Fairfax County Facing More Budget Strain
County Executive and FCPS Superintendent present adverse forecasts.
Days before the traditional loosening of belts for Thanksgiving, Fairfax County officials discussed the need for tightening theirs.
Mount Vernon: Storck Sets Office Hours
Fairfax County School Board Member Dan Storck will host Saturday Community Office Hours in December and January:
Mount Vernon Schools Host Virginia Secretary of Education
“Pre-ci-pi-ta-tion at-mo-sphere, pre-ci-pi-ta-tion at-mo-sphere.” Hybla Valley music teacher Carla Okouchi helped fourth grade students count out beats for a cross-discipline lesson on music and weather. The floor-seated students picked up white plastic recorders and tweeted a melody, with percussive accompaniment from maracas, wood blocks and tambourine.
‘Little Shop of Horrors’ at West Potomac High in Mount Vernon
The final performances of West Potomac High School’s “Little Shop of Horrors” took place Nov. 13, 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. The cast included Sarah Lore, Aubrey Blount, David Jarzen, ,JP Havranek, Austin Harlow, and Nikki Amico.
Mount Vernon: West Potomac High Cheerleaders Honored at Patriot Conference
Four West Potomac varsity cheerleaders were honored in the Patriot Conference competition this October.
1,000 celebrate the life of Hannah Graham at West Potomac High School in Mount Vernon
West Potomac softball coach Craig Maniglia knew Hannah Graham starting when she was seven years old, through being her coach on the varsity softball team. He was one of 17 speakers at a closed memorial for Graham in the West Potomac High School auditorium on Nov. 15.
Renovation Keeps Rolling at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria
New wing showcased at Nov. 14 ribbon-cutting.
Thomas Jefferson senior Thomas Rogers is big on the laser cutter. “You can cut anything you want,” said the McLean resident, “like exact designs on sheet metal.” Rogers was enthusiastic about the device, but wouldn’t fire it up during the Nov. 14 tour of the Science and Technology Governor’s School’s new two-story wing with 14 research spaces.
High Schools to Start Later Next Year
School Board approves later start times.
Phyllis Payne has been fighting for more sleep for a decade. On Oct. 23, it all paid off. The co-founder of Start Later for Excellence in Education Proposal - or SLEEP - saw the Fairfax County Public School Board approve to move high school start times ahead by 30 minutes, 11-1.
Fairfax County Calendar
Your guide to entertainment in Fairfax County.
For those looking to fill their calendar with some home-brewed, Fairfax County fun stuff (read: entertainment and diversion), The Connection's Fairfax County Entertainment Calendar has many options: weekend jaunts and larks; date night inspiration; winter-to-spring fun; day-long festivals and events; art-outings; family fun-and-learning fusions; plays and shows; beyond-Small Business Saturday local shopping and bazaars; markets of handcrafted wares; music; 1Ks to marathons... the list goes on. If you know of an event not listed in our entertainment calendar, email it to south@connectionnewspapers.com for happenings in south Fairfax County or north@connectionnewspapers.com for entertainment in the northern parts of the county.
Mourning Hannah
Candlelight gathering planned for Saturday.
More than a month of what Charlottesville chief of police Timothy Longo described as an “unprecedented” search is finally over.
Stage Presence
Cappies recognized among arts leaders at Arts Council awards.
After Bill Strauss first approached Judy Bowns about creating a student-driven arts awards and journalism organization 16 years ago, the ensuing creative partnership resembled a pair of cartoon characters.
Fairfax Education Summit to Be Held on Oct. 25
The Fairfax County School Board will host Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) fifth annual Education Summit, Mapping Your Student’s Unique Journey: Explore the Many Choices in Fairfax County Public Schools, on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 8 a.m. at Edison High School.
One Month Missing
Search for Hannah Graham continues.
Over 30 days after second-year UVA student and West Potomac alumna Hannah Graham was last seen on a surveillance tape in Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall, Charlottesville police and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management are continuing their search.
Tougher Tests, Tough Results
Local schools receive warnings from the state.
“Test scores do not define our schools. They never have and never will,” said Mount Vernon District School Board member Dan Storck. Earlier this month the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) released accreditation results based on student performance in the 2013-2014 school year. The ratio of Fairfax County Public schools receiving full accreditation to those not making the grade dropped from 94 percent a year ago to 89 percent.
Search for Hannah Graham Expands
UVA second year Hannah Graham last seen on Sept. 13.
Hannah Graham, University of Virginia sophomore and alumna of West Potomac High School, has been missing since the early morning hours of Saturday, Sept. 13.