And the Winners Are …
Trang Nguyen wins spelling bee competition at Herndon Middle School.
“Once you spell the word, there is no going back,” said Nancy Galm, English teacher at the Herndon Middle School on Locust Street. Galm was addressing a group of more than 20 students attending Herndon Middle School who had won or placed their way into the annual spelling bee competition. The competition was held on Jan. 8.

Winter Concerts Wow Audiences At Herndon High
Herndon students display their musical skills.
In December, students in the Herndon High choir and band were very active. Members of the Herndon High School Band "Pride of Herndon" went to Hawaii to represent Virginia in the 2013 Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade. The Pride of Herndon was awarded Grand Champion honors for their performance. The Herndon High School Choir Department has also been busy with choral groups putting on performances for the holiday season. This included an evening show on Dec. 7 at Herndon Town Square by The Herndon High School Madrigals and Herndon Brass Quintet.
Herndon Holiday Train Show Attracts Crowds
Train enthusiasts enjoy Train Show at Herndon Municipal Center.
"I have tons of train equipment, which I have kept since I was 5-years-old," said Larry Aronson, a Herndon resident visiting the train display at Herndon Municipal Center on Saturday with his daughter and his grandson. "It is nice to have layouts like this that can put on a display like this." On both Saturday and Sunday, hundreds of members of the community stopped by to see the model trains. Displaying their model trains were members of the Northern Virginia NTRAK and the Potomac Module Crew. Herndon Chamber of Commerce and the Herndon Historical Society sponsored the train show.

Herndon Elementary Holds Reflections Ceremony
Herndon Elementary School celebrated their Reflections participants on Wednesday, Dec. 4. PTA Reflections is part of the National PTA art competition in which participants enter in various artistic mediums. The theme this year was "Believe, Dream, Inspire." HES is very proud of the effort the students put into their artwork. A special thanks to the Reflections Committee Chair: Pavithra Rajesh.
Performing at All American Bowl
Herndon High senior Blake Morgan will perform in premier football game.
Herndon High School senior Blake Morgan was honored at the school auditorium with the presentation of an All-American Bowl jacket from local soldiers, in the company of friends, family, fellow band mates and students. "We are thrilled Blake is representing us," said Herndon High Band Director Kathleen G. Jacoby.
Herndon’s Annual 5K Turkey Trot Brings Out Crowds
November race brings together community.
"Way to go! You are doing great!" cheered Wolf Gottschalk as participants in the 2013 Herndon Turkey Trot ran by Ferndale Avenue near the Herndon Community Center.
Three Birds Seeks Energy Education
Foundation seeks to assist schools with alternative energy solutions.
When Rachel Carson Middle School installed 11 solar panels several years ago, Joseph Plummer was inspired. After all, the students worked to raise more than $40,000 for the installation, which gave them a hands-on chance to learn about alternative energy sources.

Dranesville Elementary Holds Fun Run
Fun Run attended by all grades called a success.
Dranesville Elementary School in Herndon had a fun run fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 15, with students from third grade through sixth grade gathering at 9:15 a.m.
Herndon Drama Proves ‘Anything’s Possible’
Imagine a tiny world, smaller than the eye can see. Imagine it hurtling through space with no direction. Imagine this little planet, and know that it is possible. By just thinking, anything is possible. Herndon High School masterfully illustrated this power of imagination in their rendering of "Seussical the Musical."

Decline in Sales Tax Threatens Ability of Local Governments to Balance Books
Sequester looms large over revenues across Northern Virginia.
Sales tax revenues are down across Northern Virginia, leading to concerns that balancing the books for the coming fiscal year could be even more of a challenge for budget officials and elected officials in the coming months.

Herndon Cadets Visit Boot Camp
Naval JROTC cadets train at Parris Island, S.C.
Members of the Herndon High School Naval Junior ROTC got a chance to train in the same place as members of the Marine Corps for 48 hours, experiencing life at boot camp firsthand.

Clay Café Continues Art Outreach
Hutchison Elementary students ‘experience the art first hand.’
On Nov. 6, third grade students at Hutchison Elementary School in Herndon had the opportunity to paint pre-fired ceramic plates in the school’s theatre room.

Parris Island Orientation Provides Inspiration
>"Ready! Pain! Move! Discipline!" are just some of the many command and response calls that Herndon High’s Navy Junior Reserve Office Training Corps (NJROTC) learned during their November orientation visit to the most rigorous military training camp in the world – Parris Island.
Herndon High Graduate Publishes 'Fabulous Beast'
Herndon High School graduate Sarah Kain Gutowski has published her first chapbook of poetry, "Fabulous Beast: The Sow," a cycle of 19 poems in the form of a fable.
Commentary: Dollars and Sense—Stewardship of FCPS
As many have become aware, the Fairfax County School Board’s budget discussions for the 2015 fiscal year have begun early. It is unfortunate that it has taken a combination of a $140 million deficit and demonstrable efforts by FCPS’ new Superintendent Karen Garza to bring full attention of the stakeholders, including the School Board, to education policy and funding.