Participating in the recent Virginia Education Summit gave me an opportunity to hear from persons in the schools as to the COVID challenges and the heroic efforts being put forth to ensure that our children receive a quality education. |
|
- Commentary: The Most Important Thing We Do
- Latest Update on COVID-19
- Bulletin Board
- What Can I Do?
- Check your Calendar
|
|
The Most Important Thing We Do
|
Last week I attended the Virginia Education Summit 2021 at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. I could hardly recognize the location where I attended undergraduate school in the early 1960s when it was the Norfolk College of William and Mary. Unfortunately I could recognize many of the topics on the agenda for they were the same topics discussed during my 30-year career in public education that ended with my retirement from Fairfax County Public Schools in 1996.
The Summit was designed to educate legislators on current education issues, but it was not organized by the Virginia education establishment. It was organized by the Hunt Institute, a non-profit institute named for former four-term North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt who has been described as America’s first education governor. Governor Hunt was known for saying, “Education can’t be just another thing we do. It’s the most important thing we do!”
The Summit was held at a critical time in the Commonwealth’s history. The last two years have seen amazing advances in early childhood education that a whole body of research has shown to be critical to an individual’s future success in schooling and in life. Presently fewer than half of Virginia’s three and four year olds attend preschool. Under legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor the multiple programs related to preschool education have been brought together creating a unified public-private early childhood system that needs continuing financing and monitoring in order to ensure that all children have access to programs and services.
Not surprisingly a major theme permeating the Summit was the impact of COVID on our schools. The increased stress of teaching in an often changing environment that included virtual learning has resulted in many retirements and in increased difficulty recruiting teachers to teacher-training programs and to employment as teachers. There are about 106,000 teachers in Virginia whose average pay is 34th lowest in the country. There is a serious need to recruit more men and more persons of color into teaching positions.
Every school system faces the challenge of dealing with learning losses among children as a result of interruptions in their schooling from the pandemic. I was so impressed with the teachers and school administrators at the Summit and their stories of heroic efforts to continue to deliver schooling to their students during a time of unprecedented challenges. They deserve our commendation and support as we move forward with schooling that has been changed in many ways during the pandemic. Some of those changes are worthy of continuation.
Virginia has made progress in the last several years in reducing excessive testing that limits time for instruction and provides little useful information. We can measure how our schools are doing without the large number of high stakes tests that have been given in the past. A study of our educational system for children with special needs has been shown to have major deficiencies that are now being addressed.
We are about to move to a new administration of state government. The rhetoric I hear about cutting taxes indicates that a sizable chunk would come from education and that charter schools would divert public monies to private schools. These issues cause me a great deal of concern as does the call to strip libraries of books. The new administration and legislators need to heed Governor Hunt’s admonition that education is the most important thing we do!
|
|
|
LATEST UPDATE on COVID-19 |
|
|
Health Department Urges Boosters and Prevention Strategies to Reduce Spread of COVID-19 and Emerging Variants
|
|
Deck the Halls with Fire Safety |
|
“Holiday Sparkle” at Reston Art Gallery and Studios
Through December 31
|
|
Reston Art Gallery and Studios (RAGS) presents the annual Holiday Sparkle show of giftable art – authentic, local works of paintings, mixed media, jewelry, art objects, mobiles, cards, and more created by the 8 artists of RAGS – through December 31. |
|
Impact a Child’s Life for the Better
Join Volunteer & Partner Services
|
|
Looking for volunteer opportunities or community service in Fairfax County? The Department of Family Services’ Volunteer & Partner Services Program connects volunteers and donors to local families with children who are at risk of abuse or neglect. Learn more about the programs and how you can get involved http://bit.ly/DFS-VPS
|
|
WHAT CAN I DO? CIVIC INVOLVEMENT |
|
|
Support Your Neighbors through
Cornerstones "Produce for the Pantry Drive"
Friday, December 10; 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
|
|
Please help Cornerstones prepare for its Community Food Distribution by donating
oranges and apples, potatoes, squash, onions, peppers, carrots, and other seasonal vegetables and fruits.
Deliver your donations of fresh produce
on Friday, December 10, 2021
Assistance Services and Food Pantry
11484 Washington Plaza West, Suite 120, in Reston
8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
|
|
Friday, December 10, 10:00 a.m., Employment and Training Program for Unemployed or Underemployed Adults. Attend a live virtual information session hosted by a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act team member. Learn about what the program is and who is eligible. Get a brief overview of the enrollment form and required documents checklist, get information about other program services that the Virginia Career Works Centers offer and conclude with answers to questions you may have. Register here.
Saturday, December 11, 12:00 to 7:00 p.m., Herndon WinterMarkt. The market is focused on showcasing the diversity of our community and the surrounding DC Metro area, in our lovely historic town. We are family-focused with events, entertainment and items for all members of the household while bringing the charm of this European tradition to Herndon. More is at Wintermarkt.
Sunday, December 12, 3:00 p.m., A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play, at United Christian Parish, 11508 North Shore Drive, Reston. The Charles Dickens holiday classic comes to life as a live radio broadcast produced by members of United Christian Parish. Register by December 11, 5:00 p.m. to attend in person. The show will also be livestreamed on our Facebook Page. This is a FREE event and we can't wait to see you there in-person or online!
Sunday, December 12, 4:00 p.m., Christmas with the Fairfax Choral Society, at St. Luke Catholic Church, 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean. Symphonic Chorus, Master Singers, Concert Choir FCS Youth and Symphonic Chorus ring in the season with a beautiful program of joyous choral works for the holidays, plus audience caroling with organ, brass and timpani. Read more and purchase tickets at Fairfax Choral Society.
Monday, December 13, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., CenterStage Cinema: It’s a Wonderful Life, (All ages) at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Cost: Free Registration is required, and some health protocols may be in place. A holiday classic starring James Stewart as George Bailey, a businessman in an unfortunate position and struggling to see the positive in his life. For more information, contact Paul Douglas Michnewicz, Arts & Events Director, at 703-390-6167. Register here.
Tuesday, December 14, 10:00 a.m., Gun Violence Awareness Vigil at National Rifle Association headquarters, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax. The vigil commemorates the anniversary of the day 26 children and educators were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Please DO NOT park in the NRA's parking lot. There is plenty of free parking in the office building lot on Fairfax Ridge Drive across Waples Mill Road. Signs and flags will be provided. Some protesters will drive past the NRA with signs taped to their car windows or doors; others will stand on the sidewalk.
Sunday, December 19, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., Equity Matters: Moving Forward to Equal Justice - Crescendo, at Reston Community Center (All ages), at the CenterStage at RCC Hunters Woods - 2310 Colts Neck Rd. Reston. Cost: Free Registration is required, and some health protocols may be in place. When world-famous conductor Eduard Sporck accepts the job to create an Israeli-Palestinian youth orchestra, he is quickly drawn into a tempest of unsolvable problems. This film is presented in partnership with the Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia. For more information, contact Paul Douglas Michnewicz, Arts & Events Director, at 703-390-6167. Registration link.
Tuesday, December 21, 2:00 p.m., Employment and Training Program for Unemployed or Underemployed Adults. Attend a live virtual information session hosted by a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act team member. Learn about what the program is and who is eligible. Get a brief overview of the enrollment form and required documents checklist, get information about other program services that the Virginia Career Works Centers offer and conclude with answers to questions you may have. Register here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
