Many area students performed extremely well on their Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. Even still, no area school division—Prince William, Fauquier county, Manassas City nor Manassas Park—achieved all the benchmarks required to earn the national Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standard. They were in line with 124 other school divisions that failed to make AYP. Only four school divisions as a whole achieved AYP, which requires not only high numbers of students to pass the math and reading SOLs, but that certain groups of students meet SOL pass rates, graduation and attendance rates as well.

Patriot High School, in Nokesville, is ready to have students gracing its halls. Principal Dr. Michael Bishop is excited to welcome students. Patriot’s final orientation is scheduled for Aug. 31, 6-8 p.m. A pep rally is planned for Sept. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m.; classes begin Sept. 6. Patriot High School, at 10504 Kettle Run Road in Nokesville, can be reached at 703-594-3020. Its website is patrioths.schools.pwcs.edu. Photo by Sudha Kamath

A ribbon-cutting ceremony to open universal field, designed for players of all abilities, including disabilities, at Hellwig Memorial Park included many dignitaries, including, from left: Wally Covington, Brentsville District supervisor; Richard Tami, director of Field of Dreams Inc.; and L. Scott Lingamfelter, delegate for the 31st District of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Judy Cook stands outside the Henry Hill Visitor Center at Manassas National Battlefield Park. Inside, she presented an evening musical program called “Women of the Civil War” on Aug. 6. She told stories about women who had loved ones in the Civil War, and incorporated song by playing the English concertina she is holding.

Haymarket Gainesville Business Association holds Gainesville District supervisor GOP candidate forum.

Nurses from Prince William Health System banded together to raise funds, which they donated to Head Start programs in Prince William County, Manassas City and Manassas Park schools.

Children's eternal question, "How much longer?" can now be answered beginning Aug. 22 by those driving on Interstate 66 between Gainesville and the Beltway

With a donation of $10,000, Wally Covington put his money where his mouth is to support the Greater Prince William County Communities, Healthy Youth Council.