ACPS | ALXnow - Part 37

Juvenile arrested for trespassing and assault and battery at Alexandria City High School

Published September 23, 2021 at 9:35AM | Updated September 24, 2021 at 10:15AM

(Updated at 10:15 a.m. on Friday) A juvenile was arrested for assault and battery and trespassing at Alexandria City High School on Friday, September 10, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

“At ACHS this school year, there has been one incident where a juvenile was arrested for assault and battery and trespassing on September 10, 2021,” Alexandria Police said. “Due to the strict confidentiality of juvenile criminal justice records, we cannot provide further information to explain those charges or where the juvenile suspect or victim resides.”

News

School Board to vote on transgender revisions in Alexandria City Public Schools

By James Cullum

Published September 22, 2021 at 2:20PM

The Alexandria City High School marquee (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria School Board on Thursday (September 23) will vote Thursday on a number of policy and regulatory revisions on the treatment of transgender students.

Among the changes are proposals to not segregate extracurricular activities by gender and allowing students to dress according to their gender identity or gender expression. Student athletes would still, sometimes, be segregated.

News

Delivering meals, teaching kids to read and more volunteer opportunities in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published September 22, 2021 at 11:00AM

If you’re looking to stay busy for a good cause, there are dozens of available volunteer opportunities in Alexandria.

Here’s Volunteer Alexandria’s list of new and upcoming opportunities.

Opinion

Interview: Port City Publius opens up about Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published September 21, 2021 at 3:30PM

For five years Port City Publius has let fly. The anonymous blogger won’t shy from criticizing the superintendent, or blasting “NIMBY” residents who favor changing the leadership of City Council.

Who is this writer? Is Port City Publius more than one person?

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published September 21, 2021 at 5:00AM

Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza and Tap named in top 100 restaurants in U.S. — “Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza and Tap, owned by the Yates family of Alexandria, was just placed on OpenTable’s list of the 100 Best Neighborhood Gems in America for 2021.”[Zebra]

Retiring City Manager talks to Agenda Alexandria — “Retiring #AlexandriaVA City Manager Mark Jinks talks about his career in @ArlingtonVA and @AlexandriaVAGov, including everything from redeveloping Landmark Mall to building the Potomac Yard @wmata station @agendalexandria #AgendaAlexandria” [Twitter]

News

PHOTOS: Alexandria City High School wins under new stadium lights

By James Cullum

Published September 20, 2021 at 10:00AM | Updated September 20, 2021 at 10:17AM

Alexandria City High School wins over Justice High School at Friday Night Lights on September 17, 2021. (Via Elijah Walter Griffin, Sr.)

After more than 50 years of playing football early and in the dark, the Alexandria City High School Titans won their first game under lights at the newly renovated Parker-Gray Stadium.

After a years-long renovation project was completed, City and Alexandria City Public Schools leaders cut the ribbon on the stadium, bringing a close to generations of legal challenges that prevented the installation of the lights.

News

Police dispatched three times for fighting at Alexandria City Public Schools in less than a month

By James Cullum

Published September 17, 2021 at 1:00PM | Updated September 17, 2021 at 3:03PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police have been dispatched to Alexandria City Public Schools three times to respond to students fighting since school started on August 24.

The most recent incident occurred on Tuesday, September 14, just before 1 p.m. at the Alexandria City High School Minnie Howard campus at 3801 West Braddock Road. The student victim was not transported to the hospital.

News

ACPS laying the groundwork for in-school vaccination

By Vernon Miles

Published September 17, 2021 at 9:30AM

Students return to George Washington Middle School, August 24, 2021 (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

In a community update yesterday (Thursday), ACPS staff said they’re starting to make progress on plans to vaccinate students in-school.

Currently vaccination is only available for children ages 12 and above. Julie Crawford, chief of Student Services and Equity, said at a meeting yesterday that the teenager category has been one of the most thoroughly vaccinated age groups in the city. Crawford said ACPS is getting ready to offer in-school vaccination as a prelude for when vaccination is allowed for the younger age group.

News

With entire classes under quarantine, ACPS to discuss COVID measures in Virtual Town Hall

By James Cullum

Published September 16, 2021 at 3:30PM

Late last week, a third grader at Jefferson-Houston School was exhibiting COVID symptoms. By Sunday her mother received positive test results, and that evening she sent word to the school that her daughter was infected with the virus.

The next day was a bit of a scramble at the school, as the parents of all of the students in her daughter’s class were called to pick up their children and told that the kids needed to quarantine for two weeks.

News

Alexandria volunteers needed for food delivery to kids, card-writing to first responders and more

By James Cullum

Published September 14, 2021 at 2:15PM

There are dozens of volunteering opportunities in Alexandria.

“We need hundreds of people per week,” Volunteer Alexandria Executive Director Marion Brunken told ALXnow. “More people are in need now than ever.”

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published September 13, 2021 at 5:00AM

City leaders mark 20th anniversary of 9/11 attacks — “A solemn gathering in Waterfront Park to remember those lost and commemorate the selfless service of so many during and after the attacks of September 11th. Honored to have @RepDonBeyer and the leaders of @AlexVASheriff @AlexandriaVAPD & @AlexandriaVAFD with us.” [Twitter]

Old Town’s ‘Art On The Avenue’ festival needs hundreds of volunteers — “As an entirely volunteer-run event, Art on the Avenue seeks over 200 volunteers to help with pre-event set up, business set up, monitoring the food court, handing out posters, and more before and throughout the day. Each volunteer may sign up for a specific position and shift time. The average shift is between 2 and 3 hours; there is no limit to how many hours one can volunteer.” [Zebra]