The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded a three-year, $236,000 grant to fund watershed education and training to students of Fredericksburg City Public Schools. Friends of the Rappahannock announced the grant in a press release issued last week.

CHRISTIANSBURG - The town high school is on track to receive a facelift and expansion over the next few years, but some elected officials are raising questions about whether it's the best possible improvement. The ongoing plans for Christiansburg High School - built in the 1970s - were among the several topics the Montgomery County School Board discussed with the board of supervisors this past week.

Washington County Virginia Public Schools (WCS) is reporting hundreds of COVID-19 cases less than a month into the school year. Since starting on Aug. 9, the school system has recorded 485 COVID cases among staff and students, according to Paula Nichols, school health coordinator and head nurse.

Hanging on one wall at the Lotus Academy are letters from outgoing students to future students, all typed or handwritten and framed. The letters express understanding for whatever struggles the student is facing and advice and encouragement for overcoming them. "If you trust your teachers and keep your head down, you will succeed," one student wrote.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Safety additions are heading for Virginia Beach Public Schools as students go back to class Tuesday morning. Tommy DeMartini works as the director of the Office of Security for the division. He says they take a proactive approach when it comes to security measures.

As Hickory Elementary celebrated its 100th First Day on Tuesday morning, kids streamed in on foot and from cars and buses, greeted by teachers and staff. Principal Jay Lewter was on the curb opening car doors, helping kids with their backpacks and greeting many by name.

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. - The last of four school districts in Central Virginia return to the classroom on Tuesday including Hanover, New Kent, Colonial Heights and Prince George. Hanover County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Gill said during a Friday interview that the district has not been immune to the staffing shortages that have plagued school systems nationwide.

An online public school option is sparking new excitement for a Frederick County family that was seeking alternatives to their previous classroom experiences in their local school system. Virginia Connections Academy, an in-state chapter of a nationwide online school, started in August and has signed on more than 390 Virginia students enrolled in grades six through 10 for the new school year.

On an August morning, ART 180 looked more like someone's living room than an art studio. A group of teenagers had made themselves right at home, with their shoes off as they laughed and cracked jokes with one another. The Disney movie "Holes" played quietly on a projector.

Like many local students, Scott Clark's four daughters went back to school last month, but for them, it just meant starting up their computers. The girls-ages 7, 14 and 12-year-old twins- are enrolled in Virtual Virginia Academy, or VAVA, an online learning program that uses curriculum from Stride K12 and partners with local public school districts.