Tag: schools
Luther Jackson Middle School celebrates its 70th anniversary
Luther Jackson High School opened in 1955 as Fairfax County’s first high school for Blacks. Ten years later it was converted to an integrated middle school.
Youngkin issues cell phone ban in classrooms
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order requiring public school districts to adopt policies banning cell phones in class by January 2025.
Award-winning teacher motivates students to love learning
Shea Hestmark, a second-grade teacher at Columbia Elementary School, motivates students to love learning.
FCPS offers free meals this summer at local schools
Fairfax County Public Schools is providing free meals this summer to all children and teens 18 and under at select schools. The meals will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), or disability. The breakfast menu includes milk (fat-free or 1 percent), … Continued
Private school to open at the St. James sports complex
Middle and high school students aiming for a career in professional sports, or at a spot on a college team, have a new opportunity. The St. James Performance Academy is launching in late August at the St. James sports complex in Springfield. The school offers a rigorous college preparatory program combined with sports training and … Continued
Elementary schools will close early on seven Mondays in 2024-05
Fairfax County elementary schools will be dismissed three hours early on seven Mondays in 2024-25 to give teachers more time for professional development. FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid told the Fairfax County School Board on June 13 that teachers need the extra time so they can take the mandatory training required by the new Virginia Literacy … Continued
FCPS presents awards to 2024 outstanding educators
Two principals and a teacher at Annandale/Mason District area schools were among the top award-winners at the Fairfax County Public Schools 2024 Outstanding Employees celebration on June 12. Shawn DeRose of Annandale High School is one of two winners of the Outstanding Principal Award, along with the principal of Dranesville Elementary School. Raven Jones of … Continued
School news roundup
The following news items and photos are from Fairfax County Public Schools. Students help refugees – The Fairfax County Public Schools website features a story about two members of the Annandale High School Class of 2024 – Sosan Barakzai and Husna Basiri – who helped found a club to help refugees adjust to life at … Continued
Catholic school plans to add childcare
The Queen of Apostles Catholic School in Lincolnia has applied for a zoning special exception to add childcare for children ages 2 and a half to 5. The school isn’t proposing to expand its building or increase the student capacity. The Fairfax County Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing on the application on … Continued
Students create self-watering buckets for growing plants
You don’t need a yard to grow vegetables. A simple self-watering bucket can turn an apartment balcony or other small space into a garden. Hands On Harvests is collaborating with Braddock Elementary School in Annandale to provide dozens of containers for families who don’t have access to land. Joyce Matthews, a teacher at Braddock and … Continued
School news roundup
A new principal – Holly Dowling, an administrator at Braddock Elementary School, has been named principal of Bailey’s Upper Elementary School, effective May 13. Dowling has been an assistant principal at Braddock for five years. Before joining FCPS, she was a teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal at Mount Vernon Community School in Alexandria Public … Continued
FCPS: middle schools start too early
Fairfax County Public Schools is considering changing middle school start times to a more reasonable hour than the current 7:30 a.m. Research shows that having schools start a bit later in the morning has a positive impact on students’ health and wellbeing. FCPS kicked off a series of community engagement meetings on middle school start … Continued
Schools get new trees for Arbor Day
Two Annandale elementary schools celebrated Arbor Day by planting trees. On April 26, the Fairfax County Urban Forest Management Division helped students plant 12 trees at Annandale Terrace Elementary School. Supervisors Andres Jimenez (Mason) and James Walkinshaw (Braddock), Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid, and school board member Ryan McElveen (at-large) participated in the Arbor … Continued
FCPS gets 42 electric school buses
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Fairfax County Public Schools $16.5 million for 42 new electric school buses. The funds come from the Clean School Bus Program which was included in the bipartisan infrastructure law enacted during the Biden administration. “Every day, thousands of students, staff, and parents are in and around school buses, … Continued
School news roundup
Middle school start times – FCPS is exploring options for changing middle school start times to ensure young teens get enough sleep. In September, FCPS awarded a contract to Prismatic Services to develop a plan for starting the middle school day at 8 a.m. or later, beginning in fall 2025. Middle schools currently start at … Continued