Arlington Career Center Students Share Thoughts on the New Grace Hopper Building

 Reprinted from ACC Chronicle

Picturing Next Year: Questions About Our New Building

Vivien McGinn, Staff Reporter

May 5, 2026

As the Grace Hopper Center construction enters its final phase, we’re realizing that we’re not just getting a new building, we’re getting a whole new school, with new teachers, new students, and new spaces to fill. Thanks to the hard work of Whiting Turner, the construction company, architects at Stantec, the APS design team, and Grace Hopper’s administrative team, and more, the finish line is in sight, which means that new questions come up about the new space every day.

How long will our passing periods be? The building is going to be a lot bigger, so we’re going to need more time between classes, and administrators are already working on our new schedule. I’m guessing we need AT LEAST eight minutes, hopefully ten. Before anyone calls me crazy, take a walk from the front of the building to the very back and tell me how long that alone takes. I’m sure it will be at least six minutes, not including stairs, different turns, bathroom breaks, water breaks, and simply talking to friends. Sometimes I want to have a short conversation with my friend about an assignment or something that is upsetting me, but we are interrupted by adults who rush us all to class. A minute or two to destress and connect with peers is crucial for recharging throughout the day, so we hope they consider this when making the new schedule.

Will we have private washing areas in the bathrooms? When I first saw the bathroom design that includes common-use sinks, I was actually worried. What if a student needs to do their hair or brush their teeth? I know I wouldn’t want everyone to see that. Stantec intern and Arlington Tech senior Samuel Jaeckel gave us some good news: there will be private “changing rooms” for students to use. Otherwise, I hope they’ll consider placing mirrors in the stalls for quick looks.

Will elevators be open to everyone? Personally, I am fine walking up a few flights of stairs because it helps me get steps in, but what about the students who get fatigued from stairs? Will they be allowed to use the elevators? Will they be singled out? Sam predicts that students who need the elevators will be allowed access, but the process to determine who needs them is yet to be decided.

Will we have lockers, and will they be mandatory? In this building, we have lockers, but I hope they won’t be required. Whiting Turner is already installing lockers throughout the school, which is encouraging for the fall. How and when we’re going to use them, though, will all be decided by the administrative team.

What will we do with the old ACC building while the school board is deciding its use? The possibility of it being a walk-through for teachers and staff to get from the parking lot to the new building has been proposed. The empty building will only be filled on weekday mornings for twenty minutes at most. Almost all of it is staying untouched (kind of creepy to be honest). According to Sam and Mr. Mainor, the building may be the future home of the Montessori Public School Program, but the proposal has not yet been up for a school board vote.

There’s a lot to decide between now and August, and obviously, students would like a voice in the process. In the meantime, we’ll enjoy the view of our beautiful new building and wonder what’s in store for us next year.

About the author:

Vivien McGinn, Staff Reporter

Vivien McGinn is a Sophomore at Arlington Tech who is excited to continue pursuing her journalistic career at ACC. Vivien enjoys a variety of hobbies such as reading, writing, painting, making jewelry, and marine biology. Vivien owns a jewelry business where she customizes and handmakes jewelry and sells it. online. She is interested in astrophysiology/marine biology and is hopeful about starting her career in that field.

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Ecosystem support for Arlington Public Schools, Northern Virginia Community College, and Virginia Tech

The Virginia Department of Education STEM leaders recognized the collaboration between the Career, Technical and Adult Education Office of Arlington Public Schools, the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College, and Virginia Tech's, D.C. area Technical Education and Workforce Development programs with 2026 support for efforts to promote innovate STEM opportunities for all students.

Local Culinary students receive top honors statewide!

Arlington Career Center students competed at the Virginia ProStart Competition and brought home top honors, with first-place finishes for Alena Zabler and Ximena Puican Vela.

Their hard work, talent and professionalism on the competition floor made the entire APS community proud.

Community and Industry Professionals - Mark your Calendars

 <p>&nbsp;<span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" face="-apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, &quot;Fira Sans&quot;, Ubuntu, Oxygen, &quot;Oxygen Sans&quot;, Cantarell, &quot;Droid Sans&quot;, &quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;, &quot;Lucida Grande&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px;">This is your opportunity to connect with brilliant K–12 student inventors as they showcase their prototypes and share the stories behind their invention journeys.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /></span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" face="-apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, &quot;Fira Sans&quot;, Ubuntu, Oxygen, &quot;Oxygen Sans&quot;, Cantarell, &quot;Droid Sans&quot;, &quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;, &quot;Lucida Grande&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />As a community or industry professional, you can:</span></p><div class="hrxlpLvxJUJyXIDfmEZuSJbOiiaKKzE" style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgb(255, 255, 255); border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, &quot;Fira Sans&quot;, Ubuntu, Oxygen, &quot;Oxygen Sans&quot;, Cantarell, &quot;Droid Sans&quot;, &quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;, &quot;Lucida Grande&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="-1"><div class="feed-shared-inline-show-more-text feed-shared-update-v2__description feed-shared-inline-show-more-text--minimal-padding feed-shared-inline-show-more-text--3-lines feed-shared-inline-show-more-text--expanded" data-artdeco-is-focused="true" style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0px 1.6rem; max-height: none; max-width: 928px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="-1"><div class="update-components-text relative update-components-update-v2__commentary" dir="ltr" style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.4rem; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="break-words tvm-parent-container" style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9) none 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-word;"><span dir="ltr" style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9) none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">🔹 Mentor students and provide meaningful, supportive feedback<span style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9) none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;" /></span>🔹 Guide aspiring inventors on next steps (state competitions, patents, and beyond)<span style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9) none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;" /></span>🔹 Share real-world insights into your industry’s innovation process<span style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9) none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;" /></span>🔹 Bring a hands-on activity to inspire future inventors<span style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9) none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;" /></span>Your involvement directly fuels creativity, confidence, and experiential learning in our community. The encouragement you give could be the spark that launches the next great innovator.<span style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9) none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;" /></span>Learn more and sign up here:<span class="white-space-pre" style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9) none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><a class="npCfLwmDwyRGUjjSegPUogjodwpBUsaGQ" data-test-app-aware-link="" href="https://lnkd.in/eavTpx8R" style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-color: rgb(10, 102, 194); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a66c2; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: normal; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: rgb(10, 102, 194); touch-action: manipulation; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: normal;" tabindex="0" target="_self">https://lnkd.in/eavTpx8R</a></span></span></div></div></div><div class="update-components-image update-components-image--single-image feed-shared-update-v2__content" style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgb(255, 255, 255); border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, &quot;Fira Sans&quot;, Ubuntu, Oxygen, &quot;Oxygen Sans&quot;, Cantarell, &quot;Droid Sans&quot;, &quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;, &quot;Lucida Grande&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; 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New SkyView High School - Proposed FCPS Academic and Career Pathways

 Fairfax County Public Schools has shared potential academic and career-focused pathways as part of its comprehensive academic plans, and STEM-focused advocates will not be disappointed.

from https://www.fcps.edu/skyview :

Potential Academic and Career Pathways

The career pathways and courses below are being recommended for the new high school. While some of these courses are still in development, we are excited to offer unique pathways which will lead to high demand industry credentials and exciting postsecondary opportunities. While the course sequences are recommended for each pathway, students are welcome to move in and out of pathways, as appropriate, based on their interests. 

*Please note that pathway and course information is subject to change.

Click "Read more" below to see the list of courses.

SCIC Science Is Cool Unconference - July 24

    Science is Cool is hosting the 15th FREE virtual unconference for cool teachers on July 24 featuring Paul Andersen, Steve Spangler, Chris Kesler and so many more great guests!

    "Everyone's a Science Teacher"    Starting at 10am ET / 7am PT

    ScIC15 is a full-day virtual professional development event hosted by Science is Cool and PocketLab, offering an enriching experience for K-12 teachers.

    Whether you're about to teach your first science lesson or you’ve been leading labs for years, together, we’ll explore the essentials every science teacher should know—and then some. Through practical strategies, simplifying standards, to running a science lab with everyday materials, hands-on activities, and collaborative sessions, you’ll gain tools that actually work in real classrooms, across grade levels and experience levels. We’ll help you build confidence, clarify your approach, and walk away prepared for your students.

    Come for the fun, stay for the free PD, and leave with tons of ideas and resources to share with your students this fall.

    Everyone is welcome. There will be concepts and resources that teachers of all grades and subjects will be interested in!

    All live attendees will receive a free professional development certificate.

    Register today for free to get all the details.