T.C. Williams High School | ALXnow

ACPS Assessing Phased School Reentry, Family Survey Goes Out Friday

Published September 24, 2020 at 5:00PM

Every seven weeks, Alexandria City Public Schools will evaluate where it stands on reopening schools, Superintendent Gregory Hutchings recently told the School Board.

The school system is currently hearing a backlash from many families of younger students over its VirtualPLUS+ model. Parents are saying their kids spend too much time looking at screens, and Hutchings recently told the Board that staff are working through solutions to provide “different experiences for some of our most vulnerable students, which are our youngest learners.”

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School Board to Consider Matthew Maury Elementary School Name Change Proposal

By James Cullum

Published September 17, 2020 at 1:15PM | Updated September 18, 2020 at 4:43PM

The Alexandria City School Board on Thursday (September 17) will consider moving forward with changing the name of Matthew Maury Elementary School, which is named after Confederate leader and noted oceanographer. The placeholder name would be “The Parker-Gray Rosemont School.”

Maury was the first Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Observatory and the first hydrographer of the U.S. Navy. He was also special agent for the Confederacy during the Civil War and has a statue in Richmond. The School Board received a petition from at least 100 signatures from city residents on August 6, less than a month after the board unanimously directed Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr., to begin the name change process for T.C. Williams High School.

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ALXnow’s Top Stories this Week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published September 4, 2020 at 4:45PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s the end of another work week in Alexandria!

There was a lot of crime this week, as police responded to multiple shots fired incidents in the Parker Gray area on September 2. There was also another carjacking in the West End — the latest in a recent uptick that prompted Mayor Justin Wilson to ask the public for help in reducing the number of vehicle-related thefts.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published September 4, 2020 at 9:00AM

COVID Cases in Alexandria Jump by 21 — “The latest update from the City on COVID-19: Positive tests up 21 to 3,436 in the City; 7-day Positivity Rate down to 4.0%; 1 new hospitalization; Still safer at home, wash hands, wear masks and support our essential workers.” [Twitter]

Alexandria Democratic Committee Hosting Virtual Labor Day Picnic — “Thrilled to announce that the Biden Harris campaign’s National Political Director Erin Wilson will be joining the ADC as a special guest at our Labor Day Celebration!! You will not want to miss this unique opportunity to hear from Erin about the upcoming 2020 election!” [Facebook]

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ACPS Cuts Down 150-Year Old Tree to Make Way for Concession Stand

By James Cullum

Published September 2, 2020 at 3:30PM

ACPS cut down a 150-year-old oak tree to make way for a concession stand on September 2, 2020. (Courtesy photo)

Alexandria City Public Schools today cut down a 150-year-old oak tree to make way for a concession stand as part of the renovation of Parker-Gray Stadium at T.C. Williams High School.

“Shame,” Alexandria activist MacArthur Myers told ALXnow. “A crime has been committed.”

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Superintendent: Black Student Voices Must be Heard in T.C. Williams High School Renaming Discussion

By Vernon Miles

Published August 28, 2020 at 3:45PM

Alexandria City Public Schools said the renaming of T.C. Williams High School is a conversation that must prioritize the school’s Black voices.

At a school board work session last night (Thursday), the board expressed universal approval of the planned vote on a name change for T.C. Williams High School later this year, but also pushed back against the vocal advocates for the change who accuse the school system of dragging its feet.

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Superintendent: ACPS Needs Time to Educate Public Before Vote to Change T.C. Williams High School Name

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2020 at 10:45AM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 5:20PM

If all goes according to plan, Alexandria City Public Schools will begin a public engagement process in September and October to educate the public on who Thomas Chambliss Williams was, followed by a vote on whether to change the name of T.C. Williams High School.

The actual vote on a new name would be chosen next spring after a vote on whether the name should be changed in December, according to ACPS Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr., who reported the news to the school board in a virtual retreat on Wednesday.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 19, 2020 at 9:00AM

Alexandria Man Wins $100,000 in Virginia Lottery — “Darrar, who used to be a small business owner, bought the winning ticket at Global Food, 1476 North Beauregard Street in Alexandria for the July 28 drawing. He plans on saving his winnings.” [Patch]

COVID-19 Cases Increase by 16 — “Positive tests up 16 to 3,146 in the City 7-day Positivity Rate up to 5.8% 3 new hospitalizations Still safer at home, wash hands, wear masks and support our essential workers.” [Twitter]

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ACPS Still Cutting Down 150-Year-Old Tree, Preparing for Parker-Gray Stadium Renovation

By James Cullum

Published August 18, 2020 at 2:45PM | Updated August 18, 2020 at 3:03PM

A 150-year-old tree was cut down on the grounds of T.C. Williams High School so that a new concession stand can go in its place. (Image via Boyd Walker)

Over the last several weeks there has been renewed discussion over the fate of the Witness Tree, which the school system said must go to make way for a new concession stand. A Change.org petition to save the tree even garnered more than 2,500 signatures.

John Finnigan, the acting director of Educational Facilities for Alexandria City Public Schools, said that a contractor for the project has been chosen and that work will likely begin in the next few weeks.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 12, 2020 at 9:00AM

Beyer Introduces Pandemic Response Accountability Legislation — “Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today introduced the Supply Chain Accountability Act, legislation that would require the Administration to explain its strategy for fixing key breakdowns in the pandemic response. Beyer serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, which has partial jurisdiction over healthcare matters.” [Beyer.house.gov]

Coronavirus Cases at 2,995 in Alexandria — “Positive tests up 19 to 2,995 in the City 7-day Positivity Rate up to 5.7% 3 new hospitalizations Still safer at home, wash hands, wear masks and support our essential workers.” [Twitter]

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Holy Cow Del Ray Wades Into Another Local Controversy With Another Burger

By Vernon Miles

Published August 11, 2020 at 3:50PM | Updated August 12, 2020 at 7:04PM

You haven’t made it as a local controversy until Holy Cow Del Ray makes a burger in your honor.

This month, the subject is the name debate around T.C. Williams High School. The local burger joined the fray with “The Alexandria HS.”