ENTERTAINMENT Parks & Rec to present Tunes & Tasty Tomatoes July 1 and 15
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EDUCATION HCPS announces scholarships and awards for Class of 2021
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Vol. 6 No. 42 | Richmond Suburban News | June 16, 2021
2021-2022 blueprint OK’d for Return to Learn Plan By Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local ASHLAND -- Hanover County School Board members approved a 2021-2022 Return to Learn Plan for county students that includes both faceto-face instruction and online learning options. On Tuesday, June 8, Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Greif presented the plan for approval, but acknowledged a changing environment will require adjustments throughout the summer. “We will continue to bring you information
all summer long as more details are available,” she said In-person instruction is the default position for the upcoming year and parents who opt for face-to-face do not have to submit requests for that option. “Parents will not need to take any specific action to request face-to-face . . . so parents who wish their students to attend face-to-face next year whether they are currently face-to-face or currently in the online school do not to do anything,” Greif told school board members.
Parents choosing online are required to submit requests by June 18. Students selecting online are committed to that discipline through next year’s first semester. “Our in-person learning will be a reset to pre-pandemic for the most part, but will include lessons learned in the pandemic through different teaching models we have used; so it will be new and improved as well as reset as we head in to next year,” Greif added. During the past several months, some parents have expressed concerns regarding the mask
McAuliffe, Alaya and Herring will face Republicans in Nov. 9 General Election By Melody Kinser Managing Editor HANOVER – Former Governor Terry R. McAuliffe captured the Democratic nomination for the office he formerly held during today’s Democratic Primary Election. He defeated four challengers to oppose Republican Glenn Youngkin on Nov. 9. Hala S. Alaya held off five opponents to take the nomination for lieutenant governor. She will face Win-some Sears in the General Elec-tion. Mark R. Herring is seeking his third term as attorney general. His opponent is Jason Miyares. The Republicans determined their candidates in a Convention format in May. Teresa ‘Teri’ Smithson, VREO, CGRV, General Registrar/Director of Elections for Hanover County, said voter turnout was low, with only 5,114 votes, 6%, being cast.
She did not report any glitches in the voting process last week. Daniel W. McGraw, chair, Hanover County Democratic Committee, said: “We are very excited to have three wonderful candidates emerge from the Democratic Primary on June 8. McAULIFFE This election cycle has seen many highly intelligent and capable leaders express their roles in shaping the future of Virginia. Everyone worked very hard to get to know the issues and to communicate their goals for the future. “The current administration is doing a fantastic job, and we are confident that Governor McAuliffe, Delegate Ayala, and Attorney General Herring will improve upon the legacy of Governor Northam
and his administration, led by his Chief of Staff Clark Mercer. “Many progressive ideals are emerging because of the efforts of the Democratic leaders in Virginia. We need to stay on this path of preserving democratic institutions. “I am very proud of all the committee members who campaigned and volunteered for so many of the candidates. Now that the state ticket has been declared, it is time to get to work supporting our local candidates and spreading the message of love and charity which Democrats across the state understand. We have come very far in respecting choice, honoring marriage, acknowledging the contributions of minority populations, and appreciating the contributions of the LGBTQ communities, but there is still much more to do. “We passed the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) and we need to ensure that Virginia leads the charge in protecting the equal rights of everyone. We all deserve see McAULIFFE, pg. 16
requirement in Hanover County Public Schools, a policy mandated by Governor Northam’s orders regarding the pandemic. Greif said the county will “continue to monitor all health mitigation strategies that come out of . . . CDC recommendations or our continued collaboration with the Virginia Health Department in order to provide for the best and safest learning environment that we can in the fall.” Secondary elective options could be limited in see LEARN, pg. 4
Graduations start Friday Staff Report news@mechlocal.com ASHLAND – Hanover County Public Schools’ Class of 2021, unlike last year’s graduates, will be taking part in commencement ceremonies later this week. According to Dr. Michael Gill, superintendent, Atlee, Hanover, Mechanicsville, and Patrick Henry high schools will celebrate on Friday and Saturday, July 18-19, in the Farm Bureau Building at the Meadow Event Park. As Governor Ralph Northam has continued to ease restrictions due to COVID-19, Gill and the school district’s leadership team agreed to moving the ceremonies indoors. Gill had earlier announced that commencement would be held outside at Meadow Event Park.
HCPS Graduation Schedule Mechanicsville High School: 9 a.m. Friday, June 18 Hanover High School: 2:30 p.m. Friday, June 18 Patrick Henry High School: 9 a.m. Saturday, June 19 Atlee High School: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 19
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Each graduate will still be able to have four guests attend. Under the revised plan, Gill said graduates will be able to sit together at the see GRADUATIONS, pg. 2