School Division to Host Community Listening Sessions

Starting March 22, Loudoun County Public Schools will host a series of community listening sessions with Acting Superintendent Daniel Smith and School Board members.

The stated goal of the sessions is to provide an opportunity for community members to share comments or concerns and give feedback directly to division leadership.

Discussions will focus on how the division can best support students’ academic and mental health needs as well as how the division can better communicate with and engage the community.

“As a school division, we know that we have a lot of work to do to rebuild trust and ensure we do a much better job of engaging and communicating with our community,” Smith stated. “These upcoming listening sessions are one way we look to do just that. We encourage community members to attend an event, hear from LCPS leadership and board members, ask questions, and provide feedback on a variety of important topics.”

Anyone needing translation or interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to be able to participate should contact the Superintendent’s Office at least at least three days prior to the meeting at clerk@lcps.org.

For more information and to RSVP for an upcoming listening session, visit bit.ly/LCPSCLS. n

Sessions are scheduled in all eight local election districts:

March 22 at 6 p.m. at Potomac Falls H.S.

March 30 at 7 p.m. Trailside M.S.

April 20 at 6 p.m. at Willard M.S.

April 27 at 6 p.m. at Sterling M.S.

May 1 at 6 p.m. at Freedom H.S.

May 11 at 6 p.m. at Broad Run H.S.

May 17 at 6 p.m. at Heritage H.S.

May 22 at 6 p.m. at Loudoun County H.S.

Now in its 19th year, this year C-SPAN asked middle and high school students to participate using the theme, “If you were a newly elected member of Congress, which issue would be your first priority and why?”

“For the first time in the history of the competition, we asked students to envision themselves in a position of power, as newly elected members of Congress,” C-SPAN Director of Education Craig McAndrew stated. “As each participant considered which issue would be their first priority and why, they creatively wove detailed research with expert interviews and proposed actions to address their concerns. Capitalizing on the platform of short film, these passionate young people masterfully showcased the fruits of active learning, and we are excited to share their work with the country.”

The most popular topics addressed were health care, the environment, education, the economy and gun violence and policy.

High school students competed on a regional level, with the United States divided into three regions. Middle school students were judged on a national basis. The grand prize winner was selected nationally among all regions and grade levels.