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The GBW PTA, in conjunction with the FCPS Office of Adult and Community Education (ACE), is again offering the Foreign Language Experience (FLEX) Program.

FLEX NEWS

  • Thanks to FLEX German teacher, Tanja Helms, and her students, visitors to GBW’s International Night on Jan. 21st were able to visit Germany!
  • Many FLEX classes have been canceled due to the snow.  Teachers and staff are working to schedule make-up classes.  Look for info from your child’s teacher.
  • FLEX Interest Survey coming soon!  Look for it in April.

Language Day Time Room Instructor No. of Classes Start Date End Date*
Chinese 1 Mon 1:30 - 2:30 212 (GT room) Wei Kent Paul Ma 20 Nov. 16th May 10
French 1 Wed 4:00 - 5:00 400 (Little Theater) Veronique Schrieber 20 Nov. 11 Apr. 21
German 1 Thur 4:00 - 5:00 PTA Conference Room Tanja Helms 20 Nov. 12 Apr. 22
Hindi 1 Mon 1:30 - 2:30 Library Meenu Nanda 10 Nov. 30 Mar. 1
Hindi 3 Fri 4:00 - 5:00 PTA Conference Room Meenu Nanda 10 Dec. 4 Feb. 26
Spanish 2 Wed 4:00 - 5:00 212 (GT room) Fanny Villavicencio 20 Nov. 11 Apr. 21
Hindi 2 Thurs 4:00 - 5:00 Cafeteria Meenu Nanda 10 Dec. 10 Feb. 25
*may change due to cancellations and make up days

TRANSPORTATION
Parents must provide after-school transportation. Students must be picked up promptly at the end of class (5:00pm). Instructors will bring students to the school’s front lobby. For safety, parents or designated person must come into the building--students will not be released to walk home. Please be considerate and pick your child up on time. Repeated situations where a child is picked up late could result in removal from the program.

ABSENCES
Please inform your child’s Instructor if your child will not be attending class due to illness, vacation, etc.

CANCELLATIONS
If school is canceled due to hazardous weather, all FLEX classes are canceled.
  • In the case of a delayed opening, only morning classes are automatically canceled.
  • If school has delayed opening on a Monday, morning and afternoon FLEX classes are canceled.
  • Afternoon classes are canceled when school closes early or FCPS cancels all after-school activities.
Cancellation information is communicated by FCPS as soon as the decision is made in the following ways:
  • Posted at www.fcps.edu/news/emerg.htm
  • Posted on Channel 21 – cable tv (Cox Communications, Reston Comcast, and Verizon FIOS customers only).
  • Sent via email from Keep In Touch email notification system (www.fcps.edu/kit).
  • Called into area radio and television stations.
In the event that hazardous weather develops early in the afternoon while school is still in session but school has not been closed early and FCPS has not canceled all after-school activities, the principal and the FLEX PTA representative will decide whether or not to cancel after-school FLEX classes. If the principal decides to cancel classes, you will be notified, and an announcement will be made at school. Canceled classes will be rescheduled at the end of the course.
NOTE: Classes do not meet when schools are closed for holidays and teacher workdays.

REFUND POLICY
No refunds will be issued after the second class. Parents must submit a request in writing (email is accepted) to the FLEX program specialist no later than the date of the second class meeting (If request is mailed, it must be received by the FLEX program office by that date). Refund requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Refund requests will be considered for tuition only. Materials fees will not be refunded. A $15 processing fee is assessed for each refund. The following information must be included in each refund request:
  1. Name of student
  2. Specific reason for refund request
  3. Course name, number and section number
  4. Name of school
  5. Mailing address, including zip code and telephone number
  6. Name to whom refund check should be made payable
FLEX FACTS!
What is FLEX? What are parents saying about FLEX? Why study German? Who studies Chinese? What language is the source of the English words bangle, thug, and khaki? Learning what language first will make learning many other languages easier? Click here to learn the answers to these questions and more!

CURRICULUM
As a student in the FLEX program, your child will receive an introduction to the target language and culture. Utilizing their senses, the students will learn through dialogues, commands, pictures, stories, songs, games and foods of the target country. Due to the time limitations and the nature of the program, please do not expect fluency. Students will not receive grades. Instructors will send home a progress report at the end of the class.

REGISTRATION
Registration for 2009-2010 class is now closed.

ADA
FLEX is committed to non-discrimination in its program, services, and activities. For special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact the FLEX program office at 703.658.1291 at least two weeks in advance of the registration deadline. FLEX staff will make every attempt to provide reasonable accommodations; however, failure to request an accommodation within the specified timeframe may limit the ability to fulfill this request.





If you have any questions about the program and/or registration, please contact: Beth Maher, PTA FLEX Coordinator, clarksonmaher@gmail.com or 703-378-1743.