Lorton Students, Parents and Teachers Launch New School Year

On Tuesday, the 2010-2011 school year got underway at the five schools in the Lorton Patch coverage area.

The usual mix of nervousness and excitement was plain to see at bus stops in the Lorton Valley development, from parents as well as students. Meron Fessena was eager for her son to begin his first day of kindergarten. The youngster, meanwhile, was the picture of calm. "He's not nervous at all," she said. "He's been to pre-school already so he knows how this works."

Mike Arya was thrilled that his daughter is starting school (if a little nervous), but she said, "This is the reason why we moved here. Because our children can get the best education possible. We waited all summer for this."

As evidenced by a recent Time Magazine article that questioned the necessity of a lengthy summer vacation, the school calendar has come under closer scrutiny. This is particularly true in Virginia, where the King's Dominion Law, referenced in the Time article, mandates that the school year commence after Labor Day.

Lorton parent Clint Herbert thinks the schedule is fine as it is. "During the school year, parents don't get to see their kids as much as they'd like. And when they're not in school, we are often driving them to a practice or a recital. The summer gives parents and children time to spend with each other and that's important."

Herbert also understands the critics of the long summer vacation. "I think there is merit to having a year-round school year and that can be accomplished some day. We're in a transition period until we get to that point."

For now, Herbert, like many other parents in Lorton is happy with the calendar and that his family lives in the Fairfax County School System.