William Ramsay Elementary School

Washington Wizards give backpacks to 700 Alexandria students

Published August 15, 2025 at 3:00PM

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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Washington Wizards to ‘tip-off’ 2025-2026 school year with backpack giveaway at William Ramsay Elementary School

By James Cullum

Published August 6, 2025 at 3:30PM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt with G-Wiz, the Washington Wizards mascot, at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School, Aug. 23, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Washington Wizards will tip off the 2025-2026 school year at William Ramsay Elementary School next Friday (Aug. 15).

Even though school officially starts on Monday, Aug. 18, Washington Wizards rookies Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Jamir Watkins are joining mascot G-Wiz and the Wizards Dancers in handing out free Wizards backpacks filled with school supplies, water bottles, and more. The event will be held at the school, located at 5700 Sanger Avenue, from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m.

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Alexandria trading parking spots for pedestrian improvements at West End school

By Vernon Miles

Published July 3, 2024 at 2:45PM

Proposed Sanger Avenue changes near William Ramsay Elementary School (image via City of Alexandria)

Parking is already in high demand near William Ramsay Elementary School. A change (page 12) coming to the nearby Sanger Avenue could make parking even more scarce, but the tradeoff is making it safer to walk to school.

The plan is to extend the curbs near William Ramsay Elementary School and, in the process, remove three parking spaces. The staff report said that “parking is permitted along Sanger Avenue and there is a high-demand for parking throughout the day.”

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William Ramsay Elementary School briefly placed on secure status earlier today after man refused to leave

By Vernon Miles

Published May 13, 2024 at 1:40PM

William Ramsay Elementary School (image via City of Alexandria)

William Ramsay Elementary School was briefly placed on “secure the building” status earlier today after a person not permitted to be at the school showed up at the front door and then refused to leave.

The school went into secure status around 10:54 a.m. for approximately 15 minutes, the school said in a release.

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Pedestrian and cyclist improvements coming to West End road

By Vernon Miles

Published February 21, 2024 at 9:45AM

Sanger Avenue (image via Google Maps)

Sanger Avenue, a West End road that runs from William Ramsay Elementary School to I-395, could be getting some safety and cycling upgrades.

A memo (page 12) from Department of Transportation Deputy Director Hillary Orr to the Transportation Commission included a note that the street could receive some improvements as part of an upcoming paving project.

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Alexandria elementary school briefly on ‘secure the building’ status due to stolen vehicle arrest

By Vernon Miles

Published November 17, 2023 at 2:45PM

Alexandria police cruiser (File photo by Jay Westcott)

The arrest of the driver of a stolen vehicle caused a temporary lockdown at William Ramsay Elementary School (5700 Sanger Avenue) earlier today.

Police said in a release that a stolen vehicle was recovered and the driver was arrested.

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Police: No injuries after shots fired Sunday night in West End

By ALXnow.com

Published June 26, 2023 at 11:30AM

Shots were fired in the 1400 block of N. Beauregard Street on Sunday, June 25, 2023 (via Google Maps)

No one was reported injured after multiple shots were reported in a West End residential neighborhood on Sunday night.

The Alexandria Police Department got multiple calls for five-to-six gunshots in the 1400 block of N. Beauregard Street at around 7:30 p.m. The incident occurred in a residential area near Dora Kelley Nature Center and William Ramsay Elementary School.

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Police: Four juveniles arrested after allegedly eluding police in stolen car

By James Cullum

Published April 20, 2023 at 10:20AM

Alexandria Police arrested four juveniles after a brief chase in the 1400 block of N. Beauregard Street (via Google Maps)

Four male juveniles were arrested after a brief chase from a stolen car in the West End on Tuesday afternoon, prompting four schools to go on lockdown, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

The incident occurred at around noon near the 1400 block of N. Beauregard Street. Police recovered a handgun from one of the suspects, according to dispatch reports.

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Four ACPS schools placed in ‘secure the building mode’ today

By Vernon Miles

Published April 18, 2023 at 1:45PM | Updated April 20, 2023 at 9:35AM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 2 p.m.) Four Alexandria schools went into “secure the building” mode earlier today after nearby police activity.

Alicia Hart, chief of facilities and operations for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), said Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School (1701 N. Beauregard Street), William Ramsay Elementary School (5700 Sanger Avenue), John Adams Elementary School (5651 Rayburn Avenue) and the Early Childhood Center (5651 Rayburn Avenue) were in “secure the building” status today from 12:15-12:35 p.m.

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PHOTOS: The 2023 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published March 6, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated March 6, 2023 at 4:43PM

Handing out flags at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town, March 3, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Old Town was packed on Saturday morning for Alexandria’s 40th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Thousands of visitors lined King Street to watch a procession of more than 2,000 participants, including Irish dancers, historic reenactors and the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums. The festivities also included a car show and a dog show at Market Square outside City Hall.

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Alexandria School Board asks City Council to reduce speed limits to 15 mph in school zones

By James Cullum

Published October 7, 2022 at 2:15PM

The scene of a crash outside Jefferson Houston Elementary School, March 29, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Things are about to slow down in school zones.

The Alexandria School Board on Thursday (October 6) unanimously approved a resolution requesting a reduction from 25 miles per hour to 15 mph in school zones.