School is back in session, and this year Alexandria City Public Schools wants to make sure kids go to class.
That was the message from outside George Mason Elementary School (2601 Cameron Mills Road) this morning, where Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt and School Board Chair Michelle Rief joined teachers and staff in welcoming back students. Kay-Wyatt said her priorities this year are on improving the welcoming culture within ACPS, academic achievement and absenteeism.
Good Monday morning, Alexandria!
🌤️ Today’s weather: The upcoming forecast shows partly sunny weather with a high temperature close to 95 degrees. Expect a calm wind shifting to the north at around 6 mph during the morning hours. For Monday night, skies will be mostly cloudy and temperatures will drop to around 71 degrees, accompanied by a north wind ranging from 3 to 7 mph.
Still, at the risk of triggering Alexandria’s flood-afflicted residents: mid-August is the calm before the storm. School starts up again next week, with some students entering a brand new school and others warned to keep away from bad habits.
Alexandria’s boards and commissions start to kick things off again after a short break later this month, which is music to the ears of those scratching through dockets for crumbs. Some local businesses, like a new cafe in Old Town, are already waiting in the wings for approval for move forward this fall.
After years in development, Alexandria leaders and students cut a blue ribbon and toured the rebuilt Douglas MacArthur Elementary School today.
“It feels like I’m floating through the school and marveling at each and every new feature that has been brought from design to full construction,” Principal Penny Hairston said at the ribbon cutting. “The only thing that’s missing are all of our students, and they will be here soon to enjoy this modern and welcoming school building.”
Anyone who has traveled along the Mount Vernon Trail can tell you the kudzu near the old GenOn power plant is so thick it nearly swallows the trail. Now, Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail are fighting back.
The group is organizing a pushback to the kudzu invasion on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 9-11 a.m. The group is meeting on the trail near 1198 N. Fairfax Street.
Ahead of the start of the new school year, Alexandria City High School (ACHS) Principal Alexander Duncan issued a warning reminder that students are “discouraged” from going to nearby shopping centers during school hours.
The specific shopping center isn’t named, but it’s no secret that the Bradlee Shopping Center has been afflicted with violence in recent years linked to students from the nearby ACHS. There have been multiple shootings and brawls, including one that ended with the murder of 18-year-old Luis Mejia Hernandez in the parking lot of the Bradlee Shopping Center.
Good Friday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: The weather forecast indicates a partly sunny day that will eventually become completely sunny, with a high temperature near 84°F. There will be a northwest breeze ranging from 6 to 14 mph, with the possibility of gusts reaching 21 mph. Friday night is expected to be clear, with a low temperature around 62°F and a consistent northwest wind between 6 and 10 mph.
From the Alexandria Restaurant Week throughout Alexandria to the 3rd Annual Bands & Brews Bar Crawl throughout Del Ray, there’s something for everyone happening all over Alexandria this weekend.
Organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow.
(Updated 2:40 p.m.) The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded a grant to Alexandria to keep some of the city’s most high-profile art projects going.
The grant funding goes to the Artist Residency Program, part of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts, which supports projects like the Waterfront Park art initiative and the art lab. Diane Ruggiero, who leads of Office of the Arts, said the grant was for $45,000.
The Alexandria Fire Department is running its annual fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) starting next week.
The Fill the Boot campaign is an annual drive run by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2141. This year, it kicks off on Wednesday, Aug. 23 and will run through Thursday, Aug. 31. Drivers around Alexandria can expect to see local firefighters along the side of the road looking for donations.
The Alexandria Police Department said one man was arrested after an attempted robbery in 7-Eleven this morning.
The incident occurred at the 7-Eleven at 3023 Duke Street, near the Alexandria Commons shopping center.
