Schools in the Heart of Virginia have a number of aspects to take pride in. One of those being the multiple ways they are opening doors and allowing parents and community members to become engaged in the schools’ activities.

Prince Edward County Public Schools, for example, is creating a Family Resource Center at Prince Edward County Elementary School. This center allows students and families, on certain nights of the week after school, to have a place where students have all of the materials they need to work on projects. It’s a room where families can read and do Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities together. To see this amazing center in person, consider attending the open house on Tuesday, March 26, from 4-6 p.m.

Buckingham, on Tuesday at Buckingham County Elementary School, hosted a Title I Parental Involvement Night. This event not only involved refreshments, games and activities, but also gave a chance for families to be involved in the school division’s process, particularly in how it receives and spends federal funds.

It’s quite common for officers of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office or another representative of the community to receive desserts, smiles and a helping hand from Cumberland’s students. These students are practicing the Kindness Challenge, led by Cumberland County Elementary School Principal and recent Virginia Association for Supervision and Community Development award winner Virginia Gills. Students and faculty, through this incredible program, practice kind actions and words toward their classmates, co-workers and community.

Of course, these are very few of the measureless activities and accomplishments students, faculty and administration are developing on a daily basis at all levels, K-12. Amazing things are taking place from students, faculty and administration at each of our three school divisions. I am so grateful for and commend each representative of our school divisions.

EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH is a staff reporter for The Farmville Herald and Farmville Newsmedia LLC. Her email address is Emily.Hollingsworth@ FarmvilleHerald.com.