This winter, you can help by following these environmentally friendly snow removal practices:

• Shovel First!   Removing the snow first will allow the sidewalk or driveway to dry out and prevent thick sheets of ice from forming.  If you can, shovel the snow into your yard where it can melt into the ground.

If you must use deicing chemicals, follow these suggestions…

• Take care when applying chemical deicers and only use as much as needed.
• Limit your use of deicing salt near plants and environmentally-sensitive areas including streams, ponds, wetlands.
• Sand and sawdust can be used as an environmentally-friendly alternative to commonly used salt products.
• Use salt substitutes that are less harmful including potassium acetate (KA) and Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA).
• After the snow melts, sweep up sand and salt residues, to prevent it from washing into storm drains and streams.

Director of design and construction John Chadwick talks with parents about the renderings that came from the feasibility study.

APS is facing increased enrollment for the foreseeable future. Since 2006, enrollment has grown by 3,394 students, or 18 percent in five years. Because of the growing enrollment, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find space to accommodate the increasing number of students.

By 2013, there will be over 800 more students than available seats. By 2016, APS faces an even greater shortage of 3,400 seats. To plan for the future, APS has been using a variety of solutions to create additional classroom space, including adding relocatable classrooms at a number of schools until more permanent solutions can be implemented.

“Over the last several years, we have been aggressive in our approach to maximize the capacity of existing facilities,” said Superintendent Dr. Pat Murphy. “However, even with the steps we have taken to this point, we will continue to require creative solutions to the ever-growing demand for space in our schools.”

In 2009, the School Board adopted the Progressive Planning Model (PPM) framework, a step-wise approach to developing additional capacity throughout the system. The PPM framework was developed after much community input and through a study with MGT of America, planning consultants.

APS has already implemented many of the initial steps of the PPM.  The next measures for adding system-wide capacity will be to build additional space on current APS sites or acquire (through lease or purchase) new   sites and/or facilities to build or rent space for instruction.

To assist the School Board in developing a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which includes capacity-building projects, APS has engaged Decision Lens, a local software-solutions company. The Decision Lens software and process will help evaluate capital solutions based on pre-determined School Board criteria.

Facilities planner Alison Denton answers a parent’s question at the Nov. 29 community update.

In October, APS held the first of two forums that provided an overview to parents and the community about the process to develop an action plan that addresses the current and future capacity needs for the school division. The first forum outlined the plan to conduct feasibility studies at 16 APS locations in order to determine options available on APS property. The second forum provided the community with the results of the completed feasibility studies.

The feasibility studies helped determine the maximum reasonable capacity as well as the impact on core spaces, parking and open space. The studies also looked at the options in small, medium and large capacity schools for additions, stand alone buildings, and/or new schools.

The timing of these additions will depend on many factors and construction will likely not start before 2013. Communities will be engaged during the design process.

There will be additional community updates in January and February, and more School Board work sessions will be scheduled as needed for the spring. In May, the Superintendent will present his proposed six-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). A public hearing is also planned for May and the Board is expected to act on the CIP in late May.

For more information on the Capacity Planning Process, visit  www.apsva.us/capacity.

The facility will contain an eight-lane competition pool with a separate diving well, and a separate instructional pool. The diving area, completely separated from the lap lanes, will contain two one-meter springboards. The instructional pool includes a handicapped-accessible ramp. Also available are a classroom available for pool party rentals, and a spectator area with capacity in excess of 175 spectators overlooking the pools.

The pool also has a number of environmental features to help it meet LEED certification. Features include:  Solar hot water heating;

• A pool cover;
• UV water treatment that reduces chlorine requirements; and
• A pool dehumidification unit that allows heat recovery for pool water as well as demand-control ventilation

Pool hours are available online at  www.apsva.us/aquatics.

The program, College Before Sixth, began last year and was a big success. “The students who participated enjoyed the program very much and have asked to be part of it again this year,” said counselor Dr. Anne Terwilliger. “It really opened their eyes to the possibilities that going to college creates for them.”

The students planned activities which included short- and long-term goal setting, academic planning, career exploration and study skills. Students also partnered with Gunston Middle School’s Cohort Group and met with the middle-school students during the school year.

Oakridge partnered with Marymount’s Toward Higher Education (T.H.E) Academy, which is a collaborative effort between the university’s education department, International Student Services, and the Latino Student Association. University students organized the visit and had lunch with the children while explaining their own path to college.

Oakridge is in the early stages of planning its visit to Marymount again this spring. The pilot program will also be expanded to one additional APS school this school year, and to additional APS elementary schools next year.

APS will hold three information nights for parents in the coming months.

Kindergarten Information Night— Jan. 30, 7 p.m.
Washington-Lee High School
Parents will receive information about the registration process, school options, Extended Day and other school-related services. Staff will also provide helpful tips on how parents can prepare their children and themselves for the kindergarten experience. Representatives from each of Arlington’s 22 elementary schools will be on hand to meet parents and provide additional information.

Montessori Information Night— Feb. 8, 7 p.m.
Drew Model School 
The program will highlight the Montessori philosophy and practice, and the application and enrollment process. Parents will also have the opportunity to tour classrooms.

Summer Activities Fair— Feb. 10, 6 p.m. 
Jefferson Community Center (Snow Date Feb. 19) 
The event will provide Arlington residents with the opportunity to obtain information about activities that will be offered this summer by a variety of camps and other organizations.

For more information, visit www.apsva.us or call Gladis Bourdouane at 703-228-7667.

Arlington students will be recognized at this year’s Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s celebration will feature a video of the student winners of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Literary and Visual Arts contest. Students were asked to describe in writing or through visual art how Dr. King’s words inspire them to follow in his footsteps. The event, which will be held at Washington-Lee High School on Sun, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m., is free and open to the community.  The Arlington School Board will also honor the students on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

• Jan. 29 – Honors Band and Orchestra (grades 7 and 8) at Kenmore Middle School
• For the second year in a row, the Jamestown Elementary School chorus has been selected to be a featured performer in the Concert for Music in Our Schools Month in March, sponsored by the National Association for Music Education.
• March 20 – Jr. honors band, Jr. honors orchestra, elementary honors chorus and middle school honors chorus perform at Kenmore Middle School.
• March is Arts in the Schools Month and a wide variety of art and music events will take place.

These events will be publicized by mid February on the APS Arts Education webpage at www.apsva.us/artseducation, and in the March issue of The Citizen.

News about APS decisions is distributed through various outlets.

• Messages go out to all APS School Talk subscribers.
•  Info is posted on www.apsva.us
• The toll-free hotline has messages recorded in English and Spanish: 1-866-322-4277
• Information is broadcast on Arlington County’s emergency radio station, 1700 AM and Comcast Cable Channel 70 or Verizon FiOS 41.
• Local TV and radio stations receive regular updates.

The decision to close schools is usually made by 6 a.m. If schools need to be closed during the school day, a decision is usually made around 11:30 a.m. If inclement weather forces schools to close for an extended period of time, the APS Snow Learning Page can help parents and students “weather” the time at home. The page includes ideas and online resources that provide learning opportunities for students.

1. Clear away clutter. Donate old clothing, books, and toys to charity. Recycle electronics at Arlington’s household hazardous materials facility.
2. Give wisely. Give gifts made from recycled materials or homemade gifts such as photos, pottery or jewelry. Consider giving a gift certificate or tickets to a concert or sports event.
3. Use a bike for short trips. Ride your bike for trips shorter than two miles and cut your carbon footprint significantly, save money on gas, and stay fit — all at the same time. Don’t own a bike? No problem — try Capital Bikeshare. www.capitalbikeshare.com
4. Bring your own bags. More than 1 million plastic bags are trashed every minute. Reusable bags are one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
5. Line dry clothes. You’ll see a reduction in your energy bill and your clothes will last longer.
6. Revive game night. Unplug the electronics and host a family game night. Save energy and spend time together.
7. Be your own farmer. Imagine serving a salad for dinner with ingredients from your backyard or patio containers. If gardening isn’t for you, simply try to eat more local foods. Visit Arlington’s farmers markets. www.arlingtonfarmersmarket.com
8. Say goodbye to junk mail. Visit www.catalogchoice.org. to unsubscribe from junk mail and reduce unwanted catalogs and newspapers. Switch to paying your bills online.
9. Make your cleaning products. Not only will you save money, but also fewer chemicals will enter our waterways. Learn more at www. eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_ solutions.htm.
10. Snuggle with a Snuggie. Turn down the temperature — for every degree you lower it, you can save three percent on your energy bill.

For more information on how to reduce your environmental impact, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arlingtonaire, or email us at climate@arlingtonva.us.