Remember the good ol’ days when school started right after Labor Day? Well, forget them, because it’s altogether different now. A lot of the functions of the coming school year are already in full swing in Falls Church ahead of the first day of classes that start in less than two weeks – on Aug. 19.
The first day for teachers to be showing up at all five of the Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) is actually today (Thursday, Aug. 8), and the first day for them to officially begin working will be tomorrow.
Then, this coming week, what has traditionally been a convocation for all employees of the FCCPS held on the eve of the commencing of the fall semester will this time be divided into two segments, with what is being called a “Welcome Back Divisionwide Kickoff” at Meridian High School next Tuesday, Aug. 12, from 8 a.m. to noon. It will feature a continental breakfast at 8 a.m. and remarks by Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan at 9 a.m.
The official convocation at Meridian will be held the next day, Wednesday, Aug. 13, starting with breakfast, again, at 8 a.m. and including a “celebration of employees” at 9 a.m., traditionally acknowledging those in the system who have achieved milestones of employment, ranging from five years in five year increments up to over 30 and sometimes 35.
The News-Press will be reporting on both events, and has been promised a live interview with Dr. Noonan to be included.
Meanwhile, the new school year’s first School Board meeting will be held next Wednesday.
On Thursday, Aug. 15, a full day of an array of activities will include a Jesse Thackrey Preschool welcome at 8 a.m., a Meridian High Rising 9th Grade orientation at 9 a.m., a Henderson Middle School 6th grade open house and locker day at 10 a.m., a Henderson Middle School 7th and 8th grade open house and locker day at 1 p.m. and a Mt. Daniel Elementary Meet the Teacher at 2 p.m.
The next day, Friday, Aug. 16, Meridian and Henderson “New to FCCPS” student orientation will be held at 9 a.m., an Oak Street Elementary Meet the Teacher will commence at 9:30 a.m. and a Kindergarten Play date will be held in the City’s Cherry Hill Park. starting at 10 a.m.
All preceding the official start of the school year on Monday, Aug. 19.
In the context of all this, fall sports (of course, it will still be summer until late September) are already underway, with Meridian football practices daily and inter-school competitions involving the Meridian cross country and golf teams having kicked off this week at Mason District Park for cross country and the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club, against Warren County and Yorktown on the Bristow Manor course.
This Monday, Aug. 12, Meridian’s golfers will compete with Kettle Run, and on Wednesday, Aug. 14, Meridian’s girls volleyball JV and varsity teams will compete. On Thursday, Aug. 15, Meridian varsity and junior varsity field hockey teams will compete at Meridian, and the boys volleyball team will scrimmage at Thomas Jefferson High.
Football competition will commence Aug. 22 for Meridian with a scrimmage against Falls Church High, while the boys volleyball team will go up against McLean High at South Lakes High on Aug. 29, the same day that the Meridian football competition officially commences at McLean High at 7 p.m.
And we’ll still be days away from Labor Day, which will be on Monday, Sept. 2 this year.
