Church Helps Kids Get Ready For School

Reston's Ronald and Janice Winters and Resurrection Baptist in Herndon distribute school supplies.

Resurrection Baptist Church in Herndon, led by Reston's Rev. Ronald Winters and wife Janice Winters, held its Back to School "Jesus and Me" event on Wednesday night. School supplies were distributed free of charge, there was a prayer for the children. Hunter Mills Supervisor Cathy Hudgins  stopped by to offer words of encouragement for the students - challenging them "to be leaders in the classroom and the community."  

• Photos (2)

Gallery: First Day of School

Reston students ready for 2012-13 school year.

There were new shoes, new backpacks and new faces as more than 180,000 Fairfax County Public Schools students returned to the classroom on Tuesday. At several Reston schools, there was also a new principal. Schools with new principals include South Lakes High School (Kim Retzer); Terraset Elementary School (Lindsay Trout); Hunters Woods Elementary School (Emily Cope); Dogwood Elementary School (Tamara Ballou); and Aldrin Elementary School (Shane Wolf). Were your kids excited for the new school year? Got any great first day of school photos? Upload them to this story.  

• Photos (15)

Sheriffs Take Local Kids School Shopping

The 19th annual 'Shop with a Sheriff' event benefited 24 children who are homeless.

The Fairfax County Sheriff's Office partnered with Target in Burke Wednesday to provide 24 children who are homeless with a back-to-school shopping spree. Now in its 19th year, Shop with a Sheriff pairs deputies and other Sheriff's Office staff with school-aged children temporarily residing at the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter in Fairfax and the Patrick Henry Family Shelter in Falls Church. "The deputies and Sheriff's Office staff themselves generate contributions from local businesses and individuals to fund this annual event," said Braddock District Supervisor John Cook. "It is a great contribution to the community." The children ranged in age from kindergarteners to young adults, and enjoyed the company of the deputies and staff as…

• Photos (9)

Back-to-School Help for Families in Need

Northern Virginia Family Service offers free backpacks for families who need a little help as the new school year starts.

Not long ago, the small storefront at 13926 Metrotech Drive, just off Route 50 in Chantilly, was empty. But earlier last week, it transformed into a bustling center of activity where nearly 100 volunteers worked to pack and distribute nearly 1,600 backpacks for local kids in need.  Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS), a nonprofit community service organization that helps nearly 33,000 individuals and families with various needs every year, set up temporary quarters there while volunteers conducted the annual Back to School Drive. The owner of the plaza had donated temporary use of the space.  "We're already in touch with the people in the community who have the greatest need," said Graham Marsden, director of agency communications. He …

• Photos (3)

Retzer Ready to Lead South Lakes High School

It's been a busy summer for SLHS' new principal.

The 2012-13 school year begins for South Lakes High School students on Sept. 4. For Kim Retzer, it began on July 2, when she took over as principal of her alma mater. Retzer, a 1989 graduate of the school who spent 13 years as a teacher and administrator at South Lakes, was an assistant principal at Westfield High School for one year before being named to the post last spring after Bruce Butler announced his retirement. Retzer has been busy hiring staff members, buying more green and blue spiritwear and getting organized for the new school year. She talked with Reston Patch about some things in store for 2012-13. Retzer is looking forward to the South Lakes Block Party on Thursday. The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. with a meet-and-greet, and she…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

School Year Save: No Athletic Fee in 2012-13

Playing on a team will be much more friendly to wallets.

Student-athletes in Fairfax County Public Schools no longer have to pay a $100 athletic fee to play on a team. The School Board eliminated the fee as part of the FY2013 Budget it passed last spring. The elimination of the fee will result in a revenue reduction of $1.7 million annually, FCPS estimates. Athletes formerly had to pay $100 per sport, though the fee was capped at $200 even if a student was on three school sports teams. It was waived for students who qualified for free and reduced lunch. The fee was in effect during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years. The $1.7 will be made up with additional transfer money from Fairfax County.

• Photos (1)

School Year Save: FCPS Bell Schedule

Making plans for the 2012-13 school year? Just a reminder, several FCPS schools have tweaked the bell schedule a bit. In most cases, it is not a drastic change, but you may want to consult it for planning purposes (you don't want to be late on the first day!). Find the bell schedule for every FCPS school here.

• Photos (1)