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New report tracks Sex ed and the City of Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
Teen pregnancy rates in Alexandria (image via City of Alexandria/Virginia Department of Health)

With teen pregnancy rates on the rise in Alexandria’s Hispanic community, we couldn’t help but wonder: what is the city doing to address teen pregnancy trends?

The City of Alexandria just released its annual Report Card on Sex Ed for All — providing an update on the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) and other programs that aim to ensure “young people have complete and culturally appropriate sexual health information at age-appropriate levels and access to sexual and reproductive health care services.”

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Affordable preschool registration kicks off in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
Child at preschool (photo via Erika Fletcher/Unsplash)

Alexandria has kicked off registration for a ticket hotter than Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour: affordable Alexandria preschools.

Affordable childcare and preschool programs are in high demand around Alexandria. The ALX Preschool network is a coordinated enrollment system that can link families up to one of 16 public and private preschool providers in the city.

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Ribbon cutting at Alexandria City High School’s new Minnie Howard Campus is next week

By James Cullum
The new Alexandria City High School Minnie Howard Campus (via Justin Wilson/Facebook)

Alexandria leaders will cut the ribbon on the Alexandria City High School’s five-story, $190 million Minnie Howard Campus next week.

The new 343,000-square foot facility at 3801 W. Braddock Road doubles the capacity of its 1950’s-era predecessor, and can hold 1,600 students. Construction started two years ago, and the new facility will open for students on the first day of the next school year, August 19, according to Alexandria City Public Schools.

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Alexandria needs political diversity on City Council, says lone Republican candidate

By James Cullum
Republican City Council candidate Celianna Gunderson (courtesy photo)

Can Republican Celianna Gunderson shake up the Alexandria City Council with a win this November?

While she’s still learning the issues, Gunderson says that she would not have voted to approve a recent 2.5-cent tax increase.

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ACPS reaches ‘milestone moment’ with passage of collective bargaining resolution

By James Cullum
School buses preparing at Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria School Board unanimously approved a collective bargaining resolution Thursday night, setting the ground rules for how the school system will negotiate with staff on wages and benefits.

Dawn Lucas, president of the Education Association of Alexandria, was pleased with a number of changes that she recommended the Board make to the proposed resolution.

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Alexandria School Board goes all-in asking City Council to approve massive tax increase

By James Cullum
The joint City Council/School Board budget work session on March 6, 2024 (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria School Board Members went all-in Wednesday night in asking City Council to fund its budget by approving a massive tax increase.

Mayor Justin Wilson told the Board at a budget work session on Wednesday night that its fiscal year 2025 $384.4 million combined funds budget request would result in a historic tax increase. The Board, in turn, said that the funding could stem the school system’s staffing crisis.

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ACPS looking for volunteers to judge Science and Engineering Fair

By Vernon Miles
Microscopes (photo via Ousa Chea/Unsplash)

From the National Science Foundation to Del Ray weather gurus, there’s a bevy of scientific talent in Alexandria, and Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is hoping some can help pass that love of science on to the next generation.

ACPS said volunteers are needed to judge projects at the ACPS Science and Engineering fair at the Alexandria City High School’s King Street campus (3330 King Street) on Jan. 25.

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Parents decry ‘staffing crisis’ in Alexandria City Public Schools

By James Cullum
School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria parents are up in arms over a staffing crisis within Alexandria City Public Schools.

Kelly Organek says that her ninth-grade son at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard campus hasn’t had a geometry teacher since school started in August and that he only recently got a new biology teacher.

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ACPS ignores Gov. Youngkin’s recommended policies on treatment of transgender students

By James Cullum
Alexandria City High School's homecoming football game against West Potomac on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools says it will not comply with Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s policies restricting transgender services.

School Board Chair Michelle Rief and Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt informed parents of the school system’s stance on Monday. It’s the second straight year that ACPS has refused the policies, which are updated annually and recommend restricting trans bathroom and pronoun use.

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ACHS teacher raising funds to help students and teachers make better social media content

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

A grassroots social media page at Alexandria City High School, run by students and teachers, is looking for some funding to help make better content for the school.

Alexandria City High School teacher Gabriel Elias was the example in a Washington Post story and a White House briefing in 2020 of teachers adapting to virtual classrooms and connecting with students digitally. Since then, Elias has been working with a volunteer team of students and teachers to make a positive social media hub at the school. Now he’s looking for some help to take the project to the next level.

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Volunteers needed at Torpedo Factory Art Center and more than a dozen Alexandria nonprofits

By James Cullum
The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

There are a number of ways to volunteer in Alexandria this fall.

Art lovers can get their fix by volunteering as gallery guides at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, and sports enthusiasts can become volunteer sport coaches. The Carlyle House also needs a volunteer tour guide.

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