Schools - Page 123 of 217 - Potomac Local News

Updated: Subsidized daycare mulled for Stafford County employees

Published August 18, 2020 at 5:15PM | Updated August 20, 2020 at 10:18AM

As Stafford County prepares to send its public school students back to class virtually, county leaders must decide whether to use federal money to subsidize child daycare.

The Board of Supervisors tonight will hold a public hearing to discuss the allocation federal CARES Act funding, some $600,000 of which could go to the Massad Family YMCA which would provide daycare in its new virtual learning center at one of six locations in the area. For $113 per week, children who cannot attend classes in public schools will be allowed to come to the Massad Family YMCA on Butler Road, with a laptop in hand, to attend virtual classes.

New additions under construction at Woodbridge, Gar-Field high schools

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 17, 2020 at 11:27PM | Updated August 17, 2020 at 11:50PM

While it may be quiet on campus as students will return the classroom virtually this fall, construction is underway at two Woodbridge-area high schools.

Auxilliary gymnasiums are being added to Gar-Field Senior and Woodbridge Senior High Schools in Woodbridge and Lake Ridge, respectively. The new gyms at both schools will 21,000 square-foot large when completed.

Virtual back-to-school resource fair to be held Aug. 28

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 17, 2020 at 3:52PM | Updated August 18, 2020 at 12:59PM

Students in Prince William County will be headed back to class virtually on September 8 10.

In Manassas and Manassas Park, schools begin virtually on August 31 and September 8, respectively.

Prince William high schools to start an hour later

By Gianna Jirak

Published August 15, 2020 at 12:12PM | Updated August 15, 2020 at 9:06PM

Prince William County high school students will be getting an extra hour of sleep this upcoming school year, as the division’s Superintendant, Dr. Steven L. Walts, has moved the schedule forward by one hour.

All high school students within the county regardless of their participation in online or in-person learning will now start school at 8:30 am, instead of the typical 7:30 a.m., and end at 3:30 p.m. instead of 2:10 pm. The decision took into consideration various parent and student surveys, the majority of which preferred a later school start time, as well as the health/academic benefits students, could reap, according to an email from the school division.

Stafford plans to deliver school breakfast, lunches during virtual classes

By Gianna Jirak

Published August 13, 2020 at 8:17PM

Brian Williams, Director of School Nutrition for Stafford County Public Schools.

Stafford County Schools may be beginning the school year online, but they will still be providing meals to students.

During its August 11 meeting, the Stafford County School Board was presented with the division’s School Meal Distribution Plan for the 2020-21 school year. According to the plan, hot meals for all Stafford County Schools students, regardless of whether or not they qualify for free and reduced lunches, will be provided via curbside pickup and a community bus drop off service. The school division will also give free lunches to all students enrolled in the reduced-price lunch program.

Prince William Schools Superintendent Steve Walts to retire in July 2021

By Gianna Jirak

Published August 13, 2020 at 6:43PM

Prince William Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Walts.

After 15 years of service and a recent Twitter scandal, Prince William County Schools Superintendant Dr. Steven L. Walts announced that he is planning to retire on July 1, 2021, when his contract with the school division expires and his daughter graduates from high school.

This announcement was made to both the school board, as well as to parents and students via email. In his resignation announcement, he detailed his accomplishments.

Prince William students to take SAT, ACT tests in person

By Gianna Jirak

Published August 4, 2020 at 12:11PM

Students in Prince William County Public Schools will not be returning to school for in-person learning in August — but they will line up for the SAT.

In August, September, October, November, and December, Prince William County high schools will be hosting the SAT and ACT tests in-person, with ‘guidelines for safety to include cleaning procedures, physical distancing, and the use of face coverings,’ according to Diana Gulotta, Prince William County Schools Director of Communications Services.

Hansford elected Prince William Education Association President

By Arabella Thornhill

Published August 3, 2020 at 11:38PM

Prince William Education Association has chosen Maggie Hansford as its next president.

Hansford will begin in her new role after working for 10 years as a speech language pathologist at T. Clay Wood Elementary School in Nokesville. She replaces former president Riley O’Casey.

Prince William students to follow set schedules for online classes

By Gianna Jirak

Published July 31, 2020 at 4:55PM

Prince William County Public Schools students will be learning from home during the first nine-weeks of the school year online, with exceptions for certain students with additional needs.

This, however, will be very different from the virtual spring semester that occurred during the beginning of the pandemic, as students will have structured schedules, regular start/end times, and learn new content, school officials said.

Catholic schools prepare to reopen as nearly half of voters disapprove of 100% online learning, poll finds

By Potomac Local News

Published July 31, 2020 at 12:39PM

In its first statewide poll, Virginia political consulting firm War Room Strategies found nearly half of likely voters believe that their local school boards and superintendents — not the CDC, President Trump, or Gov. Ralph Northam — should be most responsible for providing options to parents on reopening schools.

And, as many school systems plan to return to 100% virtual learning in the fall, similar to what students experienced following the coronavirus lockdown in March, 44% of those polled disapprove of their local school system’s plans, while 30% strongly disapprove.