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Day 13 – Learning from Home Experience
No joke… it’s Census Day! Press pause on whatever you are doing and fill out your census form online! Schools rely on the census to assess how many students we need to serve and we get allocated federal dollars accordingly. So by filing out your census, you are supporting our public school system.
On Monday, March 30, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam issued a stay-at-home order to slow down the spread of COVID-19. This greatly limits the non-essential movements of everyone including our staff and families.
However, this will not impact ACPS food distribution centers. We are still providing breakfast and lunch to our ACPS students on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We know this is a vital service and that our students need to have access to healthy food to be able to learn. In fact, we know it is so important that today, we are launching two more pop-up food distribution sites in the east end of Alexandria.
Please know that our normal ACPS distribution centers and sites will not be open on April 6, 8, and 10 during spring break. The ACPS meal hotline will not be operating during spring break.
- On Friday, April 3, families will be able to pick up additional food at all ten ACPS food distribution sites to help them through spring break week.
- On Saturday, April 4, the ALIVE! Food program will provide families with up to four grocery bags of food from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at John Adams Elementary School and Leonard ‘Chick’ Armstrong Recreation Center next to Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology. There will be an additional opportunity (to be determined) during the week of April 6-10 for families to have access to food from the ALIVE! Food program.
- The City will be operating grab-and-go meal distribution from T.C. Williams High School (Chinquapin side) on Wednesday, April 8 and Friday, April 10 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (note the change in the start time).
The Governor also confirmed that the U.S. Department of Education has approved waivers for the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests this year. We know that many of you have questions regarding third and fourth quarter grading. This is not a simple topic, so bear with us — we will provide our recommendation regarding grading to staff on Thursday, April 2 and discussing with the School Board at our weekly board meeting on Friday, April 3.
Finally, don’t miss the virtual book club set up by librarians from T.C. Williams High School and the Minnie Howard Campus. Once you have completed your census form, you can always pick up a good book and share it!
In the meantime, stay safe, stay healthy and stay informed!
Sincerely,
Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools
VDOE Confirms Cancelation of SOL Testing
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has canceled Standards of Learning (SOL) tests for reading, math, and science for the 2019-20 school year.
In an announcement yesterday, Virginia’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, James Lane, announced that the Commonwealth’s waiver application to the U.S. Department of Education had been approved.
This means there will be no testing in those subject areas for our students this academic year.
The federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 requires states to administer annual assessments in reading and mathematics in grades 3-8 and at least once in high school. The law also requires testing in science at least once in elementary, middle and high school.
Lane said, “I would like to thank USED for how quickly they are granting these waivers so that we can provide certainty for our educators and students.”
The Commonwealth’s assessment system also includes tests in writing, social studies and history that are not required by the federal law. VDOE is exploring options for canceling state-required SOL tests during the reconvened session of the General Assembly in April.
View the announcement on the VDOE website.
Additional Pop-Up Food Distribution Sites in East Alexandria
ACPS now has two additional pop-up food distribution sites to serve our students:
- Community Lodgings at 607 Notabene Drive, Alexandria, VA 22305
10:45 to 11:15 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - Old Towne West Apartments (parking lot) at 500 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
11:20 to 11:50 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
See full information about our nutrition services during the coronavirus closure on the ACPS-at-Home website.
Check Out What Is Happening at Our Virtual Libraries
Our T.C. High School and Minnie Howard Campus librarians have established a fun digital book club for both students and teachers to help us stay connected through a love of reading.
See what your friends and teachers are reading, post video reviews and share photos on the TCReads Flipgrid group.
“We thought one way we can connect with each other and our students is to use a digital book club as a place to connect and share what we are reading,” said T.C. librarian Beth Ebenstein Mulch.
“It can be a quick review or even ‘I’m about to start reading…’ — just a short video so we can see each other and continue building our reading community. You can also reply to videos that you watch.”
While you are visiting Flipgrid, check out the weekly Maker Challenge our librarians have set up for our STEAM-loving students of any grade.
They are scouring resources around the world to come up with the best creative challenges around.
This week the challenge comes from The Getty Museum. Can you recreate a work of art with objects (and people) in your home?
- Choose your favorite artwork. For artwork inspiration, search the Getty online collection.
- Find three things lying around your house.
- Recreate the artwork with those items.
- Take a photo and upload to the Maker Challenge Flipgrid site.
Take a Virtual Trip to Amsterdam and the Van Gogh Museum
Get this world renowned museum all to yourself when you make a virtual trip across the Atlantic to the The Netherlands. See Sunflowers, The Harvest and multiple self portraits of the great painter as you virtually wander the galleries of the Van Gogh Museum, thanks to a Google Arts and Culture partnership.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
In the last video Q&A, Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. answered questions about:
- Why is the census important for schools
- What resources are in place to support families in need
- What emergency safety net services are in place?
- Is the Teen Wellness Center still open?
NEW: Read the answers to these questions in our daily video transcripts, available in English, Spanish, Amharic and Arabic.
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.
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 multiple “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 - Community Lodgings at 607 Notabene Drive, Alexandria, VA 22305
10:45 to 11:15 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - Old Towne West Apartments (parking lot) at 500 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
11:20 to 11:50 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.)
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.
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.