News from the Homefront:
Post High Workshops for Students
Beginning 10 & 11 March, I will be offering a series of talks on options for students at WAHS for when they graduate. I will offer these on an A day and a B Day each week. There will be a limit of 30 kids each session. These are designed for juniors who want to understand the following things:
High School Programming Contest at UVA
HSPC is an annual competitive programming experience for high schoolers, where students work in teams of four to solve fun and challenging computer science problems with the opportunity to win prizes. Students can choose to compete in one of two divisions, Division 1 (for more experienced students) and Division 2 (for students new to competitive programming). This year's contest will be held at UVA on Saturday, April 11th. Registration is currently open on Eventbrite– each team’s registration fee is $40, but if cost would be a barrier for your students or program, please let us know! We’re happy to work with you to make participation possible. More information can be found in this HSPC 2026 Info Packet.
Student Representative to the School Board Applications
Applications for our Student School Board Representatives are now open, and I’d love your help encouraging strong student leaders to apply. Applications are open on SchooLinks under Programs for all current sophomores and juniors: Application Link
We’re looking for students who represent peers thoughtfully, are reliable with meeting attendance and follow-through, and want to help shape decisions that impact students across ACPS.
Application details
Selection process (what students should know)
Beginning 10 & 11 March, I will be offering a series of talks on options for students at WAHS for when they graduate. I will offer these on an A day and a B Day each week. There will be a limit of 30 kids each session. These are designed for juniors who want to understand the following things:
- What are my options after high school?
- How does college differ from high school?
- How do I pay for college and other programs after high school?
- What kinds of things can I study in which colleges?
High School Programming Contest at UVA
HSPC is an annual competitive programming experience for high schoolers, where students work in teams of four to solve fun and challenging computer science problems with the opportunity to win prizes. Students can choose to compete in one of two divisions, Division 1 (for more experienced students) and Division 2 (for students new to competitive programming). This year's contest will be held at UVA on Saturday, April 11th. Registration is currently open on Eventbrite– each team’s registration fee is $40, but if cost would be a barrier for your students or program, please let us know! We’re happy to work with you to make participation possible. More information can be found in this HSPC 2026 Info Packet.
Student Representative to the School Board Applications
Applications for our Student School Board Representatives are now open, and I’d love your help encouraging strong student leaders to apply. Applications are open on SchooLinks under Programs for all current sophomores and juniors: Application Link
We’re looking for students who represent peers thoughtfully, are reliable with meeting attendance and follow-through, and want to help shape decisions that impact students across ACPS.
Application details
- Application opens: Monday, February 16
- Application deadline: Friday, March 20
- Answer limit: Responses are capped at 500 words per question.
Selection process (what students should know)
- Students submit their application by Friday, March 20.
- Applications will be sent to principals, who will select three candidates per high school by April 17.
- Interviews: Two School Board members will visit each high school to interview the three candidates during the week of May 4–8. Students will receive the interview questions ahead of time.
- Final selections for the 2026–27 representatives will be made in closed session on May 14, and representatives will be announced at the May 28 School Board meeting.
Charlottesville Chess Classic!
Senior Day at PVCC
Senior Day at PVCC will be on 10 March. Seniors need a permission slip to attend. Find them in Ms. Rittenhouse's office, B111 (in the cafeteria). Want more info? Ask Ms. Rittenhouse.
- Players of all levels in good academic standing are warmly invited to the Fourth Annual Charlottesville Chess Classic Tournament for grades 7-12! The tournament is FREE, but registration at this link is required.
- Where: Renaissance School, 418 E Jefferson St, Charlottesville 22902
- When: Saturday March 14, 2026, Doors at 9:30am, Competition at 10:00am
- What: Swiss format non-elimination 5-round chess tournament
- Who: Players of all levels in 7-12th grade in the greater Charlottesville area in good academic standing. New this year: 7th & 8th graders welcome!
- Cost: FREE!
Senior Day at PVCC
Senior Day at PVCC will be on 10 March. Seniors need a permission slip to attend. Find them in Ms. Rittenhouse's office, B111 (in the cafeteria). Want more info? Ask Ms. Rittenhouse.
Job Fair
Each of the comprehensive high schools will host a job fair in March. They will have opportunities for students for summer work, post high employment, and will also include training programs. Plan to come to the cafeteria to find out more. Want more info? Ask Ms. Rittenhouse.
Each of the comprehensive high schools will host a job fair in March. They will have opportunities for students for summer work, post high employment, and will also include training programs. Plan to come to the cafeteria to find out more. Want more info? Ask Ms. Rittenhouse.
Senior Trip
Book Drive
Help us collect books for Bright Beginnings Pre-School for WAHS With a Cause!
Help us collect books for Bright Beginnings Pre-School for WAHS With a Cause!
The TYDE Hackathon Is Coming!
Thriving Youth in the Digital Age (TYDE) hosts a Hackathon on 21 March. You must apply to attend. Learn to make pitches, network with folks, and better people's mental health (including yours!). Participants receive a $50 prize for participating. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are included as well. Winners take home cash prizes!
Juntos Podemos UVA Engineering
The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) at the University of Virginia is excited to invite high school students to apply to Juntos Podemos, our free, one-day engineering visitation program taking place on Sunday, April 19th, 2026, on the University of Virginia Grounds in Charlottesville.
Juntos Podemos provides students with an inside look at engineering and college life at UVA through informative speakers, a hands-on engineering design activity, tours, and opportunities to connect with current engineering students. The program is open to students with all levels of experience, but it is especially designed for students who may be exploring engineering for the first time or are interested in pursuing a STEM-related field in college.
To apply, students must complete the Juntos Podemos 2026 Application, which can be found here. Students in the targeted grade levels who demonstrate interest in engineering through their short-answer responses will receive priority consideration.
Attached to this email, you will find an information packet with additional details about the event, as well as a flyer that may be shared for easy distribution. The application deadline is Sunday, March 15th, 2026.
At WAHS We're ALWAYS Better Together!
The Western Albemarle Student Senate is hosting Always Better Together, our 3rd annual culture and community celebration. Please join us on Friday, March 13 from 4:30 – 6:30 for a fun-filled afternoon of music, dance, games, community guests, and a delicious cultural dinner. We are also collecting donations of dinner items and desserts
Thriving Youth in the Digital Age (TYDE) hosts a Hackathon on 21 March. You must apply to attend. Learn to make pitches, network with folks, and better people's mental health (including yours!). Participants receive a $50 prize for participating. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are included as well. Winners take home cash prizes!
Juntos Podemos UVA Engineering
The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) at the University of Virginia is excited to invite high school students to apply to Juntos Podemos, our free, one-day engineering visitation program taking place on Sunday, April 19th, 2026, on the University of Virginia Grounds in Charlottesville.
Juntos Podemos provides students with an inside look at engineering and college life at UVA through informative speakers, a hands-on engineering design activity, tours, and opportunities to connect with current engineering students. The program is open to students with all levels of experience, but it is especially designed for students who may be exploring engineering for the first time or are interested in pursuing a STEM-related field in college.
To apply, students must complete the Juntos Podemos 2026 Application, which can be found here. Students in the targeted grade levels who demonstrate interest in engineering through their short-answer responses will receive priority consideration.
Attached to this email, you will find an information packet with additional details about the event, as well as a flyer that may be shared for easy distribution. The application deadline is Sunday, March 15th, 2026.
At WAHS We're ALWAYS Better Together!
The Western Albemarle Student Senate is hosting Always Better Together, our 3rd annual culture and community celebration. Please join us on Friday, March 13 from 4:30 – 6:30 for a fun-filled afternoon of music, dance, games, community guests, and a delicious cultural dinner. We are also collecting donations of dinner items and desserts
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Tomorrow is a(n) B day
Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Events:
- 5 March – Conferences
- 13 March – End of 3rd Quarter
- 13 March – Better Together!
- 19 March – Snow Make Up Day
- 20 March – Teacher Work Day, No School for Students
- 24 March – In School SAT Day
- 27 March – Arts Fest in the West
- 30 March – WAHS with a Cause
- 6-10 April – Spring Break
- 20 April – Model Congress
- 23 April – Post High Planning Night
- 23-25 April – High School Musical
- 1 May – PVCC Final
- 2 May – Prom
- 4 May – AP Testing Begins
- 12 May – Last Day of Classes for Seniors
- 22 May – Graduation
- 25 May – Memorial Day
- 29 May – Last Day of School (1/2 Day)
Use Your Brain for Fun (&$)!
Photo by SATUVISION Digital Agency on Unsplash
Humanities & Social SciencesSubmit your haiku to the Haiku and Senryu Poetry Contest. Submissions are due on 20 March.
Jacklyn Potter Young Poets Contest is taking submissions until 15 March. You can submit up to 5 poems. Stossel in the Classroom encourages students to submit an essay on one of four topics that are in the news right now. Submit your essay by 13 March Playwrights! The Blank Theater takes submissions of your original work, produces them with professional actors and flies you to Hollywood for the premier! Submit your work by 15 March The DNA Day Essay contest is open and taking submissions. It is open to students 9-12 and closes on 4 March Visual and Performing ArtsThe Young American Patriotic Art Contest is open to people in grades 9-12. Submit your work by 31 March
Does a new laptop sound good? Submit your work to the 2026 NAGYN Art Contest. Open to students in grades 9-12. Submit by 31 March Submit your work to the Fine Art Contest! Winners get $1,000. Submit by 23 March Stossel in the Classroom encourages students to submit a video on one of four topics that are in the news right now. Submit your essay by 13 March World of 8 Billion invites you to explore one of their topics in a video. Submit your work by 4 March Project Yellow Light invites you to create a billboard (1 March), video or radio PSA about distracted driving. It's worth up to $8,000. |
Photo by ThisisEngineering on Unsplash
STEMThe Society of Women Engineers offers scholarships to women planning to go into engineering. Apply by 31 March
Designers and engineers, can you use aluminum to solve problems? the 2026 Aluminum Extrusion Student Design Contest offers up to $5,000 for a winning design. Apply by 30 March Microsoft offers two scholarships to encourage under represented people to go into a STEM Field. Black at Microsoft offers $5,000. Apply by 16 March. Women at Microsoft has $5,000 for you. Apply by 27 March Are you a woman in Ag? There are a number of scholarships for you if you plan a career in Agribusiness! Check out American Agri-Woman today! 
Photo by PITTI EDU on Unsplash
Skilled TradesHome Depot offers $2,500 to students planning a career in the trades. Apply by 31 March
Planning a career in cosmetology? Great Clips has $5,000 for you! Apply now! Goya Foods wants to give those planning to go into the culinary field $5,000 towards their education. Apply by 3 March Want to go into welding? The American Welding Society can help! They have multiple scholarship options. SEMA offers scholarship money to pay off student loans to those who are pursuing a career in Skilled Trades. Apply by 3 April Planning on going into auto-body or collision repair? CREF has a scholarship for you! Apply by 6 March |
Scholarships for Seniors
The Virginia EL Supervisors’ Association (VESA) is pleased to offer one-time scholarships to English Learners who plan to continue their education at a college, university, community college, or workforce training program. Only complete applications will be reviewed. The deadline for submitting applications is April 24, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. EST.
Scholarship applicants must meet the following criteria:
· Enrollment in an ESL program for at least one year in grades 6–12 in a Virginia public school
· Enrollment in 12th grade at the time of application
· Demonstrated financial need
· Strong, student-written essays
Application Deadline: April 24, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. EST
More Information: http://www.vavesa.org/scholarships
For questions, please contact Samuel Klein at [email protected] or 703-228-6095.
Chihamba African American Heritage Scholarship
The African American Heritage Scholarship supports graduating seniors of African descent from Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the surrounding metropolitan area who are pursuing postsecondary education. Scholarships are available for students attending trade schools, community colleges, colleges or universities, and HBCUs.
Eligibility requirements include:
• Graduation from a public high school in the region
• Acceptance to a fall 2026 in-person program
• A minimum GPA of 2.5
Students must complete the full application and submit:
• A copy of their 2026 acceptance letter
• A minimum 400-word essay responding to:
– What they hope to learn and experience at their chosen school
– How their education will prepare them for a career or trade
– How their success will benefit or impact the African American community
Important dates:
• Application deadline: March 16, 2026
• Recipient notification: No later than April 6, 2026
• Minimum scholarship award: $500
Scholarship recipients will be honored during the 35th African American Cultural Arts Festival on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Booker T. Washington Park in Charlottesville.
Completed applications should be emailed to [email protected] with the subject line:
“Chihamba African American Heritage Scholarship 2026”
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Page West Hill at (434) 826-9259 or [email protected].
100 Black Men of Central Virginia
Even though this scholarship may seem like it is only for Black Men, it is open to all people of color. Generally speaking, if you have a 3.0 or higher and you fill out the application in its entirety, you will most likely win $1,000. Can't beat that!!! Due March 30.
The Allen and Allen Scholarships
are for students who have overcome challenges in high school. Financial need is also a factor.
The Application Process:
Complete the application form and submit it with a copy of your high school transcripts that reflect academic improvement and high achievement before the application deadline. In addition to these documents, applicants must submit two reference letters, one reference letter must be supplied by a teacher or school counselor, and a personal statement describing your biggest personal challenge and how you overcame it.
Application Timeline:
Please choose the option that is most convenient for you.
The 2026 VSCA Scholarship is now open for essay submissions! This award is designed to support graduating seniors who write an essay about a school counselor in Virginia who has influenced their life at any time during their academic career. Application attached. Application is due by 28 March
The Widow Son's Lodge #60 Scholarship is now available and attached to this email (the 2025 application is identical to the 2026 app). If you would like a paper copy, please see Ms. Poole in Counseling.
Seniors, with financial need can submit their completed applications to the Guidance Office before March 31st, along with the following required materials:
Alternatively, students may choose to:
1741 County Line Lane
Ruckersville, VA 22968
Scholarship applicants must meet the following criteria:
· Enrollment in an ESL program for at least one year in grades 6–12 in a Virginia public school
· Enrollment in 12th grade at the time of application
· Demonstrated financial need
· Strong, student-written essays
Application Deadline: April 24, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. EST
More Information: http://www.vavesa.org/scholarships
For questions, please contact Samuel Klein at [email protected] or 703-228-6095.
Chihamba African American Heritage Scholarship
The African American Heritage Scholarship supports graduating seniors of African descent from Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the surrounding metropolitan area who are pursuing postsecondary education. Scholarships are available for students attending trade schools, community colleges, colleges or universities, and HBCUs.
Eligibility requirements include:
• Graduation from a public high school in the region
• Acceptance to a fall 2026 in-person program
• A minimum GPA of 2.5
Students must complete the full application and submit:
• A copy of their 2026 acceptance letter
• A minimum 400-word essay responding to:
– What they hope to learn and experience at their chosen school
– How their education will prepare them for a career or trade
– How their success will benefit or impact the African American community
Important dates:
• Application deadline: March 16, 2026
• Recipient notification: No later than April 6, 2026
• Minimum scholarship award: $500
Scholarship recipients will be honored during the 35th African American Cultural Arts Festival on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Booker T. Washington Park in Charlottesville.
Completed applications should be emailed to [email protected] with the subject line:
“Chihamba African American Heritage Scholarship 2026”
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Page West Hill at (434) 826-9259 or [email protected].
100 Black Men of Central Virginia
Even though this scholarship may seem like it is only for Black Men, it is open to all people of color. Generally speaking, if you have a 3.0 or higher and you fill out the application in its entirety, you will most likely win $1,000. Can't beat that!!! Due March 30.
The Allen and Allen Scholarships
are for students who have overcome challenges in high school. Financial need is also a factor.
The Application Process:
Complete the application form and submit it with a copy of your high school transcripts that reflect academic improvement and high achievement before the application deadline. In addition to these documents, applicants must submit two reference letters, one reference letter must be supplied by a teacher or school counselor, and a personal statement describing your biggest personal challenge and how you overcame it.
Application Timeline:
- Application opens: December 5, 2025
- Deadline to submit applications: March 6, 2026
- Recipients notified: April 10, 2026
- Awards : $2,000
- The applicant must be a senior in a Virginia high school whose plans include advanced education through college, nursing, business, trade, technical training, or similar programs. Future plans are not required to be in Virginia.
- All sections of the application must be completed in full, with all materials submitted together; incomplete applications will not be eligible for consideration.
Please choose the option that is most convenient for you.
- Filling out the online application at this website
- Emailing your completed application and supporting documents to scholarship@allenandallen.com
The 2026 VSCA Scholarship is now open for essay submissions! This award is designed to support graduating seniors who write an essay about a school counselor in Virginia who has influenced their life at any time during their academic career. Application attached. Application is due by 28 March
The Widow Son's Lodge #60 Scholarship is now available and attached to this email (the 2025 application is identical to the 2026 app). If you would like a paper copy, please see Ms. Poole in Counseling.
Seniors, with financial need can submit their completed applications to the Guidance Office before March 31st, along with the following required materials:
- An up-to-date transcript
- A copy of their college acceptance letter
- A brief description of why they chose their college and whether they plan to return to Charlottesville after their studies
Alternatively, students may choose to:
- Email their application and materials to [email protected], or
- Mail them to the following address, ensuring they are received by March 31st.:
1741 County Line Lane
Ruckersville, VA 22968
Scholarships for Juniors!
ATTENTION JUNIORS: Applications for the impact-driven, four-year, full-tuition Cameron Impact Scholarship are officially open for the CLASS OF 2027.
The Cameron Impact Scholarship is impact-driven and open to all applicants who meet the GPA and citizenship requirements, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation or any other background factors. Integrity, intelligence, motivation, work ethic, and willingness to serve others are the strongest indicators of a worthy educational investment.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 1, 2026 at 12PM PT (NOON) - OR - when we reach 3,000 eligible and complete applications - whichever occurs first.
We are only able to accept and review a total of 3,000 complete and eligible applications - please note that we typically reach capacity prior to the deadline and we STRONGLY ENCOURAGE applicants to submit well before the deadline.
https://www.bryancameroneducationfoundation.org/scholarship
The Cameron Impact Scholarship is impact-driven and open to all applicants who meet the GPA and citizenship requirements, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation or any other background factors. Integrity, intelligence, motivation, work ethic, and willingness to serve others are the strongest indicators of a worthy educational investment.
- 15 scholarships awarded per annum
- Four-year, full tuition scholarship (actual dollar amount varies based upon school selection)
- Freedom in choice of school and area of study
- Accepting applications for the Class of 2027 - JUNIORS;
- have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.7 or higher;
- be a citizen of the United States.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 1, 2026 at 12PM PT (NOON) - OR - when we reach 3,000 eligible and complete applications - whichever occurs first.
We are only able to accept and review a total of 3,000 complete and eligible applications - please note that we typically reach capacity prior to the deadline and we STRONGLY ENCOURAGE applicants to submit well before the deadline.
https://www.bryancameroneducationfoundation.org/scholarship
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Self Care:
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Scholarships
Do you need money to make post high a reality? Start with these two databases!
Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award has a spring deadline as well. Apply by 15 April for a chance at a $10,000.
The Herbert Lehman Education Fund offers up to $10,000 to students with demonstrated need. Apply by 1 April Create Real Impact invites you to submit a campaign to reduce reckless driving. Register to compete by 30 March. Win up to $10,000 The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes gives young people between the ages of 8 and 18 up to $10,000 for community service projects they have spearheaded. Apply by 15 March Are you the child or grandchild of someone who served in the Navy? Get up to $10,000 in scholarships. Apply by 15 March The UTC Scholarships offer up to $6,000 yearly for students planning on attending a 4 year school. Apply by 15 March The Kim and Harald Louie Foundation offers up to $100,000 in scholarships for talented seniors in high school. GPA and SAT requirements. Apply by 15 March AICPA offers up to $10,000 for people who are interested in becoming CPAs. Apply by 15 March. Planning a future in building and construction? NPCA offers up to $20,000 in scholarship money and internship opportunities. Apply by 13 March. The Society for Exploration Geophysicists offers a $10,000 scholarship for a senior in high school who is planning to go into the filed of geophysics. Apply by 1 March. Are you the descendent of an Italian immigrant to the United States who is interested in Italian heritage and culture? There's a scholarship for that! And it's worth up to $12,000. Submit to the National Italian American Foundation by 1 March |
Do Good Things for People
Check out Schoolinks for options!
Summer's Coming!
Looking for great things to do this summer? Look no further!
And also don't skip this!
And also don't skip this!
NASA's GeneLab for High School Students Summer Program is taking applications until 15 March. GL4HS will continue offering its asynchronous summer program in 2026. The program will consist of 12 weeks of on-demand training and will run June 1st through August 28th, 2026. Applications for the 2026 program will open on February 15 and remain open for one month, closing on March 15, or until 1,000 applications are received, whichever occurs first. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates. High school transcripts are required for all applications. Only digital (scanned) copies in PDF format will be accepted and must be submitted through the online application form. Applications submitted after the application period closes will not be reviewed.
The Sorenson High School Leaders Program is taking applications. This is a great program for folks interested in politics and in making changes in their communities. We had a student attend one year and the bill he developed with other students was actually passed by the General Assembly. Apply now!
William & Mary offers a series of law related programs through the Center for Legal & Court Technology (CLCT) at William & Mary Law School in Virginia! Taught by law professors, these include:
SOAR is the Summer Opportunities in Academic Research offered by UVA. This program places you with researchers to do work in areas like Health Care, Data Science, AI, and more. It is a competitive program and students must apply. Students who participate will receive a free laptop. See below for more!
The Sorenson High School Leaders Program is taking applications. This is a great program for folks interested in politics and in making changes in their communities. We had a student attend one year and the bill he developed with other students was actually passed by the General Assembly. Apply now!
William & Mary offers a series of law related programs through the Center for Legal & Court Technology (CLCT) at William & Mary Law School in Virginia! Taught by law professors, these include:
- Introduction to Law & the United States Legal System
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and the Law
- Introduction to Search and Seizure
SOAR is the Summer Opportunities in Academic Research offered by UVA. This program places you with researchers to do work in areas like Health Care, Data Science, AI, and more. It is a competitive program and students must apply. Students who participate will receive a free laptop. See below for more!
Want to Volunteer at UVA Hospital this summer? There are mandatory virtual information meetings. See their website for more information and how to sign up.
JUNIORS: Each year the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary host their annual week long civics programs at Virginia colleges, Boys State and Girls State respectively. If you are interested in this program and would like to be nominated, please look through their websites, calendar dates, and content. Only students who are truly interested should apply. If you are interested, please fill out this Google Form by March 1st. Interviews are a required part of the nomination process.
Applications are open for the 48th annual Youth Conservation Camp (YCC)! The camp will be held at Virginia Tech, July 12-18th, 2026. YCC is an experience for high school students (currently enrolled in grades 9-12) held at Virginia Tech each summer. The program brings together about 70 interested students from across the state for a week of learning about Virginia’s natural resources from conservation professionals and faculty from Virginia Tech. Most of the instruction is hands-on and outdoors. Students must send completed applications (Application form and one Letter of Recommendation) to [email protected] by March 26, 2026. Late applications cannot be accepted.
**The Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District provides a limited amount of full scholarships for students in our District (Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Louisa, and Nelson) to attend YCC each year. Applicants are encouraged to apply early! Space is limited and camp scholarships are only available in a limited quantity.**
More information about the 2026 Youth Conservation Camp and pictures from previous camps can be found here.
JUNIORS: Each year the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary host their annual week long civics programs at Virginia colleges, Boys State and Girls State respectively. If you are interested in this program and would like to be nominated, please look through their websites, calendar dates, and content. Only students who are truly interested should apply. If you are interested, please fill out this Google Form by March 1st. Interviews are a required part of the nomination process.
Applications are open for the 48th annual Youth Conservation Camp (YCC)! The camp will be held at Virginia Tech, July 12-18th, 2026. YCC is an experience for high school students (currently enrolled in grades 9-12) held at Virginia Tech each summer. The program brings together about 70 interested students from across the state for a week of learning about Virginia’s natural resources from conservation professionals and faculty from Virginia Tech. Most of the instruction is hands-on and outdoors. Students must send completed applications (Application form and one Letter of Recommendation) to [email protected] by March 26, 2026. Late applications cannot be accepted.
**The Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District provides a limited amount of full scholarships for students in our District (Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Louisa, and Nelson) to attend YCC each year. Applicants are encouraged to apply early! Space is limited and camp scholarships are only available in a limited quantity.**
More information about the 2026 Youth Conservation Camp and pictures from previous camps can be found here.
Applications are now open for Camp Woods & Wildlife, to be held June 15-19 at Holiday Lake 4-H Center near Appomattox. This hands-on, career-focused overnight camp is open to any Virginia student aged 13-16 who has not attended before. Our curriculum covers many aspects of forest and wildlife ecology and management. Classes are taught in the field by natural resource professionals. The camp is supported by donations that allow each camper to attend at a cost of only $95.
The TJSWCD has limited funding to allow students to attend for free! Please contact them ASAP if you are interested.
Students should apply no later than April 15. The application and all information can be found at https://dof.virginia.gov/education-and-recreation/youth-education/camp-woods-wildlife/. Questions about camp? Contact Ellen Powell at the Department of Forestry- [email protected] or 434-987-0475.
The TJSWCD has limited funding to allow students to attend for free! Please contact them ASAP if you are interested.
Students should apply no later than April 15. The application and all information can be found at https://dof.virginia.gov/education-and-recreation/youth-education/camp-woods-wildlife/. Questions about camp? Contact Ellen Powell at the Department of Forestry- [email protected] or 434-987-0475.
Triple C Camp Is Looking for Counelsors!
Triple C is a traditional day camp serving 300+ kids in the Charlottesville community each week. Every summer we hire an incredible team of 60+ staff to lead, inspire, and educate our campers. Hiring for Summer 2026 has begun! They have many positions available including Lifeguards, General Counselors, Horseback Riding Instructors, facility support, and more. Contact them today!
Get Writing This Summer with Kelly Writers' House!
We are thrilled to announce the 2026 Summer Workshop for Young Writers, a ten-day program for rising high school juniors and seniors which will take place from July 5-15, 2026.
This is an opportunity for promising, passionate high school writers from diverse backgrounds to learn from the faculty, staff, and alumni of Penn’s Kelly Writers House and Creative Writing Program, and from their fellow participants. Students will engage in a workshop-style course focused primarily on literary nonfiction writing with additional craft sessions in other genres. The goal of this workshop is to provide creative high school students, especially those who have not had similar opportunities, with the chance to dedicate full days to the practice of writing.
Thanks to the generosity and vision of longtime friends of the Kelly Writers House, Maury Povich (C’62) and Connie Chung, we are able to offer assistance in the form of full-tuition grants and funding for travel to participants with financial need.
Because of our commitment to keeping a close-knit learning environment where students receive extensive individual feedback, we will only be able to accommodate a small number of candidates. We hope you will consider applying! The application is open now and is due March 2, 2026.
Please note that admission, or lack thereof, to this program has no direct impact on a student’s chances for eventual admission to the University of Pennsylvania.
Much more information and the application are available via our website.
Martha Jefferson Junior Volunteers
The Summer 2026 Junior Volunteer Program Application is opening (and closing!) earlier this year. As of today, the application is open. It will be closing on March 1, 2026. Please tell your students to get their application submitted early!
Our perfect student:
-Age 15-18
-Expresses an interest in working in a hospital or healthcare field
-Wants to help
-Available for June 8 orientation
All information about the programing, including the application, can be found here: Junior Volunteer Program at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital. If there are additional questions after exploring the website, please reach out to us at [email protected] so the email does not get lost in the shuffle.
Triple C is a traditional day camp serving 300+ kids in the Charlottesville community each week. Every summer we hire an incredible team of 60+ staff to lead, inspire, and educate our campers. Hiring for Summer 2026 has begun! They have many positions available including Lifeguards, General Counselors, Horseback Riding Instructors, facility support, and more. Contact them today!
Get Writing This Summer with Kelly Writers' House!
We are thrilled to announce the 2026 Summer Workshop for Young Writers, a ten-day program for rising high school juniors and seniors which will take place from July 5-15, 2026.
This is an opportunity for promising, passionate high school writers from diverse backgrounds to learn from the faculty, staff, and alumni of Penn’s Kelly Writers House and Creative Writing Program, and from their fellow participants. Students will engage in a workshop-style course focused primarily on literary nonfiction writing with additional craft sessions in other genres. The goal of this workshop is to provide creative high school students, especially those who have not had similar opportunities, with the chance to dedicate full days to the practice of writing.
Thanks to the generosity and vision of longtime friends of the Kelly Writers House, Maury Povich (C’62) and Connie Chung, we are able to offer assistance in the form of full-tuition grants and funding for travel to participants with financial need.
Because of our commitment to keeping a close-knit learning environment where students receive extensive individual feedback, we will only be able to accommodate a small number of candidates. We hope you will consider applying! The application is open now and is due March 2, 2026.
Please note that admission, or lack thereof, to this program has no direct impact on a student’s chances for eventual admission to the University of Pennsylvania.
Much more information and the application are available via our website.
Martha Jefferson Junior Volunteers
The Summer 2026 Junior Volunteer Program Application is opening (and closing!) earlier this year. As of today, the application is open. It will be closing on March 1, 2026. Please tell your students to get their application submitted early!
Our perfect student:
-Age 15-18
-Expresses an interest in working in a hospital or healthcare field
-Wants to help
-Available for June 8 orientation
All information about the programing, including the application, can be found here: Junior Volunteer Program at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital. If there are additional questions after exploring the website, please reach out to us at [email protected] so the email does not get lost in the shuffle.
"The Best School" and "The Best School for You" should be one and the same. You're not buying a pair of shoes. You're going to school for four years. Just because it's a good brand name, doesn't mean it fits you or that you're comfortable there.
College Corner
Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama
You don't need to have everything figured out today
I’ve been meeting with a number of students and families lately to talk through how students will progress though high school and meet their future goals. One topic that seems to come up a lot is that people are unsure what they want to do when they grow up.
I am here to tell you, I am in my 50s and I do not know what I want to be when I grow up.
Lately there is a lot of pressure to know what your passion is right now. But high school is a time of growth. We try on different interests, personalities, hair styles (I hear the side part is making a comeback!), friends, fashion, and fun. And that is exactly what high school should be like. You don’t need to know what you will do in 10 years. Or 15. Or 20.
But you do need to know what you want to do tomorrow.
High school is a great time to experiment with your interests, but that takes courage and confidence. The good news is that courage and confidence can be had through practice. The more you practice the better at both things you become. How do you do it? Be open to new ideas or activities. Take some chances on something that looks like it might be fun. Join in on things your friends like. Try things they don’t like. Be bold. Decide that tomorrow you will do that thing that you’ve been curious about trying.
Eighty percent of college students will change their major at least once. Adults will have an average of 12-15 different jobs over the course of their lives. I am on number 16 if you’re counting. This is both normal and good. And it also requires that courage to change. Even things we love can get stale which is why come high school it’s important to evaluate those activities you’ve done since you were young. It’s also why when you are in high school many of you decide to quit that sport or activity. It was fun before but it’s not fun now.
Change is hard. It gets us outside of our comfort zone and that can feel, well, icky.
The reality is though that we learn best when we are just outside that comfort zone (or the Zone of Proximal Development in teacherese). The idea is that if everything is easy and there’s no challenge, we don’t grow. If things are so hard that we feel we can never be successful, we shut down and don’t grow. But if we “Baby Bear” it, make things just uncomfortable enough that we’re not coasting, but not so much that we want to hide in a corner, we find that we can learn, change, and grow.
High school is the perfect time to do this. You have a great support system here at WAHS. You have teachers who care deeply about you and your growth. You have school counselors who are always there to support you. You have your families who want to see you have your best life. While it’s not middle school where you’re still biking with training wheels, it is an environment where there’s a pretty great net that can catch you.
Be bold. Try that summer program. Evaluate whether you really do still love math or would rather do something in the humanities. Ask yourself, do I really want to keep doing what I am doing? Reflect on the things that bring you joy. Are those the same things they were before? Maybe. Maybe not.
When my daughter was in high school she was sure that she wanted to be an anthropologist. In college she changed her major so many times I couldn’t keep up. During college, she worked at Albemarle Baking Company and thought she’d be a baker. After she graduated, she took a job in a bakery. Guess what? She didn’t like it any more. She worked for a nonprofit for a while, but was super frustrated by it. She decided to take a job as a legal assistant, largely because she speaks Spanish as one of her first languages. Turns out, she loved it! She moved on to being a paralegal and had really great experiences doing that, but realized that she wanted to do more than just prepare things for attorneys. She took a job at the law school at the University of Minnesota in their immigration clinic so she could study for the LSAT and have a lighter work load. She is now in her second year at that law school as a student. She has worked for Hennepin County’s Adult Legal Services, in an immigration firm, and this summer will work for the public defenders. At 27 she has already been through a lot of changes in her path forward. But she’s not behind. She is right on time.
As we think ahead to our lives after high school, we often think we need to know what we’ll major in. But there is a reason that liberal arts colleges exist. It is there we get the opportunity to experiment even more widely. Being undecided is ok. Most colleges won’t ask you to commit to a field until the end of your second semester. That is because they want you to experiment, explore, reflect, and evaluate. Doing those things in high school will prepare you for doing it later.
It’s easy in the rat race of life in our community to feel like we have to run to catch up. But we don’t. People come to things at different times. I have a friend whose baby walked at nine months. My daughter walked at 19 months. But they both walk now. Cut yourselves some slack if everything is not lined up perfectly right now. Stay where your feet are and decide what you’ll try tomorrow.
I am here to tell you, I am in my 50s and I do not know what I want to be when I grow up.
Lately there is a lot of pressure to know what your passion is right now. But high school is a time of growth. We try on different interests, personalities, hair styles (I hear the side part is making a comeback!), friends, fashion, and fun. And that is exactly what high school should be like. You don’t need to know what you will do in 10 years. Or 15. Or 20.
But you do need to know what you want to do tomorrow.
High school is a great time to experiment with your interests, but that takes courage and confidence. The good news is that courage and confidence can be had through practice. The more you practice the better at both things you become. How do you do it? Be open to new ideas or activities. Take some chances on something that looks like it might be fun. Join in on things your friends like. Try things they don’t like. Be bold. Decide that tomorrow you will do that thing that you’ve been curious about trying.
Eighty percent of college students will change their major at least once. Adults will have an average of 12-15 different jobs over the course of their lives. I am on number 16 if you’re counting. This is both normal and good. And it also requires that courage to change. Even things we love can get stale which is why come high school it’s important to evaluate those activities you’ve done since you were young. It’s also why when you are in high school many of you decide to quit that sport or activity. It was fun before but it’s not fun now.
Change is hard. It gets us outside of our comfort zone and that can feel, well, icky.
The reality is though that we learn best when we are just outside that comfort zone (or the Zone of Proximal Development in teacherese). The idea is that if everything is easy and there’s no challenge, we don’t grow. If things are so hard that we feel we can never be successful, we shut down and don’t grow. But if we “Baby Bear” it, make things just uncomfortable enough that we’re not coasting, but not so much that we want to hide in a corner, we find that we can learn, change, and grow.
High school is the perfect time to do this. You have a great support system here at WAHS. You have teachers who care deeply about you and your growth. You have school counselors who are always there to support you. You have your families who want to see you have your best life. While it’s not middle school where you’re still biking with training wheels, it is an environment where there’s a pretty great net that can catch you.
Be bold. Try that summer program. Evaluate whether you really do still love math or would rather do something in the humanities. Ask yourself, do I really want to keep doing what I am doing? Reflect on the things that bring you joy. Are those the same things they were before? Maybe. Maybe not.
When my daughter was in high school she was sure that she wanted to be an anthropologist. In college she changed her major so many times I couldn’t keep up. During college, she worked at Albemarle Baking Company and thought she’d be a baker. After she graduated, she took a job in a bakery. Guess what? She didn’t like it any more. She worked for a nonprofit for a while, but was super frustrated by it. She decided to take a job as a legal assistant, largely because she speaks Spanish as one of her first languages. Turns out, she loved it! She moved on to being a paralegal and had really great experiences doing that, but realized that she wanted to do more than just prepare things for attorneys. She took a job at the law school at the University of Minnesota in their immigration clinic so she could study for the LSAT and have a lighter work load. She is now in her second year at that law school as a student. She has worked for Hennepin County’s Adult Legal Services, in an immigration firm, and this summer will work for the public defenders. At 27 she has already been through a lot of changes in her path forward. But she’s not behind. She is right on time.
As we think ahead to our lives after high school, we often think we need to know what we’ll major in. But there is a reason that liberal arts colleges exist. It is there we get the opportunity to experiment even more widely. Being undecided is ok. Most colleges won’t ask you to commit to a field until the end of your second semester. That is because they want you to experiment, explore, reflect, and evaluate. Doing those things in high school will prepare you for doing it later.
It’s easy in the rat race of life in our community to feel like we have to run to catch up. But we don’t. People come to things at different times. I have a friend whose baby walked at nine months. My daughter walked at 19 months. But they both walk now. Cut yourselves some slack if everything is not lined up perfectly right now. Stay where your feet are and decide what you’ll try tomorrow.
On the Town
- Tonight is an evening with Lorissa Reinhart & Tara Setmayer
- There will be a session on Winter Tree Identification this evening
- Friday there will be an author event with Rebecca Kaufman about her new novel The Reservation
- The Jim Howe Quartet perform tomorrow
- Friday will be at the Paramount
- The Wayne Theater presents Persuasion opening Friday evening
- The Hound of the Baskervilles is this weekend
- Saturday is You Got Gold: A Celebration of John Prine
- Thrift and Flip with the Art Hive on Saturday
- Saturday is Lights On at Blackfriars
- Charlottesville Tree Stewards invites you to a Winter Walk on Saturday
- Saturday is a screening and discussion of Daughters of the Dust
- Enjoy Beauty and the Beast on Sunday
- Sunday is a book talk on The American Revolution and the Fate of the World
- Joe Troop and the Truth Machine perform on Sunday
- Monday there will be a lecture on Historic Preservation – Preserving Black History in Rural Virginia
- The Vienna Boys Choir performs on Monday
- Tuesday is the Academy of St. Martin in the Field with Joshua Bell (see you there!)
