Crime Report ...................................... 8 Sports................................................10 School News & Notes

PAGE 10 | JUNE 23 - 29, 2022

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Falls Church School News & Notes

THE MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL URBAN FARM PROJECT recently had its first harvest from the new outdoor vegetable beds. This 8th Block Choice Workshop group, with support from resources in place from related Falls Church Education Foundation grants, planted spring vegetables on Earth Day and had a garden-side salad last Friday. Parent volunteer Jenny Thomas’ involvement made this experience for Meridian’s student urban gardeners possible. (Photo: Carey Pollack.) THE MERIDIAN GIRLS TRACK TEAM of Lauren Mellon, Molly Moore, Alexis Niemi and Grace Crum missed a first-place finish by a quarter second at States earlier this month, with a school record-setting time that qualified the team to move ahead and

FCCPS Highlights Pride Month 2022

As part of the Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) “Our History Matters” initiative, one of the last editions of the online newsletter “Morning Announcements” for the 2021-22 school year featured a historical blurb that traced the origins of the LGBT movement back to 1924, when Henry Gerber organized the Society for Human Rights in Chicago, Illinois.

It was the first gay rights organization in the United States. However, a few months later, the group ceased to exist due to the arrests of several of its members.

Despite only lasting a few months, the Society is recognized today as a major precursor to the modern gay rights movement. The blurb also highlighted the recent approval of an official Pride Month Resolution by FCCPS, put into effect last year.

The last segment of the resolution reads: “Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Falls Church City School Board does hereby proclaim June 2021 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month…and urges all to respect and honor our diverse community and celebrate and build a culture of inclusivity and equity.”

Mustang Girl’s Lacrosse: All-Region Awards

Player of the Year and 1st Team Midfield: Bella Paradiso; 1st team Attack: Annie Moore and Caroline Carmody; 1st Team Defense: Cassie Dubois; Coach of the Year: Courtney Gibbons; At large (1st Team): Tilly Gale, Sydney Longer and Maeve Dodge; 2nd Team Goalie: Carson Funk.

Bella Paradiso (81), Annie Moore (79) and Tilly Gale (55) led in scoring. Bella Paradiso led in assists (49) and draw controls (155). Cassie Dubois (24) and Delia Paradiso (17) led the team in forced turnovers on defense.

Despite losing more than a year of games to Covid-19, graduating seniors Bella Paradiso and Annie Moore finished their Meridian careers with the following all-time stat rankings for the girls varsity program: Bella Paradiso: All-time leader in draw controls, 3rd in Assists and 4th in Goals; Annie Moore : 9th in Goals and 12th in Assists.

compete in nationals. (Photo: Carey Pollack.)

EarthWatch Students Recognized by Council

Operation EarthWatch is Fall Church City’s environmental learning and action program that has operated in three area elementary schools since 1994. Students who complete the full six-month program every year earn a t-shirt and an opportunity to march in the Memorial Day Parade.

This year’s t-shirt was designed by Mt. Daniel Elementary 3rd grader Olivia Whitley with text from Oak Street Elementary 5th graders Leah Forst and Gregory Werner. This year’s theme was Climate Change and the t-shirt’s message is to remind everyone to keep the environment in mind when making energy decisions.

MERIDIAN’S TOMMY NYSTROM, a post-grad transition student, recently won 3 Gold medals in the VA Special Olympics swim meet., finishing first in the 200 freestyle, 50 freestyle and 25 fly.

(Photo: Elizabeth McCarthy.)

Falls Church Little League: Featured ‘Game of the Week’

by Erika Toman

The All-Star tournament has started for two of FCKLL’s teams and they’re both off to a great start! The Blue Team (ages 9-11; managed by Joe Greiner) blasted off their tournament play with a commanding 15-0 win over the Mason District All Stars. Teddy Greiner dominated the mound by throwing a perfect game to include eight strikeouts. On the offensive side, the bats were hot with Drew Fay, Teddy Greiner, Liam Horgan, Xander Wagner, Asher Sequeira, Harrison Carmody, Cole Beck and Davis Nicholas each with a hit.

Aidan Ortiz had a game for the record books going three for three at the plate.

The Red Team (ages 8-10; managed by Nick Toman) started off their tournament season with a heartbreaking 7-5 loss in extra innings to Arlington. The Red Team was down the until the bottom of the 6th inning when Will Wood singled on the first pitch, scoring two runs and the crowd went wild. The big sixth inning featured contributions from Tig Fatzinger and Aidan Izawa.

Fired up by their loss on Saturday, the Red Team came out hot against McLean on Sunday finishing Father’s Day with a 10-0 win. Pitching the entire game, Luca Pipia was brilliant on the mound allowing no hits for the game.

The game featured hits by the Red Team from Aidan Izawa and Will Wood. James Gilroy and Evan Toman were unstoppable at the plate each going three for three. The Blue team is back in action tonight against McLean, Arlington (Saturday) and Reston Herndon (Sunday).

The Red Team will battle a second team from Arlington Saturday. Visit fckll.org for the full tournament schedule and make plans to attend the games! THE FALLS CHURCH LITTLE LEAGUE “BLUE TEAM.” (Courtesy photo,)