Prince William, City of Manassas and Manassas Park children, youths & teens who read over the summer through the Prince William Library System's "Summer Quest" have the opportunity to receive ice cream, pizza, pretzels, kids meals, bowling, laser tag games, bus passes, frozen yogurt, and entrance to the County's waterparks and the county fair due to donations from 70 local businesses.

With school out for the summer, crews are already hard at work on projects that will increase Prince William County school size and functions and improve a number of existing facilities in many ways.

Prince William County Schools' Virtual High School is among the honorees in the Center for Digital Education’s first Digital Content and Curriculum Achievement Awards. The school began in 2000. More than 9000 students have taken a virtual course.

Virginia Board of Education voted this week to increase the minimum acceptable scores on assessments required for entry into teacher-preparation programs and state licensure. The board also ended the practice of allowing would-be teachers to rely on composite scores.

Despite long-held plans to celebrate Patriot High School's first graduation on Thursday, in the high school's stadium on Kettle Run Road in Nokesville, the weather might demand other arrangements. Principal Dr. Michael E. Bishop said the graduation organizers have crafted a “Plan B” and are even formulating “Plan C” to cope with whatever the weather will bring. And I know Patriot families can handle the change and celebrate in style.

Rippon Middle School teacher Joan Lomax was named Lead Mentor of the Year; and Woodbridge Middle School Spanish teacher Trinette Haralson was named Mentor of the Year.

The Manassas Campus of Northern Virginia Community College will present a series of free “ESL for Employment” classes on reading, writing, listening and speaking skills June 24 to July 24.

Battlefield High School’s marching band, the Marching Bobcats, will unfurl and carry a large American flag in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., to honor United States veterans.