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“Round Up” at Giant Food to Help Eliminate Childhood Hunger
School food and meal programs will benefit as Giant Food’s Round Up Program generates funds in support of feeding children. From June 17 through August 11, 2022, Giant Food invites customers to “round up” at the register and help eliminate childhood hunger in our community. Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) will be one of the school divisions to benefit from the Round Up Program.
“We are excited to receive these generous donations. Now, more than ever, our community is looking to our meal services for their children during the school day and beyond,” said Sara Bennett, ACPS School Nutrition Services assistant director. “This support assists us in our daily work to ensure that every ACPS student has access to nutritious meals that support their health and academic success.”
In a statement, the Giant Food team underscored its commitment of 86 years “to being a better neighbor by focusing on eliminating hunger, especially among children.” Giant Food encourages families to round up at the register and help raise more funds for your school division’s student meal services.
June Partner & Volunteer Highlight: Alexandria Library
As a valued community partner of Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), the Alexandria Library provides a variety of in-person or online books and activities for all ages to learn from and enjoy throughout the year, including the summer months when most students are not in class. Central Library Youth Services Manager Michelle Biwer says Alexandria Library has so much going on for all ages. “Stop by this summer to hear from Grammy winning artists, practice your reading and even try out an escape room,” offers Biwer. “Meet new friends while exploring your community this summer at the library.”
The reading incentive program SummerQuest 2022: Oceans of Possibilities is geared to various age groups. SummerQuest Jr. provides early literacy opportunities for babies to rising kindergarteners, SummerQuest is geared toward rising students who will be in grade one through grade five and SummerQuest Teen is for rising students who will be in grade six through grade 12. The program affords the opportunity to earn points between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2022, by reading or completing activities listed on the SummerQuest webpage.
For the youngest group, points can be earned by logging the books a child reads or has read to them or by doing early literacy activities listed, including a storywalk at Holmes Run Trail. For the older age groups, SummerQuest participants earn one point for every 20 minutes they read or for taking part in a designated activity, such as attending a library program. Points can be redeemed for a free book and Washington Nationals tickets. Teens who complete the SummerQuest challenge will also be entered into a gift card drawing.
SummerQuest is Alexandria Library’s way of opening the mind to the many possibilities there are to take advantage of at its libraries. For some, this may include programs like Story Time in the Reading Garden (ages 0-5) or the Summer Yoga Balance Challenge (ages 6-12). There are also Mad Science activities scheduled for both age groups and so much more. For teens, among the many options available is to create a playlist with the library’s free music app Freegal.
Throughout the year, Alexandria Library provides helpful tools from PSAT & SAT materials to guides on careers and jobs, financial literacy and digital literacy. Premium research tools are accessible with your library card, including research databases for kids. While Alexandria Library has returned to normal operating status, virtual events and videos are still available. There are a variety of YouTube playlists on topics such as crafts, cooking and sustainability.
Find out how you can borrow Chromebooks and mobile hotspots by visiting the Alexandria Library website. The library also provides computer access for public use at four locations, with high-speed internet access and Microsoft Office programs for word processing, spreadsheets and other projects. Overdue fines were eliminated July 1, 2021, but other fees to include replacement cost still apply. Follow Alexandria Library on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated on all the library’s events and services.
New Grade 3-8 Reading and Math Standards of Learning (SOL) Reports
Families will receive more detailed information starting this spring regarding their student’s Standards of Learning (SOL) performance along with end-of-year report cards. The new Student Detail by Question (SDBQ) reports, provided by the Virginia Department of Education, will be received by families of students who took a Grade 3-8 Reading or Mathematics SOL. The report will continue to provide an overall SOL Performance Level, which indicates if a student passed the test and remains the most important piece of information for families to understand.
New to the report is a Vertical Scaled Score, which is used to measure a student’s progress from one SOL test to another. The report will also provide more detail about how a student performed on individual questions. Students who took an expedited retake for either the Reading or Mathematics SOL this spring will receive a report for both test attempts in a content area.
Performance on an SOL assessment is one indicator of a student’s progress in learning the content and skills represented in Virginia’s Standards of Learning. It should be used with all other information in understanding your student’s current academic performance. To learn more about the new Grade 3-8 Reading and Math SOL Reports, please review this VDOE resource and contact your student’s school with any questions.
ACPS On-site Summer Food Service Program
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided on site to all children in Alexandria, ages 2-18, without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability or age, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided, on a first-come, first-serve basis, and must be consumed on site, from June 27 through July 21, 2022 (Monday through Thursday only), at the ACPS school sites and times as follows:
| School Site | Address in Alexandria | Breakfast Meal Times | Lunch Meal Times |
| Alexandria City High School | 3330 King Street | 9:00 – 9:30 am | 12:00–1:00 pm |
| Alexandria City High School – Minnie Howard | 3801 W Braddock Rd | 8:30 – 9:00 am | 10:30 am–12:45 pm |
| Cora Kelly Elementary | 3600 Commonwealth Ave | 7:30–8:00 am | 10:00 am–12:00 pm |
| Douglas MacArthur Elementary | 4633 Taney Ave | 7:30–8:00 am | 10:00 am–12:00 pm |
| George Mason Elementary | 2601 Cameron Mills Rd | 7:30–8:00 am | 10:00 am–12:00 pm |
| William Ramsay Elementary | 5700 Sanger Ave | 7:30–8:00 am | 10:00 am–12:00 pm |
| Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School | 1501 Cameron St. | 8:30–9:00 am | 11:30 am–12:30 pm |
| Early Childhood Center at John Adams Elementary | 5651 Rayburn Ave | 7:30–8:00 am | 11:00 am–12:00 pm |
More information about the Summer Food Service Program is available online.
Reminders: Student Code of Conduct and School Health Advisory Board
There are always opportunities for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) students, staff and families to share their voices within our school division. This is a reminder that ACPS is seeking feedback on the Student Code of Conduct by June 12, 2022, and is inviting people to apply for the School Health Advisory Board in the coming months. Please see the information below.
Share Your Thoughts on the Student Code of Conduct
The Student Code of Conduct is a document that outlines the behavioral expectations within Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) for keeping our schools safe. In the same way that we teach reading, writing and mathematics, we work with all of our students to teach them positive behaviors. The ACPS Student Code of Conduct is one way that we ensure success among all students. It sets a uniform standard of expectations for students and families to promote positive behavior and strong attendance.
It is that time of year when we are seeking stakeholder feedback on the ACPS Student Code of Conduct.
The Student Code of Conduct does the following:
- Serves as a resource to outline programs that promote positive school behavior.
- Describes the multi-tiered system of support that ACPS uses to intervene with students in need of learning new ways to behave at school.
- Outlines procedures for addressing concerns, such as bullying behaviors.
- Explains conduct that could result in disciplinary action using a restorative practices lens.
It is important for parents/guardians and students to read the ACPS Student Code of Conduct and discuss it to ensure that all are aware of the expectations for positive behavior choices and strong attendance. Together, we can promote good conduct in school to ensure safe and orderly learning environments for everyone.
We hope to hear your voice! Please take a moment to share your feedback and comments about the Student Code of Conduct through this online feedback form. This form should take about five minutes to complete and will be available through June 12, 2022. ACPS will use the feedback received to help inform discussions around updates to the Student Code of Conduct for the 2022-23 school year.
Apply to Serve on School Health Advisory Board
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is seeking to restart the School Health Advisory Board. This is a School Board Advisory Committee which assists with developing health policy in the school division and evaluating the status of school health, health education, mental health, substance abuse, violence prevention, the school environment and health services.
Families, staff, students and community members may apply to join the committee. Meetings will begin in September 2022 on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, per committee members. Those interested in joining the committee can apply through the School Board Advisory Committee form.
School Board Agenda
At its meeting on June 16, 2022, the School Board will feature reports from several advisory groups as well as a presentation on the new logo for the school division.
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: June 9, 2022
As of Thursday, June 9, 2022, the total COVID-19 cases is 35,302. View the City of Alexandria’s COVID-19 Dashboard to learn more.