As the junior class’ Challenge Day quickly approaches, an area of concern has also come up –there aren’t enough teachers to attend and participate.

As the semester exam week neared its end, only half the required amount of teachers necessary to have a successful Challenge Day had agreed to take on this duty.

Challenge Day has been known to be somewhat of an emotionally tolling day, which could be one of the reasons that teachers are apprehensive when signing up to participate, but they are a key part of this annual junior class tradition.

So juniors: recruit your favorite teachers to take part in Challenge Day! We need your help to raise the teacher count.

There will be a mandatory junior class conversation during Mustang Block on Tuesday about Challenge Day. Make sure to attend and to turn in your forms on time in order to share this experience with your class. This year’s Challenge Day will be on February 12 and 13. 

If you ever wonder if school is closed or not because of weather conditions like snow, there are many places to check for the answer. You can find all inclement weather reports on Twitter @FCCPSalert, through email notifications, through the Parent information phone line, via local radio and television stations, or you can directly go to www.fccps.org to find out all information.

The massive server outage that occurred last Wednesday has left many computers in George Mason without access to the H:\ Drive or even the ability to login.  A decision was made last Friday to postpone exams until the week of January 29.  The new exam schedule is as follows:

January 29: Blocks 1& 3 Exams

January 30: Blocks 2& 4 Exams

January 31: Blocks 5& 7 Exams

February 1: Block 6 Exam

Students still have the option to take some exams this week if they talk to their teacher and complete the appropriate form available in the office.

Have you ever heard of the Raptor Conservancy of Virginia? They paid their annual visit to Dr. Mecca’s Biology II class Tuesday, January 15.

The Conservancy of Virginia is a nonprofit organization, which consists of volunteers that help to rehabilitate birds of prey, educate the public of their awareness in our area, and endeavor to increase the wild population of these endangered birds of prey.

Birds of prey are also known as raptors. The visitors informing the students had a couple things to say about what they most commonly do.

“We take in injured native birds of prey. These birds most commonly become injured by flying into windows and getting hit by cars,” explained a Raptor Conservancy of Virginia volunteer.

Some of the birds brought to the class included the Barred Owl, Red Shoulder Hawk, and the North American Kestrel.

“We go through 300 mice a day plus quails, chicks, and fish,” explained the volunteer when a student asked about the feeding of the birds.

In order to handle the birds, it is necessary to wear triple layer leather gloves or else the sharp talons will pierce one’s hands.

Since the Raptor Conservancy of Virginia is a nonprofit organization, they rely on donations to pay for the food and care of these endangered birds of prey. The Conservancy has a great preprogram called Adopt-a-Raptor.

This program allows adopters to donate money to specific birds to pay for all of their needs. Adopters also receive special benefits at different levels of donations such as receiving a certificate or watching the bird be released back into the wild.

In order to help prevent as many accidents as possible, it is recommended to not throw food into the street and to watch out for the birds so we can help prevent as many accidents as possible.

For more information on the raptors of Virginia, visit their website at www.raptorsva.org .

Mason art students showed off their artistic side in entering the annual Falls Church Calendar Art Contest. Students were to represent the Falls Church community through a series of different artistic styles such as painting, drawing and photography. Artists represented the community through many different ideas like friends, community center, and even Cherry Hill Park.

Students’ art was presented at the Art and Frame in Falls Church on Park Avenue. The art was displayed and artists were invited to a reception to hear the announcement of the winners being featured in the online calendar.

Once the artists who won were announced, the students spoke about their inspiration of their art and were given a gift certificate of $50 to Art and Frame. The winners’ art is available for viewing at www.firstfridayoffallschurch.com .

Students who have ever seen the MTV show “If you really knew me,” are familiar with Challenge Day, the emotional experience of connecting with classmates they have known for years. This event is designed to bring together classmates and to show one’s true self for one day.

It’s now the class of 2014’s turn to experience Challenge Day and show their true self to their peers. 

In the city of Falls Church, many students have grown up living in the same house, attending the same schools, and having the same circle of friends.

“Falls Church lifers,” the name given to people born and raised in Falls Church City, may think they know everything about their classmates. However, this is not always the case.

Challenge Day is a day dedicated to the junior class at Mason to gather and bond together doing activities where students can ditch the façade they put up everyday when they attend school, and show who they really are. It’s a chance for students to connect with each other and get to know classmates they may have never spoken to before.

Many juniors are excited to finally complete Challenge Day and see what all the fuss is about.

Junior Madison Soltys said, “I’m curious to see what it’s all about.”

This year’s Challenge Day will be held February 12 and 13. The class of 2014 will be split up randomly and assigned to attend one of the Challenge Days.