A Herndon High graduate will be the new coach of the Herndon High’s Boys Basketball team.
Joshua E. Headen has been hired to lead the Hornets, the school announced on Friday. He replaces longtime coach Gary A. Hall, who retired from Fairfax County in June after 22 years as Herndon’s head coach (1990-2007, 2013-2016).
Headen is a 2006 HHS graduate. At Herndon, he was a senior member of the 2006 Hornet team that captured the Concorde District and Northern Region Titles and played in the Div. 6 State Championship game.
Headen earned a B.A. in English from George Mason University in 2010. He graduated from the University of the District of Columbia with a Master of Arts, Secondary Education in 2012 and completed his Master of Teaching, Special Education in May of 2016 from Liberty University.
Headen’s sister, Deborah, also played basketball for Herndon’s girls team during her prep career, and his father, Ken, currently serves as Herndon’s girls tennis coach.
Headen has been promoted from an assistant varsity coach at Herndon. He also formerly served as the head freshman boys basketball coach.
In addition, he is a special education teacher at Herndon, working with students in their English classes and teaching English 9 and 11.
Herndon High Principal William Bates says he will step down from his job on July 30 to take an administrative post with the Baltimore County Public Schools.
Bates has been with Fairfax County Public Schools for 17 years, and has led HHS since 2009.
He was named FCPS’ Principal of the Year in 2015.
Reston Swim Team Association and Herndon High swimmers will have their eyes on the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha today and Friday, where swimmer Emily Meilus is competing for a spot on the team.
Meilus, a rising senior at HHS and a previous Washington Post All-Met selection, swims for the Lake Anne Stingrays.
Meilus will be competing in the 100m backstroke (Monday) and the 200m backstroke (Friday).
Meilus swam in the Lake Anne vs. Lake Audubon meet in Reston on Saturday before leaving for Omaha.
Herndon High School officials said school police officers caught an unknown man trying to enter the building during school hours Monday morning.
As at all FCPS schools, the school’s doors are locked and visitors must be let in through an electronic camera system.
The man, who was not armed, was charged with trespassing, said Principal William Bates.
Here is the memo Bates sent to HHS families Monday afternoon:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
At 8:45 a.m. this morning, an unknown adult male was observed on school grounds attempting to enter the building. A staff member located this individual near door #9 and radioed security for assistance. Our safety and security specialist along with the SRO [School Resource Officer] approached the individual who cooperated with the SRO’s instructions. The individual was taken into custody and charged with trespassing. The suspect did not have any weapons in his possession.
With the assistance of the Fairfax County Police Department and the FCPS Office of Safety and Security, we will continue to be diligent to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Thank you for your support and understanding. If you have any additional questions or concerns, feel free to contact the school office.
The nearly 500 members of Herndon High School’s Class of 2016 are heading for colleges all over the United States next year, as well as entering the workforce and military service.
While the greatest number of college students will attend universities in Virginia, there will also be former Hornets studying from coast to coast.
Below is a list of where students are enrolled, courtesy of Herndon High School.
Did you miss our list from South Lakes High School last week? You can find it here.
Congratulations, Class of 2016.
South Lakes High School’s theater department has earned six Cappie award nominations for its production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
The Cappies, “Critics and Awards Program,” is a program where high school theater and journalism students are trained as critics. Students attend shows at other schools, write reviews, and publish those reviews in local newspapers. The nominees are selected by the vote of high school critics from 57 schools around the Washington, DC area.
South Lakes nominees include: Comic Actress in a Musical (Mely Megahed); Comic Actor in a Musical (Jalen Robinson); Featured Actor in a Musical (Jacob Kemp); Female Featured Dancer (Izzy Edgerton); Set Design; and Orchestra.
Two Herndon High performers were nominated for their roles in Legally Blonde: The Musical. Allie Lytle earned a nod for Lead Actress in a Musical for her performance as Elle Woods. Isatu Fofanah was nominated for Comic Actress in a Musical for her performance of Enid Haupt.
The 16th Annual Cappies Gala will take place on Sunday, June 12 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Photo: SLHS’ production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”/Courtesy SLHS
The Fairfax County Planning Commission has deferred decision on the planned $105 million addition to Herndon High School until its April 13 meeting.
The planning commission discussed the more than 100,000-square-foot addition to the school at its March 16 meeting. It moved to defer a vote, which would recommend the addition for approval to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, in order to further review proffer amendments outlined in this planning staff report.
HHS has not been renovated in more than 20 years and is at 107 percent capacity, FCPS documents show.
According to a Planning and Zoning Staff Report, the plans for HHS include 138,558 square feet of additions and modifications that will expand the school to 431,000 square feet with a capacity for 2,500 students (from 2,146).
The Herndon addition was approved and partially funded as part of the FCPS Fiscal Year 2017 – 2021 Capital Improvement Program. The CIP reflects $310 million approved by county voters in a 2015 School Bond Referendum. Countywide, FCPS plans $777 million in renovations and expansions to schools.
See specifics of the plan, which calls for 193 more parking spaces and moving and replacing some athletic facilities, in this previous Reston Now article.
Rendering of planned HHS addition/Courtesy FCPS
Students from South Lakes High School and Herndon High School are among the 22 students chosen for this year’s Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County.
The students will be honored in a reception at Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax Sunday.
Local awardees include:
Aditi Takle, senior, South Lakes High School
Takle is president of the school’s chapter of Girls Learn International, a national nonprofit that seeks to provide resources and support to girls in other countries from low-income families who want to have an education, but whose families either cannot afford to send them to school or who, with the limited resources at their disposal, prioritize their sons’ educations. The chapter raises money for a school in India and holds advocacy events to raise awareness of the plight of so many girls across the globe who need access to education and opportunities for greater self-sufficiency. Aditi is also a volunteer with Cornerstones, where she tutors elementary school students from low-income families.
Smriti Subedi, Senior, Herndon High School
The disastrous earthquakes last year in Smirti’s country-of-origin Nepal inspired her to organize relief efforts to assist Nepalese people suffering loss of their homes, livelihoods, food, and water. As president of Herndon High’s Interact Club, she organized students to raise money and collect material goods to provide relief. She and her family volunteered in Nepal over the summer, helping in schools and hospitals.
High schools in Fairfax County may recognize one junior or senior who devotes time, energy and creativity to being peacemakers in local, national or international service, says Reston’s Ken Fredgren, who is on the awards committee.
The Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County started in 2006 with the hope of moving people to think more about peace as both a means and an end, andto recognize young people who work as peacemakers, says Fredgren.
Honorees receive a monetary gift as well as a gift made in their honor to a peace-focused charity of his or her choice.
A turnaround season for the Herndon High School girls basketball team ended last night in the Virginia 6A semifinals in Richmond.
The Hornets fell 64-33 to Midlothian Cosby at the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.
After winning just nine games last season, No. 4 seed Herndon finishes the season at 21-8.
The Hornets lost five in a row to end the regular season, but then rebounded with wins over Chantilly, Battlefield and Madison en route the state tourney. Herndon defeated Woodside 53-41 in the first round of the state playoffs on Friday.
In Tuesday’s games, the Hornets were outmatched by the two-time defending state champ Cosby. The No. 3-seed Titans were led by Jocelyn Jones (25 points, 18 rebounds) and Tyra Whitehead (18 points, 17 rebounds).
Cosby will take on Langley, which easily defeated second-seed (and previously undefeated) Oakton 47-38 in the other 6A semifinal. That game is 7:15 p.m. tonight at the Siegel Center.
Herndon was led by junior Indeya Sanders (7 points).
Fairfax County Public Schools are planning to add more than 100,000 square feet of space to Herndon High School, which has not been renovated since 1991 and is currently at 107 percent capacity.
The Herndon addition was approved as part of the FCPS Fiscal Year 2017 – 2021 Capital Improvement Program. The CIP reflects $310 million approved by county voters in a 2015 School Bond Referendum. Countywide, FCPS plans $777 million in renovations and expansions to schools.
FCPS is seeking a proffer amendment and will go before the Fairfax County Planning Commission on March 16.
According to a Planning and Zoning Staff Report, the plans for HHS include 138,558 square feet of additions and modifications that will expand the school to 431,000 square feet with a capacity for 2,500 students (from 2,146).
The additions would be located at the front and rear of the existing building. The additions also include the extension of the second floor along the front and west wing of the existing structure.
Other site plans:
- Revisions to the existing parking front parking lots and bus loop
- Relocation of the tennis courts
- Replacement and/or expansion of some of the existing structures related to the athletic facilities
- The addition of 193 parking spaces.
FCPS is also seeking to modify the transitional screening requirements along all lot lines in favor of the existing vegetation and supplemental landscaping and to waive or modify barrier requirements at all borders on the 40-acre site. Read More
Update, 1:50 p.m. Friday — Fairfax County Public Schools confirm that three FCPS high (McLean, Herndon and Westfield) schools were targeted with a bomb threat, but the threat was not credible.
“Police are investigating, and have determined the threats are not credible, and are intended only to disrupt the school day,” school officials said in a statement. “We do not believe any of our students are at risk. We are continuing with normal school operations for the rest of the day.”
Original story, 1:15 p.m. Friday — Seven Northern Virginia schools — including Herndon High School — reportedly received bomb threats on Friday, law enforcement officials said. WRC-TV reports that the following schools received bomb threats:
- Herndon High School in Herndon
- McLean High School in McLean
- Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn
- George Mason High School in Falls Church
- Falls Church High School in Falls Church
- Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington
- Westfield High School in Chantilly
Students and staff at Bishop O’Connell, Stone Bridge and George Mason have been evacuated.
Earlier this week, students at McLean High were evacuated due to a bomb threat.
Fairfax County Police determined about 1 p.m. Friday that the threats were a hoax.
1/2 Several bomb threats received in Fairfax County and throughout the region. All appear to be non-credible at this time.
— FairfaxCounty Police (@fairfaxpolice) March 4, 2016
2/2 Schools continuing normal operations and safe. Investigation underway
— FairfaxCounty Police (@fairfaxpolice) March 4, 2016
Rallies to Support, Protest President — The Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Coalition is sponsoring a rally to thank President Obama for the gun control measures he took through Executive Action earlier this week. The rally will be held prior to Obama’s CNN Town Hall at George Mason University tonight starting at 5 p.m. College Republicans will hold a counter protest on campus beginning at 7 p.m. [SignUp Genius, TownHall.com]
Pre-Richmond Public Hearing Tonight — Sen. Janet Howell and Del. Ken Plum have their pre-legislative public hearing at RCC-Lake Anne tonight at 7:30 p.m. [Reston Now]
Reston Hospital Center Mark of Excellence — Reston Hospital Center was recently named an Accredited Chest Pain Center. [Reston Connection]
Kudos, HHS Students — The Herndon High Business Management Virtual Enterprise (BMVE) class won first place in a statewide virtual enterprise business plan competition, similar to the television show Shark Tank, held in Virginia Beach in December. The class will represent Virginia in the international competition in New York City on April 18-21. The BMVE students created a company, ScholarME, to identify and tackle one of the biggest concerns of high school and college students and their parents: a company that matches students with scholarships.
Photo by Ryan Goff
The body found in an Adams Morgan alley on Thursday has been identified as Reston college student Paul McGuinness Jr., a police spokesman told The Washington Post.
McGuinness’s family members have also said it was McGuinness, 19, whom they found lifeless at the bottom of a stairwell in the 2400 block of 18th Street in DC.
The family members told TV reporters they spent hours searching the area after McGuinness was reported missing on Wednesday.
They said McGuinness had gone to Adams Morgan with a cousin and was last seen about 1:30 a.m. at a bar, Madam’s Organ, located at 2461 18th St.NW
McGuinness was a 2015 graduate of Herndon High School who was home on winter break from his freshman year at Virginia Commonwealth University.
“He was a JOY,” said Dannielle LaRosa, a Herndon High parent. “He always had a smile for everyone. I am heartbroken.”
McGuinness attended Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington before transferring to Herndon for his senior year. He played on the Hornets’ football team in the 2014 season, according to the HHS yearbook.
Police are still investigating the cause of death and what exactly happened early Wednesday, but foul play is not suspected.
This is the second tragedy to hit the Herndon High Community in the last five months. In August, three members of Herndon High’s Class of 2014 – Kyle Mathers, Holly Novak and Dale Neibaur – were killed in a car crash on their way to a gaming festival near Austin, Texas. A fourth HHS grad, Kevin DiCicco, was badly injured in the crash.
Photo: Paul McGuinness/Courtesy Herndon High yearbook
Police in the District are investigating if a dead body found in an Adams Morgan alley Thursday is related to a missing teen from Reston.
Paul McGuinness, 19, was last seen about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at Madam’s Organ, a bar at 2461 18th St. in Adams Morgan.
Reston and Herndon residents have been on a social media campaign this afternoon to see if anyone has seen the Herndon High School Class of 2015 grad and Virginia Commonwealth University freshman.
According to our sister publication Borderstan, the body was found in the 2400 block of 18th St. NW around 11:51 a.m. on Thursday. Metropolitan Police confirmed it is a “death investigation” rather than a homicide investigation.
The body was located in an alley close to Madam’s Organ, which said in a Tweet it will be closed tonight.
Photo by Tim Regan. Borderstan editors Andrew Ramonas and Tim Regan contributed to this story.
Stop by Herndon High School Saturday for one-stop holiday shopping, a silent auction and other holiday activities.
The Holiday Vendor Sale is co-sponsored by Education for Employment – SkillsUSA
and Emerging Leaders of Tomorrow.
Here is what you need to know:
Herndon High School is located at 700 Bennett St.
The event is from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Participating Vendors:
- Arbonne International
- Avon
- Beading with Grace
- Chloe and Isabel Jewelry
- Clear Gear Bags
- The Clever Container
- Deep Sea Publishing
- Dena Fleisher, Author
- Dolls & Crafts
- Fleece by bev
- It Works
- Jamberry Nails, Inc.
- KBC Design
- Karen Hollender Handcrafted Beaded & Wire Jewelry
- Mary Kay
- Melts by Melanie
- More Than a Sign
- MyThirtyOne
- NYR Organics
- Norwex
- ORGANO
- Paparazzi
- Pampered Chef
- Patti’s Pretties
- Rodan & Fields
- Scarlet Stitch
- Scentsy-Fragrance Consultant
- Seaglass
- Silver and Shells
- Stella & Dot
- Tastefully Simple
- Tomboy Tools
- Traci Lynn
- Tupperware
- Uniquelings
- Usborne Books
