The choice of whether to unmask or remain masked has become a major decision for students and staff alike since new regulations went into effect on March 1. Virginia’s SB 739 allows parents to elect for their child not to wear a mask at school without submitting a formal reason.Continue Reading
Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) began a new phase in the pandemic on February 14: optional masking for students. In a letter to the community on February 10, FCCPS Superintendent Peter Noonan said the option to opt-out of masking comes with a decrease in positive COVID-19 cases since theContinue Reading
The Virginia House of Delegates passed House Bill 340 on Friday, which would allow students to pursue the Advanced Diploma through Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses in lieu of foreign languages. “I think it’s interesting,” Junior and French 4 student Eleanor Pride said of the bill, “But I thinkContinue Reading
To combat Virginia’s blood shortage, senior Manas Atluri helped organize a schoolwide blood drive in coordination with INOVA Health System. “I think we as high schoolers have a role in society to do something good,” Atlrui said. “Doing this would be saving a lot of people’s lives, especially people whoContinue Reading
The Marshall Mob has new rules for the winter season following an email by Principal Jeffrey Litz Monday afternoon to the Statesmen community. The message came after numerous reports of students behaving disruptively at sports events. “Since basketball season began in November, my administrative team and I have become increasinglyContinue Reading
English teacher Pierce Bello will revive the Film Studies course next year, but this time without its IB designation. Bello said student interest in the class dwindled due to the IB workload, so rather than coming back as an IB course, the class will be an elective. “I just fundamentallyContinue Reading
The word “queer” brings different reactions from different audiences, but through her new LGBTQ+ Perspectives in Literature course, English teacher Apoorva Johri said she hopes to help students unravel what the word truly means. Johri said there is a common lack of queer literature in the standard English curriculum, andContinue Reading
FCPS will continue to require masks for students and staff, said superintendent Scott Brabrand during a town hall meeting on Monday. The meeting was in response to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Jan. 15 Executive Order allowing parents to decide whether their children wear masks in school. This order is now beingContinue Reading
FCPS announced a joint lawsuit against Governor Glenn Youngkin’s executive order banning school mask requirements Monday morning. Fairfax County joins six other districts, including neighboring Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and Prince William, in challenging the order. “At issue is whether locally-elected school boards have the exclusive authority and responsibility conferredContinue Reading
After Glenn Youngkin was sworn into office as Virginia’s 74th Governor on Jan. 15, he issued an executive order within hours designed to end mask mandates in Virginia schools. The new executive order is intended to allow parents to opt-out of mask mandates, although the timetable and legality of theContinue Reading