“A Howard University student has died after he was struck last week by a car reportedly driven by a faculty member…Mohamed Samura, of Fredericksburg, 18, was a computer information systems major at the university,” reports WTOP.
Stafford County Public Schools press release: Brooke Point High School’s Community Health and Medical Professions (CHAMP) center is thrilled to announce the generous donation of an ambulance from LifeCare Medical Transport. This donation will enhance hands-on experiential learning opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare and emergency services.
“As a company deeply rooted in serving our community, we are honored to donate this ambulance to the CHAMP center at Brooke Point High School,” said Michael Russell, LifeCare’s Director of Communications. “We believe in investing in the next generation of healthcare professionals, and we are excited to see how this resource will empower students to pursue their passions and make a meaningful difference in the world.”
The ambulance will serve as a valuable resource for students enrolled in the CHAMP program. Through practical application and real-world simulations, students will gain invaluable experience in emergency medical procedures, patient care, and teamwork. This hands-on approach not only enhances students’ technical skills but also fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills essential for success in the healthcare field.
“We are incredibly grateful to LifeCare for their generous donation of an ambulance to our CHAMP center,” said Brooke Point HS Principal Joe Murgo. “This invaluable resource will foster the confidence and competence needed for success in healthcare and emergency services careers. Our students will be able to practice things like conducting CPR while the ambulance is actually moving. There really isn’t a better symbol of this important community partnership than an actual, functioning ambulance.”
The CHAMP center at Brooke Point High School is dedicated to providing students with unique opportunities to explore careers in healthcare and emergency services through mentorship and rigorous coursework. With the addition of the ambulance donated by LifeCare, students will have access to enhanced learning opportunities that will prepare them for success in their chosen fields.
“This ambulance represents more than just a vehicle; it’s a gateway to immersive learning for CHAMP students. By engaging in real-life scenarios and practical applications, students will not only refine technical skills but also develop critical thinking, teamwork, and communication abilities essential in emergency medical settings,” said Dr. Thomas W. Taylor, Superintendent. “We are grateful for LifeCare’s partnership and their dedication to supporting student learning.”
Stafford County Public Schools press release:Â The Stafford County School Board adopted a $457.9M FY25 provisional operating budget during its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 9.
The provisional budget remains focused on correcting both the service and licensed staff salary scales through the Implementation of Phase I of the service scale correction, Phase III of the licensed scale correction, and correction of the instructional support scale.
“We remain a system of people, not things,” said Mrs. Maureen Siegmund, chair, Stafford County School Board. “This provisional budget allows us to provide our service staff with an average 8.7% salary increase, licensed staff with a 5.2% average salary increase, and provide our paraprofessional with an average salary increase of 9%.”
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors provided $13M in new revenue to the schools; $2M short of the amount requested by the School Board. The resulting $457.9M provisional operating budget addresses $8.6M in adjustments to the base budget and $16.6M in non-discretionary expenses – those that allow the district to keep its doors open.
The Board of Supervisors also approved funding for Elementary School 19, a rebuild of Edward E. Drew MS, and allocated $14.5 for overdue repairs and maintenance of school buildings. The Board of Supervisors also reaffirmed its funding for constructing Elementary School 18, and High School 6, partly addressing rapid growth.
A majority of school funding, more than 60%, is provided through State funding. The School Board will revisit and adopt a final budget after the state government adopts its final budget later this summer. If additional funding is provided from the State, the School Board may have the opportunity to make additional increases in staffing and staff compensation.
For more information regarding the School Board’s Adopted FY25 provisional budget visit staffordschools.net/FY25Budget.
Prince William County Public Schools press release: Local elected officials joined Prince William County School Board members and Superintendent of Schools Dr. LaTanya D. McDade in a ceremony to celebrate the construction of “Woodbridge Area” Elementary School. The state-of-the-art school is scheduled to open for the 2025-26 school year at the corner of Route 1 and Prince William Parkway, near Fred Lynn Middle School.
“One of the commitments in our PWCS Vision 2025 Launching Thriving Futures Strategic Plan is positive climate and culture. There is no doubt that equitable access to new, state-of-the-art facilities positively impacts a school’s climate and culture,” shared Dr. McDade. “Prince William County Public Schools is committed to providing safe and welcoming facilities for students, families, staff and the community, and this new facility is one example of this commitment. ”
Fred M. Lynn Middle School choir students performed a rendition of “Child of Tomorrow,” by Mark Patterson, under the direction of their chorus teacher, Caelyn Davis.
Dr. Babur Lateef, School Board Chairman-At-Large, Loree Williams, Woodbridge District School Board representative, Deshundra Jefferson, Chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, Margaret Angela Franklin , Woodbridge District representative on the Board of County Supervisors, and Kimberly Werle, associate superintendent for eastern elementary schools, also shared remarks.
The school naming committee will provide naming suggestions to the School Board for approval prior to the school’s opening. The school is designed by Moseley Architects and is contracted with V.F. Pavone Construction. Anthony Greathouse of the PWCS Facilities Department, Construction Office is the project manager.
The newest addition to Prince William County Public Schools held its groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday April 11. The ‘Woodbridge Area’ Elementary school sits next to Fred Lynn’s Middle School at 1550 Prince William Parkway, Woodbridge.
The ‘Woodbridge Area’ Elementary school was built to help with the overflow of students found at other Prince William County Elementary Schools. The school will serve 631 and have 3 different stories.
They will officially open for students for the 2025-2026 school year.
Stafford County Public Schools press release: Dr. Lisa Coons, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction, visited with students and staff at Grafton Village Elementary School (GVES) this morning.
During her visit, she engaged in discussions surrounding the importance of student mental health and addressing meaningful methods to battle chronic absenteeism, visited classrooms, and read Shelly Becker’s Even Superheroes Have a Bad Day to a second grade classroom.
Recognizing the pivotal role supporting student mental health plays in
fostering well-rounded individuals, Dr. Coons emphasized its importance in
addressing challenges such as chronic absenteeism.
During her visit, she interacted with students, teachers, and administrators, underscoring the transformative impact of positive mental health strategies in promoting academic success and overall student well-being.
For more information about Stafford County Public Schools please visit staffordschools.net.
Manassas City Public Schools has released recommendations for the 2024-2025 academic calendar. These recommendations focus on optimizing professional development opportunities for teachers while maintaining instructional integrity for students.
Under the guidance of Katy Keegan, Director of Professional Learning, and Dr. Ed Stephenson, Director of Instruction, the division proposes a broad range of professional learning needs across grade levels. For grades K-6, the emphasis is on literacy, including the Science of Reading through Canvas courses, new intervention programs, and individualized reading plans for grades K-3.
Additionally, unpacking new English Language Arts (ELA) and math standards, differentiated instruction, cooperative learning structures, ST Math, behavioral supports, and new teacher workshops are prioritized.
According to school division documents, grades 7-8 and 9-12 share similar needs. They focus on maximizing instructional time, unpacking new standards, differentiated instruction, advanced academics, and collaborative teaching. Across all grade levels, there is a significant focus on professional development in literacy, math, and behavioral support, as well as practical instruction and assessment strategies.
The calendar recommendations for the upcoming academic year include labeling all student holidays, except parent-teacher conferences, as Professional Days. This aims to dedicate more time to addressing the identified professional learning needs. Additional changes include moving certain holidays to align better with professional development schedules, shifting early release days to Wednesdays, and adding four more early release days throughout the year.
Two options are proposed for the placement and structuring parent-teacher conferences and other holidays, each maintaining the required number of instructional and teacher days. Option A suggests keeping parent-teacher conferences on an early release day. At the same time, Option B proposes making parent-teacher conferences a full day off for students, adjusting the professional day schedule, and extending winter break to accommodate these changes.
Both options ensure that the allotted time for professional learning and collaborative planning remains consistent with current levels, ensuring teachers have adequate time for individual and collaborative professional development. The Professional Learning team is tasked with developing guidelines to allow schools and departments to build a year-long schedule that meets or exceeds the current calendar’s minimum hours for professional learning and collaboration.
The school board will hear the proposal at its next meeting, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 6 p.m., at Jennie Dean Elementary School, 9601 Prince William Street in Manassas.
“The University of Mary Washington has extended the enrollment deadline for admitted first-year undergraduate students to June 1, 2024, allowing an additional month for students and families to review financial aid. UMW has offered additional flexibility for incoming students to make their decision to enroll due to numerous delays in the filing and reporting process for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from the U.S. Department of Education,” the university writes.
“Lillian Orlich, who served PWCS students for 64 years and passed away on March 7, 2024, left a $1 million donation to SPARK, the education foundation for PWCS. Known to thousands of students as Ms. O, Lillian Orlich is a true Prince William County legend in education. Orlich retired in 2017 at 89, after serving as a teacher and counselor. She spent all but three years at Osbourn High School in Manassas City and Osbourn Park High School in Prince William County,” the school division writes in a press release.