News: SEUSSICAL the Musical is Coming to Belmont Ridge Middle School

Leesburg (April 10, 2012) - Belmont Ridge Middle School proudly presents SEUSSICAL at Belmont Ridge Middle School, 19045 Upper Belmont Place in Lansdowne for two weekends in April, 2012.

Show dates are April 12, 13 and 14, and April 19, 20, and 21. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and performances begin at 7:00 p.m. each evening. There are also Saturday matinee performances at 1:00 p.m. on April 14 and 21. Doors for the matinees open at 12:30 p.m.

News: For ECHOworks, the Greenway Means Go

Special to Viva Loudoun
By Jason S Rufner
(April 9, 2012) - For the 140 program participants of the non-profit ECHOworks, the Dulles Greenway is a path toward self-fulfillment in more ways than one.

More than a long strip of smooth asphalt that conveys them to jobsites around Loudoun and western Fairfax, the Greenway -- through proceeds generated from its annual "Drive For Charity" campaign, held this year on May 17 -- also provides them with the van they rode in on.

News: Ball's Bluff Russell Re-Elected Virginia Art Education Association President

(April 9, 2012) -Scott Russell, an art teacher at Ball’s Bluff Elementary, has been re-elected as president of the Virginia Art Education Association (VAEA).

Russell will serve in that capacity through 2013.

News: Dominion Student Council Association to Host a Health Fair on April 21

(April 8, 2012) - Mark your calendars as Dominion High School Student Council Association will host a Health Fair on April 21 to address the issue of childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles in the community.

The Health Fair, which runs 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Dominion High School, will address the issues of healthy diets and exercise which are necessary for a healthy lifestyle. The goal of the project is to emphasize teen leadership in promoting healthy choices for other young people. It looks to be a fun day of exercise, exploration, and food sampling.

News: Mercer Middle School Told Why It's a School Worth Watching

Special to Viva Loudoun via Loudoun County Public Schools
(April 8, 2012) - It’s one thing to be named a national School to Watch.

It’s something else to be told why you earned this honor.

Last month, students and staff at Mercer Middle School learned why this honor has been bestowed on them during a school-wide assembly.

News: Swim U Opening this Month in Village at Leesburg

(April 7, 2012) - Swim U, an indoor swim school, will open this month 2012 in the Village at Leesburg near Wegmans Food Market.

Swim U will offer year round climate controlled swim lessons to children ages 6 months to ten years.

News: LCPS Students Honored at FBLA Regional Competition

(April 7, 2012) - Loudoun County Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapters recently participated in the FBLA Shenandoah Region Conference at Shenandoah University in Winchester.
Sixteen high schools in the region participated.

The Briar Woods High School FBLA won the award for “Most Competitive Chapter.” This award is presented to the chapter with the most points earned. Points were awarded as five for first place, three for second place and one for third place. Students will be attending and competing in the Virginia FBLA State Leadership Conference next month in Reston.

Following are the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) students who placed in the regional FBLA competition:

Gymnastics: APEX Level 6 and 7 Teams Finish Year Strong

(April 7, 2012) - The APEX Gymnastics level 6 and 7 teams finished their season with top finishes at the state championships held in Virginia Beach on the weekend of April 1. The Level 7s were led by top finishes by Claudia Cardona, Hannah O'Dea, Ashley Spangler, Alex Donahue and Allison Auten. Level 6s were led by Caroline Cascadden and River Stone.

Football: Heritage Junior OLB/RB Chris Aguemon Drawing Ivy League Interest

(April 6, 2012) - Heritage High School junior outside linebacker/running back Chris Aguemon has been drawing Ivy League interest with contact from both Dartmouth and Harvard as well as VMI.

News: Cedar Lane's Dallas 2012 Principal of the Year

(April 6, 2012) - James E. Dallas, the principal of Cedar Lane Elementary School, is this year’s recipient of The Washington Post’s Distinguished Educational Leadership Award for Loudoun County.

This award also serves as Loudoun County’s Principal of the Year Award.

News: Washington Redskins to Host Watch and Draft Day Parties at FedEx Field

(April 5, 2012) - The Washington Redskins announced last week expanded fan festivities for the 2012 NFL Draft which will include the Redskins annual Draft Day Party presented by NFL Ticket Exchange by Ticketmaster at FedExField on Saturday, April 28 and the first ever Redskins Draft Day Watch Party at FedExField on Thursday, April 26.

News: Heritage's Schlegel Named 2012 Agens Meyer Winner

Heritage’s Schlegel Named 2012 Agnes Meyer Winner

Leesburg (April 5, 2012) - Andrea Schlegel, a social science teacher at Heritage High School, has been named the 2012 recipient of The Washington Post’s Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.

This award also serves as Loudoun County’s Teacher of the Year honor.

Girls Soccer: Ashburn ASC Galaxy U18 Girls Win FPYC Liberty Cup

(April 4, 2012) - The Ashburn ASC Galaxy U18 WAGS girls soccer team won the FPYC Liberty Cup recently, going undefeated in four games to take the U19 Division.

Track and Field: Sterling Area Athletes Make Their Mark at Battlefield Relays

(April 4, 2012)- Dominion, Potomac Falls, and Park View high schools represented Loudoun County well at the 6th annual Battlefield Relays in Haymeraket on Saturday.

Wrestling: Former Dominion Standout Fleming Takes 4th at U.S. Greco Roman Olympic Trials

(April 4, 2012) - Former Dominion High School Dulles District wrestling champion Alex Fleming recently finished fourth at the U.S. Greco Roman Olympic trials in the 74kg weight class. Fleming has been ranked in the Top 10 of his weight class for the past year and wrestles for the U.S. Olympic Education Center out of Northern Michigan University.

Volleyball: Briar Woods' Chelsea Kaser to Play at NCAA D3 Muhlenberg College

Chelsea Kaser will play at Muhlenberg College next year.

(April 4, 2012) - Briar Woods High School senior Chelsea Kaser has committed to play volleyball at NCAA Division III Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Kaser has been a starter at the setter position for the Falcons since her sophomore year, and has earned all Dulles-District honors at the position, leading Briar Woods to two consecutive regional berths. She is expected to compete at the Libero position at Muhlenberg.

Kaser's decision brings to 16 the number of Briar Woods athletes to play in college next year, tying Stone Bridge at that number, one ahead of Broad Run with 15. Woodgrove has 13 total for the Class of 2012 followed by Loudoun County at 10. A total of 113 Loudoun athletes are now listed on Viva Loudoun's College Choice Chart!

Softball: Woodgrove's Allie Reid, Courtney Bogan to Play at the NCAA D3 Level Next Year at Randolph-Macon, Virginia Wesleyan

(April 4, 2012) - Woodgrove High School softball seniors Allie Reid and Courtney Bogan will take their talents to the NCAA Division III ranks next year as Reid will play at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland and Bogan at Virginia Wesleyan College in Hampton Roads.

The two Wolverines helped their team last spring make it to the AA state title game in the school's first season, falling to Dulles District rival Briar Woods in the championship game. Woodgrove claimed the Region II title on their way to the state finals.

Girls Soccer: U16 LFC Avalanche Take FPYC Liberty Cup

Front Row, l to r: Holly Jackson, Katelyn Ferrara, Rebecca Reid, Sammy Barta, Ashley Cole, Anna Fiorellino
Back Row, l to r: Dana Mouritzen, Erin Halleran, Kylie Billings, Stephanie Davis, Alyssa Hembree, Jenny Gallagher, Jennie Polentes, Jillian Perdos, Allyson Schwind, Coach Chas Sumser
Not pictured: Caris Cole

(April 4, 2012) - The LFC Avalanche, a U16 girls team from the Leesburg Football Club, won the U16 girls division of the FPYC Liberty Cup which was played March 24-25. The Avalanche earned a 3-0-1 record on their way to taking the title.

News: Profits from Loudoun Bluegrass Festival to Provide Scholarships for Local Students

Leesburg (April 4, 2012) - On May 12, 2012 the third annual Loudoun Bluegrass Festival will come to the Loudoun County 4H Fairgrounds, just outside Leesburg, VA, featuring great music, BBQ, open jam sessions, kids’ shows, workshops, and pickin’ contests with cash prizes.

The Loudoun Bluegrass Festival is presented by Rotary Club of Dulles International Airport. All profits help pay tuition for deserving local students who otherwise could not afford college.

Headlining the event will be Lonesome River Band. Band member Sammy Shelor was inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame, was the Bluegrass Music Association Banjo Player of the Year, and most recently won the Steve Martin Award for Excellence which was presented on the David Letterman Show.

News: Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter Accelerates Social Services with Greenway Help

Special to Viva Loudoun
By Jason S Rufner

(April 3, 2012) - Executive Director Sue Curtis and her understudy Nicole Acosta have interesting jobs working for the Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter (commonly known as LAWS), one of five charities benefitting from the Dulles Greenway's annual Drive for Charity fundraising campaign to be held May 17.

Forensics: Loudoun County Ties for 5th at VHSL State Meet with Alecia Moore Capturing State Title

(April 3, 2012) - Loudoun County High School finished tied for fifth in AA at the 2012 State Forensics Meet with Alecia Moore winning a state championship in Poetry Interpretation.

Dominion High School's AK Komanduri took second in the AA Extemporaneous Speaking and classmate Jay Daniel Gusman was fifth in the same competition.

Loudoun County's Bobby McCurdy finished third in AA Impromptu.

Complete results:

News: Regional Governor's School Offers Free Summer Intensive Arts Education

(April 2, 2012) - Performing and Visual Arts Northwest (PAVAN) is now accepting applications for the 2012 Summer Regional Governor's School for the Arts.

This program is free to all qualified applicants and offers rising ninth- to 12th-graders a two-week, intensive study in their choice of theater, dance, guitar, vocal music or the visual arts. PAVAN serves students of Clarke, Frederick, Loudoun and Shenandoah counties. Students may attend public school, private school or be home-schooled.

News: Virginia Athletic Trainers' Association Offering Scholarship Awards

(April 2, 2012) - The Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association has established scholarship awards, which are presented to two graduating high school seniors who have indicated an interest in pursuing a career in the Allied Health Profession of Athletic Training.

The amounts are one-time awards of $1,000 to the winner and $500 to the runner-up. The application may be accessed on the VATA website at: www.vata.us. You may direct application questions to decarroll@shenandoah.k12.va.us.

Girls Soccer: Former Briar Woods Standout Davis Makes Early Commitment to University of Texas

(April 1, 2012) - Marchelle Davis, a former Briar Woods High School high-flying forward has committed to the University of Texas in Austin starting in 2013. Davis is a junior at Byron Nelson High School in Trophy Club, TX where she runs track and competes in the 100 and the 4x100 when it doesn’t conflict with soccer.

Davis plays club soccer for the U17 Dallas Texans, currently sitting in 5th place nationally in the ECNL. She also represents her new school on the pitch and is leading her district with 26 goals in the regular season which just ended. High School soccer playoffs in Texas started yesterday.

Softball: PONY Nationals Tournament Returns to Loudoun County

Leesburg (April 1, 2012) - Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services announced last week that they have entered into a 3-year agreement to hold the PONY Nationals Fastpitch Softball Tournament in Loudoun County.