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Fairfax County Public Schools reached a major milestone when the School Board unanimously approved Skyview High School as the name of the division’s newest school.
The campus is scheduled to welcome students for the 2026-27 school year and open its doors next August. The name is intended to evoke students’ potential as they pursue innovation, prepare for emerging careers, and engage in what FCPS describes as 22nd-century learning.
The decision capped a busy week across the school division that included historic coaching appointments, student awards, a winter graduation, budget discussions, cultural celebrations, theatrical performances, and recognition of the employees who helped schools recover from severe winter storms.
Women Make Virginia Coaching History at TJ
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology became the first Virginia high school to have women leading both its varsity baseball and varsity football programs.
Jennifer Hammond heads the baseball team, while Rachel Worsham will take the football sidelines in the fall.
Hammond said she does not dwell on being among the small number of women coaching boys’ sports, but acknowledged that representation matters. Worsham said being the first in the state carries responsibility, adding that what matters most is ensuring she is not the last.
TJ students also hosted an Adaptive Baseball Camp on Saturday for young players with special needs. Each participant worked one-on-one with a varsity baseball player while practicing base running, hitting from a tee, throwing, and catching.
Students and Alumni Earn Honors
McLean High School graduate Olivia Zhang released YOUth: The Young Person’s Guide to Starting a Nonprofit. Zhang, a 2023 graduate and Harvard sophomore, founded the youth-led nonprofit Cancer Kids First when she was 14. She has since delivered a TED Talk, been selected as a L’Oréal Woman of Worth, and received Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition for social impact.
FCPS teams also captured five of the top eight awards at the Northern Virginia Regional MATHCOUNTS competition at Robinson Secondary School. More than 400 students in grades six through eight competed, representing 41 elementary, middle, private, and home schools across the Fairfax, George Washington, and Northern Virginia chapters.
Two more students placed in the National Park Service’s Frederick Douglass Oratorical Contest. Mosaic Elementary School student Ishan Mohanty finished third in the ages 9-11 division, while Luther Jackson Middle School student Spriha Mohanty took third place among contestants ages 12-14. Participants memorized and performed portions of Douglass speeches before a panel of judges.
The week’s celebrations began Monday with Mountain View High School’s winter graduation, where graduates marked the milestone alongside their families and school staff.
Later that day, families gathered at Springfield Estates Elementary School for a Quad 4 Family Vision Group meeting. Discussions covered report cards, the volunteer management system, and the school division’s budget-development process.
Athletics also remained prominent throughout the week. West Springfield High School hosted Fairfax High School in girls’ basketball Monday, and South Lakes High School faced Westfield High School in junior varsity and varsity games Wednesday.
Budget, Career Programs and Technology Take Center Stage
The School Board held a work session Tuesday followed by a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget. Community members were invited to review priorities, ask questions, and offer feedback as the plan continued to take shape.
On Thursday, Superintendent Michelle Reid participated in a National Association for School-University Partnerships panel at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel. White Oaks Elementary School Principal Josh Douds is among the leaders involved in that collaborative work connecting prekindergarten-through-12th-grade schools with higher education.
During Thursday’s School Board meeting, Reid highlighted Back to Fairfax, an initiative designed to help current students and alumni explore careers within FCPS.
Its programs include Teachers for Tomorrow, a state-approved course for high school juniors and seniors considering education careers; Trades for Tomorrow, which introduces students to apprenticeships and industrial fields; and Technology for Tomorrow, an internship offering experience in cybersecurity and information technology operations.
Students can also participate in a full-day Food and Nutrition Job Shadow Program involving menu development, nutrition planning, logistics, and culinary careers. A separate Department of Human Resources program provides a six-week, paid, in-person summer internship for FCPS high school students and alumni enrolled in postsecondary education.
The School Board also received a strategic-plan update on home, school, and community partnerships, with a focus on information technology.
The technology office builds, operates, and maintains more than 100 systems while providing internet access, telephone service, and connectivity for fire and security alarms. It reviews nearly 1,100 educational and technology tools for privacy and security.
The department has resolved 245,482 email tickets, supports 180 technology support specialists, operates a central laptop repair shop, and maintains camera and network-management crews. Its work also supports the FCPS mobile app, online registration, multilingual family resources, and technology assistance in schools.
Crews Dug Out Nearly 200 Campuses
More than 1,000 employees dubbed “Winter Weather Warriors” were recognized for helping FCPS reopen after unusually severe storms.
More than 1,400 custodians cleared snow and ice by hand at nearly 200 campuses spread across more than 400 square miles. Transportation workers removed heavy accumulations from buses, including vehicles buried as high as their wheel wells.
Facilities, equipment, custodial, transportation, supervisory, and support teams worked extended hours to clear parking lots, sidewalks, and entrances. Additional treatment cycles and continued monitoring helped prepare buildings for returning students and employees.
FCPS built 10 snow days into its calendar and had used four by Feb. 16, along with several delayed openings.
Sharks, School Theater and Cultural Celebrations
On Friday morning, Twain Middle School’s Advanced Theatre class performed at the Gatehouse Administration Center. Led by Theatre Director Beth Becker, students presented the one-act show Everyone Gets Eaten by Sharks.
The production follows Adventure Dan as he guides his niece, Bonnie, through four situations people should avoid if they do not want to be eaten by sharks.
That evening, Fairhill Elementary School held Cultural Heritage Night, bringing students and community members together to celebrate a range of traditions.
The night concluded at Robinson Secondary School with a middle school production of Mean Girls Jr. Director Katie Brunberg described the musical as a cautionary story about belonging, boundaries, unhealthy friendships, and young women finding the power to change their world.
On Saturday, Luther Jackson Middle School hosted a Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, celebration sponsored by the Asian Community Service Center. Students received certificates for their work in an essay and art contest.
The celebration welcomed the Year of the Fire Horse, associated with hard work, bravery, resilience, and forward momentum. It brought a packed FCPS week to a close as the school community headed into Presidents Day and the second half of February.