Alexandria City High School

Published May 4, 2023 at 11:00AM

GoFundMe for ACHS student Yonathan Isaí Vasquez Méndez (image via GoFundMe)

(Updated 11:10 a.m.) After the death of Alexandria City High School student Yonathan Isaí Vasquez Méndez earlier this week, friends and family are raising funds to help cover funeral expenses and other costs.

While no cause of death has been officially announced, scanner traffic at the time indicated first responders were administering Narcan and later that day, the City of Alexandria issued a warning about fentanyl-laced drugs after “two recent suspected drug overdoses involving school-aged youth,” the Alexandria Times first reported.

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ACHS’ Theogony editors look back at a year of student journalism and activism

By Vernon Miles

Published May 3, 2023 at 3:50PM

2023 Theogony Editors. Front Row L to R: Zoe Sermons, James Libresco, Ermila Mazariegos, Casey Donahue. Back Row L to R: Chloe Yokitis and Yahney-Marie Sangare

With the 2022-2023 school year coming to a close next month, it’s been another banner year for Alexandria City High School (ACHS) student newspaper Theogony.

In recent years the student newspaper has been at the forefront of stories about ACHS, from breaking the story about former Superintendent Gregory Hutchins Jr. sending one of his children to a private school rather than ACHS to publishing a study about phosphorus levels in nearby Taylor Run.

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Alexandria Police unveil strategy to combat crime surge

By James Cullum

Published April 26, 2023 at 3:30PM

Suspect arrested after shooting near Braddock Road Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

Adding police presence to high-crime areas, putting more cops in communities and strategically placing mobile camera units are just a few of the initial strategies that the Alexandria Police Department is employing to confront a crime surge.

APD Assistant Chief Easton McDonald briefed City Council on the uptick on Tuesday night, and also said that there is an increase in juvenile crime and crimes being committed by young people.

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Alexandria band Hanoi Ragmen and ACHS teacher win regional Wammie Awards

By Vernon Miles

Published April 5, 2023 at 3:55PM | Updated April 5, 2023 at 8:09PM

Hanoi Ragmen (image via Hanoi Ragmen/Facebook)

(Updated 8 p.m.) A band consisting of former T.C. Williams High School students and a current Alexandria City High School (ACHS) teacher were recognized at the Wammie Awards last Saturday, a regional music award.

Rock band Hanoi Ragmen, an Alexandria-based six person band that started at T.C. Williams High School (before it became Alexandria City High School), won Best Rock Album for their debut album The Oldlight and Best Rock Song for Foolhearted off the same album.

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Survey: Majority of Alexandria students, teachers and parents support metal detectors in schools

By James Cullum

Published March 13, 2023 at 1:30PM

Advanced metal detectors will be used for a pilot program in two Alexandria City Public Schools locations as part of a pilot program (via ACPS)

A new survey shows widespread support for the installation of metal detectors within Alexandria City Public Schools.

There were 4,374 respondents to the survey, which ACPS opened on Feb. 24 and closed on March 8. Included in the survey were 1,181 students, 609 staff, 2,295 family/guardians, and 289 community members. About 85% of survey respondents supported using weapons screening equipment in all or some schools, and 58% of respondents want the metal detectors in every school.

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JUST IN: Alexandria City High School teacher confiscates handgun from a student

By James Cullum

Published March 6, 2023 at 11:40AM

Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus has been taken off of “secure the building” mode after a handgun was confiscated from a student.

ACHS Executive Principal Peter Balas notified parents of the incident in an email. A teacher reported the weapon to school administrators at around 9 a.m., and the building was placed in “secure the building” mode at 9:15 a.m.

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Alexandria teachers applaud raises, additional budget changes

By James Cullum

Published February 17, 2023 at 10:50AM

ACPS teachers advocating at the January 19, 2023, School Board meeting (Courtesy photo)

Alexandria City High School teachers are applauding increased wages and other recent changes to the Alexandria City Public Schools’ proposed fiscal year 2024 budget.

The School Board approved the proposed $359.9 million fiscal year 2024 combined funds budget proposal on Thursday night. The budget is a 4% increase over last year’s approved budget and includes funding to develop an official ACPS plan and policy for collective bargaining with employees.

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Alexandria City High School student hospitalized after possible overdose

By ALXnow.com

Published February 10, 2023 at 2:30PM | Updated February 10, 2023 at 3:23PM

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

Around 1:15 p.m. an Alexandria City High School student was taken to the hospital for a suspected overdose.

Fire department spokeswoman Raytevia Evans confirmed that emergency personnel responded to a possible overdose at the school.

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Alexandria City High School instructor performed with Coldplay on Saturday Night Live this weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published February 6, 2023 at 3:45PM

ACHS instructor performed on stage with Coldplay on Saturday Night Live (image via Saturday Night Live/NBC)

Alexandria City High School students watching Saturday Night Live this weekend might have seen a familiar face in the musical numbers: the school’s Director of Choral Activities Theodore Thorpe III.

Thorpe was part of the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers in a choral ensemble with Coldplay, performing the songs The Astronaut, Human Heart, and Fix You in the show on Saturday, Feb. 4.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published February 3, 2023 at 3:30PM

The base of the Appomattox statue is now located at Bethel Cemetery in the Wilkes Cemetery Complex (staff photo by James Cullum)

The long and tangled history of the Appomattox statue that once stood at the intersection of S. Washington Street and Prince Street took another turn this week as ALXnow learned the base had been installed in a Carlyle-area cemetery.

The statue had been removed in 2020 after years of debate over its presence. While some neighbors have expressed misgivings at the base’s new home above Confederate graves in the Bethel Cemetery not far from historic Black cemeteries, the new location is on private property and the cemetery’s owner said he’d like to see the statue reinstalled there.

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Pilot for metal detectors in schools approved by Alexandria School Board

By James Cullum

Published February 3, 2023 at 1:30PM | Updated February 3, 2023 at 2:23PM

Advanced metal detectors will be used for a pilot program in two Alexandria City Public Schools locations as part of a pilot program (via ACPS)

Two Alexandria City Public Schools will be getting metal detectors before the end of this school year.

On Thursday night, the School Board voted 7-0 (Board Chair Meagan Alderton and Member Christopher Harris were not present) to approve the process for “advanced weapons abatement technology” to go into operation at two unnamed ACPS schools in May.