Tag: schools
High school teams face off in culinary competition
Chef KN Vinod of Indique contemplates the Chantilly culinary team’s entry. [Photo from Real Food for Kids.] Teams of students from the culinary arts programs at five high schools—Annandale, Falls Church, Chantilly, Edison, and Marshall—competed in the second annual Feeding Academic Success Culinary Challenge March 13 at Falls Church High School. The teams created vegetarian … Continued
FCPS leaders urge supervisors to avert school budget crisis
A fourth-grade class at Mason Crest Elementary School. Now that the Board of Supervisors has released an advertised budget for fiscal year 2015 that would only provide a 2 percent increase in the amount of funds to be transferred to Fairfax County Public Schools—rather than a 5.7 percent increase sought by Superintendent Karen Garza and … Continued
Q and A: New housing projects and the impact on school overcrowding
Construction has started on a multifamily housing complex in Seven Corners. With lots of new development under way or planned in the Annandale/Mason area, lots of people are wondering how that will affect the already overcrowded public schools. We asked Fairfax County Public Schools Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Platenberg, who’s in charge of the Department … Continued
Woodson community comes together to focus on suicide prevention
A poster on a Woodson High School hallway has photos of Woodson alumni holding signs showing their support for the school and current students. Following the presumed suicide of two Woodson High School students in recent days, hundreds of parents, students, and educators packed the school’s auditorium last night to comfort one another and learn … Continued
Residents urged to clear sidewalks
Nice job, neighbor. With schools reopening Wednesday (two hours late), Fairfax County Public Schools urges residents to remove snow and ice from sidewalks to ensure safety for children who walk to school and bus stops. “Neither the Virginia Department of Transportation nor the county clears snow and ice from public walkways,” a message from FCPS … Continued
Woodson community mourns two students
The Woodson High School community is reeling after the death of two students this week. Jack Chen, a 10th-grader, was struck by a VRE train at about 5:30 a.m. on Feb. 26. On Feb. 28, it was revealed that Majid Albaiz, a junior, had died. It is generally believed that both students committed suicide. There … Continued
Police conduct drug search at Annandale High School
UPDATE: No drugs were found during the search, reports School Resource Officer J.W. Levan. A joint drug search and lockdown drill took place this morning at Annandale High School, with Fairfax County Police officers and drug-sniffing dogs, the online edition of the student newspaper, the A-Blast reports. “It was a school operation and was requested … Continued
Pinecrest School plans an expansion
Pinecrest School Pinecrest School, a small private school at 7209 Quiet Cove in Annandale, is planning to expand. The school is requesting an amendment to its special exception zoning agreement to allow before-school childcare, site modifications, and an enrollment increase. The Fairfax County Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for March … Continued
Public urged to take part in ‘Fund Our Schools’ rally
When the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors begins discussions on a budget for fiscal year 2015, one of the most critical issues is how much the board will transfer to Fairfax County Public Schools. Educators, parents, and others who support a high-quality education have organized a “Fund Our Schools” rally at 9 a.m., Feb. 25, … Continued
Annandale native has fond memories of growing up in an idyllic small town
Annandale Elementary School students in 1953. Annandale might be a transient, traffic-clogged suburb poised for redevelopment, but for many people who grew up here in the middle of the last century, it’s fondly remembered as an idyllic small town where everyone knew one another. That’s now it was for Nikki McDonald, 72, whose family moved … Continued
Nature is part of the learning environment at Westlawn Elementary School
A pleasant setting for story time at Westlawn Elementary School. Learning at Westlawn Elementary School in Falls Church isn’t confined to the classrooms. The instructional program is enhanced through experiences with the natural world via the school’s outdoor discovery area. A new “storytelling chair,” developed as part of an Eagle Scout project, is used for … Continued
Wedgewood Community Center provides a haven for Annandale kids
Annandale Terrace fifth-graders (left to right) Nargis, Salma, and Kevin. Kids who live at the Wedgewood Apartments in Annandale have a safe, fun place to do their homework in the afternoon thanks to a new community center operated by FACETS. There are lots of books, art supplies, a computer lab and … Continued
School board agrees to consider options for renovating Falls Church HS
The Fairfax County School Board approved a five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) Jan. 23 that recognizes the need to renovate Falls Church High School along with the other “legacy high schools” built in the 1960s. The board approved an amendment proposed by Sandy Evans (Mason) calling for the FCPS staff to “identify methods by … Continued
School board to consider renovation funds for Falls Church High School
Falls Church High School The Falls Church High School community plans to show up in force—wearing school colors—at a Fairfax County School Board meeting Jan. 23 to support measures proposed by school board members Sandy Evans (Mason) and Patty Reed (Providence) aimed at moving the school closer to renovation. The board is scheduled to discuss … Continued
Architect describes vision for Bailey’s Elementary School annex
The back view of the Bailey’s annex. The office building on Leesburg Pike that will be converted to an elementary school to relieve severe overcrowding at Bailey’s Elementary School, the school’s design will accommodate a more flexible, 21st century learning concept. Classrooms will have lots of natural light, and the entrance will be repositioned to … Continued