ACPS | ALXnow - Part 20

ACPS superintendent chooses favorite new logo for the school system

Published January 16, 2024 at 3:45PM

The two options for the new ACPS logo (via ACPS)

After years in development, the School Board will vote Thursday night on a new logo for Alexandria City Public Schools, and Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt is recommending Logo 1, according to a staff presentation.

“After careful consideration by the ACPS leadership team and consideration of the community input, the superintendent recommends that the School Board accept Logo 1 as the new logo and brand to represent Alexandria City Public Schools,” ACPS said in the presentation. “Some logo elements may be refined when finalizing the final logo version.”

News

ACPS cancels school on Tuesday for ‘traditional snow day’

By Vernon Miles

Published January 15, 2024 at 6:38PM

Adam K., 13, sleds in front of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Jan. 15, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) announced at 6:15 p.m. on Monday that schools and offices would be closed on Tuesday, with students getting a ‘traditional snow day’ rather than switching to virtual learning.

After previously considering switching to virtual classes on any school days that might be closed due to snow, the ACPS website noted that the school division would also consider having some snow days off for students and teachers.

News

New report shows geographic and racial divide in Alexandria’s out-of-school programs

By Vernon Miles

Published January 8, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated January 10, 2024 at 12:47PM

Kids played running games in the Alexandria City High School gymnasium prior to a watch party for Alexandria track star Noah Lyles' 200 meter race in the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 1/10) Data in a new report shows a geographic and racial divide between which Alexandria students receive out-of-school services.

The Alexandria City Youth Report noted that the city’s out-of-school programs “tend to be clustered at schools and recreation centers, with fewer programs offered in the West End.”

News

Alexandria math teacher, who started teaching at ACPS in 1959, dies at 91

By Vernon Miles

Published January 5, 2024 at 11:50AM

Louis Kokonis, ACHS math teacher (image via ACPS)

Louis Kokonis, an Alexandria City High School math teacher who worked in the school division for over 60 years, died yesterday.

Kokonis, 91, was renowned for his devotion to the students. A CBS article last year noted that Kokonis, who had no wife or children, offered free tutoring on Saturdays and was often the first to arrive at the school each day.

News

Alexandria Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee members resign after criticizing ACPS superintendent

By James Cullum

Published December 27, 2023 at 9:55AM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at the ribbon cutting for Douglas MacArthur Elementary School, Aug. 18, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Two longtime members of the city’s Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee (BFAAC) resigned earlier this month after severely criticizing the leadership of Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt during a meeting.

BFAAC Vice Chair Kathy Stenzel resigned on Dec. 14 and Board Member Karen Graf resigned on Dec. 16 without providing a reason, according to the city. Graf was chair of the Alexandria School Board in 2013 and 2014, and was a School Board member for six years.

News

Decades-long theater collaboration at Alexandria City High School coming to an end

By James Cullum

Published December 14, 2023 at 3:45PM

Hope Bachman (on left) and Lesley Jones have led the Alexandria City High School theatre department for 20 years (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s the end of an era for Alexandria City High School’s drama program. After 20 years directing and producing dozens of theatrical performances, the partnership between co-teachers Hope Bachman and Leslie Jones will come to a close at the end of this school year.

Known informally as “Bach and Jones” to students, parents and staff, the pair were honored in a gala at ACHS last week. Bachman says that deciding to partner with Jones was one of the best decisions she ever made.

News

Alexandria City Public Schools unveils two logo redesigns and gets skewered on social media

By James Cullum

Published December 11, 2023 at 10:55AM

The two options for the new ACPS logo (via ACPS)

Alexandria City Public Schools has unveiled two new logos, both of which are getting skewered by parents on social media.

ACPS is asking students, families and staff to weigh in on the two options for “consideration in the superintendent’s final recommendation” by Dec. 18. Last year’s effort to redesign the logo were denied 7-2 by the School Board.

News

Afghan students to premier documentary on evacuation to Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published December 5, 2023 at 10:55AM

Zahra Rahimi (staff photo by James Cullum)

Afghan students living in Alexandria will premiere an eight-minute documentary this Friday on their experiences during the 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan.

The eight-minute documentary “Desperate” was produced and directed by Zahra Rahimi, an Alexandria City High School senior who has gained notoriety over the past six months for her work helping her fellow Afghan students learn English. It will premiere this Friday at 6 p.m. at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive).

News

Alexandria gets perfect score in equity index and reaffirmed AAA bond rating

By James Cullum

Published November 17, 2023 at 10:45AM

Dining in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

All arguments aside, Alexandria’s equity standards and economic prospects have been declared sound.

Yesterday, the city announced that S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service reaffirmed Alexandria’s ‘AAA’ bond rating. The city has maintained the designation since 1992, and it equates to a good credit rating for the city to get low-interest rates from bond investors to provide funding for multiple projects.

News

Alexandria City Public Schools accidentally shares private student information in newsletter

By Vernon Miles

Published November 14, 2023 at 2:50PM

George Washington Middle School (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) accidentally shared private student information in a George Washington Middle School newsletter, though an ACPS administrator said fortunately only one person outside of ACPS clicked the link before it was corrected.

In an email to ACPS parents, ACPS Chief of Accountability and Research Clinton Page said the newsletter had information originally intended just for a limited number of staff. Specifically, the newsletter provided access to:

News

Police: Student admits to sending threatening Instagram messages to Alexandria middle school

By James Cullum

Published November 14, 2023 at 1:35PM | Updated November 15, 2023 at 11:17AM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

An Alexandria middle school student allegedly admitted to her parents and police that she sent a threatening message to her school’s Instagram page last month, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

On Oct. 11 (Wednesday), at around 5 p.m., a now-unavailable Instagram account sent a direct message to an Alexandria middle school’s Instagram page and said, “Be prepared for October 12, 2023,” and then said that “11th and 12th grade upper school teachers” were targeted and that there were “many more who must suffer.”