THE BIG IDEA

Carl’s Corner — Going down the lab school rabbit hole.

So I was sitting on my porch, just sippin' a cola, when something popped into my head:

What exactly is a lab school? 

So instead of just asking my friend if they knew like a normal person, I stayed up all night going down the lab school rabbit hole on my laptop.

Turns out, lab schools are like little experiment playgrounds for kids, dreamt up by Governor Youngkin himself.

In Loudoun County, they've teamed up with GMU to create this thing called the "ACCESS Academy." It's all about prepping high schoolers for high-demand jobs in tech.

Picture this:

9th and 10th graders knocking out their core classes like normal — while learning some real-world hard skills at the same time. 

Then in 11th and 12th grade, it's full steam ahead, with classes taught by college professors AND industry pros.

They'll be raking in certifications left and right, all while getting a career head start.

They're even setting up a "Learning Innovation Lab". It’s like a one-stop-shop for kids to just dabble in different things. This way they find out what they like, before committing to 4 years of a single subject (and thousands in tuition).

So there you have it my friends. That’s all I’ve got for now. If you enjoyed this one, please let my boss know by using the poll at the bottom of this post (I really need this job).

Keep it fizzy,

Carl🥤| Intern @ Just Outside D.C.

Bulletin Board 📌 

Reader Restaurant Recommendation: One of our readers, James, recommends you guys check out Capri in McLean.

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QUICK HITS 

• Alexandria just approved the city’s new operating budget of $926M.

• Virginia residents will need a REAL ID to board planes starting in 2025.

• Mother’s Day is coming up. Here are seven things you can do with your mom on Sunday that aren’t just brunch.

LIVE EVENT LOWDOWN

• Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival | Northern VA’s biggest barbecue event is back for the third year in a row in Manassas.

• It’s a Spring Thing | the McLean Art Society’s show and sale is happening this weekend at the Church of the Covenant in Arlington and everyone is invited.

• Bethesda Fine Arts Festival | Rain or shine this even is going down this weekend. There’s gonna be 100+ booths, live music, and it’s free!

• Del Ray Home and Garden Tour | the 25th anniversary of the tour is happening this Saturday.

• Cocktails by Candlelight | learn about the history of 18th century drinks in the serenity of Gunston Hall this Friday.

• 26th Annual Eagle Festival | Sunday at Mason Neck State Park will be full of live music, animal shows, food, and more.

• Heritage India Festival | the DC area’s premier South Asian festival is back at Dulles Expo Center this weekend. 275 booths of art, food, jewlery and more will be all under one roof.

• Washington Nationals Career Fair | the Nats are having a networking event for entry level jobs and internships today (only a few tickets left!)

• Primavera 2024 | check out this fusion ballet show happening on Sunday (perfect Mother’s Day gift btw).

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