BRIDGEWATER -- Every day when Avelia Shindyapin comes out of the locker room, she has her head in a book, according to gym teacher Greg Watson. When Watson sees she has a new book, he always asks, "What book are you reading today?" Recently, the answer surprised Watson.

Henrico County Public Schools officials have made available on the school system's website educational information for families of students who have been identified as deaf, hard of hearing or visually impaired. The information is available at www.henricoschools.us/required-notifications/ or as packets of printed material available from the exceptional education administrator at each HCPS school.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on teachers and some in Virginia are telling district leaders they are worn out and need relief. Pulaski Superintendent Dr. Kevin Siers is among multiple districts in the area to make a change to the school schedule.

After a series of episodes involving guns and Alexandria City Public Schools, parents and the superintendent are urging that school resource officers once again roam the campus. "I'm pleading with our city council this evening that we reinstate our school resource officers immediately.

Halifax County Public Schools is looking at a consolidation proposal for area elementary schools. The proposed plan is one of seven models proposed that local school and community leaders and members are discussing.

When the 12:45 bell rang at Urbana Middle School on Wednesday, signaling the beginning of eighth grade lunch, Sharon Eburg took a deep breath. "That's our cue to rock and roll," she said, rising from her seat. Within three minutes, the line of students waiting for food stretched the entire length of the cafeteria.

The Martinsville City School board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the City Council Chambers of the City Municipal Building at 55 W. Church St. Matters on the agenda are: Information about the Harvest Foundation's SEED 2.0 program, a $10.3 million grant which continues the SEED Fund for the next 13 years.

Schools in Lynchburg and the surrounding localities together reported 144 additional positive cases of COVID-19 this week. Together, Lynchburg City Schools and the public school divisions in Amherst, Bedford, Campbell and Nelson counties have reported roughly 1,488 cases of the coronavirus in the 2021-22 school year.

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (AP) - On a Thursday night inside a place in Newport News called an innovation laboratory, a half-dozen students were learning about United Nations' goals for transforming the world. The students are spending about a month learning about a variety of social and environmental problems while brainstorming ways to raise money to address the challenges in their own communities.

Virginia's first lady Pamela Northam came to Atkins Elementary School last week to make a special announcement. Ashley Cannon, health and physical education teacher and Smyth County's Teacher of the Year, has been named Region 7 Teacher of the Year. Cannon received the county-level recognition last month, making her eligible for the regional award.