It’s uncertain whether Alexandria City Public Schools will open for in-person schooling on Jan. 19, despite a phased reentry plan that will be sent out to parents on Monday.
Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. told the School Board Thursday night that it is difficult to say with certainty that schools will reopen on Jan. 19 for young students with disabilities.
Photographer Searches for Couple That Proposed in Old Town — “Who had a romantic engagement tonight in front of the tree in Old Town Alexandria (Market Square)? My friend inadvertently caught your proposal when she took a photo of the tree and would love to make sure you got it.” [Twitter]
Landmark Mall Lives Again on Christmas in WW84 — “Wonder Woman 1984, a portion of which was filmed at Alexandria’s Landmark Mall, will be released Christmas Day, Dec. 25.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Old Town Lamp Posts Decorated with Holiday Art — “Dec. 5 marked the official kick-off of the first Old Town Holiday Lamp Post Art Walk sponsored by the Old Town Business Association in partnership with The Art League and the The Torpedo Factory Office Building.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Del Ray Farmers’ Market Helps Raise $1,000 for ALIVE! — “Shlagel Farms, a longtime vendor at the Del Ray Farmers’ Market, celebrated the Giving Season last week by offering customers a Giving Box. Chock full of fresh produce, each box cost $50, of which the farm donated $10 to local nonprofit ALIVE!” [Zebra]
With the school board voting to rename T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School, the question remains: rename them to what?
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) has opened that question to students with an essay and poster campaign.
Virginia Tech Students Help Design Oakville Triangle — “A group of local Virginia Tech students in an architecture studio class got the opportunity to reimagine a small section of Alexandria this semester.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Carolers Serenade Goodwin House Staff — “The carolers arrived in Dickensian costumes as a trio and sang classic as well as beautiful newer arrangements of traditional Christmas carols, well-known winter favorites, and gems of Channukah pieces with gorgeous harmonies.” [Zebra]
Virginia Tech Initials Officially Added to Potomac Yard — “The Metro board on Thursday unanimously approved a plan to add Virginia Tech’s initials to the future Potomac Yard station and remove the University of Virginia’s initials from the West Falls Church station.” [Washington Business Journal]
City Advises Preparation for Wednesday Winter Storm — “While Wednesday’s winter storm forecast evolves, we encourage you to make time now to ensure you & your family are prepared.” [Twitter]
Alexandria City Public Schools is still hoping to hear from local parents whether they are comfortable sending their children back to school.
“We are extending the deadline for the Family Choice Form until Friday, Dec. 18,” ACPS said. “We have not yet heard from everyone and we need to hear from all our families to be able to refine our transition plan to reopen our school buildings for in-person learning.”
As of late November, a little under half of ACPS’ staff said they are unwilling to return to work.
Stephen Wilkins, chief of staff for ACPS, said at a School Board meeting last Thursday that 45% of ACPS staff reported an inability to return in a survey sent out in late November. The highest reason — 43% of those who said they would not return — said it was due to fear and anxiety, while 29% said it was because of underlying medical conditions.
ACPS Eyes Late January as Earliest Date for In-Person Classes — “Frustrated parents are continuing to push Alexandria City Public Schools officials to reopen schools for in-person instruction, but the earliest possible date for some students will be in the second half of January” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Free Coffee for Frontline Workers at Alexandria Starbucks — “Front-line workers can get free coffee throughout December from Starbucks locations throughout the United States, including these three in Alexandria.” [Patch]
Andras Jacobson, a second grade student at Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, will get a unique opportunity later this week to take some of his space questions to the experts: an astronaut currently aboard the International Space Station.
Jacobson, a space exploration enthusiast, is scheduled to take part in a discussion with NASA officials on Thursday, Dec. 3, according to ACPS. Jacobson will get to direct his question to astronaut Victor Glover. Jacobson’s mother reported that his question focused on how human muscular systems respond to conditions in space.
With the Alexandria School Board approving changing the names of two Alexandria schools, the question is what to call the school formerly known as T.C. Williams High School?
Several alternatives have been raised in online forums and in meetings. Some have suggested other local figures that could replace Thomas Chambliss Williams, including longtime former principal John Porter or Petey Jones, a member of the 1971 championship team and an employee at the school who died last year.
