WINCHESTER - In an effort to boost student morale amid the COVID-19 pandemic and to reward students for good behavior, Handley High School let students out of class Wednesday afternoon to attend a pumpkin smashing and pep rally. About 1,100 students attended the rally, which took place in the Handley Bowl.

VIRGINIA BEACH - A Virginia Beach lawyer is suing the city's public school district to halt a vaccine requirement the division announced in September. In a complaint filed Tuesday in Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Jason Swango asked the court to grant a temporary injunction that would halt enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for athletes.

With school resource officers returning to Alexandria's middle and high schools through the end of the school year after City Council's Oct. 12 decision, the School Board discussed the short-term, and potentially long-term, future of the program at a meeting on Nov. 11.

The Powhatan Education Foundation (PEF) last week awarded seven Innovative Classroom Grants to Powhatan County Public Schools educators to fund projects that will enhance student learning. During the Powhatan County School Board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 9, Conway Blankenship, a PEF board member, presented checks to the educators for their projects.

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - For the 34th year in a row, Augusta County students are raising money to provide meals to families in Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County. Their goal this year is to raise $12,000 and feed about 400 families.

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Richmond Public Schools is working to address students' mental health and now the district wants to hear from students and parents. Superintendent Jason Kamras says RPS is reallocating $3 million in federal relief funding to increase mental health supports for students.

Russell County Schools Superintendent Gregory Brown announced his retirement Thursday afternoon. In a statement, Brown said in part: “The accomplishments of the teachers and students are incredible. Russell County has risen to be a leader in Southwest Virginia and the Commonwealth and this is due to your dedication.

Getting through the pandemic, effectively managing growth and supporting teachers are among the goals new Stafford County Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Taylor has set for the division under his administration, which begins Dec. 1. "I imagine those challenges are similar across the state," said Taylor, who is leaving a position as deputy superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools to come to Stafford.

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) - A cloudy day comes to an end across the area as we track showers making its way into the area late tonight going into our overnight hours. Temperatures will not drop too much going into tomorrow morning.

High school students in Albemarle could soon have the chance to dive into a new learning experience - one that will not only match their interests better but also prepare them better for jobs.