Reynolds Opportunties

Current ACE@HS students who are attending Reynolds Community College in the Fall, may attend our upcoming SOAR events on April 8th and 9th to preschedule their classes for Fall 2026. Additionally, Reynolds is hosting an Open House on the Parham Roads Campus on Wednesday, April 22 from 5:30 - 8pm for interested students.

To register for the Open House - Click Here

ARCHIVED WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS

Educators Rising

Members of the Educators Rising CTSO, in our Early Childhood Education Program, competed at the Virginia State Conference. Students brought back gold and silver medals!

In the shop

First-year Auto Tech students showcase their skills by performing vehicle alignment and tire balancing.

COMPETING @SkillsUSA

Our SkillsUSA team is headed to Virginia Beach with seven dedicated competitors preparing for the State Championships. They will compete in Automotive Refinishing, Automotive Collision Repair, and Damage Appraisal, all with one goal in mind: earning a spot at Nationals.

We’re taking three juniors, competing at the state level for the very first time, and four seniors, some stepping onto the state stage for the first time as well. It takes courage, discipline, and serious preparation to compete at this level and they’ve put in the work.

From long hours in the shop to sharpening their technical knowledge and professionalism, these students are representing our program with pride.

State is next. Nationals is the goal.
Proud of every one of them let’s go make it happen.

Excellence in Cosmetology!

Cosmetology I and II students participated in the SkillsUSA District II at the ACE Center at Hermitage. Congratulations to the following students below who will advance to the State SkillsUSA competition in Virginia Beach March 9th-11th, 2026.

Total Fantasy Look:

First Place:

J. Bassett, Z. Hall, C. Cross

Esthetics:

First Place:

A. Carrillo-Bonilla Model-N. Das

Natural Hair Braiding:

Second Place:

K. Christian

Nail Care:

Third Place:

S. Jackson

Model-D. Dewitt

Many Voices, One CoMMUNITY

We continue to foster advanced career education and relevant competencies by providing ongoing and student-centered support for linguistic proficiency: honoring all world languages and cultures represented in our CTE community. Thank you to ACE@HS staff and students for celebrating our community's languages and cultures during hands-on education and training in our advanced career programs.

Stay tuned for more information about National World Languages Month in March!

Showcasing preschool Lessons

Our Early Childhood Education II students showcased preschool lessons that can be implemented in the classroom at the CTE Rodeo. Lessons included Life Skills: Personal Hygiene; Science: 5 Senses; Math: Patterns; Literacy: The Three Little Pigs; and Music and Movement.

Need Auto Tech

Second year Auto Tech students working with Richmond Ford West, Richmond Ford, Lincoln and CMA during our Annual CTE Career Skills Rodeo. They displayed their automotive skills in several different stations including; pre-delivery inspections, part identification, troubleshooting check engine codes with scanners and mock state inspections.

Repair COMPETITIONS

Our junior class did an amazing job competing in their first district SkillsUSA competition. They showed confidence, focus, and strong technical skills under pressure. Their hard work in the shop truly paid off, and this experience was a huge step in their career journey. Extremely proud of how they represented our program!

Cosmetology

Cosmetology I and II students welcomed elementary students from around the county for an exploratory visit. They gave the students a tour of the Cosmetology lab and classroom. The Cosmetology students then gave a mini learning session on braiding. The elementary students throughly enjoyed their visit and the Cosmetology students enjoyed being teachers for the day.

GET FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE

For seniors making post-secondary plans that include education, it's time to start your financial planning as well:

File your FAFSA (studentaid.gov)
Meet with your GRASP advisor, Clare Tilton who can help you with the FAFSA and scholarships. (acehighlandsprings@grasp4va.org or 804-21-6273)
Apply for Scholarships including:
1. 1. GRASP Last Dollar Scholarship
  2. Community College Pathway Scholarship

(GRASP scholarship deadlines: April 15th)

ECE II Out in the community

After gaining hands-on experience at Springer Preschool Academy, our Early Childhood Education II students are venturing out into the community. In partnership with Ward Elementary School, our students are expanding their experiences and volunteering in grades PreK-2. It has been a wonderful experience so far!

Rebuilds & Tires

First year Auto Tech students have been working on tires and tire rotations. They've also been practicing honing a cylinder in a block to rebuild an engine.

ASE Certifications

Our Auto Body Day 2 seniors are working hard as they prepare for their ASE Certification in Painting & Refinishing, Structural Analysis and Damage Repair, Non-Structural Analysis and Damage Repair & Mechanical and Electrical. They’ve been reviewing, practicing, and sharpening their skills every day in class. Their dedication shows, and they’re proving they’re ready for the next step in the industry. Proud of their focus and determination keep pushing!

Cosmetology I

Begin Lab Days

Cosmetology I students have been working diligently on the first chapters of Cosmetology to understand the history of Cosmetology, professionalism, life skills in the salon, communicating for success, anatomy, physiology, and infection control.

They have progressed to the lab beginning with wet hairstyling including roller sets and pincurls. This coming week we will begin manicures and pedicures.

Reynolds Open House

Mark your calendar for Reynolds Community College Annual Open House - November 12, 2025!

If you have questions or need application support - see our Reynolds Career Coach - Ms. Young - cyoung @ reynolds.edu

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

Our ECE II students took a field trip to the pumpkin patch to practice safety and developmentally appropriate practices outside the preschool classroom.

SHOP TIME!

Auto Tech II students visited several Carter Myers Dealerships this past week where they learned from mechanics in the field on live projects. They've also been hard at work on a variety of customer vehicles at our ACE Shop - students to the right worked on replacing a hub assembly on a GMC Yukon.

Bare Metal to Paint

Our first- and second-year Auto Body students showcased their skills by stripping several panels to bare metal, sanding the vehicle, and precisely masking it for primer and paint. Their attention to detail and teamwork truly paid off, resulting in a professional-quality finish. The customer was extremely ecstatic with the outcome and praised the students for accomplishing everything he wanted done. We are proud of their hard work and craftsmanship in representing the ACE@HS Auto Body program!

Cosmetology State Fair Competitions

The Annual State Fair Trade and Industrial SkillsUSA State Cosmetology Championships took place on Monday, September 29th.

The ACE at Highland Springs Cosmetology students competed in the following competitions:

Total Fashion Look

Fantasy Nails

Natural Hair Braiding

Manikin Comb-out

Fantasy Manikin

Congratulations to L. Upshur (Contestant) and A. Oliveras (Model) who Won 2nd Place in Fantasy Nails!!💅🥳

Hanover Regional Governor's School for

Career & Technical Advancement

Free 10-day summer residential programs for rising juniors and seniors. Summer 2025, three ACE@HS students were accepted. Congratulations to Awa B., Camdyn B., and Nikole C.-M.

JumpING Right In!

Our ECE I and ECE II students have already been gaining hands on experience in the Springer Preschool lab. We are excited to watch them grow as educators this year!

Back in the Shop!

Auto Tech II students have been hard at work in the shop working on a variety of maintenance jobs. Most recently, a group of students replaced brake and rotors in a Chevrolet Tahoe, while another group completed a multi point inspection on a Honda Civic.

AUTO BODY

Our Auto Body students worked together as a team to sand and prep the 1987 Monte Carlo SS. Each student played a role, from blocking panels to using the DA sander, making sure every surface was ready. By collaborating and staying focused, they were able to complete the entire vehicle in just two class periods.

Cosmetology teamwork skills

The first week of school, Cosmetology II Students participated in the tallest marshmallows and toothpicks team building project to improve communication skills in a group setting to prepare for good communication in a salon.

Congratulations to the team of Kipps, Koehler, Harris, Cross and Myers who won the competition!

Cosmetology I

Begin Lab Days

They have progressed to the lab beginning with wet hairstyling including roller sets and pincurls. This coming week we will begin manicures and pedicures.

Need Auto Tech

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