Covering Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Lincolnia, and Seven Corners in Fairfax County, Virginia

Some Bailey’s Elementary students could attend school in an office building next fall

FCPS wants to retrofit this building for classrooms. At a contentious meeting at Bailey’s Elementary School Nov. 26, Fairfax County Public Schools officials outlined plans for using a vacant office building to relieve severe overcrowding at Bailey’s, beginning in September 2014. The five-story building at 6245 Leesburg Pike in Seven Corners would serve about 400 … Continued

Toy drive supports needy students at Bailey’s Elementary School

Every year, the Bailey’s Elementary School community provides toys and grocery gift cards to the neediest students before the winter break. In the past, Bailey’s has been fortunate to receive donations from the Toys for Tots program, but that organization stopped helping Bailey’s last year, so the school is reaching out to the surrounding community, … Continued

Poe Middle School principal, Stuart employee charged with embezzlement

Swansbrough Poe Middle School Principal Sonya Swansbrough and an administrative employee of JEB Stuart High School, Bethany Speed, have been charged with embezzlement and money laundering, the Fairfax County Police Department reported Nov. 11. Police began an investigation after being contacted by Fairfax County Public Schools in late September. The allegations involved falsifying time sheets … Continued

FCPS Superintendent urged to consider needs of Mason District schools

Garza addresses a parents and teachers during a Listening Tour session at JEB Stuart High School. Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza, who’s only been on the job since July, is in the midst of a “listening tour” at area schools to hear from the community about their issues and concerns. At the most … Continued

Local churches provide dinner at Poe Middle School every afternoon

Poe students enjoy dinner in the cafeteria. Lower-income students at Poe Middle School in Annandale no longer go home hungry, thanks to volunteers from area churches who serve them an early dinner during the Raven’s Nest after-school program. “It’s a very needy population, and we do what we can to make their lives easier,” says … Continued

Lieutenant governor candidates Jackson and Northam clash in debate

From the left: E.W. Jackson, Ralph Northam, and Peggy Fox. [Photo by WUSA9.] At a debate Sept. 24 that pitted E.W. Jackson, the Republican candidate for Virginia lieutenant governor against Democrat Ralph Northam, Jackson tried to downplay some of the more controversial statements he’d made in recent months. Those statements—such as “gay people are perverted” … Continued

Superintendent Garza outlines goals and challenges

Advisory council chair Romona Morrow (left), president of the Fairfax County Council of PTAs, and vice chair John Wittman, who is also vice chair of the FCPS Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee, present a Virginia flag to Superintendent Karen Garza (center). New schools superintendent Karen Garza told members of the Business and Community Advisory … Continued

Back to School Night schedule

With the return to school around the corner—public schools in Fairfax County open Sept. 3—it’s time  for parents to get back in the school routine, too. Here’s the Back to School Night schedule for public schools in the Annandale/Mason area: Annandale HS—Sept. 18, 6 p.m. Annandale Terrace ES—Sept. 11, 6:30 p.m. for grades K-2; Sept. … Continued

Braddock Elementary has a new principal

Jackson-Muir Keesha Jackson-Muir has been appointed principal of Braddock Elementary School in Annandale, effective Aug. 28. Braddock has 588 students in prekindergarten through grade 5. Jackson-Muir has served as an assistant principal at Parklawn Elementary School since 2010. Before that, she was a gifted and talented specialist at Fort Belvoir and Beech Tree elementary schools, worked … Continued