Tag: education
Afghan refugees face big challenges; volunteers help them adjust to life in the U.S.
Newly arrived refugees from Afghanistan often have to build a new life starting from scratch. “We left everything behind,” says N, who fled Kabul with hisfamily last month as the Taliban took over the country. [We’re using initials rather than names to protect refugees’ identities.] N and his family were among several refugees at the … Continued
School board approves employee bonuses
The Fairfax County School Board on Aug. 26 approved one-time $1,000 bonuses to all full-time and hourly contracted employees, including bus drivers and food service workers. Temporary hourly employees will get $500 bonuses.
Westminster School’s new head of school has a long history at the school
For only the third time in its 59-year history, Westminster School has a new leader. Nancy Schuler, the former director of admissions, started a new position as head of school on Aug. 1. She succeeds Ellis Glover who retired after a 45-year career at Westminster, including 29 years as head of school.
Former Columbia ES student returns as principal
When Michael Astudillo started his new job as principal of Columbia Elementary School in Annandale earlier this summer, he had a sense of déjà vu, reports News4 Washington, the local NBC affiliate. That’s because Astudillo was a student at Columbia. On a tour of the school with News4’s Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey, he … Continued
New Virginia laws legalize marijuana, abolish death penalty, protect absentee voting
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signs legislation allowing localities to establish green banks. Third from left: bill sponsor Del. Kaye Kory (Annandale). A long list of laws passed by the Virginia General Assembly and signed by Gov. Ralph Northam are now in effect. The following laws took effect July 1 unless otherwise noted: Marijuana Legal possession … Continued
School news roundup
Students in the Environmental Club at Woodson High School (above) raise vegetables for local food pantries. Belvedere Elementary School has a similar program. These school news items and photos are from Fairfax County Public Schools. Back to school – The vast majority of students plan to return to in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year, … Continued
Cicada lessons at Belvedere featured on TV news
Belvedere students examine a cicada. [Photos: FCPS] By the time the cicadas from Brood X started emerging earlier this month, students at Belvedere Elementary School in Annandale were ready and eager to study them up close. Two environmental educators, a librarian, and a resource teacher have been educating students about the 17-year cicadas for weeks, … Continued
Sleepy Hollow Arts hosts open house: learn about art classes and camps this summer
The community is invited to an Open House at Sleepy Hollow Arts Studio Saturday, May 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., to learn about art classes and see students’ artworks. The studio is at 3914 Moss Drive, Annandale. It’s in the Sleepy Hollow Woods neighborhood, which is having a communitywide yard sale the same day, 8 a.m.-2 … Continued
Open house Friday in Annandale at house built by teens
A brand-new house for sale in Annandale is really special – it was built by teens from the Phillips School.
FCPS to offer limited virtual instruction in the fall
In-person instruction at Annandale High School. [FCPS] Fairfax County Public Schools will offer all students five days of in-person learning in the fall, along with “a limited, centralized virtual program for students with documented health/medical needs,” FCPS announced May 4. The virtual program is a response to the impacts of COVID-19 and will not be … Continued
New York Times features ACCA Child Development Center in piece on childcare challenges during the pandemic
ACCA Child Development Center Executive Director Maria-Isabel Ballivian speaks at the White House. At the left is Vice President Kamala Harris. [Doug Mills/The New York Times] A recent article in the New York Times on how childcare leaders are struggling to manage during the COVID pandemic includes a first-person account from Maria-Isabel Ballivian, executive director … Continued
Free business training webinars start this week
The Bailey’s Crossroads/7 Corners Revitalization Corporation (BC7RC) is collaborating with the Community Business Partnership to offer free business-training webinars. The sessions are funded with a grant from Kaiser Permanente. Information on how to access the sessions will be provided after registering.
FCPS: School should be back to normal next fall
Weyanoke Elementary School students end the day with an active learning exercise. [FCPS] For the start of the 2021-22 school year, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand said he is planning for “as near normal a fall as possible.” During a virtual town hall on April 7, Brabrand offered more details on expanding in-school … Continued
Fairfax County schools expand in-person learning
Annandale High School staff welcome students back to class. Fairfax County Public Schools is expanding access to in-person learning to four days a week for certain preK-12 students during April. This is being done in accordance with the updated CDC guidelines issued March 13 that allow schools to reduce the social distancing requirement from six … Continued
Fairfax County schools to return to five days a week of in-person learning in the fall
Fairfax County Public Schools will return to five days a week of in-person learning this fall, Superintendent Scott Brabrand told the school board March 16. By March 19, more than 109,000 students will have returned for in-person learning, as in-school COVID-19 transmission rates low.