FCCPS Photos/Erik Healey

 School Student Council Association pose for photos prior to attending a Women's History Month event. They attended a Panel Discussion featuring inspirational women - an astronaut, a WNBA star, a CEo and a labor rights activist.  at the White House.

This was followed by a reception hosted by President and Mrs. Obama.

Following his remarks, Mr. Obama greeted many of those in attendance including (inset) George Mason freshman Raheem Lawal.

George Mason's contingent of students was the only one at the reception that included boys.

George Mason student artists Hannah Kemp (right) and Annie Mothershead (left) display their artwork as they partake in Youth Art Month supported by Lasso Online.  In an effort to support YAM, Youth Art Month, which is a nationally recognized event promoting art within communities and schools, Lasso Online will spotlight a few student artists for the duration of March. Art II and I students, Hannah Kemp and Annie Mothershead, present simple pieces that commemorate their love for dancing and reminiscence of previous memories in Michigan. Kemp, an Art II student, describes the feeling of her piece as “free-floating…” and   emulates the “little pleasures of life.” Art I student, Mothershead’s, inspiration for her “Rainbow Trout” came from her memories in Lake Michigan near her hometown where “there are a lot of [rainbow trout].” Photo Credit: Tara Holman

The school auditorium will once again transform into a place of laughter, talent, and “goofiness” with the annual Mr. and Ms. Mason competition to be held this Friday.

This yearly Mason tradition will feature a male and female nominee from grades 8 through 11 with five girls and five boys from the senior class competing for the title of Mr. and Miss Mason.

“Students should expect a really good time. It’s an opportunity where their peers get on stage and get to be both creative, but also silly,” explains Mr. Peter Laub, sponsor of the SCA, which puts on this event. “Our students are so creative and sometimes they’re reluctant to release that in classroom settings... It’s amazing what comes out of (this event).”

The show attracts “a really positive energy and epitomizes what I believe to be many of the best qualities of the Mason student body; it's also really refreshing to see performances that highlight creativity and, well, goofiness,” says Susannah Whittle, one of the nominees from the twelfth grade. “Part of what makes the show so unique is its inability to take itself too seriously, which is too often overlooked amidst the ridiculous melodrama of high school.”

Though she won’t give away too much of her skit, “ if you like leotards, psychological thrillers, glow sticks, and Mr. Walsh, you should get off your couch, turn off ‘Amish Mafia,’ and come see our show Friday night.”

Ronald Lapitan, also a nominee from the senior class, intimates, “Although it is also fun and light-hearted as is the theme of the night, our act will be tied with the theme of environmental stewardship... We've prepared a humorous story line to perform which we hope will serve as a jump start to our awareness campaign.”

Besides being a fun and highly entertaining evening, the event will also raise money for cystic fibrosis research.

“I deeply appreciate this event for what it contributes to our culture as a school, which is one of service. There are so many wonderful clubs and projects pursuing truly noble causes, and then there is this annual event that engages students to be creative in order to contribute to a group concerned with cystic fibrosis,” adds Lapitan. “And what better way to do it than through a night of laughter?”

Lastly, Mr. Laub adds that students should come to this event because “you will laugh, you will cry, you will smile, you will thank yourself in the end for going.”

Custer Earns Congressional Gold Award

Congratulations to Truman Custer, a GMHS Junior, who learned last week that he is one of the 2013 recipients of The Congressional Gold Medal Award. He also earned the Silver and Bronze Awards, (pictured here). Truman will receive the gold medal at a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in June. To earn this prestigious national award, Truman participated in 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours of personal development and 200 hours of physical activity. He also planned and executed a 5-day expedition to Yellowstone National Park.

Mason has many after school study groups to help students excel. These clubs can be very helpful for writing essays, getting help from peers, and as an overall support group. Surprisingly, many of these groups are underused.

If these groups can help students so much, why don’t many students use them?

One of Mason’s many helpful groups is Saturday Academy. Saturday Academy is a group that meets from 9-11 a.m. every Saturday. It started at the end of last year and has been available all of this year. It’s a time where any students can use library resources, use computers, and get ahead on their work in a quiet environment.

“Attendance is pretty sparse at the beginning of the quarter, but builds throughout the quarter. There are some Saturdays when no one attends and others when as many as 10 will show up,” Principal Ty Byrd said.

The Math Lab, a group which offers math help to students, meets during block 5 in the Mustang Café.

The Writing Lab gives students help on essays and writing assignments for all classes. Run by part-time English teacher Mrs. Andrea Hanna, this club meets everyday except for Wednesday after school from 3-4 p.m.

The lab gives students help on any English assignments such as essays, college letters and help studying for English tests.

“W.L. provides a quiet place that has the added benefit of an English teacher and/or peer tutor to answer questions and assist as a student needs,” Hanna said.  “Even an eloquent writer can miss mistakes in their own work, and it always helps to have another set of eyes look over an assignment--especially when it's an important piece, such as a college or scholarship essay.”

According to Hanna, though this group is so helpful, on an average day there are only two to four students who attend.

Overall these groups are very helpful and can improve Mason students’ grades-- if they attend.