Saturday, September 27, 2014

Protecting Mt. Vernon's Fisheries

The 44th District is fortunate to serve as the sentinel "guarding" our border with Maryland.  The Potomac River is a true asset and Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) helps to keep it thriving and to restore it.  Outdoor activities like fishing and hunting create millions of dollars of economic activity in the Commonwealth.

DGIF's has a team of biologists who continually monitor the our areas creeks and rivers.  It is funded nearly entirely by licensing fees for fishing and hunting, and grants.

DGIF's biologist in our area is John Odenkirk.  I have taken several trips with him to learn about his efforts to study and monitor the Potomac's Snakehead population which originated in Dogue Creek and Little Hunting Creek.  Here's some of my prior posts:


DGIF publishes a series of videos called "The Fish Head Chronicles" on Facebook.  One of their latest versions focuses on John's Mount Vernon fish monitoring and removal of an invasive species called the water chestnut.  You can see the passion he brings to his job in the video.  You can watch it here.


Enjoy the video and make sure you "Like" their page on Facebook!

Saturday, September 20, 2014

44th District School Report Cards

The Virginia State Board of Education has issued its academic report cards for all of the schools in the 44th District.

I will write more later on the significance of these results.  The schools that changed status from last year are West Potomac HS, Whitman MS, and Hybla Valley ES.

44th District Schools 2012-13 Academic Report Cards 

SchoolAccreditedFRM
Population
Limited
English
Proficient
Link
Overall Fairfax County
Fully
Accredited
27.83%
West Potomac HS
With 
Warning
42.22%16.03%
Mt. Vernon HS
With 
Warning
55.8%16.83%
Hayfield Secondary
Fully
Accredited
32.16%9.32%
Carl Sandburg MS
Fully
Accredited
44.82%17.74%
Whitman MS
With 
Warning
60.45%22.54%
Belleview ES
Fully
Accredited
33.64%23.22%
Bucknell ES
With 
Warning
78.09%44.17%
Fort Belvoir ES
Fully
Accredited
30.5%4.14%
Fort Hunt ES
Fully
Accredited
32.31%12.65%
Groveton ES
Fully
Accredited
72.29%54.66%
Hayfield ES
Fully
Accredited
10.93%11.66%
Hollin Meadows ES
Fully
Accredited
54.15%34.77%
Hybla Valley ES
Fully
Accredited
90.39%66.96%
Mt. Vernon Woods ES
With 
Warning
84.3%53.18%
Riverside ES
Fully
Accredited
66.04%40.27%
Stratford ES
Fully
Accredited
18.96%5.84%
Washington Mill ES
With 
Warning
56.4%34.86%
Waynewood ES
Fully
Accredited
1.66%4.28%
Woodlawn ES
With 
Warning
63.29%25.10%
Woodley Hills ES
Fully
Accredited
69.64%52.16%