History and Challenges of Dogwood School Shared with Lions

Tamara Ballou, Interim Principal, and William Vardeman, Dogwood Elem. School came to the Lions Club meeting Wednesday night, 2,20 and discussed the history and challenges and accomplishments of the school where we have staged our Mulch sales for many years.  Dogwood Elementary is majority low-income, majority Hispanic and other second languages.  

Among it's challenges, Dogwood also was devastated by a fire in November of 2000. (See Article in the Washington Times.)  After a struggle to rebuild the school it still faced a perilous battle to re-invent itself.  It was rated as a failing school under “no child left behind” leading to many efforts to overcome this.  They have since been able to achieve significant successes, no longer seen as failing, with small classes (12:1 student-Teacher ratio) and challenging curriculum.  The road ahead is difficult.

While decisions still need to be made, the generosity the school has shown for so many years in sharing their parking lot as a staging area for our annual Mulch Sale Fundraiser and re-arranging week-end events to be able to help us out, we will be thinking as a club about ways to support them.  As a club who prides ourselves on Service, we can put our collective heads together and see if we can provide this well-deserved community school some assistance. 

Reston Plans 2013 Mulch Selling Fundraiser Extravaganza

The Reston Lions Club is set up to deliver mulch to their loyal customers on March 23rd, 2013 this year, rain or shine.  All sale proceeds go to Reston Lions Charities, LLC, Non-Profit 501 (c)3 Charity.  We appreciate your business.

To order your quality Quail Ridge Double-Shredded Hardwood Mulch today, visit http://restonlions.org/mulch/mulch_order.htm
Orders must be received and processed by March 15th, 2013 COB to insure delivery.  Orders have to be in excess of 10 Bags to be considered for free delivery.  Thanks!

Club to Entertain Local Principal

The Reston Lions Club will have Tamara Ballou, Interim Principal of Dogwood Elementary School, in to visit and speak with the club about community involvement on Wednesday night, 2/20 at 7pm.  We hope anyone interested in hearing what the school is planning for community activities and how our club can participate is encouraged to attend.  If you just Curious, come also and enjoy the fellowship.  More information on Dogwood Elementary School, visit http://www.fcps.edu/DogwoodES/ 
 

James A Bland Music Scholarship Competition Winners Announced

Reston James A Bland Music Scholarship Competition concludes for another year with an amazing display of musical talent. Over a dozen local youth musicians battled it out at the 2013 Reston Bland Competition that took place on Jan 29th at 7:30pm. Winners of the Vocal Group were Alexis Michelle Gruber, first Place; William Meinert, second place and Nikole James, third place.
Winners in the instrument group were Yechan Lim, first place; Tatiana Liu, second place and Sarah Slate, third place.

from left is Steve Reber, Co-Chairman, William David Meinert, South Lakes High School; Tatiana Michelle Liu, Potomac Falls High School; Alexis Michelle Gruber, Dominion High School; Nikole Rae James, Potomac Falls High School; Sarah Erica Slate, Langston Hughes Middle School; Yechan Lim, Centreville High School and Jack Gazlay, Co-Chairman.

Congratulations to all participants and especially to all the winning vocal and instrumentalists!.

Local Reston Peace Poster Contest Winner Announced

Lily Dunlap, an eighth grade student at

Herndon Middle School, won a competition

sponsored by the Reston Lions Club.

Dunlap’s poster was among more than

350,000 entries submitted worldwide in the

annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest.

Lions Clubs International is sponsoring

the program to emphasize the importance

of world peace to young people everywhere.