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Fairfax County Public Schools will ask families, employees and older students to weigh in on potentially changing school start times across the division, with a continuing goal of starting middle school at 8 a.m. or later beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
The confidential survey will be emailed Tuesday, April 1, to all parents, caregivers and staff members, as well as students in grades 5-12. It will remain open for two weeks and be offered in multiple languages.
The division previously held community forums and surveyed middle school families about start times.
Students and educators earn major honors
Nine projects received grand prizes at the 70th annual Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair, which featured roughly 400 high school projects presented by more than 600 students.
More than 200 professionals served as judges alongside representatives from 40 professional organizations and businesses. Grand-prize recipients are eligible to compete at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May, while many other participants may advance to the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair in April.
Lake Braddock Secondary School’s senior gymnasts also extended the school’s championship run, winning the Virginia state title for a fourth consecutive year. The Bruins now have 13 state championships, more than any other Virginia school.
At Justice High School, biology and environmental science teacher Kirsten Salonga was named the 2025 AFS-USA Global Educator of the Year. Salonga, who teaches multilingual learners and chairs the science department, was recognized for incorporating cultural diversity, global competence and international perspectives into her instruction.
Salonga and Hayfield Secondary School mathematics teacher John Mika were also selected as Virginia finalists for the 2025 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The national award honors K-12 STEM educators for their subject expertise and ability to help students succeed.
Alyce Pope, who has worked with the Head Start program for more than 40 years, was named a finalist for the National Education Association’s Education Support Professional of the Year award. Pope first participated as a parent in the Higher Horizons Head Start program, later becoming a classroom assistant and administrative assistant. She now helps encourage families to enroll.
Free prom attire and spring events
Centreville High School students and participants in the Fair Oaks Classroom on the Mall program have opened their annual Prom Dress Shop. The program offers dresses and accessories free of charge and has helped hundreds of students attend prom.
The shop will be open at Centreville High School from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 4; 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 5; and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6. Community members may donate gently used, dry-cleaned prom dresses and accessories.
Families with children entering kindergarten in August can attend open houses scheduled throughout the spring. School-readiness resources and a five-step registration process are also available to help families prepare for the transition.
The free Summer Extravaganza is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Woodson High School. The event will include educational and enrichment activities, student performances, story time, face painting and a moon bounce. A marketplace will sell student-made goods, with proceeds supporting student programs.
April’s Family Academy offerings will include sessions on Sibshops and SibTeen, executive-function development in high school students, mathematics strategies for students with significant cognitive disabilities, accommodations for twice-exceptional students and the role of boundaries in adolescent development.
Students build a star attraction for “Grease”
Automotive Collision Service students at Edison Academy recreated the Greased Lightnin’ car for the Edison Theatre Company’s spring production of “Grease — School Edition.” The student-built hot rod will appear onstage at Edison High School.
At Whitman Middle School, monthly challenges are being used to encourage regular attendance. The division is also reminding families that missing two days of school each month can cause students to fall behind.
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid recently recorded an episode of “Our Voices, Our Future” with Clermont Elementary School art teacher Madeline Deveney. Their discussion covered Deveney’s path into art education and how she incorporates other classroom subjects into student art projects.
Reid will also hold public Community Conversations from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on four dates: April 1 at Lorton Station Elementary School, April 7 at Greenbriar West Elementary School, April 21 at Mount Eagle Elementary School and April 23 at Mason Crest Elementary School. Childcare and language interpretation will be available.
The division has also published frequently asked questions about its Comprehensive Boundary Review and is accepting additional questions from the community.
Bus drivers take on safety course
The annual Bus Safety Road-eo will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at the Stonecroft Transportation Center. Drivers and attendants will demonstrate their skills on obstacle courses designed to test precision and vehicle control.
The event will include food trucks, activities for all ages and an awards ceremony recognizing transportation employees.
Closures and calendar changes approach
Friday, March 28, is the final day of the third quarter and will be a full school day. Schools and offices will be closed Monday, March 31, for Eid al-Fitr. Tuesday, April 1, is a teacher workday, with no classes for students.
The SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE gradebook will close at 4 p.m. March 28 and reopen at 6 a.m. April 7 for end-of-quarter processing.
Spring break runs from Monday, April 14, through Friday, April 18. Schools and school offices will be closed.
The School Board’s next regular business meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at Jackson Middle School. Agenda items include an update to the policy on physical restraint and seclusion, the second phase of the security vestibules project and the awarding of contracts.
Nominations for the A. Heath Onthank Award, Fairfax County’s highest employee honor, are due Friday, April 4. FCPS and Fairfax County employees are eligible to be nominated.