Anya Sczerzenie

Virginia

Journalist at Freelance

Rockingham County Beat Reporter at Daily News Record

🍎reporter at Prince William Times, VCU graduate🍓 she/her

Articles

Rockingham County schools looking at ways to implement governor’s push against antisemitism

6 days ago | dnronline.com | Anya Sczerzenie

At the Rockingham County School Board's next meeting in June, they will be looking at ways to implement Gov. Glenn Youngkin's Executive Order 48 — which aims to combat antisemitism in Virginia schools — according to board members. Although the executive order was not on the discussion agenda for the last meeting, two school board members, Hollie Cave and Matt Cross, brought the idea up during the board members' comment period at the end of Thursday night's meeting at Broadway High School.
A tight-knit group: Eastern Mennonite School graduates 43 seniors

1 week ago | dnronline.com | Anya Sczerzenie

Every senior class tries to leave something behind. For the seniors of Eastern Mennonite School’s 107th graduating class, it was hundreds of plastic babies. The babies, along with baby photos of students, were left all over the school as the class of 2025’s senior prank — which was partially ruined when middle schoolers rehearsing for a play at the small K-12 private school in Harrisonburg found them before the teachers.
Waterman students have outdoor fun at annual field day

1 week ago | dnronline.com | Anya Sczerzenie

“This is the best day ever!” shouted a soaking-wet second grader standing in the field next to Waterman Elementary School on an overcast Thursday morning. Across the field, other kids gathered around a colorful parachute, tossed water balloons and played tug-of-war. They screamed and ran and splashed each other — and themselves.
Mennonite group in Harrisonburg begins collective fast for Gaza

1 week ago | dnronline.com | Anya Sczerzenie

Members of Mennonite Action’s Harrisonburg chapter are taking another action to show their support for victims of the war in Gaza. Their latest observance — a 40-day intermittent fast to raise awareness about the famine and aid blockade in Gaza — coincides with the beginning of activist group Mennonite Action’s “Solidarity Delegation” trip to the West Bank.
Westover Pool to open Saturday after week delay

1 week ago | dnronline.com | Anya Sczerzenie

After its opening was delayed for a week because of a water conservation order, the Westover Pool in Harrisonburg will finally open for the summer on Saturday. Harrisonburg was under a water conservation order until Thursday. However, even with water restored, there was not enough time to clean and fill the pools, circulate and warm the water before the planned pool opening on May 24, according to Harrisonburg spokesperson Michael Parks. “We needed to fill it up.
Harrisonburg schools to lengthen elementary school day by 10 minutes next year

2 weeks ago | dnronline.com | Anya Sczerzenie

The Harrisonburg City School Board unanimously voted to make the elementary school day 10 minutes longer next year. The elementary school day is 10 minutes shorter than the middle and high school days, and this change will make all the school days the same length. The change will go into effect at the start of the 2025-2026 school year in late August and will add five minutes to the beginning of the day and five minutes to the end of the day.
Harrisonburg School Board approves collective bargaining agreement with teachers

2 weeks ago | dnronline.com | Anya Sczerzenie

Harrisonburg City Public Schools has officially approved collective bargaining for its employees. “After a long effort by HEA, collective bargaining has been approved,” said superintendent Michael Richards during a school board work session last week. “[We’re] the first school division in the valley to have collective bargaining.”The election, which took place in April, had school staff overwhelmingly select the Harrisonburg Education Association teachers’ union to represent them.
Youngkin announces $1.2 million for affordable housing in Harrisonburg

2 weeks ago | dnronline.com | Anya Sczerzenie

Gov. Glenn Youngkin is welcomed into a ceremony at the Harrisonburg Innovation Hub announcing a state partnership with Virginia Housing to build The Flats at West Market downtown. Jay Langston, executive director of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, speaks during a ceremony at the Harrisonburg Innovation Hub announcing a state partnership with Virginia Housing to build The Flats at West Market downtown.
'Relieved and excited': Fort Defiance High School graduates 177 seniors

2 weeks ago | dnronline.com | Anya Sczerzenie

Fort Defiance High School graduated 177 seniors Wednesday night at JMU’s Atlantic Union Bank Center — and many of them said their friends are what they will miss most about the close-knit Augusta County high school. “Some of the best, I would say, [were] everyday moments — at track meets, time in class,” said graduate Parker Blosser. “Just everyday moments with friends.”This year marks the 63rd commencement at the school.
Strawberries are ready and ripe for the picking at Shenandoah Valley farms

2 weeks ago | dnronline.com | Anya Sczerzenie

When warm spring weather turns the Shenandoah Valley’s foliage green, a familiar red berry grows, too. Strawberry season typically lasts from late April or early May until early June in Virginia. At Woods Edge Farm outside of Harrisonburg, the season is at its height in mid-May. The farm’s strawberry season began on May 10 this year, and more than a week into the picking season, the berries are about half gone, said farm co-owner Elaine Nolt.