Tag: schools
During pandemic, Annandale preschool reaches out to children at home
Sleepy Hollow Preschool teachers say goodbye to the children at a drive-by end-of-year celebration. Sleepy Hollow Preschool has been continuously operating in Annandale for 70 years – and when the coronavirus pandemic struck, it found an innovative way to keep going. The school, located in rented space at John Calvin Presbyterian Church on … Continued
A call to action from the TJ principal
The principal of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Ann Bonitatibus, acknowledges there are significant issues that need to be addressed. The following excerpt is from an email Bonitatibus sent to TJ families. It was published in the Connection on June 9. “I would like to simultaneously call the TJ community to action in three … Continued
Very few black students accepted to TJ
Thomas Jefferson High School is on Braddock Road in Mason District. Updated June 15. Of the 486 students accepted to the Class 2024 at the elite Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ), very few of them are African American and only 16 are Hispanic, Fairfax County Public Schools reports. [Clarification: School officials … Continued
Northam reveals guidelines for opening schools
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued guidelines June 9 for reopening preK-12 schools for the 2020-21 school year. Whether school buildings will open or not, all schools must offer new instruction. Fairfax County school buildings have been closed since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in mid-March, and all instruction has been virtual since then. State guidelines call … Continued
School news: Celebrating achievement
Students and teachers in Mason District have been accomplishing great things. The following news briefs are from Fairfax County School Board member Ricardy Anderson’s (Mason) newsletter to the community. Environmentally conscious schools – Belvedere Elementary School and Beech Tree Elementary School have received Eco-Schools Awards. The Eco-Schools program improves student academic achievement, contributes to financial savings through … Continued
School principals: Racism and hate have no place in the Falls Church Pyramid
The principals of the schools in the Falls Church High School Pyramid issued a message expressing “sadness and outrage about the instances of racism and hate that have occurred in our country during the last few weeks, and over the course of time.” [UPDATE: Principals in the Annandale and Justice pyramids subsequently issued similar messages.] … Continued
Congressional school offers online summer courses
The Congressional School is on Sleepy Hollow Road. Congressional School, a private-independent school in the Falls Church area of Mason District, launched a Summer Academy, offering two-week virtual enrichment courses. The classes, for students entering grades 3-9 in fall 2002, are designed to keep students’ academic skills sharp and give them a boost when returning … Continued
FCPS outlines plan for summer programs
A message from Camelot Elementary School in Annandale. Schools will continue distance learning for students during the summer along with targeted intervention services, according to an update from Fairfax County Public Schools. School buildings will remain closed in July. No decisions have been made about the 2020-21 school year, although several scenarios are being considered. Special … Continued
FCPS weighs options for fall and for graduation
Signs like these are cropping up all over. The Fairfax County School Board reviewed three possible scenarios for the 2020-21 school year at a May 11 work session. Meanwhile, a state-level COVID-19 Education Task Force plans to issue policy guidance in June on the conditions for reopening schools. The three possibilities considered for fall 2020 … Continued
Fairfax County superintendent considers plan for reopening schools in the fall
Glasgow Middle School teachers reach out to students. Fairfax County Public Schools is looking at what to do about the fall semester – whether schools reopen but maintain social distancing, what to do if the coronavirus pandemic continues or there is a second wave, and how to provide options for families not ready to have … Continued
When it comes to distance learning, this Annandale private school gets it right
A Pinecrest student participates in a Zoom session. By Nick Wakeman The headlines about distance learning have not been encouraging with Fairfax County Public Schools online classes shut down for a variety of reasons – problems logging in to security lapses to inappropriate student behavior. But there are bright spots in the county, including right … Continued
A school board member answers questions about the Blackboard failure
Kindergarten teachers have a message for their students. [FCPS] The failure of Blackboard Learn 24-7 as a key piece of Fairfax County Public Schools’ distance learning program has raised many questions about how it happened and what the school system is doing to move forward. School board member Rachna Sizemore Heizer (at large), who has … Continued
FCPS IT chief steps down
Luftglass Maribeth Luftglass has stepped down from her job as head of IT at Fairfax County Public Schools, following the school system’s disastrous experience with distance learning, several news outlets report. Luftglass had been assistant superintendent of information and technology since 1999. Chief Operating Officer Marty Smith will take over the IT department on an … Continued
FCPS to drop Blackboard Learn 24-7
Following continued problems with distance learning technology, Fairfax County Public School Superintendent Scott Brabrand announced Monday night: “We are going to move away from Blackboard Learn 24-7 as a tool for face-to-face instruction.” After suspending distance learning last week due to problems with logging in and security, Brabrand assured the community on April 16 that … Continued
Schools and students continue to have problems with distance learning
The login page for distance learning. Despite assurances from Fairfax County school leaders that the problems with distance learning would be fixed when students log on today, there were still glitches. “We are continuing with distance learning today despite the continuing problems we are experiencing with Blackboard Learn (FCPS 24-7),” the school system announced this … Continued