Football: 2013 Schedules for Loudoun's 13 Public High Schools

(July 2, 2013) - Here is the 2013 composite high school football schedule for Loudoun's 13 public schools:

Fri. Aug. 30
Briar Woods at Brooke Point, 7 p.m.
Broad Run at B.T. Washington, 4 p.m.
Central-Woodstock at John Champe, 7 p.m.
Freedom at Woodgrove, 7 p.m.
Heritage at James Wood, 7 p.m.
Loudoun County at Fauquier, 7 p.m.
Park View at Ireton, 4 p.m.
Potomac Falls at Dominion, 7 p.m.
Tuscarora at Kettle Run, 7 p.m.
bye: Stone Bridge, Loudoun Valley

News: 67 Loudoun County Public Schools Students Attending Governor's School

(July 9, 2013) - Sixty-seven Loudoun County Public Schools students are attending the 2013 Governor's School program, an intensive four-week educational experience for gifted students that takes place during July on college and university campuses throughout Virginia. 

The Governor's School provides rising juniors and seniors with a program of intensive instruction in visual and performing arts, engineering, humanities, mathematics, science and technology, agriculture, and life sciences and medicine.

News: 33 Loudoun County Public Schools Students Accepted to 2013 Governor's Foreign Language Academies

(July 9, 2013) - Thirty-three Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) students have been invited to the 2013 Governor's Foreign Language Academies in Latin, German, French, Spanish and Japanese.

News: Loudoun County School Board Extends Special Permission Request Window

(July 8, 2013) - On June 11th, the Loudoun County School Board revised policy §8-20 extending the special permission request window through September 15. Parents/guardians wishing to submit a request may do so using the online request system at: http://www.lcps.org/Page/76705

News: Loudoun County Public Schools Class of 2013 Earns more than $34 Million in Scholarships

(June 28, 2013) - The Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Class of 2013 earned $34,931,604 in scholarships, an increase from the $28,824,730 earned by the Class of 2012.

Graduation 2013: Briar Woods - Nothing Wimpy About the Falcons Grad Speaker

Today Viva Loudoun kicks off an 18-part Graduation 2013 series with a detailed look at the graduations at all the Loudoun County Public Schools high schools and programs.

Ashburn (June 28, 2013) - “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” author Jeff Kinney was the commencement speaker (his niece was among the graduates) at the Briar Woods High School graduation on Monday, June 10, at George Mason University’s Patriot Center.

News: Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Hatrick to Step Down After Coming School Year; Read Full Text of Retirement Announcement

(June 27, 2013) - Loudoun County Public School Edgar B. Hatrick III announced earlier this month he would retire at the end of the 2013-14 school year. He has been the school district's leader since 1991 and a graduate of Loudoun County High School, he has been working in the school system since 1967.

When Hatrick helped open Broad Run High School in 1969 there was just 9,525 students total in the entire school system and that number had only increased to 15,118 by the time he took over as superintendent in 1991. Since then, Loudoun's student population has skyrocked to 68,289 students this past year. Here is the full text of Hatrick's retirement letter:

News: Loudoun County Offers Public Employees Homeownership Grant Program

(June 17, 2013) - Loudoun County's Public Employee Homeownership Grant Program assists low-to moderate-income public employees in purchasing a home in Loudoun County. The program offers a secured loan to income-eligible employees of the Loudoun County Government, including the Courts and Constitutional Officers; and the Loudoun County Public Schools.

News: Graduation Ceremonies, Speakers Set for Loudoun County Public Schools

(May 26, 2013) - Loudoun County Public School will hold 18 graduation and completion ceremonies this spring across its 13 public high schools and other programs.

Stone Bridge High School has the largest graduating class with 490 students. Here is a complete list of each graduation and completion ceremony including the scheduled speaker:

News: Washington Capitals Goaltender Michal Neuvirth, Forward Mathieu Perreault Host Hockey School at Steuart Weller Elementary School in Ashburn

(March 19, 2013) - Washington Capitals goaltender Michal Neuvirth, forward Mathieu Perreault and mascot Slapshot visited Steuart Weller Elementary School in Ashburn, Va., on Monday, March 11, to host a Capitals Hockey School.

News: 194th Word is the Charm for Thornbugh ... Again! Homeschooler Wins Spelling Bee for 2nd Straight Year

(March 15, 2013) - Luke Thornburgh, a seventh-grader from the Loudoun Homeschool Association, won the 31st Annual Loudoun County Regional Spelling Bee on Thursday, March 14th, at Stone Bridge High School.

This is the second straight year Luke has won the title. And as it did last year, his victory came on the 194th word.

News: Field of 106 For 31st Regional Spelling Bee Set

(March 12, 2013) - A field of 106 students will compete at the 31st Annual Loudoun Regional Spelling Bee which will be held Thursday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Stone Bridge High School.

(List of students is for educational purposes only ... please NO wagering):

News: Ashburn and Dulles North Area Secondary Schools Proposed Boundaries Released

(March 12, 2013) - Loudoun County Public Schools posted a base plan Monday for new Ashburn and Dulles North Area secondary schools attendance boundaries. Changes are need with Trailside Middle School (next to Newton-Lee Elementary School) and a new unnamed high school (next to Rosa Lee Carter Elementary School) opening in 2014 and another unnamed high school opening next to Belmont Ridge Middle School in 2015. See below for FAQs on the process from the school district.

News: Snowquestered! Loudoun County Schools and Government Both Closed Wednesday

(March 6, 2013) - Loudoun County Public Schools are closed today because of the weather. All schools and administrative offices are closed. Loudoun County Government will be closed on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Employees who staff essential 24-hour county operations and other essential services must work as scheduled.

Music: 25 Loudoun County Public Schools Students Qualify for National ACDA Choirs

(Feb. 28, 2013) - Twenty-five Loudoun County Public Schools students have qualified for the prestigious American Choral Directors Association (ADCA) national choirs. These choirs consist of choral students from throughout the United States. The students were selected after a rigorous audition process. They will perform at the ACDA convention March 13-16 in Dallas.

The honored LCPS students include:

News: Loudoun County Schools Superintendent Outlines 2014 Budget

Special to Viva Loudoun via Loudoun County Public Schools

(Feb. 21, 2013) - Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Superintendent Edgar B. Hatrick III outlined the School Board’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2014 Operating Budget for the Loudoun Education Alliance of Parents (LEAP) on Wednesday, February 13th.

• In presenting the $859.7 million proposed budget, Hatrick noted the historical climate in which it was crafted.
• Between the 2008-2009 school year and the projected enrollment for 2013-2014, LCPS will have grown by 13,846 students.
• Reflecting the downturn in the economy, LCPS’ budget remained relatively flat for several years; dropping from $745.6 million in FY09 to $732.6 million in FY10 before growing to $745.9 million and $823.1 million during the past two years.
• At the same time frame, the average cost per pupil has dropped by $915 to the $11,865 reflected in the School Board’s proposed budget.
• Hatrick noted that while the LCPS budget grew between FY12 and the current budget year, much of that increase was unavoidable. “We’ve heard several times that the cost per pupil increased this year by 5.3 percent, which was more than inflation. So I think it’s important to note that almost half that 5.3 percent was due to a change in the Virginia Retirement System. The School Board… (did not have) control over that increase.” 

Music: Feb. 20 Guitar Concert Dedicated to Jim Harmon

Special to Viva Loudoun via Loudoun County Public Schools

(Feb. 19, 2013) - The Martha Masters Guitar Concert on Wednesday at Heritage High School will be dedicated to the memory of former Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Music Supervisor Jim Harmon.
The concert, which begins at 7 p.m., is free and open to the public.

News: Loudoun County Public Schools FAQ on the Virginia High School League Transfer Rule in Light of County's New Open Enrollment Policy

(Feb. 13, 2013) - The Loudoun County Public Schools have put out a FAQ on the VHSL transfer rules in light of the county shifting to "school choice" for those students that which to transfer from their attendance boundary high school to another high school within the county that is not at capacity.

The upshot: rising 9th graders can pick another school if they wish and play right away as the VHSL considers your first school as a freshman to be your "home school". For those already in high school transferring for any reason, they would have to sit out a year of athletic before becoming eligible. The exception would be for those who request a waiver from the county but waivers will not be granted for athletic or activity reasons.

In the end, local athletic directors may have a nightmare on their hands next year trying to make sure all their athletes are properly eligible and prevent any forfeits due to illegal participation:

FAQ’S ON VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE (VHSL) TRANSFER RULE

 

1. If I am a currently enrolled high school student and voluntarily choose to attend a high school under the special permission provision of School Board Policy §8-20 (School Assignment) different from my home school, will I remain eligible for VHSL athletics?

News: Sheriff's Seek Hit-and-Run Driver that Sideswiped Loudoun County School Bus in Ashburn

(Feb. 13, 2013) - The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is seeking a hit-and-run driver of a dark green Jeep Cherokee that sideswiped a Loudoun County Public Schools bus on Belmont Ridge Road in Ashburn just after 4 p.m. Tuesday.

According to the daily crime report:

• A dark green Jeep Cherokee was attempting to pass a Loudoun County School bus on a solid-double yellow line when it clipped the side of the bus. The vehicle continued southbound on Belmont Ridge Road (near Broadlands Blvd) without stopping. A bus driver and one student were on the bus at the time of the incident. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle is further described as having a black roof rack and should have damage to the passenger side tire/rim/rear quarter panel area.

News: Loudoun County School Board Makes Changes to School Assignment Policies

(Jan. 28, 2013) - On Tuesday, January 22, the Loudoun County School Board revised one policy regarding school assignment (§8-20) and deleted another (§8-25). The revisions and deletion go into effect immediately, replacing the previous policies and practices. The following important changes should be noted by parents seeking special permission for their student to attend a school other than the one to which they are assigned. 

First, special permission requests for the 2012-13 school year are no longer being accepted. 

There are now two windows for those seeking special permission for the 2013-14 school year: 

• Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) employees may apply for special permission for their children between March 1 and May 15. 
• The general public may apply for special permissions between April 1 and May 15.