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Day 5 – Learning from Home Experience
It’s already Day 5 of learning at home and it’s been very productive. By the end of today we will have made it through week one of this journey together! We have seen some creative responses from our teachers and parents regarding adjusting to our new normal. Thanks to your resilience, flexibility and innovation, we have achieved a lot this past week. The numbers say it all:
8,625 Learning Packets have been distributed to elementary school students.
6,008 students were actively engaged in lessons online.
560 staff supported those students in online classes.
6,000 dollars worth of gift cards have been distributed to needy families at one school alone.
10,000+ meals have been served to students and families.
20,000+ hits on the ACPS-at-Home website, and
Stories about ACPS have reached 151 countries around the globe.
And I expect we will find ways to be even more innovative and supportive in week two.
New Food Distribution Schedule
Today, we are announcing an extension of our food distribution plan. Starting Monday, March 23, ACPS will be providing breakfast and lunch meals for any ACPS student on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the following locations across the city:
- William Ramsay Elementary School
- Francis C. Hammond Middle School
- Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology
- Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School
- T.C. Williams High School
Please note that no sign-up or registration is required to receive any of these meals. Meals can be picked up for multiple days at one time.
As we transition into our learning at home, it is important that we refine our efforts along the way. Part of the reason for the new food distribution plan is to ensure families are not having to travel across our city to access food. Also, we will be limiting the days we are distributing to support social distancing and to limit non-essential gatherings. Therefore, there will be no food distribution on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
If you have questions or need translation, send us your question in Spanish, Arabic or Amharic:
- Text ACPSMEALS to 797979 (English and Spanish)
- Call or text 703-927-6866 (Amharic)
- Call or text 703-927-7095 (Arabic)
Please look out for our letter being mailed to all families next week with this information and information about other resources and how to stay connected.
We thank you for your continued support during this unprecedented time for all of us!
Sincerely,
Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools
JOIN CHEF ISAIAH IN THE KITCHEN
Join our ACPS Executive Chef for a little light entertainment as you head into the weekend. See if you can make his recipe along with him. You’ll find all his recipes with links to watch him making them online in the ACPS Nutrition Calendar coming this fall.
Chef Isaiah’s Chicken Biscuits
Watch our executive chef’s masterclass and you can make this delicious dish at home with your children.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 cup whole wheat flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 6 ounces (180 ml) cold buttermilk, plus more for the tops of the biscuits
- Chicken breast – allow 1.5oz per biscuit
PRO TIPS
“Make sure your baking powder and baking soda are still fresh before starting. Both ingredients are important to get a good rise in these biscuits and also be sure to use cold butter and buttermilk. Don’t overwork your dough, make sure to work it together very gently. Fold the dough into thirds and pat it down three times. This helps to ensure that your biscuits are super flaky. When cutting your biscuits out, don’t twist your cutter. This will seal off the edges of your dough and they won’t rise as high. Just cut the dough straight down and pull the cutter right back out. I like to flour the biscuit cutter to make sure the biscuit dough doesn’t stick. Lay the biscuits on a baking sheet touching each other. This will help them rise taller and give them soft edges when you pull them apart!”
METHOD FOR THE BISCUITS (MAKES APPROXIMATELY NINE)
- Mix first five ingredients in a bowl
- Add butter
- Thoroughly mix with your hands until it becomes large crumbs
- Add buttermilk and mix into a dough
- Turn out onto a floured surface
- Roll out to half an inch thickness
- Fold into thirds
- Turn 90 degrees and roll out again to half and inch and fold into thirds again
- Repeat this step of rolling and folding four times
- Roll out once more to half an inch thickness
- Using a shaped cutter of your choice, cut out individual biscuits
- Place them on a sheet pan about one inch apart
- Heat at 400 degrees for 8-12 minutes
METHOD FOR THE CHICKEN
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Cut the chicken into 1.5 oz pieces
- season the chicken with salt and pepper
- Lightly flour the chicken
- Lightly oil a sheet pan
- Place chicken in the pan
- Cook for approximately 8 minutes until chicken is 165 degrees
Construct and enjoy!
NEW FOOD DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE
Starting Monday, March 23, ACPS is providing two days worth of breakfast and lunch meals free for any ACPS student between the ages of 2 and 18 years-old on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the following locations:
William Ramsay Elementary School
5700 Sanger Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22311
Francis C. Hammond Middle School
4646 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304
Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology
3600 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305
Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School
1501 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
T.C. Williams High School
3330 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302
NO SIGN UP OR REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE MEALS.
Meals consist of cold breakfast and lunch, including fresh fruits and vegetables and sandwiches for multiple days per the student’s need.
NOTE: No food distribution will occur on Tuesdays or Thursdays. The limited days for distribution is to support the practice of social distancing and to limit social gatherings.
Other Food Resources in the City of Alexandria
For food pantry locations and schedules in Alexandria, visit www.hungerfreealexandria.com or call 703-662-1067.
Questions? Or Need Translation?
Send us your question in Spanish, Arabic or Amharic:
- Text ACPSMEALS to 797979 (English and Spanish)
- Call or text 703-927-6866 (Amharic)
- Call or text 703-927-7095 (Arabic)
OR
Call the FACE Center’s Bilingual Parent Information Lines:
- For Spanish, call 571-775-9719, Monday-Friday (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
- For Amharic, call 703-927-6866, Monday-Friday (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
- For Arabic, call 703-927-7095, Tuesday-Thursday (9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
STAY CONNECTED TO US!
We want to hear from you! Send us a photo, video or story about your experiences while school is closed. Email us at news@acps.k12.va.us.
Nathaniel, kindergarten at Patrick Henry K-8 School. His teacher, Ms. Mills, held class for parents to ask questions, then read to the students and asked them questions. “I love that his teacher set up time for an afternoon class. This made his day,” said parent Sabrina Settles McGill.
Jacob Neufer, 3rd grader at James K. Polk working on his learning activity packet in and outside the classroom.
UPDATES FROM THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT
The Alexandria Health Department (AHD) continues to advise that the general public in Alexandria is at low risk from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic because both cases of COVID-19 in Alexandria are directly related to other known cases. The City of Alexandria has taken measures to further reduce risk, and encourages organizations and individuals to take action, as well. The AHD is reminding the community of the importance of social distancing by maintaining six feet of personal space whenever possible, and frequently washing hands and using hand sanitizer. For other questions about COVID-19, call the Alexandria COVID-19 Information Line at 703-746-4988, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Additional updates can be found at www.alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus.
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Continuity of School Support and Academic Advisement
School Student Support Team staff, including school counselors, school nurses, school psychologists, and school social workers will be available during school hours throughout the closure. Monday – Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m staff will be connecting with students and their families. The Department of Student Services, Alternative Programs and Equity staff members are also available during this time and can be contacted by voicemail and at student_services@acps.k12.va.us.
Emergency Supports
If there is a crisis or emergency during the time of the closure, students and families can access the supports below:
- Crisis Text and Crisis Link:
- Text: CONNECT to 85511
- Call: 703-527-4077
- Alexandria Safe Place
- Alexandria City 24-Hour Emergency Mental Health Services
- Alexandria City Health Department and AHD Contacts
- Inova Alexandria Hospital (ER)
We know that this is a challenging time. ACPS will continue to share information through the ACPS website, social media, and email. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s school counselor or school social worker with any questions.
LEARNING ON ACPS-TV
Monday through Friday while our schools remain closed, ACPS TV will be screening 90 minutes of educational programming from The Smithsonian’s “Science How” and “Stem in 30” series in a loop all 24 hours. Use this series with your children to ensure continuity of education while schools are closed. See this week’s schedule.
ONLINE LEARNING PACKETS
Our goal is to ensure continuity of learning while schools are closed. Download your learning packets.
HEALTH REMINDERS
Don’t Feel Well?
Contact your primary health care physician. Don’t have insurance? Contact Neighborhood Health at 703-535-5568.
Have questions, concerns or feedback? Contact us.
Stay Healthy!
Wash your hands regularly. Regular soap is okay.