I honestly wonder, if parents are speaking so rudely to others and acting so ignorantly....what do their children act like??? I am a South Lakes student and I'm just wondering you people say you have problems with our students' behavior yet you're on the forums acting like children yourself. Please, put forth a good model for your childrem to emmulate. =)

Dear SL Student,

Some people are indeed worried about South Lakes, and that is the only concern that anyone responds to.

However for most people, it doesn't matter what South Lakes is like. Just as you are attached to South Lakes, we are attached to Westfield. My younger children want to go to school with their older sibling. We have a history with Westfield, we are happy there. We don't want to have our family split between two high schools 30 minutes apart. We were just thrown out of Oakton 6 (or so) years ago in order to fill up Westfield. We are now used to Westfield. Now we have to get kicked out of what has become our community school to fill up South Lakes. We would be upset to be kicked out even if Westfield was over capacity. It will be under capacity in a couple of years. The new addition isn't even completely open. We just don't want to be kicked out.






SL STUDENT wrote:

This is ridiculous. You guys are worse than the kids!
This is not in any way trying to be mean, but we students feel that the best way for you all to really see what the school is like is to actually talk to people that go to the school! There have already been tours, and we are happy to show you guys around.
Before you judge the school, please talk to the student population.

Posted by: BirdLover (IP Logged)
Date: November 20, 2007 02:14PM


To the Lying School Board:


Less than a year ago, you said that Langley was overcrowded. and that all neighboring schools were filled to capacity. So.... you approved a 7.1 million dollar addition to Langley.

Just how deep into their pockets are you.

---------

I think this is at the root of the problem. The school board is corrupt, owes too many favors.

South Lakes Student

Don't call our parents ridiculous. I guess since your parents are calling our parents racists and lots of other insults, and telling them that we have to be sacrificed for you, I guess you wouldn't know any better. We are not going to your school. We will have to be dragged by police.

Trying to promulgate common data from a single source, here are the capacities and projected enrollments for 2011 for the high and middle schools near South County and South Lakes according to the FY 2008-2012 CIP. The capacities include modular and regular additions.

These data are a little hard to read in this format. The bottom line is the ONLY schools that NEEDED to be looked at for redistricting to alleviate overcrowding were Kilmer and South County; Kilmer was addressed in the GT Center redistricting.

Northwest High Schools
School Capacity Proj Balance % Full
ChantillyHS 2,625 2627 -2 100.08%
HerndonHS 2,225 1,870 355 84.04%
LangleyHS 2100 1,998 102 95.14%
MadisonHS 1,875 1,895 -20 101.07%
MarshallHS 1,500 1,447 53 96.47%
McLeanHS 1,725 1,665 60 96.52%
OaktonHS 2,325 2,226 99 95.74%
So LakesHS 2100 1,302 798 62.00%
WestfieldHS 3,100 2,835 265 91.45%
Total 19,575 15,238 4,337 77.84%

Northwest Middle Schools
School Capacity Proj Balance % Full
CarsonMS 1,250 1211 39 96.88%
CooperMS 1,100 966 134 87.82%
FranklinMS 1,050 840 210 80.00%
Herndon MS 1,100 839 261 76.27%
HughesMS 975 836 139 85.74%
JacksonMS 1,215 870 345 71.60%
KilmerMS 850 1,127 -277 132.59%
LongfellowMS 1,115 1,017 98 91.21%
StoneMS 1,075 832 243 77.40%
ThoreauMS 725 768 -43 105.93%
Total 10,455 8,340 2,115 79.77%

Southeast High Schools
School Capacity Proj Balance % Full
HayfieldHS 2,125 1,604 521 75.48%
Lk BradHS 2,725 2,094 631 76.84%
LeeHS 1,850 1,671 179 90.32%
Mt VernonHS 2,550 1,625 925 63.73%
So CountyHS 1,700 2,303 -603 135.47%
W Springfield HS2,225 2,136 89 96.00%
Total 13,175 11,433 1,742 86.78%

Southeast Middle Schools
School Capacity Proj Balance % Full
HayfieldMS 1,100 840 260 76.36%
IrvingMS 1,100 997 103 90.64%
KeyMS* 875 734 141 83.89%
Lk BradMS 1350 1228 122 90.96%
WhitmanMS 1,000 937 63 93.70%
So CountyMS 800 1160 -360 145.00%
Total 6,225 4,668 329 74.99%

? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought this was a South Lakes issue, how the
> hell did South County get into this.

The title of this thread is "high school redistricting" not "South Lakes."

I just posted a lot of CIP data that indicate the ONLY high school that NEEDS to be looked at for redistricting to alleviate overcrowding is South County.

To be precise, three other secondary schools are projected to be overcrowded in 2011, but to a lesser extent: Woodson (198), its middle school Frost (146), and Jefferson (327). There is room for Woodson/Frost students at neighboring schools. The most logical shift would be to add the students furthest away and most recently added to Frost/Woodson: these students, from Oak View elementary, which is right across the street from Robinson. could easily fit into Robinson. These students live west of 123 and live several miles closer to Robinson than to Woodson. The rest of the area already attends Robinson.

Jefferson, of course, is a special case.

Forum Reader,
I wonder if that CIP data was done before the latest redistricting of the Hayfield/South County boundary. Hayfield took back a good chunk of students from South County that only started this Fall. Those numbers look like the figures prior to the boundary change for these schools.

To Westfeildmom and Oaktonstudent:

I understand your concerns. The comment was made more towards the people who are judging the school and it's population of free and reduced lunch students. Some people are just throwing out insults that have nothing to do with redistricting. This argument shouldn't be about parents of different schools insulting eachother, and eachother's kids. I'm not calling anyone racist, and neither have my parents.

Westfeildmom-THAnks for being more considerate and calm minded when explaining your veiws.

Oakton Student- If you already go to oakton then you probably won't be redistricted. I'm not positive, but isn't it just rising freshmen?

On the front page of the South Lakes November newsletter, the PTSA, as well as the SL's Principal, advocate for redistricting. Certainly, SL parents have been incredibly active here at this site. They have everything to gain. Improve their school's image...maybe offer a few extremely advanced courses to a few kids ath their school but the big one is...a huge gain in their real estate value. It will be on our backs...our real estate value will take a five year dive. Thanks alot South Lakes.


Have you looked at some of the Reston real estate value and the houses lately? We're that much closer to DC; our houses are newer-values will stay the same,with or without you.

FR, the Diploma Stats are from a school-generated report that has not yet been published; however, it likely will be before the next meeting. I am not at liberty to publish it here. The numbers are correct, though. I am intimately involved with two of the 45.

I think that the number I gave for FRM and the number you quoted from the Commonwealth are only 1% apart, so I think that is close enough for our purposes. I just want to point out that the data is only as good as the people maintaining the site and that often the schools themselves have the most up-to-date data.

Moving the academy would not give South Lakes the kinds of students needed to boost the regular school ranks. Academy students often attend for only a class or two and return to their base school, which is where they participate in all extra-curricular activities. The students SL requires will need to be full-time engaged students.

Everyone who is posting on these boards is simply assuming that SL students WANT YOU at their school. Do you honestly think that these people, who have worked quite hard to repair South Lakes' broken image want new students who have nothing but disregard for their school? People before posted asking why South Lakes is trying to get their children and to stop "stalking" their children. It isn't South Lakes, it is FCPS. Stop being immature and pointing undue fingers of blame. It only makes you look ignorant.

If you want your opinion to reach a broader audience, post comments here--


http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2007/11/school_boundary_changes_could.html

Reston Wrote:

> Have you looked at some of the Reston real estate
> value and the houses lately? We're that much
> closer to DC; our houses are newer-values will
> stay the same,with or without you.


Hopefully, without us.

When you purchased your home in the South Lakes Pyramid, the purchase price reflected that choice. Glad you're "closer" to DC and satisfied with your investment.

So...why not leave the rest of us alone?

To Question Mark,

We are aware that the Fairfax County School Board is responsible for this fiasco. They should be sued.

And.....please, if South Lakes parents don't want us, ask them to express this view at the next meeting.

Taxpayer wrote:

Why do you think school board members allowed Stu's and Janie's boundary process to exclude Langley? Smith is irrelvant in the scheme of things. Why do you think that addition is under construction now? Votes were sold.

Taxpayer....agree with you....

Is it too late to stop construction at Langley? Maybe we need some oversight of this "project"? Or, possibly an investigation.

Halt work on site...send the overcrowded Langley students (283 by my count) to South Lakes. That would be a great start to solving the South Lakes/Reston saga.

Do all taxpayers understand they have paid 7.1 Million for Langley to absorb its over capacity students instead of sending them to nearby South Lakes????? Not that I necessarily agree with anyone being bused to South Lakes...but...voters elected Stu Gibson and he wants this school populated...

To think...the School Board has the audacity to play this redistricting game with our kids....are our kids of less value than Langley's????

South Lakes meet Langley..you're neighbors. Why don't you go after them??

One word answer "MONEY"

They want there school and to hell with the rest of us.

We need to back to the day when the schools were run by the supervisors. The school board is a bunch of weak knee pansies when it comes to issues such as boundries. Waste of money at Langley and Langley South (aka fairfax station) wants to build another unnecessary school.

I can't wait until my kid gets FREE LUNCH next year
- is able to by crack without leaving the school ground
- has a place to do her homework in the disciplinary room (time out room)
- can fight all she wants and still show up for school
- take a wonderful IB class, that and her free lunch coupon are good for two years
- meet Mr. Butler (the Savior) on a regular basis
- play on a wonderful athletic team (because the school board says the team suck becasue not enough kids are there)
- move up to first chair in band wahpeeeeeee
- gets to sit next to another african american, along side an asian, in front of a anglo saxon (not a lady saxon) and behind a hispanic


this is what high schoolers dream about, boy I bet she can't wait until next year. What thrill this is going to be. Thanks STUpid

Even if Langley can't be stopped since construction is already started, South County Middle School CAN wait until it comes up on the CIP in 2017. Until then, tell your SB (all 12 of them) to use the Lake Braddock and Hayfield seats.

That last post written- if you call that writing - was classic, and of course, classless and pathetic. And which school did you say your, I'm sure, lovely children attend?? That post looks like a good one to send to the press-to showcase the true colors of folks who we're really dealing with here.

"Even if Langley can't be stopped since construction is already started...."

______________


Well, maybe we could stop it, temporarily.

Couldn't we, as taxpayers, sue? Haven't they misused our money?

To attract media attention, we could sit in front of the bulldozers like the tree-people, and get arrested on T.V.

Then, to get the wackos out there with us, I could call PETA and tell them I just saw the workers destroying hundreds of bird nests and running over small animals.

Any other ideas?

And Birdlover, I ask you-what is your take on "free bees" commentary

Future South Lakes Parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And Birdlover, I ask you-what is your take on
> "free bees" commentary

Yes Birdlover, VADriver, CHantilly Mom, anyone???

What is your take on the comment. And you ask why we think some parents in your pyramids may rascist?

BirdLover Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Even if Langley can't be stopped since
> construction is already started...."
>
> ______________
>
>
> Well, maybe we could stop it, temporarily.
>
> Couldn't we, as taxpayers, sue? Haven't they
> misused our money?
>
> To attract media attention, we could sit in front
> of the bulldozers like the tree-people, and get
> arrested on T.V.
>
> Then, to get the wackos out there with us, I could
> call PETA and tell them I just saw the workers
> destroying hundreds of bird nests and running over
> small animals.

Any other ideas?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes,birdlover...

Specifically,tell PETA you saw an endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker ..that will cause a "stop work"to be issued.

Its more powerful than suggesting misuse of taxpayers money, incompetence of school board officials, busing etc. etc. etc.....on and on.

dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One word answer "MONEY"
>
>
> We need to back to the day when the schools were
> run by the supervisors. The school board is a
> bunch of weak knee pansies when it comes to issues
> such as boundries. Waste of money at Langley and
> Langley South (aka fairfax station) wants to build
> another unnecessary school.

Umm, hello! Appointed school boards made the damn mess we're in. Look it up. And it's boundaries...

free bees Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can't wait until my kid gets FREE LUNCH next
> year
> - is able to by crack without leaving the school
> ground
> - has a place to do her homework in the
> disciplinary room (time out room)
> - can fight all she wants and still show up for
> school
> - take a wonderful IB class, that and her free
> lunch coupon are good for two years
> - meet Mr. Butler (the Savior) on a regular basis
> - play on a wonderful athletic team (because the
> school board says the team suck becasue not enough
> kids are there)
> - move up to first chair in band wahpeeeeeee
> - gets to sit next to another african american,
> along side an asian, in front of a anglo saxon
> (not a lady saxon) and behind a hispanic
>
>
> this is what high schoolers dream about, boy I bet
> she can't wait until next year. What thrill this
> is going to be. Thanks STUpid


How low class can you go? Is this a supposed "adult?"

Free bees needs the time out chair,ASAP!
bad mommy or daddy, bad.

this forum is filled with the most ignorant and snoty people i have ever seen in fact those who show racism and hate on these forums MAKE FAIRFAX COUNTY LOOK BAD so i hope you have some form of pride and can be respectful of other people... i mean im only in high school and i can see this...

Hey, for all you people dumping on the free bee guy. I think you get his point. I went to the school there and it's a piece of shit. Sure I had some fun, sure I had some good teachers, sure, I wasn't beaten up. But is this a good school for us kids who arent doing that IP thing? No way. I'm glad Im out of there and if i can afford to bring my kids to a better school I will.

you people are all pretending that SL isn;t what it is. a junky school.

you went to south lakes huh? i doubt it what year did you graduate its ib btw not ip

VaDriver,

HAHA


Then, if the SL Parents continue to call us all racists, the two consummate race baiters, Jesse and Sharpten, will fly down here and we know how the press adores those two thugs.

Let's see, who else.....I don't know, maybe the ACLU, if we can find evidence of bribery and/or collusion.

Keep thinking.

KIDS. Don't you have homework to do? If not, go update your facebook profiles.

Goodnight.

.

edit by Cary: Offensive picture removed. The user was banned for this post.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/2007 06:13AM by Cary.

Folks, it's time to report this dirt ball.

His IP needs to be blocked.

So Birdbrain, you want to block the poster who posts s%&*, but you haven't condemned free bees post. We're still waiting.

cary@fairfaxunderground.com


I agree. Write to Cary.

My neighborhood may be affected by the redistricting and I want to be informed. I was told to go to this site for some good information and discourse about the issue.

I am frankly horrified by what I am reading (and seeing). No, I am not talking about the number of gangs at South Lakes or the negatives of the IB program, but rather about the immature and boorish posts by people who live in our community. I am embarrassed to be even remotely associated with this ugliness.

So far, many of the level-headed entries have been posted by South Lakes parents who are forced to defend their school on every page. If they represent the caliber of parents involved in the school, I think it behooves each of us to go there and take a look for ourselves.

Yes, there have been some good and thoughtful posts by parents from other schools, but not in the last several pages and they are not in the majority. And where are the parents condemning the ugly comments? Am I the only one who does not think this is right?

BottomLine Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cary@fairfaxunderground.com
>
>
> I agree. Write to Cary.

Yeah, that Hop is a real dirtball. Free Bees, on the other hand, is a prince among men.

>>>The school board is corrupt, owes too many favors.<<<

Yup, it's all about the deals. What do they care? They can always get more money from the taxpayers. Not a problem.

>>>our houses are newer-values will stay the same,with or without you<<<

Isn't Reston 40 years old? How are your houses newer than those in the surrounding areas like Oak Hill?

Shocked, NOT,

Your first and only post here occurred at 10:57PM... You and a few of your SL dirtballs are here to shut the site down. It won't work... but keep up the good work of showing us what South Lakes is all about.

BYW, re: free bees post: Right.

Now, go finish your beer, burp and if you can manage it, try to get your bloated pathetic carcass into bed.

>>>Why do you think school board members allowed Stu's and Janie's boundary process to exclude Langley?<<<

The rest of the school board has no say in what happens in Stu's district. No school board member gets involved in another member's district. Stu decides who goes to South Lakes. The Mason district rep or Mount Vernon rep would never get involved in any decision for Hunter Mill district. It's not their district, so it's not their decision what happens there. Unwritten rule. If Stu wanted kids from Langley at South Lakes he would have to make a deal with Janie. She lets him have Langley kids in exchange for some other vote on something she wants. Or she agreed to let Herndon be in the study, if Langley was held harmless.

At this point, it doesn't matter. Staff has made it clear that the school board decided who could be sent to South Lakes and who couldn't and it is now set in stone. They don't care if the people want something else, they can't have it.

Hanging My Head,

Please, go hang your head somewhere else. Do you really think anyone is buying that act?

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >>>our houses are newer-values will stay the
> same,with or without you<<<
>
> Isn't Reston 40 years old? How are your houses
> newer than those in the surrounding areas like Oak
> Hill?


Not that it has anything to do with redistricting, but single family homes in my Reston community range from 4-12 yrs old.... There are neighboring sf homes in Reston that are <4yrs old. There are new townhomes in West Market and other areas of Reston as well. All of these are SLHS pyramid and all are lovely and quite pricey...They may not all be within RA (the hoa), some of us have our own hoas, but we all have Reston addresses. It seems you are not well informed.

>>>wonder if that CIP data was done before the latest redistricting of the Hayfield/South County boundary. Hayfield took back a good chunk of students from South County that only started this Fall<<<

The data is current, this year's. That's why South County is so over crowded and Hayfield under enrolled.

>>>The school board is a bunch of weak knee pansies when it comes to issues such as boundries. Waste of money at Langley and Langley South (aka fairfax station) wants to build another unnecessary school.<<<

Then why do you elect them?

>>>The students SL requires will need to be full-time engaged students.<<<

Yes, a good magnet program will provide that.

>>>How could any middle school be built when there are so many empty seats at the shared-boundary schools of Hayfield, MV, and LB? Hayfield and LB alone can currently handle the South County overcapacity.<<<

They just did South County districting, no way they will move those students again. South County will get their middle school because their school board rep was elected with that promise. If she votes for Stu's plans on South Lakes, he'll return the favor. Ditto Janie and Kathy. Those three will make the new democrats fall in line with them. Brad Center already allowed Hayfield to lose students. Dan Storck has done nothing for MV, I don't imagine that will change.

The Connection covers a lot of issues but they don't appear in all area editions. In this economy FCPS is now onto building Gatehouse ii:
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=90860&paper=0&cat=109


The Langley administrators CREATED an environmental problem and YOU are PAYING for it.

The administrators and friend to the school contractor are not held personaly liable for messing with the Potomac. Clean-up with no fines and it is coming out of the construction money perhaps some from bonds and other cash from the money in the principal's discretionary account for the addition.

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?archive=true&article=80604&paper=68&cat=104

Illegal Dumping Frustrates Neighbors
Neighbors of Langley High School frustrated by lack of action on illegal dumping that occurred on school grounds last summer.
By Aranya Tomseth
August 8, 2007

“There were about 200 dump trucks coming in and dumping the trash of developers, but it wasn’t really visible until the leaves were off the trees,” said Goodrow. “Turkey Run empties into the Potomac River. No erosion or sediment controls were in place … neighbors were not informed of the work. There was no site plan, review, permit or inspection of possible toxic soil by county officials.”
The Turkey Run residents alerted the staff of Dranesville District Supervisor Joan DuBois and Fairfax County School Board member for the Dranesville district Jane Strauss, and inspectors from the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services were immediately dispatched to the site.

VaDriver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BirdLover Wrote:

>
> ...Specifically,tell PETA you saw an endangered
> Red-cockaded Woodpecker ..that will cause a "stop
> work"to be issued.
>
> Its more powerful than suggesting misuse of
> taxpayers money, incompetence of school board
> officials, busing etc. etc. etc.....on and on.

Taxpayer,

So this saga gets dirtier and dirtier.

I guess the crooks needed this construction to move nice and fast.

Funny, but, whenever I've had additions, renovations, etc, done on homes, I've have to double or triple the estimated time the job will take. But, then again, it's my money and not someone else's that I'm spending. And, I don't have cronies to look the other way while I circumvent the rules.

Sounds like quite 'the machine' to me.

Taxpayer

A supurb find....Urge all readers to follow "Taxpayers" links..

August 8,2007 Connection Newspaper..here is another tidbit.

"The Turkey Run residents alerted the staff of Dranesville District Supervisor Joan DuBois and Fairfax County School Board member for the Dranesville district Jane Strauss, and inspectors from the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services were immediately dispatched to the site.
“I got a call from one of the guys who inspected it and he said he almost got writer’s cramp from writing up all the violations,” said Crandall."

FAIRFAX COUNTY ordered the construction company to remove everything that had been dumped, and it was agreed by all parties involved that the best time to conduct the removal would be during the summer of 2007, when Langley was not in session. But according to Goodrow, he and his neighbors have yet to see any action at all.
“Joan DuBois said that, yes, over the summer of 2007, at Fairfax County Schools’ expense, a lot of dirt would be taken out and this whole dumping would be corrected, but now it’s August and we haven’t seen anything,” said Goodrow. “And as it took three months to put it down, my guess is that it will take at least three months to take it out.”

So...as the saying goes...it ain't over till the fat lady sings!

This a gift.....an Environmental illegal mess at the Langley High School constructon site.....Birdlover...we weren't that far off with the tree hugging thing!!!

Stu...do you play golf with the ceo of the Construction company?

BirdLover Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To the School Board,
>
> Why aren't you touching Langley. Are you afraid of
> them? Are you indebted to them? Do they give you
> little gifts? As my kids would say, "Is Langley
> the boss of you?
>
> What, you say, you're not corrupt?
>
> PROOVE IT ..... SEND LANGELY KIDS TO SOUTH
> LAKES!!!!!!!

they won't do that, the kids who go to langley live in multi million dollar homes and their parents are powerful people who who contribute to politicans.... It's easier to push around the middle class....

Why didn't they schedule one of the Town Meetings at South Lakes, so that we all could see how great it is?

It's interesting that the meetings are located at the schools with the most to lose.

reading all of these comments from parents and students from oakton who clearly know nothing about south lakes and believe everything they hear about it, i wonder how many of you have actually stepped foot in southlakes before, or if you even know a good amount of students who go here where you can get REAL facts from. honestly you cant judge a book by its cover, i will admit my first year as a freshmen it wasnt the best looking school but the pride everyone has in it is amazing. The biggest thing is its very hard to find clicks at south lakes. if you go to oakton, langley, or any of these other "top notch" schools there are so many clicks its rediculous and you know what, if thats what you like..stay there we dont need anyone here whose gonna bring the amazing spirit and family like atmosphere of south lakes down. I can understand how you want to stay there becuase its all you know, but dont bring our school down just becuase you dont want to leave. You dont see us going around saying we dont want to go to oakton becuase everyone is stuck up, full of themselves, and not excepting of anyone else..becuase if it were the other way around i can gauranttee you would be fighting to stick up for your school too.

one last thing to all the parents who dont want their children to attend south lakes, fine i respect that, and if u dont want to come here then we dont want you here either. but let me just say to see/ hear these parents opinions makes me think so low of all you becuase you talk like you are unintellagent kids. not to mention im shocked to hear they way you act at what? 40- 50 years old? for the love of god please grow up.

Did a bit of research this morning....

http://web.mac.com/davealbo/iWeb/Delegate%20Dave%20Albo:%20%20One%20of%20Us%20-%20Working%20for%20Us/South%20County%20Middle%20School%20NOW!.html

Read the first paragraph "Dave Albo's 'Albo's Public/Private Partnership Construction Plan' helped build the South County Secondary School in half the time and at 2/3 the cost." What happened to it being completely free and not costing the FCPS ANYTHING???? How many schools with substandard dangerous conditions had renovations delayed for years? Who would get delayed this time?


http://southcountymiddleschool.org/Home_Page.html Just read the entire thing to get angry enough to write to the SB to stop this potential waste of taxpayer dollars.

Does anyone know for sure if the new construction has actually begun at Langley? According to the article, Taxpayer posted, as of August 8th, removal of the garbage hadn't even begun.

Residents said it took 3 months for the hundreds of trucks to dump the waste. And, as pointed out, presumably it will take as long to remove.

If construction of the new classrooms has begun, what about the possible hazard to the children if any of the waste material is toxic?

How long has this garbage been flowing into the Potomac?

Northern Virginia, a bastion of democratic liberalism, where every other car dons a SAVE THE BAY sticker. We're all such good people here. See the sticker on my car.

BirdLover Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have 2 daughters going to Oakton H.S.
> Why would I want my children bused to South
> Lakes?
>
> If I had wanted them to go to South Lakes, I would
> have bought a house in that district.
>
> Here are a couple of reasons why I didn't
>
> South Lakes has 33% of its students receiving free
> lunch.
> Oakton has 8%.
>
> South Lakes has constant problems with student
> behavior problems so they needed to add such
> "special features" as :
>
> ----POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT PROGRAMS
> ----TIME OUT ROOMS
>
> Time out rooms??? Sounds like pre-school.

Free and reduced lunch has nothing to do with how South Lakes children act. It's based on the income of the family. And i'm pretty sure every high school and middle school has a time out room. What's the deal with postive behavior support programs all teen are the same, overracting, emotional, and crazy. You probably aren't close to your children to know what goes on in there every days lives i'm sure of that!

Fed Up.


Blah, Blah, Blah


You've never posted at this site before and you'd have to go back about a zillion posts to find that one.

LOL

Researcher,

Have you come across any lit on impeaching a school board.

If I were a School Board idiot Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why didn't they schedule one of the Town Meetings
> at South Lakes, so that we all could see how great
> it is?
>
> It's interesting that the meetings are located at
> the schools with the most to lose.
_-----------------------------------------------------------

South Lakes probably wouldn't want us peeking into their "Time Out" rooms.

Hey "Fed up"...Thanks for reminding us!

If you parents spent half the time watching your kids that you do on here or fighting with the school board your kids would be headed for Harvard.
While you on here trying to prove who is the biggest ass they are out using drugs and getting pregnant. The way I see it you don't want what is right, it is who can get their way regardless. Small wonder your kids are spoiled brats, the apple doenst fall far from the tree.

BTW how about keeping these little angels under control when you are in the Target store. I am sick of dodging the little bundles of joy as they race around the aisles knocking things over and screaming. Lastly I do not need to hear you say fifty times how you are going to punish them when you get home. Do it now and shut the hell up.

foolish man Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you parents spent half the time watching your
> kids that you do on here or fighting with the
> school board your kids would be headed for
> Harvard.
> While you on here trying to prove who is the
> biggest ass they are out using drugs and getting
> pregnant. The way I see it you don't want what is
> right, it is who can get their way regardless.
> Small wonder your kids are spoiled brats, the
> apple doenst fall far from the tree.
>
> BTW how about keeping these little angels under
> control when you are in the Target store. I am
> sick of dodging the little bundles of joy as they
> race around the aisles knocking things over and
> screaming. Lastly I do not need to hear you say
> fifty times how you are going to punish them when
> you get home. Do it now and shut the hell up.


I think the name says it all.

Nice article in the Herndon times today (editorial) very well spoken and hits the nail on the head why we don't want don't want to change schools

Herndon times.

I went to site and found comment from Nov. 8.

I guess the editorials for today and not yet up at website. I will check back tomorrow.

Are all of you familiar with the book "A Tribe Apart : A Journey into the Heart of American Adolescence" by Patricia Hersch? This non-fiction book about South Lakes is in just about all the Fairfax County Public libraries; look for 305.235 H

Here is the summary from the library web site:

"For three fascinating, disturbing years, writer Patricia Hersch journeyed inside a world that is as familiar as our own children and yet as alien as some exotic culture--the world of adolescence. As a silent, attentive partner, she followed eight teenagers in the typically American town of Reston, Virginia, listening to their stories, observing their rituals, watching them fulfill their dreams and enact their tragedies. What she found was that America's teens have fashioned a fully defined culture that adults neither see nor imagine--a culture of unprecedented freedom and baffling complexity, a culture with rules but no structure, values but no clear morality, codes but no consistency. Is it society itself that has created this separate teen community? Resigned to the attitude that adolescents simply live in "a tribe apart," adults have pulled away, relinquishing responsibility and supervision, allowing the unhealthy behaviors of teens to flourish. Ultimately, this rift between adults and teenagers robs both generations of meaningful connections. For everyone's world is made richer and more challenging by having adolescents in it."

" foxmill/carson/oakton parent"

Nothing spells self important yuppie like those three schools

foolish man Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> " foxmill/carson/oakton parent"
>
> Nothing spells self important yuppie like those
> three schools


Troll.

Foolish one...maybe you can stereotype Dogwood / Hughes / South Lakes for us too.

Forum Reader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are all of you familiar with the book "A Tribe
> Apart : A Journey into the Heart of American
> Adolescence" by Patricia Hersch? This non-fiction
> book about South Lakes is in just about all the
> Fairfax County Public libraries; look for 305.235
> H
>
> Here is the summary from the library web site:
>
> "For three fascinating, disturbing years, writer
> Patricia Hersch journeyed inside a world that is
> as familiar as our own children and yet as alien
> as some exotic culture--the world of adolescence.
> As a silent, attentive partner, she followed eight
> teenagers in the typically American town of
> Reston, Virginia, listening to their stories,
> observing their rituals, watching them fulfill
> their dreams and enact their tragedies. What she
> found was that America's teens have fashioned a
> fully defined culture that adults neither see nor
> imagine--a culture of unprecedented freedom and
> baffling complexity, a culture with rules but no
> structure, values but no clear morality, codes but
> no consistency. Is it society itself that has
> created this separate teen community? Resigned to
> the attitude that adolescents simply live in "a
> tribe apart," adults have pulled away,
> relinquishing responsibility and supervision,
> allowing the unhealthy behaviors of teens to
> flourish. Ultimately, this rift between adults and
> teenagers robs both generations of meaningful
> connections. For everyone's world is made richer
> and more challenging by having adolescents in it."

And your point is?

BTW, according to the author, this book was intended to be about all teens, not just those at South Lakes. Additionally, the book was copyrighted in 1998, which means the research was done over ten years ago. Please tell us how it is relevant to the students today?

>
> And your point is?
>
> BTW, according to the author, this book was
> intended to be about all teens, not just those at
> South Lakes. Additionally, the book was
> copyrighted in 1998, which means the research was
> done over ten years ago. Please tell us how it is
> relevant to the students today?


Dude, have you NOT seen Fast Times at Ridgemont High? Like totally set in the 70/s or 80's or something BUT is still relavent Today! cuz like us teens are totally acting the same way teenagers have been acting since like foreverrrr.

I just came across this forum, and having lived through a redistricting thought it was an interesting forum to peruse. The commonalities between the redistricting are the subtle and not so subtle issues of racism and assumptions that one school is better than the other due to demographics and real estate values.

Every school in this county is a good/decent school. You will find good teachers and bad teachers in each of the HS's (even TJ..have friends whose children are there..obviously some fabulous courses/teachers, but there are also poor teachers there).

Every school in the county has gangs, and you are deluding yourself if you think Oakton et al doesn't. Every school has issues with drugs, drop outs, drinking etc. The point of the book Tribe Apart was just that. Parents deluding themselves about teens and teens' lives.

I do think suddenly redistricting is an issue. I do think that in my case (Stuart pyramid, when Poe and Glasgow were redistricted) and in this case the administrators/school board, don't truly listen and tend to gloss over issues. However, the biggest commonality is the racism hiding as concerns about property values. I was shocked to hear comments from the Poe community regarding their fears at the time, about "those kids." That was in the late 90's...to hear that people continue to think of others in that way is reprehensible.

And Neen, by any chance is your first name Louise? Just curious

I read all these comments, and i laugh. Do you really believe these rude comments can solve you're problems?
Do you not understand that YOU may be hurting others feelings by saying such vulgar comments.
I pity you. Truthfully, i can say alot of postive things about south lakes but i'm not because i don't want to waste my time saying what i know and listen to such inconsiderate people.
You say that you're not racist...why don't you read the comments you and the others have written.Or is that too difficult for you?
We're a unique group of students.We're diversed. South Lakes is my family, and i'm not going to let anyone down talk MY FAMILY.
Why don't you all just be a little mature, take a tour of South Lakes, and stop complaining. It's completely inscrutable to hear such resentment and
hostility coming from PARENTS.
I'd like to acknowledge all the students and parents that are PRO-south lakes.It's nice to know that atleast some of you are civil.

Thank you.

Sorry "foolish man" but I don't think they classify as "yuppies." A yuppie is a young, urban professional. Didn't see any of those at the meeting.

>>>langley live in multi million dollar homes and their parents are powerful people who who contribute to politicans<<<

So they're going to move Frank Wolf's neighborhood to South Lakes instead.

>>>>very school in the county has gangs, and you are deluding yourself if you think Oakton et al doesn't. Every school has issues with drugs, drop outs, drinking etc<<<

well, yes, the question is how many? Oakton and Madison have far fewer than South Lakes and TJ fewer still. BTW, TJ has no gangs. None. But I think they did have a dropout within the last ten years,someone who left high school without graduating. One. Oh wait, he went to college early. Nevermind.

Are you aware that Madison has more stay at home moms than any other zip code in the DC area? More parents at home, more parental involvement, cuts down on the gang thing, drugs, etc. Kids with involved families have no need to join gangs.

Roya,
It's nice that you want to participate but please try to us more periods. Capitalizing words at the beginning of sentences is helpful too. I realize that you are a victim of whole language and it is not your fault that you have not learned any grammar, but without punctuation, posts are very difficult to read.

Thanks for make the effort. I know that it's not easy to come here.

Birdlover,
School board members can be recalled. In fact, I hear that several attorneys in Sully are about to launch such and effort. They only need 1,000 signatures and since stoprd.com already has more than twice that number, it shouldn't be difficult. With a thousand signatures a special election can be called.

"A Tribe apart" shows how few parents in Reston are involved in their children's lives. Those poor kids are on their own. It's not like Vienna, McLean and Oakton. It really isn't. That book scared the crap outta me for what parents in Reston are doing to their kids, and not doing WITH their children.

Neen. Please stop erroneously commenting on neighborhoods about which you know nothing. You really display your ignorance with that last post. Are you really trying to say there are no working mothers in Vienna, McLean, and Oakton? Get real.

Neen,
Stay at home moms doesn't equal no drugs etc. Do you recall the 60's? Lots of stay at home moms in that decade. Also, I have known a few stay at home moms with too much time on their hands, and it caused them to get involved in issues that didn't involve them.

(I realize that this redistricting doesn't affect me; I am participating due to the racist undertones that remind me of what occured in the redistricting I did experience, and I am not a stay at home mom).

Also, the book, though set in Reston, applies to parents everywhere. Just because you don't live in Reston doesn't mean the teens in your neighborhood aren't dealing with the issues addressed in the book.

Regarding gangs (and yes, TJ might not have any gangs, and I can't anecdotally speak of any drop outs either), it is better to believe gangs/drugs exist in your high school, than to assume because you have a high percentage of stay at home moms or a certain property value, that your school/kids are immune to that. I have witnessed more harm done from parents/community members, "who had no idea" something was going on, than from a parent with a bit of a cynical/knowing side of what life is really like in all high schools.

"Dogwood / Hughes / South Lakes"

Liberal enclaves. Parents who they themselves were spoiled as kids and are bent on carrying on the tradition to their own kids. Their lesson: If you whine long enough and loud enough you are sure to get your way.

I hate seeing my tax money wasted on your petty bickering meetings. Admit it that it isn't so much where your kids are going but the most important thing is that you get your way. You have been spoiled so long that to hear the word no or to have someone stand up to you is a foreign concept. I bet your husbands, if you still have one, are the most PW men in the world.

Thanks Suzanne for your insights. It is comforting to know that arguments such as the ones presented by Neen, or Jane, will have absolutely no impact on the outcome of this boundary study. You and Neen do have something in common, however. Neither of your neighborhoods are affected by this.

Hey Neen,
why don't you stop blabbering and get a life.
What are you like 40, and you're trying to put down a 16 year old.
Get real.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "A Tribe apart" shows how few parents in Reston
> are involved in their children's lives. Those
> poor kids are on their own. It's not like Vienna,
> McLean and Oakton. It really isn't. That book
> scared the crap outta me for what parents in
> Reston are doing to their kids, and not doing WITH
> their children.


Neen:

Are you like an outsourced blogger?

You have no clue about what you say; you tend to try to pick on kids on the web; your name is strange; and you post at weird hours like you're on the other side of the world.

Muse Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks Suzanne for your insights. It is
> comforting to know that arguments such as the ones
> presented by Neen, or Jane, will have absolutely
> no impact on the outcome of this boundary study.
> You and Neen do have something in common, however.
> Neither of your neighborhoods are affected by
> this.


You are right. My neighborhood is not affected. I hate to say though that the boundry study in my neighborhood did not go well. Glasgow MS remained overcrowded due to parental fears/comments/racist overtones from the Poe parents. Glasgow has now been rebuilt to accomodate more students (will open in late Jan. 2007). When I went to the meeting in the late 90's regarding the overcrowding, and redistricting my sons were just starting ES. They are now a sophomore and a junior. Thus, Glasgow's concerns were ignored (Poe community didn't want "those kids"), and overcrowding continued for another decade. The largely wealthier, more vocal (and as stated not so nice parents) were the ones who were heard. Best of luck to all those affected by this issue. I will bow out.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Roya,
> It's nice that you want to participate but please
> try to us more periods. Capitalizing words at the
> beginning of sentences is helpful too. I realize
> that you are a victim of whole language and it is
> not your fault that you have not learned any
> grammar, but without punctuation, posts are very
> difficult to read.
>
> Thanks for make the effort. I know that it's not
> easy to come here.


"thanks for make the effort". And you dare to criticize a student's grammar?

free bees Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can't wait until my kid gets FREE LUNCH next
> year
> - is able to by crack without leaving the school
> ground
> - has a place to do her homework in the
> disciplinary room (time out room)
> - can fight all she wants and still show up for
> school
> - take a wonderful IB class, that and her free
> lunch coupon are good for two years
> - meet Mr. Butler (the Savior) on a regular basis
> - play on a wonderful athletic team (because the
> school board says the team suck becasue not enough
> kids are there)
> - move up to first chair in band wahpeeeeeee
> - gets to sit next to another african american,
> along side an asian, in front of a anglo saxon
> (not a lady saxon) and behind a hispanic
>
>
> this is what high schoolers dream about, boy I bet
> she can't wait until next year. What thrill this
> is going to be. Thanks STUpid


Damn you're about the biggest cunt i've known in the whole internet world! I should slit your throat.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Roya,
> It's nice that you want to participate but please
> try to us more periods. Capitalizing words at the
> beginning of sentences is helpful too. I realize
> that you are a victim of whole language and it is
> not your fault that you have not learned any
> grammar, but without punctuation, posts are very
> difficult to read.
>
> Thanks for make the effort. I know that it's not
> easy to come here.


Come on now, Neen, take a look at your own writing. "us more periods." "Thanks for make the effort." You look very silly now, don't you -- to make fun of a youngster's typos?

My friends from Fox Mill Estates could you please explain why you are entitled to attend Oakton High based on the following.

From 2500 of Viking Drive to

South Lake High School - 4.3 miles.
Oakton High School - 8.6 miles.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Roya,
> It's nice that you want to participate but please
> try to us more periods. Capitalizing words at the
> beginning of sentences is helpful too. I realize
> that you are a victim of whole language and it is
> not your fault that you have not learned any
> grammar, but without punctuation, posts are very
> difficult to read.
>
> Thanks for make the effort. I know that it's not
> easy to come here.


Heyy Neen! How about you grow up and stop being a fucking retard. It's a FUCKING blog, you don't type correct punctuation and grammar and what the hell ever else.

Gerry Mandering Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My friends from Fox Mill Estates could you please
> explain why you are entitled to attend Oakton High
> based on the following.
>
> From 2500 of Viking Drive to
>
> South Lake High School - 4.3 miles.
> Oakton High School - 8.6 miles.


If my kids are "entitled" to attend Oakton, it's because that's the high school our address is assigned to, same as everyone who attends their base school. Schools aren't evenly spaced throughout the county, population isn't evenly spaced, available lots to build schools aren't always available smack in the middle of communities. If you look at the county boundary maps, most schools aren't located in the dead center of their boundaries. Oakton's boundary might be odd-looking, but that doesn't mean we are less attached to our school. Oakton families didn't draw the boundary any more than SL parents created the characteristics of their school. Actually, parents usually have more control of the characteristics of the school. Whether you think we are entitled to attend a particular school isn't really the issue. Some Fox Mill families are fine with moving to SL, some are opposed, some are trying to figure out the differences so as to decide what's best for their kids. Why pick on us?

Excellent point, Gerry. It's really all about proximity for Oakton. Bottom line. Should have been implemented many years ago - that they attend South Lakes.

Suzanne Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do
> you recall the 60's? Lots of stay at home moms in
> that decade. Also, I have known a few stay at
> home moms with too much time on their hands, and
> it caused them to get involved in issues that
> didn't involve them.
>
Can you explain what this means? Are people only supposed to "get involoved" in isxsues that DO directly affect them?

Forum Reader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Suzanne Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Do
> > you recall the 60's? Lots of stay at home moms
> in
> > that decade. Also, I have known a few stay at
> > home moms with too much time on their hands,
> and
> > it caused them to get involved in issues that
> > didn't involve them.
> >
> Can you explain what this means? Are people only
> supposed to "get involoved" in isxsues that DO
> directly affect them?


No, it doesn't mean people should only get involved in issues that do affect them. It was a lame joke based on my assumption that Neen is a stay at home mom, with too much time on her hands, thus her involvement when it doesn't affect her. (she was glorifying stay at home moms in her comments re: Madison...and please don't think I have anything against stay at home moms..)

I also noted that I was writing on the issue despite not being in the affected boundry. Sorry for the lame joke.

The more relevant part of what I said addressed her comment that stay at home moms means kids not on drugs..hence my comment on the 60's.

Reston Mom, who, BTW stays at home Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Excellent point, Gerry. It's really all about
> proximity for Oakton. Bottom line. Should have
> been implemented many years ago - that they attend
> South Lakes.


Poster "Reston Mom"....or whomever you really are... What is your agenda??

Oakton, Westfield, Chantilly, Herndon parents are not trying to talk you into giving us your kids. But you pompously proclaim this redistricting should have been implemented years ago.

Such arrogance.

Leave our children alone and be happy with your choice to buy, rent or whatever in the South Lakes Pyramid. If you didn't do your homework when you moved here, shame on you. We did.

Fox Mill is entitled to her kids getting an education on par with the Oakton, Herndon, Chantilly and Westfield. Entitled to an A.P education for her kids if they desire. Pays taxes like the rest of us and is fully entitled.

We don't have faith that we can improve SLHS. If Stu doesn't listen now, why will he listen later? He knows what is right and doesn't need our input.

If the unfortunate happens who is up for a carpool?

PAl I'll carpool with you, I'm good for M/W/F but my kids stays after for band chorus and drama we will have to get our own rides home. Does anyone know where I can find the answer to if the school board can get "impeached" if you will. Rumor going around on the blog is enough signatures can get a member ousted. Just looking for facts.

Thanks much, and keep up the blogging there is more good than bad here.

http://southcountymiddleschool.org/Home_Page.html

South County got their high school that was not needed, I have no doubt that they will get their middle school too, particularly now that they have their very own school board member to make sure that it happens.

>>>And Neen, by any chance is your first name Louise? Just curious<<<

No. I'm afraid I don't get the joke. Who is Louise? I don't watch much television, nor do I read People magazine, so you'll have to forgive me for not understanding your reference.

WF student,
Nice language. Is that what you learn at WF? Do your parents pay for that education, or lack thereof?

OAKTON STUDENT Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> South Lakes Student
>
> Don't call our parents ridiculous. I guess since
> your parents are calling our parents racists and
> lots of other insults, and telling them that we
> have to be sacrificed for you, I guess you
> wouldn't know any better. We are not going to
> your school. We will have to be dragged by police.

See.
People like you are what get these rumors started. Our parents do not call your parents racists or any other insult. Yes, there are some parents that do that, but most of them do not! You just judge us on those few people that do that. So are we the quick ones to judge?