NORTH STAFFORD — A new head start center in North Stafford opened this week with little fanfare.
“There wasn’t a letter sent out to parents about it being opened. There wasn’t anything on Facebook. There was something on Twitter, but I don’t tweet,” one parent told the Stafford County School Board during its Tuesday night meeting.
A low-key grand opening event was held on Sunday.
The North Star Early Childhood Education Center is one of the newest facilities in the Stafford County School System. Located off Route 610 in North Stafford, the new center is in the former Stafford Campus of the Fredericksburg Christian Schools.
The school division decided to buy the empty building for about $10 million.
“We could have done more with [the grand opening of] North Star. It’s done. We need to focus on the children,” said Garrisonville District School Board representative Pamela Yeung.
Stafford schools described the North Star education center as:
North Star Early Childhood Education Learning Center
Organizers initiated the design for the new North Star Early Childhood Education Center in April 2018. The school will house Early Head Start and ECSE students. The renovations began in February 2019.
The new site features 21 classrooms with bathrooms, a new multipurpose area, library, clinic, and a kitchen. Classroom features include built-in sinks and cabinets, built-in cubbies for teachers and students. The facility also has interactive TV’s in each room and a colorful teacher wall.
The multipurpose room will feature a beautiful mural on the back wall and a newly renovated stage area, which will also serve as the library. The kitchen features all new equipment. The large outside space will allow for future growth for additional classrooms in the coming years.
The school division did, however, held a large community celebration for the opening of the new Anne E. Moncure Elementary School.
A school division press release states:
New Anne E. Moncure Elementary School
The design of the new Anne E. Moncure Elementary School supports the Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) C5W vision which focuses on: communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, citizenship, and wellness. The interior transparency will foster a strong sense of community connections for students, staff, and parents. The exterior transparency connects Moncure’s community of learners to the natural setting that exists on site. The building is a LEED Silver certified and Energy Star rated school. The building will accommodate approximately 964 students and open with grades K-5. The new school provides enhanced instructional environments with a focus on active learning. The building integrates up-to-date technology, carefully exposed building features, personalized and collaborative spaces.
Key Features:
-
Efficient HVAC equipment
-
Full-size regulation the basketball court in the gymnasium
-
Open Library with second floor Maker Space
-
Collaborative learning areas at each educational neighborhood
-
Roll-up door on the stage for outside performances
-
State of the art sound systems in the music room and gym
-
Art room exterior patio
-
Outdoor instructional areas
-
Writable wall surface and cabinet doors in all classrooms
During the community celebration on Friday, August, 2, it was clear that there was more work to be done to install some final pieces of the paneling in hallways on walls and inside the school gym. Stafford County Schools Superintendent Scott Kizner said that there is also more work to do with adding some new doors and making sure all of the audio and visual classroom equipment is working properly.
“There are contractors that know how to do it to where they don’t interrupt student learning,” Kizner said at Tuesday’s School Board meeting.
School officials thanked Stafford County Administrator Thomas Foley for helping the school division expedite the building occupancy permit process in time for the start of the school year on August 12. That’s the earliest the Stafford County Public School students have returned to class following a summer break.
The property on which the old Anne E. Moncure Elementary sits will be deeded to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors and will most likely be sold to real estate developer.
The on-time opening of the new Moncure bests that of the new Stafford High School in Falmouth, which opened in 2015, two weeks after the start of the new school year.
Author
Recent Stories
Manassas continues to make strides in its commitment to fostering a thriving business environment, with the Manassas Business Council (NBC) and the Economic Development Authority (EDA) reflecting on the city’s ongoing growth and vision for future projects. Both organizations presented their annual reports during the city council meeting on January 27, 2025, highlighting key initiatives, business growth, and revitalization efforts.
The Manassas Business Council’s efforts to connect with local businesses have paid off with an active year of meetings, presentations, and valuable discussions. Key highlights from their year include monthly meetings with industry experts, discussions about economic development in the city, and presentations on projects such as the façade and landscape improvement grants. Notably, the city’s economic development initiatives were discussed in depth, including the work to support small businesses and increase community engagement. Council members were also informed about the successes of local restaurants and the efforts to make Historic Downtown Manassas a key business district.
Amid heightened immigration enforcement under President Trump’s executive orders, local communities are grappling with confusion and fear sparked by social media posts warning of ICE raids and undercover operations.
The president issued numerous Executive Orders, some of which reinforced the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. In addition to targeted raids on known criminals across the country, the Trump administration has mobilized troops at the U.S.-Mexico border and reinstated the previous “Remain in Mexico” policy. This policy requires individuals seeking asylum to stay outside the U.S. while awaiting a decision on their applications.
These enforcement measures have sparked concern among those residing in the country illegally. Despite the Trump administration’s assurances that it is focusing on illegal immigrants with criminal convictions, certain groups have seized on the uncertainty, pushing political agendas that confuse the undocumented community, causing fear and confusion. Numerous social media posts, in both English and Spanish, warn people to avoid common locations like grocery stores and shopping centers to prevent encounters with ICE.
(The Center Square) — Despite budget increases in the hundreds of millions and multiple statewide education initiatives, Virginia students still aren’t showing a definitive recovery from pandemic learning lows.
Their test scores from January 2024 declined from their 2022 scores – the scores that caused Gov. Glenn Youngkin to call for major education reforms – in several areas.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the “nation’s report card,” measures several subjects but is most known for its 4th and 8th grade math and reading tests.
(The Center Square) – The White House took steps to make good on its promise to cut the federal government down to size by giving federal workers a choice: return to the office full-time or leave with eight months of pay.
The Office of Personnel Management told federal workers Tuesday night that they have until Feb. 6 to decide to stay or go. If they step down, they will continue getting all pay and benefits and be exempt from in-person work requirements until Sept. 30.
However, the Trump administration said that even government employees who stay on could still eventually lose their jobs as the president reshapes the federal government and its workforce.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
