VoiceOfReason Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This fight is still ugly at best. Yes the school
> board has the right to do what they are
> doing....they were given that right in a vote in
> Fairfax County. If you bought your house after
> that...sorry. Your children are all students of
> Fairfax County (one of the best school systems in
> the country), no matter their ethnicity.
> Something, I bet many of you did not have.
>
> I still see people attacking children. The two
> schools who seem to be the most attacked are those
> from South Lakes and those from McNair, as many of
> you don't want to go to South Lakes or you do not
> wish to go with McNair. Let me remind you....these
> are children. How dare you say one is better than
> the other because of the padding in your wallet.
> It is really disgusting.
>
> My children are affected by this change...and I
> voted in the election giving the power to the
> school board, as I am a long time resident of
> Fairfax County, although I did not attend school
> here. Children respond to the teacher and the
> parents. You get out of it, what you put into it.
> There are great teachers in schools with problems
> and there are teachers who don't care in schools
> with stellar records. Yet we all seem to survive.
>
>
> Live and let live. IB and AP are not the do all
> and end all of any college education. I have to
> ask...what about the average student...or God
> Forbid, the special education student? Clearly,
> every parent thinks their child is
> exceptional....but some do have children that need
> help, and some have children that don't qualify
> for help, but could do better with some. But who
> cares? Your children obviously don't need their
> boundaries stretched. You obviously have all the
> answers. Maybe you are the people who should be
> the teachers here. As you who did your homework
> when buying your home seem to have all the
> answers. This whole thing makes me sick.


I find this all extremely ugly and nauseating. Even my daughter is upset by this whole mess. She is a rising 9th grader by the way. Alot of people are, You mentioned that that is what happens when buying a home in the Fairfax County so are you implying now that the real estate agents when showing homes to potential buyers, they will have to tell these buyers "By the way, this house is at risk for redistricting and it is the norm in Fairfax County"? Reserve those for when it is absolutely necessary to redistrict..more like county-wide and at the availability of taxpayers funds, not at a $100 million shortfall.

So I'm assuming this is a done deal. Now I'm wondering how they will pay for all the extra bus rides for three years if they do grandfather the way they say they will. Two schoolbusses in the same neighborhood for three years in times of budget shortfalls? I have heard that one way they will attempt to cut the budget is to eliminate freshmen sports. But that is about the only specific that I've heard mentioned and that was really just in passing. But the fact remains that if they do grandfather, they will be stuck with significantly higher transportation costs in an era of cutbacks and I'm not sure how they will justify that.

Baffled Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> VoiceOfReason Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------

> I find this all extremely ugly and nauseating.
> Even my daughter is upset by this whole mess. She
> is a rising 9th grader by the way. Alot of people
> are, You mentioned that that is what happens when
> buying a home in the Fairfax County so are you
> implying now that the real estate agents when
> showing homes to potential buyers, they will have
> to tell these buyers "By the way, this house is at
> risk for redistricting and it is the norm in
> Fairfax County"? Reserve those for when it is
> absolutely necessary to redistrict..more like
> county-wide and at the availability of taxpayers
> funds, not at a $100 million shortfall.


Thats really too bad that so many kids are upset over this. Of course they probably wouldn't be so upset and better able to adjust to whatever outcome occurs if thier parents weren't pulling there hair out over it and spending coutless hours here bitching about it.

Here's an ugly little secret about real estate agents and property values; real estate agents are sales people. They also have a finite amount of product to sell. When there is the inevitable surplus inventory available in floris & fox mill they will educate themselves on the true value of it and market it to homebuyers.

Baffled Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> VoiceOfReason Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > This fight is still ugly at best. Yes the
> school
> > board has the right to do what they are
> > doing....they were given that right in a vote
> in
> > Fairfax County...
> I find this all extremely ugly and nauseating...

They do not have the right to avoid schools closer to residences when such avoidance creates more unequal distribution based on race, color, or country of origin. That is Federal. They also have abdicated fiscal responsibility.

The State conducts Efficency Reviews of School Divisions and IMHO FCPS is overdue:
[141.104.22.210]

I read some of those reviews and they even get into the costs on cleaning and heating trailers v the building proper. Here there are important people ensconced at various schools and positions but the State could send out a middle income audit crew that has no vested interest.

Info on composite index which determines the FCPS funding from Virgina:
[141.104.22.210]

Just like in other states FX gets cash based on ability to pay.

VoiceOfReason Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This fight is still ugly at best. Yes the school
> board has the right to do what they are
> doing....they were given that right in a vote in
> Fairfax County. If you bought your house after
> that...sorry. Your children are all students of
> Fairfax County (one of the best school systems in
> the country), no matter their ethnicity.
> Something, I bet many of you did not have.
>
> I still see people attacking children. The two
> schools who seem to be the most attacked are those
> from South Lakes and those from McNair, as many of
> you don't want to go to South Lakes or you do not
> wish to go with McNair. Let me remind you....these
> are children. How dare you say one is better than
> the other because of the padding in your wallet.
> It is really disgusting.
>
> My children are affected by this change...and I
> voted in the election giving the power to the
> school board, as I am a long time resident of
> Fairfax County, although I did not attend school
> here. Children respond to the teacher and the
> parents. You get out of it, what you put into it.
> There are great teachers in schools with problems
> and there are teachers who don't care in schools
> with stellar records. Yet we all seem to survive.
>
>
> Live and let live. IB and AP are not the do all
> and end all of any college education. I have to
> ask...what about the average student...or God
> Forbid, the special education student? Clearly,
> every parent thinks their child is
> exceptional....but some do have children that need
> help, and some have children that don't qualify
> for help, but could do better with some. But who
> cares? Your children obviously don't need their
> boundaries stretched. You obviously have all the
> answers. Maybe you are the people who should be
> the teachers here. As you who did your homework
> when buying your home seem to have all the
> answers. This whole thing makes me sick.

I agree with you on a couple of areas VoiceOfReason,

I think that it is very unfair to catagorize the McNair Elementary children as disadvantaged or low income. I was surprised when I read the the VP of the SL PTSA (Maria Allen) referred to them as such.

If you drive through the McNair Community, you will notice many expensive TH's and condo's in the community. There are apartments, but this is normal in high growth areas. It seems that both Herndon and South Lakes were making a big issue about the Title 1 status of McNair Elementary, but has anyone looked at how the children from McNair do academically by the time the graduate from Rachel Carson Middle School? I would expect that the language barrier has more to do with poor test scores at McNair, rather than being financially disadvantaged, and I would assume that after 8 years of schooling, the language issues are no longer there.

For me personally, and many of the people who live in the "East Floris"?? area, our resistance to being moved to SL does not have anything to do with the students at South Lakes.

The bigger issues are things like the way in which the SB has conducted this study from the beginning, by throwing out 4 proposed alternatives to be commented on, even though none of those plans was ever going to be put in place. There is already much distrust with regards to the school board, based on prior promises that have been broken, and what appears to be a SB that is using underhanded tactics to create a situation where neighborhoods are forced are voicing opinions about the current alternative 5, not based on whether they truly feel that it is the best choice, but simply because they are not impacted by the changes and disruptions that will occur for those families that are.

When you add in the fact that Alternate 5 was presented to the public before all public comments had been posted, and then realize that this same Alternate 5 was posted on the SL PTSA web site, and was being touted by SL parents at the Westfield meeting prior to being released to the public, it just adds to the distrust that we feel.

I think that we can all agree that change is sometimes necessary, but when one area is continually targeted, while other areas are never touched, it just reinforces that feeling that we have a corrupted School board, who are willing to go to any means to try and cover up excesses in spending, poor management of our schools, as well as underhanded political dealings.

I, and many in the Floris area have been through more than our fair of changes to try and help the SB deal with imbalances and screw ups in their projections over that past 10 years, and we feel that it is time for other communities to step up.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why can't Reston become a town? Wasn't there a
> petition advocating that with the support of
> Robert Simon? If the people of Reston want it to
> be a town, who is stopping that from happening?
> The current politicians on the board of
> supervisors who fear losing their power?

Here is a link to an article from Sunday's Washington Post...

[www.washingtonpost.com]

I really don't see any way that this would be approved.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Good luck with that. When did FCPS EVER allow a
> vote of the parents to determine anything that
> happens in our schools?
>
> It should be up to the community what the primary
> educational program is in any school, but I have
> never known that to happen in FCPS. Have you?
> Staff does what they 'feel' is right and the
> community can take it, or try to find the money to
> send their children to private school.

If what you wrote above is what you believe. Why do you constantly berate the South Lakes PTSA for not replacing IB with AP?

Has anyone considered what will it be like for the 69 children from the Floris community, if they do end up at South Lakes High School. Teenage years are already challenging emotionally, and peer groups and friends are a huge part of a child fitting in. Being a Freshman in HS is already very scary for most of these kids, and then you add in the fact that the Floris children will make up about 5% (even less if many parents pupil place out) of the South Lakes student body, and they will have very little in common with the Reston children due to different youth sports leagues etc.

I think that this is going to be very difficult to adjust to, since many of their friends from Rachel Carson will continue on to Oakton and Westfield. It is very unfair to subject such a small minority of children to such a change. I am sure that on paper this boundary change makes sense, but what about the children who will be the 1st to exposed to the social engineering? Who knows what the impact will be?

Floris Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello SLVerity,truthbetold and other Reston
> Posters
>
> You seem to know much about Reston and South
> Lakes, so I was wondering if there is some way of
> finding out how many single family homes in Reston
> feed to South Lakes vs. Towns and Condos. I was
> driving around the school today, and it appeared
> to me that it is almost all pockets of attached
> housing in the immediate areas around SL. I think
> that most of the SF homes are in the north Reston
> area. I am not sure why a school would be built in
> an area where there are not many SF homes, because
> it seems that many people will leave the area when
> they out grow their homes.

If you left South Lakes Drive you would find many streets of single family homes which feed to South Lakes High School. You could look on Google Earth to see them off of Sunrise Valley Drive, along both sides of Lawyers Road and much of Glade Drive between Reston Parkway & Twin Branches.
>
> I suspect that if the SB simply changed boundaries
> within the Reston area zip codes, and a larger mix
> of SF homes in Reston fed to SL, it would probably
> solve most of the problems that are causing
> concern to the SL parents and student body.

That sounds like what Option 4 tried to do, but it had enormous domino effects as a consequence and would have moved hundreds more students.

If you left South Lakes Drive you would find many streets of single family homes which feed to South Lakes High School. You could look on Google Earth to see them off of Sunrise Valley Drive, along both sides of Lawyers Road and much of Glade Drive between Reston Parkway & Twin Branches.
>


Restonian,

I still do not understand then, where all of the HS age children living in these communities are going to school. If the are 60,000 people living in Reston, the odds are great that at leat 3% are children between the ages of 14-18, and should be able to provide 1800-2000 children to SL.

Floris Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Has anyone considered what will it be like for the
> 69 children from the Floris community, if they do
> end up at South Lakes High School. Teenage years
> are already challenging emotionally, and peer
> groups and friends are a huge part of a child
> fitting in. Being a Freshman in HS is already very
> scary for most of these kids, and then you add in
> the fact that the Floris children will make up
> about 5% (even less if many parents pupil place
> out) of the South Lakes student body, and they
> will have very little in common with the Reston
> children due to different youth sports leagues
> etc.
>

Kids from Floris are on Reston sports teams, in scouting troops together and attend the same churches/temples. They live within a few miles of each other. To say they will have very little in common is disingenuous.

> I think that this is going to be very difficult to
> adjust to, since many of their friends from Rachel
> Carson will continue on to Oakton and Westfield.
> It is very unfair to subject such a small minority
> of children to such a change. I am sure that on
> paper this boundary change makes sense, but what
> about the children who will be the 1st to exposed
> to the social engineering? Who knows what the
> impact will be?

I'd say that the attitudes of their parents will have the biggest impact on the redistricted kids. They are not the Little Rock Nine.

Floris Parent Wrote:
> Restonian,
>
> I still do not understand then, where all of the
> HS age children living in these communities are
> going to school. If the are 60,000 people living
> in Reston, the odds are great that at leat 3% are
> children between the ages of 14-18, and should be
> able to provide 1800-2000 children to SL.

South Lakes is not the Reston high school. There are not 60,000 people living in the South Lakes boundaries.

Restonian,

I do not agree with you. When we were sent from Oakton to Westfield, it took several years to integrate into that school, because Floris was a very small % of the student body, I do believe that there are Floris children that do share some activities with children in Reston, but most are more aligned with Chantilly or Herndon communities. Also, because of the way that this alternate 5 plan works, Floris will be split in half, further diluting the number of children who start at elementary age and continue through HS together.For the most part,this is not the case with the South Lakes, Herndon, Langley, Madison, Chantilly etc.

A big reason for the relative success of Herndon HS is the fact the almost all children feed from the same Middle school. How many other middle schools will be split to 3 HS's like Carson?

I very much understand why Reston parents are pushing for this change, and since your children are not being relocated, it is very easy for you to say "stop your whining" etc. I am sure you and other parents in Reston can understand how different your attitude would be, if you were told that your children were going to be moved into another school outside of your community.

Restonian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Floris Parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hello SLVerity,truthbetold and other Reston
> > Posters...
> > of SF homes in Reston fed to SL, it would
> probably
> > solve most of the problems that are causing
> > concern to the SL parents and student body.
>
> That sounds like what Option 4 tried to do, but it
> had enormous domino effects as a consequence and
> would have moved hundreds more students.

Oddly enough FCPS did not have a scenario that left Armstrong at Herndon and moved Aldrin to South Lakes. That is really weird considering Forest Edge and Lake Anne attendance areas. Many of the talking points presented by Herndon PTA are rendered moot by the existence of Forest Edge and the NO CHANGE since constructed stuff is unconscionable considering the plight of Floris. Where did the part of Fox Mill west of FX county go pre McNair?


Carson opened then Westfield then Mcnair. Pre Mcnair there was much discussion on moving parts of Hutchison and Floris to Westfield from Oakton. There seem to be NO big meeting minutes and discussion on the opening of Mcnair for the actual day of the vote.

[www.fcps.edu]
****************
FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
Regular Meeting No. 12 13 January 25, 2001
Mrs. Strauss seconded, to expel a student for a threat and for chronic disruption of the education
process. The motion passed unanimously.
Having served on a three-member committee chaired by Mrs. Castro, Mrs. Belter moved, and
Mrs. Strauss seconded, to expel a student for possession of illegal drugs on school grounds. The
motion passed unanimously.
Having served on a three-member committee chaired by Mrs. Castro, Mrs. Belter moved, and
Mrs. Strauss seconded to expel a student for possession of a weapon and threatening another
student with a weapon, and possession of drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance on
school grounds. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Braunlich moved, and Mr. Gibson seconded, to authorize the superintendent or his designee
to negotiate and enter into a lease for approximately 13,398 rentable square feet of office space
located at 10640 Page Avenue, Fairfax, VA. The motion passed 10-0-2, with Mrs. Belter, Mr.
Braunlich, Mrs. Brickner, Mrs. Castro, Mr. Frye, Mr. Gibson, Mrs. Heastie, Mrs. Strauss, Mrs.
Thompson, and Mrs. Wilson voting “aye;” and with Mrs. Kory and Mr. Reese abstaining.
V. NEW BUSINESS
TAPE REFERENCE: 2-3060
A. Adjustments to School Attendance Areas – Recommendation to approve adjustments to school
attendance areas, to be effective for the 2001-2002 school year, as described in the agenda item
(FcS; Exhibit L
Mr. Chevalier discussed the proposed attendance area adjustments for the 2001-2002 school year
with a slide presentation; he said that the new McNair Farms elementary school would open in
September 2001 and would impact Dranesville, Clearview, Herndon, Hutchison, and Floris
Elementary Schools; that community meetings had been held in November and December 2000;
that administrative changes would be made to respond to new housing developments, but no
resident students would be affected; that changes were proposed to relieve the severe
overcrowding at Navy Elementary School; that a Public Hearing would be held on February 12
and a work session would be convened on February 13; and that the Board was scheduled to act
on the recommendations at its regular meeting on February 22
*******************************

Feb 22 2001 was cancelled. Conspicuous in it's absence from Herndon area movement was Armstrong. Aldrin is so Reston PO area oriented it was not even mentionned --- told you all it's more alligned geographically with Forest Edge and Lake Anne. So the BS continues.

[www.connectionnewspapers.com]

According to this artcile Coppermine is 1 mile from Mcnair and the Oak Hill principal seems ready to be involved since they have a GT center not just level 4 plus a 6 room modular and at least 3 trailers as of now.


[www.fcps.edu]

Restonian,
My school age children DO NOT have any friends from Reston, except the ones through PARENTS connection. Fair enough? Friends they made from going to school each day, vs. the ones they see a few times a month or a year are not the same.

Maybe it's true for North Reston folks that they share a lot of church, sports activities in Reston, but it's not true for Floris communities.


Restonian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Floris Parent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Has anyone considered what will it be like for
> the
> > 69 children from the Floris community, if they
> do
> > end up at South Lakes High School. Teenage
> years
> > are already challenging emotionally, and peer
> > groups and friends are a huge part of a child
> > fitting in. Being a Freshman in HS is already
> very
> > scary for most of these kids, and then you add
> in
> > the fact that the Floris children will make up
> > about 5% (even less if many parents pupil place
> > out) of the South Lakes student body, and they
> > will have very little in common with the Reston
> > children due to different youth sports leagues
> > etc.
> >
>
> Kids from Floris are on Reston sports teams, in
> scouting troops together and attend the same
> churches/temples. They live within a few miles of
> each other. To say they will have very little in
> common is disingenuous.
>
> > I think that this is going to be very difficult
> to
> > adjust to, since many of their friends from
> Rachel
> > Carson will continue on to Oakton and
> Westfield.
> > It is very unfair to subject such a small
> minority
> > of children to such a change. I am sure that on
> > paper this boundary change makes sense, but
> what
> > about the children who will be the 1st to
> exposed
> > to the social engineering? Who knows what the
> > impact will be?
>
> I'd say that the attitudes of their parents will
> have the biggest impact on the redistricted kids.
> They are not the Little Rock Nine.

Restonian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> South Lakes is not the Reston high school.

Nonsense. If SL is not Reston's high school what is Reston's high school T.C. Williams?

> There
> are not 60,000 people living in the South Lakes
> boundaries.

Only because SL boundaries do not include all of Reston with its 65,000 people.

Restonian? Not

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Restonian Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > South Lakes is not the Reston high school.
>
> Nonsense. If SL is not Reston's high school what
> is Reston's high school T.C. Williams?
>
> > There
> > are not 60,000 people living in the South Lakes
> > boundaries.
>
> Only because SL boundaries do not include all of
> Reston with its 65,000 people.
>
> Restonian? Not


Restonian,

With all this fuss about "boundaries", why step in and bother other people's community boundaries by yanking other people's kids to SL that you called not a Reston high school? It is geographically located in Reston, right? Not at the North Pole.

Restonian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That sounds like what Option 4 tried to do, but it
> had enormous domino effects as a consequence and
> would have moved hundreds more students.

Enormous!? - hyperbole.

This is the propaganda spread by HHS PTA. Guess we've just figured out that you're really a Herndonite not a Restonian.

Reston kids to Reston's High School - South Lakes

Herndon HS propaganda is Aldrin and Armstrong . Both seem to think the people coming from other Herndon feeders are crap. My research indicated that pre-McNair people said "Where's Armstrong?" since all others were in the process. Nobody on the Herndon area even questionned sincerely the exclusion of the other astronaut [for elemen"tardy" boundary chnages in Herndon area the other might as well be on the moon -actually over by Forest Edge].

Just how much proof do citizens need that those residences are in the wrong school by any standard?

HHS claims to be a succesful balanced community. BUT, the biggest opponents of redistricting were from Armstrong/Aldrin. Even the people that LIVE in Reston, don't want to go to SL!!

Yep, they want a balanced community allright, as long as its not their own - Reston.

Neen Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------->
> You need to ask the South Lakes PTSA officers. I
> am sure there are some here who could verify that
> Bruce Butler has told them that next year South
> Lakes will offer Human Geography.

Neen, don't be coy. Why don't you tell the folks here how you really know the above information. Why don't tell them how you infiltrated a private yahoo group so that you could spy on the South Lakes Boundary Group's strategies. Why don't you tell them that you are demonstrating the true breadth and depth of your character with such actions. Why don't you explain to them how doing so demonstrates what an upstanding and trustworthy and honest citizen you are. Why don't you tell them that you would endorse Hillary Clinton's campaign doing so to gain information on Mitt Romney or John McCain or Mike Huckabee or Rudy Guiliani.

I'll give you this. You are truly Nixonian. We'll call this SouthLakesgate.

SL PTSA is putting together welcome baskets for your little darlings on their first day. It will include a book by Dr. Phil entitled, "How to succeed in spite of your self-important, passive-aggressive helicopter parents".

There will also be a pamphlet on how we beat you at your own game and information on local martial arts academies.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You are right, this is all sickening. The process
> of pitting neighbor against neighbor has been very
> ugly.
>
> It's obvious that people care deeply for their
> children and their children's education. Every
> family has different standards, and different
> ideas about how best to educate their children.
> They want to choose what they think will work best
> for their children and their family. They did
> their homework, and made that decision. Now that
> is being taken away from them. For those who care
> the most about education, it is very upsetting.
> For them 'good enough' is simply not good enough.
> Their values are different from your's.
>
> I join you in asking, for whom is this boundary
> change being done? The high end learners? So
> that South Lakes can have more HL IB courses and
> fewer split classes? The average student (if
> there is such a thing) who wants more electives
> like journalism and drama and piano lessons? Or
> the disadvantaged students because our staff and
> school board believe that more high achieving kids
> will help to educate the children who are not
> doing well?

Dear Neen, why don't you inform everyone here about your failed efforts to prevent disadvantaged kids from being able to learn at TJ? Why don't you tell them how you loathed the 'affirmative action' measures that would ensure that some disadvantaged kids could have access to the same education that your son did? Why don't you explain how you think they were not good enough, even though they perhaps were not afforded the same opportunities that your children had during their formative years?

I find it truly amazing that you are now 'for the chillren' (Neen's spelling) as you said on an earlier post.

You know, you've morphed from Fulbright to Pelosi in the course of 100+ pages of the Underground.

Neen's Conscience Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> ----->
> > You need to ask the South Lakes PTSA officers.
> I
> > am sure there are some here who could verify
> that
> > Bruce Butler has told them that next year South
> > Lakes will offer Human Geography.
>
> Neen, don't be coy. Why don't you tell the folks
> here how you really know the above information.
> Why don't tell them how you infiltrated a private
> yahoo group so that you could spy on the South
> Lakes Boundary Group's strategies. Why don't you
> tell them that you are demonstrating the true
> breadth and depth of your character with such
> actions. Why don't you explain to them how doing
> so demonstrates what an upstanding and trustworthy
> and honest citizen you are. Why don't you tell
> them that you would endorse Hillary Clinton's
> campaign doing so to gain information on Mitt
> Romney or John McCain or Mike Huckabee or Rudy
> Guiliani.
>
> I'll give you this. You are truly Nixonian.
> We'll call this SouthLakesgate.


If that is true, it is truly low. Especially when she made such a big deal about the South Lakes people not respecting her boundaries. She should be censured for this, if borne out. Shame.

Baffled Wrote:

> With all this fuss about "boundaries", why step in
> and bother other people's community boundaries by
> yanking other people's kids to SL that you called
> not a Reston high school? It is geographically
> located in Reston, right? Not at the North Pole.


Yes, it is in Reston. It needs more students. Giving it more students who only have Reston in their mailing address would STILL impact other people's boundaries. In fact, it would have impacted many more people's boundaries than the current scenario.

Redistricted? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> If that is true, it is truly low. Especially when
> she made such a big deal about the South Lakes
> people not respecting her boundaries. She should
> be censured for this, if borne out. Shame.

I am no psychologist, but I think they call it projection when you assign to others tactics that you are willing to and do use.

funnythingis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> HHS claims to be a succesful balanced community.
> BUT, the biggest opponents of redistricting were
> from Armstrong/Aldrin. Even the people that LIVE
> in Reston, don't want to go to SL!!
>
> Yep, they want a balanced community allright, as
> long as its not their own - Reston.


If you attended the last Public meeting at Oakton HS, you would have noticed an awful lot of Red Shirts in attendance. I noticed public school buses bringing them in (not sure who paid for the bus, County or parents). The Herndon folks that were in our small group could find nothing wrong with alternate number 5, and were gushing over how fair and equitable this option 5 was. If you closed your eyes, you would have thought that they were all South Lakes parents.

[www.observernews.com]

It was amazing how many parents who were initially screaming the Stop RD Mantra, suddenly became ardent lovers of the School Board as well as well as big supporters of South Lakes proposal number 5,

"Elizabeth Gibson, Herndon High School's PTSA boundary committee chairman, said Herndon parents are mainly opposed to the fourth plan, which would move Herndon feeder schools Buzz Aldrin and Armstrong elementary schools to the South Lakes district. All four plans would move Westfield students to Herndon, and Gibson said Herndon is open to accepting additional students.


South Lakes PTSA vice president Maria Allen said she thought all the plans needed revision. She said South Lakes opposed the first three plans, which moved students from Westfield feeder school McNair elementary to South Lakes. That plan is, "basically taking low-income kids out of a school that can better support them and putting them in schools that already have very high percentage low-income kids," she said.

Both Gibson and Allen said parents from many schools were concerned about students traveling long distances to get to school. Long commutes, often on congested highways, are "a cost concern to the county and families, both in dollars and time," Gibson said.

Allen said South Lakes has developed their own "option five" plan, which would allow Fox Mill Elementary School families to attend South Lakes, instead of traveling a longer distance to Oakton High School. Their plan would also transfer the Madison "island" and possibly the eastern section of the Floris elementary district to South Lakes. The plan would leave McNair students at Westfield, Allen said.

when they realized that their neighborhood was taken off of the chopping block so to speak.

[www.fairfaxtimes.com]

I am well aware that these links to newspaper articles are old news, but is it not apparent that Alternate #5 was planned well in advance of the 1st meeting in November?

The entire process of this study just reeks of dishonesty. How can the Staff (Dean "I never saw that SL proposal #5 Tistadt) even be quoted as stating that alternate #5 was created based on community feedback from the 1st 2 Town Hall mettings? Home > Fairfax County > New school boundary option proposed




FCPS staff will present final recommendations for a redistricting to the school board on Jan. 10



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New school boundary option proposed
Fairfax County
By Claire Compton and Layla Wilder
Source: Fairfax County Times
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13 2007
UPDATED WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19 2007

To see maps or comment on the options, visit www.fcps.edu. The next boundary meeting will be at Oakton High School, 2900 Sutton Road, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m.

Fairfax County Public Schools staff released a fifth option on Dec. 12 for a proposed high school boundary change in the western part of the county.

The fifth scenario came after the first two of three town meetings that staff are holding to gather public input on the scenarios. Six high schools are included in the boundary study in an effort to balance enrollment and demographics.

Four scenarios were released before the second meeting, held Dec. 3, and more than 2,000 attendees commented on the advantages and disadvantages of each scenario.

“What we heard very much influenced this scenario,” said Dean Tistadt, chief operating officer of Facilities and Transportation Services.

While Herndon High School is not impacted in Option 5, the scenario is not what staff will present as a final recommendation to the board.

“I think it's important that everyone in the boundary area be mindful that although the scenario may not show an impact to them, that doesn't mean they won't be when the board makes a final decision,” he said. “Don't presume they're off the table.” (in other words, you had better show up and support option #5, or we may change our minds, and move your neighborhood!)


From those comments comes Option 5, in which some students from Floris Elementary School would be bound for South Lakes High School instead of Westfield High School, and Fox Mill Elementary School students would attend South Lakes instead of Oakton High School.

Again, I realize all of this is old news for long time posters, but perhaps new folks looking in may not have the background on this corrupted study. Perhaps at the Public Hearings on the 30th and 31st of January, the School Board and staff, will shed more light on the deceptions that have been such a large part of this current study.

Floris Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Restonian,
>
> I do not agree with you. When we were sent from
> Oakton to Westfield, it took several years to
> integrate into that school, because Floris was a
> very small % of the student body, I do believe
> that there are Floris children that do share some
> activities with children in Reston, but most are
> more aligned with Chantilly or Herndon
> communities.

I believe this is part of the reason that the recommendation was made to bring over students from Floris with students from Fox Mill, instead of mixing students from Fox Mill with some students from Aldrin.

For the most part,this is not the case
> with the South Lakes, Herndon, Langley, Madison,
> Chantilly etc.

My kids lose elementary school friends to several middle schools, more than half of their classmates do not go on to LHMS. Then there is a split again from middle to High School. It has seemed much harder in anticipation than reality.


> I very much understand why Reston parents are
> pushing for this change, and since your children
> are not being relocated, it is very easy for you
> to say "stop your whining" etc. I am sure you and
> other parents in Reston can understand how
> different your attitude would be, if you were
> told that your children were going to be moved
> into another school outside of your community.


I've tried not to take a "stop your whining" attitude here and IRL. I understand why and how redistricting is hard to go through, especially for families with older children already in high schools. I'm only trying to defend SLHS from false perceptions.

I think there are definately short term negatives to redistricting, but I think that the positive long term effects warrant those difficult changes.

I must say, I feel very, very, very sorry for the poor children in Floris who cannot make new friends. What on Earth will happen to them when they go to college? How did they ever survive going to middle school having only known their elementary school friends? If they should stay at Westfield, how are they ever going to function there with nearly 2,000 people they have never met before? In classes where they might not know ANYONE. Wow. I am floored by this. Those parents in Floris must have only one model of family -- the one where each and every one of them went to only three schools from K-12 -- elementary, middle/junior, and high, and never moved from their small towns. And I guess if they did go to more, they were highly traumatized by that awful experience and are sheltering their poor, fragile, fearful kids from such a fate. I hope their health plans cover psychiatric help.

Do we have actual numbers/analysis that other options can not solve the SLH issue? How can the act of picking the relative powerless communities like Floris, better helps SLH?

Someone mentioned some 20 years ago, some Madison communities were redistricted to Marshall. Well, 20 years later, Marshall is yet to become a desired school district -- how many real estate ads do you see boasting "desirte Marshall HS disstrict" and how many uses Madison as their selling point?

To folks want to help SLH, you can pretend not to facing the ugly face of RD, you can chant once the RD'd folks come, they'll assimilate. But this is not the right attitude, this is not the responsible thinking in helping a HS to be successful in the long run. The whole idea of using RD to address SLH issue is like, an underperforming kids said the reason he's not doing well as the next door Johnny is because he doesn't have enough brothers and sisters -- if he had enough, and they pool in all their allowance money, they can have (who knows what) opportunities.

RD is the wrong method to address SLH's chanllenges.