The Culinary Arts students prepared Thanksgiving meal and got a lesson in carving the bird. Student prepared roasted chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, and corn muffins for their feast. Happy Thanksgiving to all our students and their families!

Students in Criminal Justice level 2 had a visit with a DEA Forensic Chemist and DEA Agent during November 2022. Students learned about the work of agents and forensic chemists, details about joining the DEA, and participated in mock forensic analysis activities including testing common substances that give false positives for presence of drugs, and suiting up for evidence gathering in hazmat type suits, heavy duty gloves and boots, with a relay competition between three classroom volunteers involving physical tasks completed by forensic chemists in the field.

Congratulations to our students who were recognized by their teachers for the First Quarter of the 2022-23 School Year.

Edison Academy Culinary Arts students are making pastry for the holiday pie and bread carry-out sale. Order deadline is Friday, November 11, 2022. Apple Crumb Pie, Wet Bottom Shoo Fly Pie, Pumpkin Maple Pie, and Chocolate Pecan Pie and breads, Brioche, Soft loaves, French baguette, ciabatta, and Asiago cheese loaves are all on offer while supplies last. For more information about ordering and to be added to the Culinary Arts Bistro mailing list for other offerings coming in the future, contact, Culinary Arts instructor, Chef Glenn Walden, [email protected]

Guinness and Caisson, National Parks Service Police horses visited with us on November 3, 2023 along with their human officer partners to discuss the work of the National Parks Police and how their equine unit works to protect and service on the National Mall and in the DC metro area. Demonstrations of crowd and demonstration control methods, horse training for police work, and more was discussed with our criminal justice students.

FCPS Cybersecurity expert Tainiko Lowman, from the office of Cybersecurity, visited with Edison Academy Cyber:IT students to provide training and information on security breaches.

Cosmetology level 2 students conducted a color consultation with a client, Genie Williford, the Academy Career Experience Specialist. Students discussed choices of color, and methods of color application with the client then added color using the pull-through cap method to give the client a subtle color change for the coming holiday season.

On October 6 and 7, 2022, United States Marine Corps Recruiter, Yelda C. Villalpando, visited with Criminal Justice students to share personal insights about life as a US service branch member. Sgt. Villalpando spoke about following her goals that challenged traditional roles and boundaries in her culture, and her decision to join the USMC where she can be a mentor for others and contribute to the greater good.

Edison Academy Criminal Justice students take field trip to the International Spy Museum in DC to explore historical artifacts, hear stories from former spies, test their spy skills, and explore the fascinating world of spy craft.

Matthew Poblador, owner of Upgrade Electric, in Springfield, Virginia stopped by to see level 2 and 3 Electrical Construction and Engineering students to talk about careers and career advancement in the electrical field. Students learned about the importance of having a good work ethic and keeping their driving record clean as it can greatly impact career growth and opportunities.

Retired Executive Assistant Director of the Intelligence Branch of the FBI, had another great visit with our Criminal Justice students this year to share information about his career, from start to finish. Students got great insight into how a career with the FBI can grow, evolve, and change. Mr. Laycock also talked about work-life balance and how you can take your career in new directions as your life goals change.

Criminal Justice 2 students took a field trip to the Fairfax County Courthouse today where they heard from a Sheriff's office employee about the courthouse and security, visited the law library, a courtroom, holding cell, and got quizzed on the levels of the local district court system. Students got an impromptu Q & A with a judge and Sheriff's office staff member, and also got to sit in several courtrooms to hear bond hearings and some family law cases.