Backpack. Check. Peanut butter sandwich. Check. There is an air of excitement in Northern Virginia as roughly 73,000 students in six school districts head back to classes Wednesday. Students went back in Stafford County, Spotsylvania County, Fauquier County, Culpeper County, Rappahannock County and Manassas City Public Schools.

The Spotsylvania School Board on Monday approved revisions to the Student Code of Conduct and revisions to the policy on restraint and seclusion, but postponed decisions on other matters of public and school division interest.

A new policy in effect this year at Caroline Middle School and Caroline High School prohibits students from accessing their cellphones during class. According to the policy, which is included in the 2022-23 Student Code of Conduct, secondary students must silence their cellphones and smart watches at the beginning of class.

ROCKY MOUNT - Starting Wednesday, the first day of the new school year, there will be six more school resource officers assigned to Franklin County Public Schools. On Friday, the county learned that it received a $561,000 Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services grant to add six school resource officer positions to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.

One week after remaining mum on the number of staffing vacancies in Lynchburg City Schools, administrators provided clarity on the exact number of open positions they are facing less as the first day of school approaches.

CHRISTIANSBURG - Nearly two-dozen people applied for the job of superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, according to an update on the search. "Which was a really outstanding output," said county School Board Chairwoman Sue Kass. "And considering we're told it was a shallow pool, it sounds like it wasn't so shallow after all."

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA - While nationwide teacher shortages are affecting schools around the U.S., new teacher hires will help Fairfax County Public Schools start the year on Aug. 22 with new enthusiasm and minimal vacancies. As of Monday, a Fairfax County Public Schools spokesperson confirmed classrooms are 98 percent staffed.

Pitt most recently served as assistant principal at George Wythe High School in Richmond Public Schools. He will begin the role of CHS principal effective Aug. 15. Pitt has seventeen years of experience in education, according to a Charlottesville City Schools press release.

WAYNESBORO, Va. (WVIR) - Waynesboro Public Schools is offering an afterschool program to help close the learning gap. Starting in September, Kate Collins Middle School will be hosting the program four days a week. It'll provide students with academic coaching and career exploration by using people from the community.

PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - Pittsylvania County students are heading back to the classroom for the first day of school on Tuesday. In an emergency, every second counts. That's why Pittsylvania County Public Schools along with the sheriff's office are updating school maps by making them digital.