Please Note: Advertisement of these opportunities does not constitute sponsorship or endorsement of the sponsoring organization or the enrichment opportunity by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or a specific FCPS school. This opportunity may utilize a technology tool that has not been assessed by the Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Information Technology. Students should gain permission from their parent or guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity and families should review and agree to the Terms of Service and User Agreements for any technology platform that enrichment opportunity may use before participating.

Ongoing Opportunities and Pre-Recorded Events to View 

January Events 

January 5, 2021 - NOVA PAYING FOR COLLEGE - (for students headed to Northern Virginia Community College) Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) will host a live webinar to provide students with information on options to pay for classes. Students are invited to participate in these online sessions to learn more about the new payment plan and financial aid, including grants, scholarships and student loans. REGISTER HERE. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

January 11, 2021 - YearUp Information Session 11:00 AM - YearUp is a nationwide organization with a mission of filling the growing skills gap between available unskilled workers and the millions of vacant job positions requiring skilled employees.  It partners locally with NOVA at select campus sites and works with students by creating a structure for success including professional training and mentorship.  Students complete six months of advanced employment training and college classes followed by six months of paid internship, which often lead to job offers.  Use this link to join: https://yearup.zoom.us/j/96175609913

January 11, 2021 - Apprenticeship Information Session 1:00 PM (FCPS Adult and Community Education) - The FCPS Adult and Community Education is hosting an information session on Apprenticeship Related Instruction classes that complement on-the-job training provided by employers participating in the Virginia State Apprenticeship Program. Classes are offered in Carpentry, Electricity, HVAC, Plumbing, Opticianry, and Surveying. Interested students should register here and will receive a link to participate in an email.  https://forms.gle/rQfAogzMgG4gseoC9

January 14, 2021 - Preparing for Life After High School 6:30 -8:00 PM - Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) prides itself in how it prepares students to be productive citizens of a global community and successful in the workforce of the future. The FCPS Portrait of a Graduate framework sets a foundation for student success starting in kindergarten.  At the end of the students’ K-12 academic career, they prepare for life after high school. There are many post-secondary options. To learn more about postsecondary options, register for the Parent Resource Center Webinar: Exploring Post-Secondary Options through the College & Career Center: A Webinar for Students and Their Families. This webinar will focus on; Higher Education Options, Financing Your Plans, Apprenticeships, Military Opportunities (Enlistment vs. ROTC), Testing (SAT/ACT),  and Gap Year Experiences.  Tisa Frederick and Carla Shaw, FCPS College and Career Specialists are the presenters for the webinar. The webinar will be Thursday, January 14, 2021 6:30-8 p.m  Register for Exploring Post-Secondary Options through the College & Career Center: A Webinar for Students and Their Families .(NOTE: Registrations are currently closed for this live session but a recording will be made available for review). 

January 14, 2021 - Career Options with a High School Diploma -Evening Program for - Region 3  Seniors Students from Edison. Hayfield, Lewis, Mount Vernon, and West Potomac Pyramids) - Fairfax County Public Schools, Region 3 College and Career Specialists are hosting a program to inform students about work options after high school.  Please join us on Thursday, January 14th, 2021, at 6:30 PM.  at: this link.  NOTE: This event is for students who attend high schools in Region 3. Other Regions within FCPS may be sponsoring a similar event. Check with your high school's Career Center for all upcoming college and career events they are sponsoring. 

January 25, 2021 - Registered Apprenticeship Brown Bag Series 12:00 -1:00 p.m. this is the first of a monthly series of events to be held on the last Monday of each month in 2021. Who should join?  Employer/Apprenticeship Sponsors, Potential Apprentices exploring next steps, Parents, Teachers, Workforce and Economics Development Practitioners, Veterans and Military Spouses, and Business leaders who are seeking information to consider registered apprenticeship as a recruitment avenue.  Join the conversation with this quick registration link.  Follow Virginia Registered Apprenticeships on Facebook and LinkedIn!  #rapays

January 26, 2021 - AmeriCorps Presentation. This webinar presentation will contain a detailed overview of AmeriCorps opportunities, benefits, requirements, and more. You can sign up for this webinar here.  Also some good links to learn more about AmeriCorps may be found here. Parents & Educators web page and Join AmeriCorps NCCC resource page. A recording will be shared for registrants after the event if you are not able to attend the live webinar. 

February Events 

February 20,2021 HBCU Festival is coming!  Alfred Street Baptist Church will host the 19th Annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Festival on Saturday, February 20, 2021.  In response to COVID-19 concerns, this Festival will be VIRTUAL.  Registration has not yet opened. 

All high school students (grades 9-12) who are considering/planning to attend an HBCU college or university should participate in this virtual college festival. It is never too soon to prepare for college!!  The HBCU festival will offer a host of seminars, admissions directors and recruiters, and exhibitors to assist with your preparation.   This festival was the largest HBCU College Festival in the nation with over 70 HBCUs  attending in 2020 to recruit students with approximately two-thirds offering on-site interviews and immediate acceptance to college!  During the 2020 HBCU Festival, many colleges and universities conducted on-site interviews resulting in over 1,700 offers for admission on the spot. In addition, approximately $5.4 million in scholarships and waived application fees were offered to those accepted. Also in attendance were several band and chorus directors who conducted auditions.  

*Festival Benefits*

• HBCU virtual Drumline competition!
• Over 70 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• On-site Interviews and Admissions by some schools
• Band and Chorus auditions by some schools 
• Application Fee Waiver by some schools
• Seminars for students, parents/guardians (sign up when you register)

If you have questions about the upcoming 2021 HBCU Festival, please email: @email 

February 23, 2021 - Registered Apprenticeship Brown Bag Series 12:00 -1:00 p.m. this is the second of a monthly series of events to be held on the last Monday of each month in 2021. Who should join?  Employer/Apprenticeship Sponsors, Potential Apprentices exploring next steps, Parents, Teachers, Workforce and Economics Development Practitioners, Veterans and Military Spouses, and Business leaders who are seeking information to consider registered apprenticeship as a recruitment avenue.  Join the conversation with this quick registration link.  Follow Virginia Registered Apprenticeships on Facebook and LinkedIn!  #rapays

SAVE THE DATE - February 22, 2020  - (Virtual) Edison High School’s 11^th Annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities Fair 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM - Colleges are signing up now for time slots to present information to students. A link to join this event is coming soon!