Education

Finding New Ways to Celebrate in Vienna and McLean

Area high school graduates miss the opportunity to say bye to school, friends.

The end of the school year in high school is filled with spirit weeks, prom, and for seniors, a graduation ceremony. So, when COVID-19 caused in-person classes to stop and postponed or cancelled events like prom and graduation, many students didn’t get the opportunity to finish out the year with the typical celebrations and traditions.

Distance Learning: Both Stress and Relief in Springfield

West Springfield High School students on handling the switch to online learning.

Since March 13, Fairfax County Public Schools have been closed and converted to online classes in response to COVID-19. Like many other FCPS high schools, West Springfield High School classes are now held twice per week through Blackboard Collaborate, an online video conferencing platform.

Chantilly High Grad Is New Firefighter

Chantilly High grad Christopher Wolf is among 53 new recruits who recently graduated from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) Basic Training.

Parents Rally to Fill Arlington Food Gaps

It began with the discussions at the regular Wednesday morning mom’s meeting at Kenmore Elementary and morphed into an effort to provide food to needy families in Arlington.

Potomac High School and College Seniors Please Share

High school and college seniors are invited to tell their graduation story for the Potomac Almanac’s June 10 issue.

Potomac Community Village Offers Programs Open to Public

Potomac Community Village is sponsoring two programs for the community in early June.

Alexandria’s Week in Coronavirus

OPENING NOW: Northern Virginia will open into Phase 1 on Thursday, May 28.

Potomac’s Week in Coronavirus

200,000: Maryland surpassed 200,000 tests and completing testing of 3.5 percent of the state’s population, and now has the capacity and supplies to offer testing to Marylanders who may have been exposed to the disease even if they do not have symptoms.

Arlington Graduates: Can’t Rain on Their Parade

Graduates cobble together a memorable event despite virus.

A few ebullient graduates, keeping social distance, came to the Marymount campus on Saturday to pose for “graduation pictures,” even going so far as to throw their mortar boards in the air and catch them to simulate one of the great joys of finally receiving a degree.

Reduced Budget For Fairfax County Public Schools

The Fairfax County School Board has approved the revised Fiscal Year 2021 (FY 21) budget. The budget, revised due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reduced the previously recommended transfer increase from Fairfax County from $85.5 million to $7.3 million and includes a reduction of $4.8 million from the state. Along with other budget cuts, the total amount of the FY 21 budget was reduced by $67.0 million.

Breaking Tradition in Alexandria

Drive-by celebration for new graduate.

When Juliana Mitchell entered the College of William and Mary four years ago, she envisioned a traditional graduation day taking place in historic Williamsburg.

Harmon, Ross Join Incumbents on Fairfax City Council

Meyer and School Board members all re-elected.

Fairfax City re-elected its mayor, City Council and School Board incumbents, Tuesday, May 19, and added Joe Harmon and Tom Ross to the Council, replacing Jennifer Passey and Michael DeMarco who chose not to run. And despite the pandemic, which caused many to vote by mail, more votes were cast than in 2018.

Alexandria Week in Coronavirus

More 89,000 deaths in United States, more than 275 cases in Alexandria in one week, but most of Virginia eases restrictions.

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Arlington Week in Coronavirus

Virginia begins to open despite adding more than 6,000 cases and 150 deaths in one week; Arlington up to 1,638 cases and 77 deaths.

Arlington and Northern Virginia will continue stay-at-home restrictions despite most of Virginia transitioning to Phase One of Governor Ralph Northam’s “Forward Virginia” reopening plan.

Fairfax County School Board Celebrates Class of 2020

Superintendent Scott Brabrand releases Board decisions.

Superintendent Scott Brabrand dashed any remaining hopes of summer in-person commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2020. After receiving results from high school students and parents on his Survey on Graduation Preferences, Brabrand said the School Board agreed on his recommended approach. They committed to celebrating the seniors "in the safest and most personalized manner possible."

The Connection