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More Stories from the Week:
Alexandria City Science Fair 2022 & Volunteer Opportunity
The 2022 Alexandria City Science Fair will be a virtual event that will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. via Zoom on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, and Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. We are also tentatively scheduling Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022; the additional date is dependent on the number of science fair projects.
We invite our staff and community members to volunteer as judges for the 2022 Alexandria City Public Schools Science Fair! The judging is done virtually, with volunteers viewing projects and talking to students over Zoom, according to this schedule of events for the evening:
- 5-6 p.m. – Judges’ Orientation
- 6-8 p.m. – Judging of Projects
- 8-9 p.m. – Judges work session and award recommendations
If you can serve as a judge, please register using this form to indicate the date(s) you are available and the categories you would like to judge. Please complete this form by Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 4 p.m.
You will get the chance to meet a diverse group of people at the virtual science fair including students who are novice researchers and others who are experienced science fair participants. Students often report that their interaction with judges is the most memorable and inspiring part of the science fair process.
Please email Julia Neufer at julia.neufer@acps.k12.va.us if you have any questions.
Calendar Reminder: MLK Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday of January, which this year is Jan. 17. All ACPS schools and offices are closed that day in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day).
Also known as a day of service, MLK Day is an opportunity to give back to the community in memory of Dr. King who dedicated his life to opposing racial discrimination and spoke of a world where all people were provided the opportunity they needed to succeed.
Many in our nation work to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service projects to address community needs, and there are a variety of ways in which the ACPS community can serve our neighbors. For some people, that may be delivering meals or collecting food and clothing; others may serve as a mentor. The work of volunteers is always appreciated by various service organizations in need of assistance. To learn about volunteer opportunities in Alexandria, visit Volunteer Alexandria.
Dr. King once reflected on the importance of service as he said, “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.”
ACPS Receives Funding for STEMinist Club for Middle School Girls
ACPS has been awarded $20,000 from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Business Women’s Giving Circle to offer the STEMinist Club to middle school girls at Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School and Francis C. Hammond Middle School. The STEMinist Club is designed to engage historically-underserved middle-school female students in STEM enrichment activities to spark and nurture an interest in and enthusiasm for STEM.
Fifty-five participating middle school girls will be immersed in weekly one-hour sessions of coding and robotics and one-hour mentoring sessions that will take place during the school’s after-school LINK Club programs. Not only will the girls served by the STEMinist Club have the opportunity to learn advanced coding and robotic skills, but the program facilitators, mentors and guest speakers will be Black, Hispanic and other women of color who will serve as positive STEM role models to the students. The STEMinist Club is made possible through essential partnerships with women-led community organizations, Boolean Girl, Fly Minds and Jireh’s Place.