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Fairfax County Public Schools received two nominations for the 68th Capital Emmy Awards, highlighting a week filled with student achievements, school visits and community events across the division.
The National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences nominated “Girls Flag Football: Be a Trailblazer – Get in the Game!” in the Content Shorts category. The video chronicles the inaugural FCPS girls’ flag football season, in which 775 students participated and 25 high schools fielded teams through a partnership with the Washington Commanders.
“Touching History,” nominated in the Historical/Cultural News category, covers the renovation of Louise Archer Elementary School. During construction, crews discovered a wooden wall that had been concealed behind brick for more than 70 years. It belonged to the original three-room Vienna “Colored” School built on the site during the Great Depression. The project paired modern improvements with preservation of the school’s history.
Art and academics take center stage
At Silverbrook Elementary School, the cafeteria became a gallery for the 16th annual “Sweet Dreams” Art Gala. Art teachers Laura Lajin and Elke Whittle organized the event, which featured an original work, artist statement and photograph from every student in kindergarten through sixth grade for the second consecutive year.
Students in grades 1, 3 and 5 presented their work April 13, followed by kindergarten and grades 2, 4 and 6 on May 11. The exhibition included paintings, ceramics, prints, collages and drawings while emphasizing creativity, organization, persistence and problem-solving.
A Tuesday visit to Luther Jackson Middle School included Sharon Parker’s seventh-grade AVID, or Advanced Via Individual Determination, class. Students discussed novels in reading groups and recorded detailed analysis in journals using AVID strategies.
Principal Megan Sherrill also reported a significant year-over-year increase in Algebra enrollment and promising early SOL pass-rate data. The school is preparing to implement Algebra for All for every eighth grader and many seventh graders next year, supported by differentiated instruction intended to make the rigorous coursework accessible.
At Franconia Elementary School, Principal Andrew Smith, Assistant Principal Brooke Nyland, student ambassadors and Waddles the Penguin welcomed Superintendent Michelle Reid. The visit included a special education classroom led by Sarah Goings, Melmariam Azene and Scott Vickers, where students used assistive technology for their lessons.
In Christina Tran’s kindergarten class, students practiced addition and subtraction by counting turtles on a log. Third graders in Jennifer Lucius’ music class performed “Peter Rabbit” on recorders after learning it only about 10 minutes earlier.
Career students turn practical skills into victories
Three Edison Academy students earned major honors at the SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference, where competitors demonstrate practical abilities in areas such as HVAC, engineering and information technology.
Mohammad “Mo” Al-Towaiti of Bryant High School placed first in Program Design and second in both HVAC and T-Shirt Design. After failing to place during his first year, he drew on previous experience from Yemen and used photography to document competitions and study techniques.
This fall, Al-Towaiti will begin a five-year apprenticeship with Steamfitters Local 602. He plans to earn a journeyman license and eventually open his own company. He credited discipline, work ethic and sustained effort for his success.
Mount Vernon High School student Ceaser Fetzner earned first place in Career Pathways for Industrial and Engineering Technology. Interested in HVAC since age 6, he documents systems on a YouTube channel, studies equipment from different generations and works with industry partners connected to Edison Academy.
Sam Finnegan won first place in Internetworking after building and troubleshooting complex network systems under time pressure. He will study cybersecurity at Rochester Institute of Technology this fall.
Later Tuesday, the Military Youth Advisory Council held its final meeting of the school year at the Gatehouse Administration Center. High school representatives reviewed Month of the Military Child activities and programs created to support military-connected students.
Among those efforts was the McLean High School Military Youth Support Club’s mentorship program with Longfellow Middle School. High school mentors meet monthly with middle school students for question-and-answer sessions and team-building activities, helping them find resources, build resilience and prepare for the transition to high school.
The council also began planning for the next academic year, including a Military Family Welcome BBQ for new and returning families and student-led service projects for the local military-connected community.
Tuesday concluded with a public hearing on the fiscal year 2027 budget. The School Board was scheduled to vote on the final spending plan Thursday.
Business, technology and educators look ahead
Reid traveled to Richmond Wednesday for the launch of the Virginia Business K-12 Partnership. Business and education leaders discussed how the new initiative could strengthen Virginia’s economy and expand career pathways. The effort has support from the governor and senior state education officials.
She later attended the Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Committee meeting at Kilmer Middle School. Every school has a representative on the committee, which collects feedback from instructional employees, brings concerns to division leaders and reports meeting results to school colleagues. The work supports the workforce goals in Pillar C of the FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
At the Udvar-Hazy Center Wednesday evening, industry leaders, investors and public-sector partners gathered to discuss investment in U.S. space initiatives and their potential effect on the regional economy. One idea under consideration is establishing a quantum-computing presence at the new Skyview High School.
The All-County Principals Meeting at Willow Oaks opened Thursday with recognition of retiring and newly appointed principals and administrators. Throughout the year, principals participated in cross-region “hive groups” to exchange ideas across grade levels and school communities. The meeting also focused on innovation, school improvement and broader access to rigorous and advanced courses.
Reid then attended the Northern Virginia Technology Council’s Artificial Intelligence Summit in McLean. As an NVTC board member, she joined discussions about Northern Virginia’s role in developing and using emerging technology, an industry that employs many FCPS families.
An FCPS graduate comes full circle
Former McLean High School student Arman Nikmorad returned to FCPS on the day he graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University.
Nikmorad’s interest in broadcast technology began when he volunteered with employees from the FCPS Department of Information Technology as they repaired television equipment. That experience led to an internship and then a full-time position as an FCPS multimedia technician.
He now helps manage School Board broadcasts, trains students to use professional video equipment and supports events throughout Fairfax County. His progression from student producer to division employee illustrates how school-based experience and mentorship can lead to a career serving the same community.
Friday evening brought Heritage Celebration Night at Jackson Middle School, where students, employees and families shared cultural traditions through performances.
The week’s football showcase followed at Robinson Secondary School. More than 250 Fairfax County student-athletes completed physical tests and football drills before more than 33 college coaches representing several levels of collegiate competition. More than 40 FCPS coaches volunteered at the event, organized by the Northern Virginia Coaches Association, to help athletes pursue opportunities to play in college.
TJ rocketeers soar to 16th in the nation
A five-student team from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology reached the 2026 American Rocketry Challenge National Finals at Great Meadow in The Plains. The team qualified among the country’s top 100 from approximately 1,100 entrants.
Because rocket launches are restricted near the Capital Beltway, the students spent weekends traveling to sites in central Virginia, Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. They tested and redesigned their rockets in varying weather while managing TJHSST’s academic workload.
AP physics teacher and club sponsor Shella Condino said 1,107 teams participated nationally and TJ finished 16th, the highest placement by any Virginia team. The students also received the “Out of This World Outfit” Award for their presentation. Their theme was “God of Storms,” and they named their rockets “Lightning” and “Thunder.”
The top-25 finish makes the team eligible to submit a proposal for NASA’s Student Launch Initiative. If selected, the students would undertake a nine-month project to design, build and test an advanced high-power rocket carrying a scientific or engineering payload. The program would end with a launch in Huntsville, Alabama, in spring 2027.
Another TJHSST rocketry team conducted an exhibition launch Saturday afternoon after placing second in the “Battle of the Rockets” competition.
At Rachel Carson Middle School, Langley High School junior Ameya Haldankar organized the fifth annual Charity Chess Event. This year’s proceeds will benefit Anna Sudha Community Kitchens, which provides food to people in need. Earlier editions supported people with disabilities and children recovering in hospitals.
Sunday began with the Girls on the Run Spring 5K Celebration at Pentagon City Mall. Twenty-three Fairfax teams joined schools from elsewhere in the region for the season-ending event centered on confidence, strength and personal growth.
The week concluded at Falls Church High School, where Reid and at-large School Board member Ryan McElveen recognized the Global Leaders of Fairfax County Class of 2026. Students completed projects connecting local action and international issues through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
As proms, graduation ceremonies and end-of-year parties approach, FCPS leaders also urged the community to remain inclusive and attentive to students and colleagues. The celebratory season can bring added strain for people facing financial hardship, academic assessments, graduation requirements or isolation, making personal check-ins especially important.