children | ALXnow

School Board District B candidate Ashley Simpson Baird says ACPS needs to focus on English-language learners

Published November 1, 2021 at 3:45PM | Updated November 3, 2021 at 10:15AM

Ashley Simpson Baird says widespread unfinished learning within the Latino community is a result of the pandemic, and the District B candidate for the Alexandria School Board wants the city’s school system to refocus its attention to get kids back on the ball.

“We are still very much living in schooling in a pandemic, and so I would really like to see ACPS have a stronger plan for how we’re addressing unfinished learning,” Baird told ALXnow. “We need to make sure that we are giving school leaders and educators the resources to implement that plan.”

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Alexandria surpasses 14,000 cases of COVID-19, numbers of unvaccinated sick kids ‘unexpectedly’ high

By James Cullum

Published October 18, 2021 at 10:55AM | Updated October 19, 2021 at 4:25PM

Kids playing near Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 425 p.m. Tuesday, October 19) Alexandria has reached yet another grim milestone, as the city surpassed 14,000 reported cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

As of today (Monday, October 18), the number of cases has climbed to 14,070, up 171 cases since this time last week.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published September 23, 2021 at 5:00AM

Cyclists along the Mount Vernon Trail along the Potomac River near Belle Haven (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria announces $7.1 million in funding for first-time homebuyers — “The City of Alexandria is pleased to announce the availability of Sponsoring Partnerships & Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) funds to provide eligible first-time homebuyers with permanent financing for their home purchase. SPARC is a special allocation to local governments to reduce first trust mortgage interest rates.” [City of Alexandria]

Six ways to celebrate Oktoberfest in Alexandria — “Port City Brewing Company’s Hefeweizen brew is a Bavarian-style wheat hale pouring hazy golden with fluffy white foam, tinged with aromas of clove and spice with a softer note of ripe banana. Pick up a four-pack via curbside pickup or Port City On Demand, or sip at an outdoor table at the West End headquarters.” [Visit Alexandria]

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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.

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Update: Missing Alexandria toddlers returned home to their mother

By James Cullum

Published September 15, 2021 at 10:00AM | Updated September 16, 2021 at 8:14PM

(Updated at 8 p.m. on September 16) Alexandria Police are reporting that the toddlers have been returned to their mother.

“Thanks to the assistance of everyone in the community the toddlers have been returned safely to their rightful custodial parent,” police said on social media.

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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.”

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With high hopes and small class sizes, The Linder Academy opens in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published September 14, 2021 at 11:15AM

The mural at The Linder Academy at 607 S. Washington Street in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Kristin Carpenter’s services are in demand.

This month, she and her team opened The Linder Academy at the corner of S. Washington and Gibbon Streets in Old Town, joining their smaller McLean location, which opened in January.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published September 9, 2021 at 5:00AM

Artist Katherine Campagna creates a new mural at Pacers Running at 1301 King Street in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria celebrating PARK(ing) Day — “On Sep 17, the City will celebrate PARK(ing) Day, a worldwide event promoting public green space in urban areas by temporarily reclaiming several on-street parking spaces, transforming them into imaginative park spaces, or ‘parklets.’” [Twitter]

Old Town Cocktail Week starts September 10 — “Old Town Cocktail Week is September 10-19! Sip creative cocktails and join themed events, seminars and celebrations.” [Twitter]

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$50K fundraiser launched after sewer pipe bursts in Arlandria preschool

By James Cullum

Published August 24, 2021 at 1:00PM | Updated August 25, 2021 at 11:45AM

The Child and Family Network Centers was all set up to open preschool to kids in low-income families on September 8, but a recently burst sewer pipe inside their Arlandria/Chirilagua-based classroom has put the program on hold for more than a dozen area children.

The nonprofit is launching a $50,000 fundraiser and is tapping into its reserves to renovate the classroom, which is located in an apartment within the Arlandria-Chirilagua Housing Cooperative. The classroom provides critical child care and education for low-income, immigrant essential workers in the heavily Latino section of Alexandria.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated August 20, 2021 at 11:17PM

Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne in the alley behind his house after flooding in Del Ray. (Courtesy photo)

What a week in Alexandria.

Public uproar over Sunday’s flooding spilled out throughout this week, which continued to be threatened by near-daily flash flood advisories from the National Weather Service.

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Alexandria Tutoring Consortium launches $25K fundraiser to expand virtual reading program for young kids

By James Cullum

Published August 17, 2021 at 1:10PM

The pandemic turned education on its head, and the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium just launched a new fundraiser to expand its virtual one-on-one offerings to kindergarteners and first graders.

“This has been a trying time as the lack of in-school classes has put more rising first graders farther behind than ever,” said ATC Board Chair Frank Stiff. “Despite the challenges, tutors and staff have stayed true to our mission, and the students have benefitted.”