It’s been a busy week in Alexandria.
As teachers fought for a pay raise, Alexandria City High School (ACHS) students walked out of the classrooms in protest against Alexandria City Public Schools leadership stonewalling a lunchtime program.
Titan Lunch was a proposed replacement for an earlier Lunch and Learn program that allowed students to meet with clubs or teachers during their lunch period. A student committee met with school administration and worked on crafting a compromise that would keep the core of “Lunch and Learn” intact while adding security measures.
In an email to the ACHS community, Principal Peter Balas said during meetings with the school district’s senior leadership team it became apparent that “safety and security concerns, in addition to the logistical and operational challenges” would keep the program from moving forward during the current school year.
While organizers said Interim Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt has yet to meet with the student committee that put together the activity proposal, the ACHS PTSA wrote a letter to the school system supporting the Titan Lunch proposal.
The most-read stories this week were:
- Alexandria City High School students organize walk out protesting cancelation of lunchtime activities
- With Alexandria seeing more residential development conversions, city leaders discuss pushing for greater ‘voluntary’ contributions
- No arrest after woman robbed at gunpoint in Old Town Saturday night
- UPDATED: Alexandria BIPOC-focused grant program delayed by lawsuit from local engineering firm
- JUST IN: Visit Alexandria unveils new city branding
- JUST IN: Suspect on run in shooting ‘mistakenly’ released from jail after arrest
- Alexandria teachers want smaller classes and bigger raises
- Notes: Neighboring Arlington embroiled in single-family zoning fight Alexandria has avoided… so far
- Woodbridge man arrested after stabbing incident in West End
- APD investigates shots fired in the West End
Recent Stories
A 34-year-old Alexandria man has been charged with allegedly attempting to abduct a woman in Old Town earlier this month. At around 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1, a 30-year-old…
Is the Alexandria School Board too big? Should their elections be staggered and three-year terms increased? The entire structure of the Alexandria School Board could soon be upended, as these…
The Little Theatre of Alexandria (600 Wolfe Street) is hosting a pair of staged reading events over the next two weeks to commemorate the murder of Matthew Shepard and raise…
Alexandria Police are investigating a robbery outside a Bank of America ATM in the West End. The incident occurred at around 7 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 30) in the 500…
If you had a chance to enhance a child’s future with a time commitment of less than 2 hours a week, how would you respond? You have that opportunity right now to join over 200 Alexandrians as a reading tutor volunteer with the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC).
ATC tutors work with one child in kindergarten, first, or second grade in Alexandria public schools who need extra help with reading. Tutors meet with their Book Buddy 1-2 times each week for 30 minutes October-May at school, during school hours. Many struggling readers only receive one-on-one instruction through this program, and it makes all the difference. Last year, ATC served 195 children, of whom 82% ended the year reading on grade level and 96% made substantial reading gains. But the need is great, and we are still seeing learning lags from the pandemic.
This year, ATC plans to significantly increase the size of the program to reach over 250 students and to serve every elementary school in Alexandria. This is very exciting news, but we will only succeed if we can recruit more tutors. ATC trains you, matches you with a child, and provides ongoing lesson materials and support.
If you have been thinking about buying your first home or haven’t owned one in the last three years, THIS IS FOR YOU!
In the DMV area, it can be difficult to save the downpayment necessary for you to get into your own home. We have a solution. The Funder’s Summit!
We have assembled a summit with different municipalities to tell you how to access their funds for your home purchase.
Family Fun Fall Fest
Mark your calendars and join us for the Family Fun Fall Fest on Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 11am – 2pm!
This FREE in-person event will be held at the Shoppes at Foxchase, located at 4641 Duke St, Alexandria, VA
2023 Alexandria Fall Festival
Food trucks, bounce houses, pony rides, magic shows and more at the 2023 Alexandria Fall Festival, an Alexandria Living event presented by The Patterson Group. Join us at River Farm on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
