FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — Space Shuttle Discovery will make its final landing in Fairfax County on April 17.
Discovery will take off — positioned on the back of a modified Boeing 747 jet from Kennedy Space Center in Florida — in the early hours of April 17 bound for Dulles International Airport and is expected to arrive during the mid-morning hours, according to Fairfax County officials.
Fairfax County officials said the spacecraft’s landing will not be visible, but they have invited residents to come and watch the orbiter approach from the historic Sully Historic Site located off Va. 28 in Chantilly. They are also exploring ways to televise the landing live from the airport. There’s a $10 cover charged for admission to the park, which includes a tour of the historic home Northern Virginia’s first congressman, Richard Bland Lee.
Discovery flew 39 missions, beginning in 1984 until March 2011. It twice flew NASA’s “return to flight” missions in 1988 and 2006, following the Challenger and Columbia disasters in 1986 and in 2003, respectively.
Discovery also deployed the famed Hubble Telescope, which since 1990 has beamed back to earth fascinating images of the cosmos.
Once in Fairfax County, the shuttle will be on display at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Udvar-Hazy Center. The space shuttle program’s test orbiter, Enterprise, has been on display at the Air and Space center, but Enterprise will now be on display at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City.
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The Prince William County School Board is considering a proposal that would redistrict three new residential developments in the Brentsville District due to overcrowding at The Nokesville School, Insidenova.com reports.Â
The School Board in November directed division staff to develop a redistricting proposal related to the three developments. The division brought the proposal to the board at its Jan. 22 meeting.
The three developments – Bristow Corner, Bristow Crossing and Thomas Farm at Bristow Station – have already been approved by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and would be districted to The Nokesville School.
Flanked by UVA Health-branded bags filled with pregnancy supplies beside a table of neatly-aligned cupcakes, nurse Teresa Baltuano-Post addressed a crowd of expectant mothers and their families, alternating between English and Spanish, Insidenova.com reports.
“I’ve been doing the baby shower for about 24 years,” Baltuano-Post told InsideNoVa. “The goal … is to educate our moms and to make sure they know what to do when they need to come to the hospital.”
Get ready for a windy Wednesday across the region, as conditions are expected to be quite blustery throughout the day. The National Weather Service is forecasting a more widespread wind event, with gusts reaching between 40-50 mph in most areas, except for parts of central Virginia and southern Maryland.
A Wind Advisory will be in place from late Wednesday morning into the early evening as a potent front drops south across the area. The gusty conditions will be accompanied by lower relative humidity, raising concerns for fire weather in central Virginia. The winds will slowly subside by late evening but be prepared for sustained gusts during the day.
Weems Elementary School in Manassas has seen remarkable progress in recent years, particularly in reducing chronic absenteeism and improving student literacy. Under the leadership of Principal Michelle Huppman, the school has created an environment focused on equity, achievement, and community involvement, leading to academic improvements.
One of the school’s most notable achievements is reducing chronic absenteeism. In the 2022-2023 school year, Weems faced a concerning % chronic absence rate of 28%. This figure, which emerged after the pandemic, reflected the challenges many schools faced. However, the school has halved that number through dedication and hard work. “I am so happy to share with you that Weems’ current chronic absence rate, as reflected in the school quality profile, is half of that number, down to 14%. This is a school community that rose to the challenge,” said Sarah Brescia, a Manassas City school board member.
The improvement in attendance has had a direct impact on student achievement. Huppman explained, “Last year, we had a 24% increase in literacy pass rates for our students in kindergarten through second grade. For the Virginia Standards of Learning reading test, we had a 6% increase in pass rates for our students in third and fourth grade.” While math scores dropped slightly due to virtual instruction during the pandemic, Principal Huppman is optimistic about the future. “This year, we are fully staffed in all classrooms and in all instructional support positions without the need for virtual instructors,” she said.
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.
