Melanie Kay-Wyatt

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Washington Commanders players visit Alexandria school, distribute $5,000 in food, supplies

By James Cullum
Players with the Washington Commanders visited Mount Vernon Community School, Sept. 16, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Mount Vernon Community School students in Alexandria got a visit on Tuesday from Washington Commanders players, who gave away $5,000 worth of food, plush footballs, hats, and notebooks.

Commanders running back Christopher Rodriguez, Jr., wide receivers Jaylin Lane and Chris Moore, and mascot Major Tuddy visited the school in collaboration with the nonprofit Blessings in a Backpack. In addition to receiving signed team merchandise, students also got bags with yogurt, pretzels, fruit cups, cereal, soup, macaroni and cheese, and tuna.

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Washington Wizards give backpacks to 700 Alexandria students

By James Cullum
The Washington Wizards helped tip off the 2025-26 school year with a giveaway event at William Ramsay Recreation Center on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Washington Wizards helped tip off the 2025-26 school year with a backpack and supplies giveaway today (Aug. 15) at William Ramsay Recreation Center.

Wizards forward Anthony Gill made a surprise appearance and joined rookies Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Jamir Watkins at the event. The players, along with mascot G-Wiz and the Wizards Dancers, gave 700 backpacks to the students at William Ramsay Elementary School (5700 Sanger Avenue), which is located next to the recreation center and officially opens for the first day on Monday, Aug. 18.

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School Board Chair says Alexandria needs to figure out if single-principal model for Alexandria City High School is working

By James Cullum
ACHS Principal Alexander Duncan III is presented with a plaque by School Board Chair Michelle Rief at the ACHS Minnie Howard Campus ribbon cutting, May 29, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria School Board Chair Michelle Rief responded today to the stinging letter from the PTSA of Alexandria City High School laying out “serious concerns” with Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt and the school system’s central office.

While not naming Kay-Wyatt in the June 18 response, Rief wrote that the PTSA’s letter “rightly calls out the challenges that turnover can cause,” but listed several highlights from the school over the past year for context.

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Francis C. Hammond Middle School gets 500 full backpacks from United Way National Capital Area

By James Cullum
ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at a backpack giveaway event at Francis C. Hammond Middle School, June 5, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

With summer vacation just days away, Alexandria leaders were on hand at Francis C. Hammond Middle School on Thursday (June 5) to receive 500 free backpacks filled with school supplies.

The backpacks, most of which are being stored for the start of the 2025-2026 school year, were donated to the Title I school as part of a collaboration between United Way National Capital Area, Enterprise Mobility, and American Water. United Way NCA’s partnership with Alexandria City Public Schools has provided more than 3,500 backpacks to the West End school since 2017.

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PHOTOS: Alexandria City High School’s largest-ever class graduates at George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena

By James Cullum
Alexandria City High School's graduation at George Mason University's EagleBank Arena, May 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

It wasn’t just raining outside today. Tears of happiness streamed from students, parents, educators, and city leaders as 984 Alexandria City High School seniors graduated at George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena. That’s the largest graduating class in ACHS history.

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt told the students that now is the time for them to harness their potential, creativity, brilliance, and resilience.

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Alexandria City Public Schools names Principal and Teacher of the Year

By James Cullum
Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School Principal Suzanne M. Hess (in green) and James K. Polk Elementary School teacher Sharon Phox (to her right) with ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt (on left) and the School Board, May 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Teaching kids is challenging, and on Thursday (May 8) Alexandria City Public Schools named two of its best the principal and teacher of the year.

School Board Chair Michelle Rief and Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt presented the awards to Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School Principal Suzanne M. Hess and James K. Polk Elementary School third-grade teacher Sharon Phox.

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ACPS ‘censorship’ of Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper Theogony ignites firestorm of criticism

By James Cullum
Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

After a firestorm of criticism from city leaders and student journalists over proposed oversight changes to Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper, Theogony, this morning (May 2), the Alexandria School Board’s Governance Committee returned to the drawing board.

From reporting on a transportation controversy to investigations into the School Board, transgender policies, or even lampooning metal detectors in cartoons, Theogony student journalists take their roles seriously. Now, with City Council members warning of potential “censorship” and “authoritarian” behavior from the school system, student journalists are alleging a concerted effort from the administration of Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt to suppress touchy or controversial stories from appearing in the monthly publication.

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School Board greenlights renaming process for three ACPS facilities

By Ryan Belmore
The crowd at Alexandria City High School's Parker-Gray Stadium on Sept. 17, 2021. (Via Elijah Walter Griffin, Sr.)

The Alexandria City School Board has approved starting the naming process for three school facilities.

At its April 3 meeting, the board approved initiating the naming process for the Early Childhood Center courtyard, Naomi L. Brooks Media Center, and Parker-Gray Stadium field.

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ACPS restarts collective bargaining process as Alexandria renews agreements with police, fire and technical staff

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

Alexandria City Public Schools wants a formalized collective bargaining agreement sent to the city manager by the end of the year, but it comes as the city is renegotiating its agreements with police, fire, and administrative and technical staff.

It’s been a year since the school system failed to reach a collective bargaining agreement with the Education Association of Alexandria (EAA). Last year, the School Board held a public hearing and approved a draft collective bargaining resolution with the goal of presenting the package to City Manager Jim Parajon for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

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ACPS says it’s “too early to tell’ if putting high school kids on DASH buses will work

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

Alexandria’s effort to ditch school buses and put high school students on city-run DASH buses is not without controversy.

On Tuesday, City Council Member Abdel Elnoubi expressed frustration on how Alexandria City Public Schools has addressed the issue.

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ACPS and the City of Alexandria honor essential workers

By James Cullum
Douglas MacArthur Elementary School students cheer essential workers, Wednesday, March 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

On Wednesday morning (March 19), cheering children honored the people who actually make Alexandria run at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School.

The event honoring essential workers marked the culmination of the fourth annual Alexandria City Essential Workers Appreciation Week.

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