More Stories from the Week:
Arts and Music in the Schools Month: Student Artwork
The Arts are being celebrated this month in Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) as March is Youth Art Month and Music In Our Schools Month®. For the Alexandria City PTA Council (PTAC) Art Reflections program, it has been a fulfilling year.
More than 61 students placed first (outstanding) at their local schools in entries submitted to PTAC this year for the 2021-22 theme “I Will Change the World By…” Entries represented all arts categories, from visual arts to literature, music composition, photography, film production and dance choreography. From there, 21 students placed first at the city level, progressing to the regional PTA Reflections competition, where three ACPS students placed first and will advance to the Virginia PTA Reflections competition. They are Sylvianne Dalton from Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School (photography), Matthew Feldman from Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy (visual arts) and Raya Yellin from Douglas MacArthur Elementary School (literature).
“We are incredibly awed by the strong turnout this year during such an incredibly challenging time and so proud by everyone’s accomplishments and progress,” said PTAC Reflections Chair Laura Martino. “We wish to thank all our parents, students, judges and local school chairs and their PTAs for all their support.”
While the importance of the Arts and Music in our schools may be brought to the forefront during the month of March, students benefit from these programs all year long. The Council for Art Education suggests that the Arts and Music help students tap into their creativity while enhancing their powers of observation, problem solving and communication.
ACPS has developed a video featuring student art that is part of the PTAC Art Reflections program.
STEM Academy Deadline is April 1, 2022
Do you have an eighth grader with a curious mind? The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Academy at Alexandria City High School Minnie Howard Campus may be a good fit. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2022.
The STEM Academy is a small, cohort-based learning community for students with an interest in STEM topics. This ninth-grade academy within the Alexandria City High School community is built upon student-centered, inquiry-based learning, and offers an environment that is both challenging and supportive.
In the STEM classroom, students become learners in a real-world, problem-solving and project-based environment. They are immersed in the investigation of engineering topics, current problems in technology, as well as decisions affecting the local, state and national government.
Additionally, STEM students take core classes taught by a collaborative team of teachers that focus on developing connections between the content areas with a specific focus on STEM-related issues. Through the cohort model, students study math, English, engineering, history, and science with a concentration on the core Alexandria City Public School curriculum, but with a focus on STEM-centered learning objectives. This group-oriented and rigorous model prepares students for STEM-related college courses and careers after high school.
Interested students may apply online. A complete application includes:
- General student information.
- An essay.
- A video presentation (virtual interview).
- Two teacher recommendations.
For additional information, please contact Benjamin Mathews, STEM 9 team lead, at benjamin.matthews@acps.k12.va.us. Applications are being accepted through Friday, April 1, 2022.
Student Meals Available for Pick-Up Over Spring Break (April 11-15, 2022)
Children in Alexandria City, between the ages of two and 18, are eligible for meals from our school division over the spring break, which is scheduled for April 11-15, 2022. Families can receive up to five days of meals for breakfast and lunch per child.
Meals will be available for pick-up between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Alexandria City High School (ACHS), located at 3330 King Street, on Monday, April 11, and Wednesday, April 13, on the east side of the building next to the Chinquapin Park Recreation Center. Two days of meals will be provided Monday and three days of meals will be provided on Wednesday.
If you are unable to pick up the meals in person, a delivery service will be available for families on a limited basis. Anyone who has requested home deliveries will receive student meals between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Monday, April 11, and Wednesday, April 13. A courtesy phone call will be made notifying you that the driver is on the way. Please meet the driver curbside to pick up the meals; masks are required. Please use this form if you are in need of meals to be delivered. The form will close once the maximum number of deliveries has been reached.
Please contact food@acps.k12.va.us if you need to cancel a requested delivery.
School Board Agenda
At its meeting on March 24, 2022, the School Board agenda will include an update on COVID-19. For School Board meeting agendas and documents, visit Electronic School Board. You can also visit the School Board meeting webpage for information on how to view meetings live and participate.
COVID-19 Transmission Rate: March 17, 2022
As of Thursday, March 17, 2022, the total COVID-19 cases is 29,883. View the City of Alexandria’s COVID-19 Dashboard to learn more.