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Day 11 – Learning from Home Experience
As we begin our third week at home, we can look forward to a little more normalcy in our daily routines going forward. Yes, our school buildings may be closed but school and learning is very much thriving and innovative. With that in mind, I wanted to let you know that our curriculum and instructional team has been working hard to make sure each of our students can expect to receive clear guidance in the coming week about how the rest of our academic year will continue. When we return from Spring Break, we know that students, teachers and their support staff will be ready to continue our educational efforts and support.
An overview of our extended plan to ensure continuity of learning beyond April 13 and throughout the remainder of the academic year was discussed at the virtual School Board meeting on Friday, March 27. This included a discussion about how we intend to continue to support our Students With Disabilities going forward. You can tune in to School Board meetings each Friday at noon via the video link on the School Board meeting web page. An outline of our continuity of learning plan for beyond April 13 will be shared with the community on April 3, 2020.
Do make sure you check out the wonderful new Story Hour resource we have added to our ACPS-at-Home website for our younger students. It’s such fun to see all these famous faces reading for America’s children in this time of need and we are grateful that some publishers are allowing us to publish read-alouds on the website at this time.
And finally, for those of you with high schoolers, Rhea Butler, AVID coordinator at T.C.Williams High School, has provided some exceptional teaching tips to help you keep your middle and high school students on track.
Stay safe, stay healthy and stay informed!
Sincerely,
Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools
ACPS Story Hour Now Online
If there’s one thing that remains unaffected by the closure of our school buildings, it is the ability to enjoy a great story.
Reading, or being read to, is a joy we can all still indulge and escape in no matter what is going on in the outside world.
Next week, our librarians at T.C. Williams High School will be coming up with some book recommendations they think may help our teenagers through these coming weeks.
And today we are excited to launch ACPS Story Hour for our younger readers.
Familiar faces, including Oprah Winfrey, Betty White and Elijah Wood have read and recorded a collection of stories aimed to delight and entertain students between pre-K and fifth grade.
Books include “Me and My Cat” by Satoshi Kitamura and “A Bad Case of Stripes” by David Shannon.
We suggest you set aside an hour a day when your child can curl up on the sofa and enjoy a great book or two.
Check out the wonderful selection.
Top Tips From Our Top Teachers
Rhea Butler is the AVID coordinator at T.C.Williams High School and knows a thing or two about motivating and supporting our teenage students academically. Below she gives her top advice for families unexpectedly now stepping into the role of both teacher and parent/guardian of a high schooler.
“If I had to give five tips about teaching high school students, I would say that communication, support, interaction, transparency and education are five things that are key,” she said.
Communication: Oftentimes parents state that high school students do not “talk” to them anymore. Technology has replaced our main way of communicating. However, owning a cell phone does not mean that verbal communication is dead. It is crucial to have a quick, yet relevant conversation with your child about what is happening in their day. Even if it is a “short convo” make sure they happen often and are focused on what their day was like, what they did or didn’t do, or maybe about what is happening around them. Find a common thread; even if you may not always agree or understand, go with the flow. Try not to outdate yourself! Sometimes you can’t relate and that is okay. Communication builds relationships and that is an important part of understanding one another.
Support: Support even in the worst situation is important. If your child is dead wrong, you can STILL be supportive. Explain why they are wrong, how they got there, and how to move forward! Applying this to our current online learning situation, ask your child, “What is required?” They may not need help, they may just want to show you what they know or don’t know. Teachers are doing some amazing things with students during this crisis. Be a spectator if you can’t participate. Have them teach you how to do this “online” thing. For once, they are the expert and not you. If you can help, be honest about what you can do, and if they are frustrated, lend a hand as best you can. Instead of reading it to yourself, read it to them. Have them present information rather than you just looking at it. Applaud them for their efforts for the attempt and the process. Be a part of the Zoom meeting or conference. Be that cool or uncool parent. Maybe you haven’t been anything and now this is your chance. Lastly, this is NEW to all of us, so remind your child of this and remember we are all in this together.
Interaction: Interact with your child; there are so many ways to do so. This situation gives you a perfect opportunity to stay in the loop with the most recent technology and the newest trend. This is your chance to learn also! Take the time to read and research what is happening with teenagers all over the globe, remember they have access to it all. You do not have to be an expert, but knowing a little puts you in the know. So interact digitally and/or in person. Set some time aside in the day, even if it is not for a long time, do it anyway. Your child may not always be excited about it, but it is necessary and goes a long way. If you have a full house and time is thin, interact as a family. Create an event; movie night, homework time, dinner time, etc… Create little moments as opposed to none at all.
Transparent: A child will hide their feelings and will not share if you are not transparent. The word PARENT is in the word for a reason. It is up to you to set the stage. Once you are the example, you give your child the opportunity to follow suit!
Educate: While your child is not being educated at school, we are educating at home. Teach them how to navigate through the world in which they live. Your child may be a different person when they are not in front of you. The environment you provide has a profound effect on how they exist without you. Remember, they are the future.
Learning Together: At-Home Learning Tips from One ACPS Family to Another
James K. Polk kindergarten teacher Maggie Posey shares a video of her talking with her son, Zavier Silva. She suggests giving as many choices as possible, such as choosing a marker or a pen, choosing which chair to sit in, or choosing what activity to do first!
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
In the last video Q&A, Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. answered some of your questions on:
- What is happening with the SAT & ACT?
- Can we pick up items at school buildings?
- What about 3rd quarter grades & GPA?
- What about spring sports?
Watch the daily Q&A video, available at 3 p.m. or see answers to these questions in the updated FAQ.
We welcome you to send us your questions.
CONNECT WITH US
Gamel kids having a tasty lesson on fractions when measuring ingredients. If you are baking at home, let us know!
We want to share your stories with others! Connect with us at news@acps.k12.va.us. Share your recipe, your experiences and your phone number!
ACPS-TV Schedule
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.
Schedule for the Week of March 30, 2020:
MONDAY
- Bird Extinctions: Time Travel through Lava Tubes
- Staying Safe Is No Accident: The Science of Safety
- The Biology of Long-Term Spaceflight
TUESDAY
- Mineral Dependence: Gemstones to Cellphones
- The Psychology of Long-Term Space Flight: Music, Art, and Creature Comforts
- Copters, Choppers and the Phrog
WEDNESDAY
- Global Change: Reading Ocean Fossils
- Solar Eclipse Special: Live From the Path of Totality
- The Wright Stuff: Flying the Wright Flyer
THURSDAY
- Paleobiology: Unearthing Fossil Whales
- The Women Paving the Way to Mars
- Seven Minutes of Terror: The Engineering Behind Landing on Other Planets
FRIDAY
- The Evolution of Agriculture in Ants
- Taking the Fast Lane to Orbit: The Technology of Rockets and Race Cars
- The SR-71 Blackbird
Coping with COVID-19 Fear and Uncertainty
Check out the City of Alexandria webpage Coping with COVID-19 Fear and Uncertainty which includes the COVID-19 Wellness Resource Guide.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
ACPS is providing two days worth of breakfast and lunch meals free for any ACPS student 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 22304
GRAB-AND-GO MEAL LOCATIONS:
ACPS has three “grab and go” meal locations for any ACPS student or child over the age of 2 to pick up breakfast and lunch.
The sites are:
- Mason Apartments at South Reynolds Street, Alexandria, VA 22304
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - Brent Place Apartments at 375 South Reynolds Street, Alexandria, VA 22304
11:20 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - Ruby Tucker Family Center at 322 Tancil Court, Alexandria, VA 22314
10:45 a.m. -11:15 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
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.)
WANT TO HELP?
Please consider donating through ACT For Alexandria and the Covid-19 Response Fund if you are able.
Community members who would like to volunteer should reach out to www.volunteeralexandria.org or 703-836-2176 to register for any additional potential volunteer opportunities.
UPDATES FROM THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT
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.