{"id":17186,"date":"2021-02-05T10:12:11","date_gmt":"2021-02-05T15:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/?p=17186"},"modified":"2021-02-05T10:12:11","modified_gmt":"2021-02-05T15:12:11","slug":"back-to-classrooms-in-march","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/?p=17186","title":{"rendered":"Back to Classrooms in March!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"fb-root\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>This Week\u2019s Headlines:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#reopening\">Mark Your Calendar for the Reopening of School Buildings in March!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#identity\">The Identity Project: Help Choose the Final Names for Maury and T.C. Williams<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#QuestBridge\">Congratulations to our Two QuestBridge Scholars<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#bhm\">Recognizing Black History Month on ACPS-TV<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#noche\">Save the Date: Noche de Ciencias\/Night of Science on Feb. 23 and 25<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#schoolboard\">February is School Board Appreciation Month<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#food\">FOOD ACCESS<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dear ACPS Families and Community,<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we begin the month of February, I am so pleased to share with you our revised timeline for transitioning all our students who chose hybrid learning back into school buildings between <\/span><b>March 2 and March 16<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Furthermore, our staff who are able to return will begin transitioning back into our school buildings and offices beginning on March 1.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That means for those families who chose hybrid through the Family Choice Form, which was completed in December 2020, we are looking forward to welcoming you back in person! Our community health metrics are finally going in the right direction and improving, and our successful vaccine program provides our staff with the additional reassurance that they can remain healthy and safe in our schools and offices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is news I am excited to share since school buildings closed on March 13, 2020, almost one year ago. It is no overstatement to say that the last year has been a challenging period in education globally and a source of great concern for us all. Also, this past year has brought opportunities for us to rethink public education and learning environments for the next generation. Now, we have light shining brightly at the end of the tunnel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the coming weeks, we will be solidifying our action steps in our plans and counting down the days until our hybrid students and staff are reunited. Our staff were contacted this week to confirm their ability to return, the Alexandria Health Department yesterday held a special ACPS staff vaccine day, and additional training and support for staff will begin on Monday, Feb. 8.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also today, we are launching the second community poll for The Identity Project. This contains our shortlist of new names for Matthew Maury Elementary School and T.C. Williams High School. Please help us to choose names befitting these wonderful schools.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">February marks two important national celebrations of recognition with National School Counselor Week and School Board Appreciation Month. I hope you will join me in celebrating and thanking these two incredible groups of professionals who are assets to our community. ACPS school counselors work tirelessly to ensure the academic and social-emotional well-being of our students. The School Board\u2019s sustained visionary leadership, valued partnership and careful decision making lead us in achieving educational excellence and equity for all.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And finally, please join me in congratulating Natnael Asegdew and Bridgette Adu-Wadier, our two QuestBridge Scholars. Both are exceptional seniors and our community is extremely proud of you both.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please stay safe, healthy and engaged.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Superintendent<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"reopening\"><\/a>Mark Your Calendar for the Reopening of School Buildings in March!<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Revised Reentry Timeline Now Available<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please check out the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/3552\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">revised transition timeline<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for families that chose hybrid learning. Our hybrid schedule allows for students to return to the classroom<\/span><b> two<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> days a week.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tuesday, March 2:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reentry of hybrid students in grades K-5 receiving special education services in citywide self-contained full-day class programs, students in K-5 receiving special education reading and math services in a self-contained setting, Early Childhood Special Education students, and students in grades K-5 receiving English Learner services<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tuesday, March 9:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Transition Hybrid Students in grades 6-12 receiving special education citywide and self-contained reading and math services, and Newcomer English Learner students in grades 6-12<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tuesday, March 16:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reentry of <\/span><b>ALL<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> remaining hybrid students in grades PreK-12<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our staff is diligently working toward these dates, remaining cautiously optimistic that our health metrics will continue to improve. Here are the latest health metrics from Wednesday this week*:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17190\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/CDC-School-Metrics-20210203.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1598\" height=\"1331\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/CDC-School-Metrics-20210203.png 1598w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/CDC-School-Metrics-20210203-260x217.png 260w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/CDC-School-Metrics-20210203-720x600.png 720w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/CDC-School-Metrics-20210203-120x100.png 120w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/CDC-School-Metrics-20210203-768x640.png 768w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/CDC-School-Metrics-20210203-1536x1279.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1598px) 100vw, 1598px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the coming weeks we will be sharing all the details you need to prepare for your child\u2019s return, including information on your child\u2019s scheduled classroom days, their teachers\u2019 in-person availability, nutrition and transportation services, child care and after-school programs, and our plans to keep everyone safe through mitigation measures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NOTE: While we are confident that our reopening timeline is feasible, if our community metrics rise, we may need to consider delaying. See our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/3536\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">revised decision matrix<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which aligns with the Virginia Department of Health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/esbpublic.acps.k12.va.us\/attachments\/2295c7a7-8205-441a-9fa3-acb9d7cdccc5.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feb. 4 presentation to the school board (PDF)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about reopening planning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>VIDEO: See a message from Dr. Hutchings about this reopening news*:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ctzB2bPCfMc\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17191\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-04-at-4.29.57-PM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1990\" height=\"1116\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-04-at-4.29.57-PM.jpg 1990w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-04-at-4.29.57-PM-260x146.jpg 260w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-04-at-4.29.57-PM-800x449.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-04-at-4.29.57-PM-178x100.jpg 178w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-04-at-4.29.57-PM-768x431.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-04-at-4.29.57-PM-1536x861.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1990px) 100vw, 1990px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">*NOTE: the positive COVID-19 test metrics have been revised by 0.1% since Wednesday, pushing us out of Higher Risk level and into the Moderate Risk level at 7.9%.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"identity\"><\/a>The Identity Project: Help Choose the Final Names for Maury and T.C. Williams<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17192\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Identity.Project.Button-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"950\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Identity.Project.Button-1.png 950w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Identity.Project.Button-1-260x82.png 260w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Identity.Project.Button-1-800x253.png 800w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Identity.Project.Button-1-768x243.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through a robust community engagement process and vetted by the school board clerk and superintendent, the semifinalist names for each school have been announced. With thousands of entries from students, families, staff, and community members, we have revealed the top names from the polls that met the School Board policies (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/cms\/lib\/VA01918616\/Centricity\/Shared\/documents\/school-board-policies\/ff.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Policy FF [PDF]<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/cms\/lib\/VA01918616\/Centricity\/Shared\/documents\/school-board-policies\/ff-r.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regulation FF-R [PDF]<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and were deemed suitable for naming a school.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now is the time for all community members to give their voice to the name they want to see as the final selection in this process. The second set of community polls will be open on Feb. 5 and close at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 19.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/tcpoll\"><b>Take the T.C. Williams Renaming Poll #2<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/maurypoll\"><b>Take the Maury Elementary Renaming Poll #2<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To learn more about the process visit <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/identityproject\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Identity Project webpage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"QuestBridge\"><\/a>Congratulations to our Two QuestBridge Scholars<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17193\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/PhotoCollage_20210203_115039542.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1201\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/PhotoCollage_20210203_115039542.jpg 1201w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/PhotoCollage_20210203_115039542-260x143.jpg 260w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/PhotoCollage_20210203_115039542-800x440.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/PhotoCollage_20210203_115039542-182x100.jpg 182w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/PhotoCollage_20210203_115039542-768x422.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When T.C. Williams High School senior Natnael Asegdew was 6 years old, he moved to the United States from Ethiopia and his parents had one purpose in mind: to ensure their two children received a quality education.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Life in a new country was not without challenges for the family but their son thrived academically, first at John Adams Elementary School, then at Francis C. Hammond Middle School, and finally at T.C. Williams.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now Natnael is a proud recipient of the prized <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.questbridge.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">QuestBridge Scholarship<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and this fall he is heading to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on a full-ride scholarship, where he will major in Computer, Economics and Data Science.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">QuestBridge is an extremely competitive college scholarship application process that helps outstanding low-income high school seniors gain admission and full four-year scholarships to the nation&#8217;s most selective colleges.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI think about the sacrifices my parents made for me all the time,\u201d said the 17-year-old. \u201cMoving to a new country, learning a new language, working long hours, all with their children\u2019s future in mind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThey were so happy when I got the news about the scholarship. It made them realize that coming to America was the right decision.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Natnael still recalls the kindness shown to him by ACPS teachers when he began school here in Alexandria.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He says he remains ever thankful for the teachers and counselors that supported him throughout his school career.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLife would have been very different had we stayed in Ethiopia. I doubt that I would have reached the stage I am at now,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another highly accomplished Titan, Bridgette Adu-Wadier, also learned that she was selected from the thousands of students who applied nationwide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bridgette, who has been lauded with multiple accolades this academic year, will be attending Northwestern University where she will major in Journalism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just last week, the gifted writer and visual storyteller was also named by PBS as a one of their <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/studentreportinglabs.org\/blog-posts\/srl20\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20 under 20 Up-and-Coming Storytellers of the Year<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/3613\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more about our two QuestBridge Scholars<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"bhm\"><\/a>Recognizing Black History Month on ACPS-TV<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">February is Black History Month and a time for reflection and celebration at ACPS. Throughout February, ACPS-TV will be airing programs from our archives featuring prominent African Americans, including ACPS alumni.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">T.C. Williams alumnus Jefferi K. Lee recently served as the General Manager of WHUT-TV on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC. Watch him talk about his incredible career. He played an integral role on the team that took BET Holdings, Inc. public, which established the organization as the first black-owned company traded on the NYSE. In February 2019, he returned to T.C. to speak with Television Production Students.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>When to watch:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. on <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/acpstv\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACPS-TV<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, cable channel 71, or on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GSzTM2B1tRQ&amp;feature=youtu.be\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACPS-TV YouTube channel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Historian Percy White&#8217;s presentation on Tracing Your Roots through Ancestral Research was featured seven years ago during a Black History Month event at T.C. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>When to watch:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. on <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/acpstv\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACPS-TV<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, cable channel 71, or on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/IimtiZsyHtQ\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACPS-TV YouTube channel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alexandria Legend Melvin Miller worked to desegregate Alexandria City Public Schools. Watch a recording of him speaking to students during Black History Month in 2014 in this program from our archives. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>When to watch:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. on <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/acpstv\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACPS-TV<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, cable channel 71, or on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Rxb4O47_NLU&amp;feature=youtu.be\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACPS-TV YouTube channel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Full schedule of Black History Month specials on ACPS-TV:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17194\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/bhm-acpstv.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"722\" height=\"804\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/bhm-acpstv.jpg 722w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/bhm-acpstv-260x290.jpg 260w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/bhm-acpstv-539x600.jpg 539w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/bhm-acpstv-90x100.jpg 90w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 722px) 100vw, 722px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"noche\"><\/a>Save the Date: Noche de Ciencias\/Night of Science on Feb. 23 and 25<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All ACPS families and students are invited to participate in the virtual Noche de Ciencias (Night of Science) on Feb. 23 and Feb. 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Due to COVID restrictions and social distancing requirements, the annual science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) event will be presented virtually. You will not want to miss these action packed programs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Noche de Ciencias is a national program of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shpe.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(SHPE) and was initiated in 2008 as a way to introduce students and families to science and engineering through hands-on activities and exposure to college and career information in STEM. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), in collaboration with SHPE, is hosting these virtual events for ACPS students and families over two nights. There will be hands-on STEM activities designed to help develop problem-solving, inventive thinking and introduce intellectual property concepts \u2014 such as invention, patents, and trademarks \u2014 to K-12 students.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The USPTO has invited other STEM-focused federal agencies to exhibit and share information about careers in their respective fields. The sessions will be live video virtual presentations introducing K-12 students to possible <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1mZOiPwFbSJsxXBUQGsa4lswOG4LYL1_7\/view?pli=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">STEM career paths<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in their agencies and provide hands-on activities that engage the students and promote STEM.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More information about how to attend will be provided soon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/508186689\/24adbb92f4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17195\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-04-at-3.56.38-PM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1082\" height=\"604\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-04-at-3.56.38-PM.jpg 1082w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-04-at-3.56.38-PM-260x145.jpg 260w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-04-at-3.56.38-PM-800x447.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-04-at-3.56.38-PM-179x100.jpg 179w, http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-04-at-3.56.38-PM-768x429.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1082px) 100vw, 1082px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b><a id=\"schoolboard\"><\/a>February is School Board Appreciation Month<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not forget to thank your School Board members for all their hard work advocating for ACPS students and staff during <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vsba.org\/resources\/initiatives\/school-board-appreciation-month\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virginia School Board Appreciation Month<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"food\" name=\"food\"><\/a>FOOD ACCESS<\/h2>\n<p>ACPS has multiple distribution meal site locations throughout Alexandria for all ACPS students and children over the age of two. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/schoolclosurefood\">See a map of food distribution locations<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>GRAB-AND-GO MEAL LOCATIONS:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Grab and Go breakfast and lunch meals are available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 7:30 a.m.\u00a0and 12 p.m. at the following locations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>William Ramsay Elementary School<\/strong><br \/>\n5700 Sanger Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22311<\/li>\n<li><strong>Francis C. Hammond Middle School<\/strong><br \/>\n4646 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology<\/strong><br \/>\n3600 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305<\/li>\n<li><strong>Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School<\/strong><br \/>\n1501 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mount Vernon Community School<\/strong><br \/>\n2601 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305<\/li>\n<li><strong>Patrick Henry K-8 School<\/strong><br \/>\n4643 Taney Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304<\/li>\n<li><strong>T.C. Williams High School<\/strong><br \/>\n3330 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22304<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at our \u201cPop-Up\u201d sites located at:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Mason Apartments at 75 South Reynolds Street, Alexandria, VA 22304<\/strong><br \/>\n10:45 to 11:15 a.m.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Brent Place Apartments at 375 South Reynolds Street, Alexandria, VA 22304<\/strong><br \/>\n11:20 to 11:50 a.m.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ruby Tucker Family Center at 322 Tancil Court, Alexandria, VA 22314<\/strong><br \/>\n10:45 to 11:15 a.m.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Community Lodgings at 607 Notabene Drive, Alexandria, VA 22305<\/strong><br \/>\n10:45 to 11:15 a.m.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Old Towne West Apartments (parking lot) at 500 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314<\/strong><br \/>\n11:20 to 11:50 a.m.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Corner of Florence Drive and Four Mile Road, Alexandria, VA 22305<\/strong><br \/>\n10:45 to 11:15 a.m.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Fields at 4309 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22304<\/strong><br \/>\n10:45 to 11:15 a.m.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bennington Crossing Apartments at 441 North Armistead Street, Alexandria, VA 22312<\/strong><br \/>\n11:30 a.m. to noon<\/li>\n<li><strong>2727 Duke Street (behind Bank of America), Alexandria, VA 22314<\/strong><br \/>\n10:45 to 11:15 a.m.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>NO SIGN UP OR REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE MEALS.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>NOTE: No food distribution will occur on Tuesdays or Thursdays.<\/strong> The limited days for distribution is to support the practice of social distancing and to limit social gatherings. Meals for two days will be provided on Mondays and Wednesdays, and meals for three days will be provided on Fridays.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Other Food Resources in the City of Alexandria:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For food pantry locations and schedules in Alexandria, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/k12.us3.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=c264d43033e4f4ca3b673bfc6&amp;id=b08b02092b&amp;e=5f2372f074\">www.hungerfreealexandria.com<\/a> or call \u202a703-662-1067.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Questions? Or Need Translation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Send us your question in Spanish, Arabic or Amharic:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Text ACPSMEALS to 797979 (English and Spanish)<\/li>\n<li>Call or text 703-927-6866 (Amharic)<\/li>\n<li>Call or text 703-927-7095 (Arabic)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>OR<\/p>\n<p>Call the FACE Center\u2019s Bilingual Parent Information Lines, available Monday-Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>For Spanish\/English, call 571-775-9719<\/li>\n<li>For Amharic\/English, call 703-927-6866<\/li>\n<li>For Arabic\/English, call 703-927-7095<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>SAFETY REMINDER:<\/strong> Please remember to observe social distancing practices while at the food distribution site by maintaining six feet of personal space between you and other families or individuals.<\/p>\n<p>Anyone exhibiting symptoms of a respiratory illness like fever, runny nose, sore throat, coughing or difficulty breathing on the day of food distribution or in the previous 24 hours should not visit a food distribution site but call a health care provider instead. If you do not have a primary care physician and are not enrolled in a clinic, you may CALL an urgent care center or emergency room.<b><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>UPDATES FROM THE ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT<\/h2>\n<p>For all updates, see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.alexandriava.gov\/Coronavirus\">www.alexandriava.gov\/Coronavirus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>HEALTH REMINDERS<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t Feel Well?<\/strong><br \/>\nContact your primary health care physician. Don\u2019t have insurance? Contact Neighborhood Health at 703-535-5568.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Have questions, concerns or feedback? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/345\" data-cke-saved-href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/345\">Contact us<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ACPS Express 2\/5\/2021: Reopening of School Buildings in March! \u2022 Help Choose the Final Names for Maury and T.C. Williams \u2022 Congratulations to our Two QuestBridge Scholars \u2026and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":17187,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,90],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-acps","category-coronavirus"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-21 19:07:46","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17186"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17186\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17189,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17186\/revisions\/17189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}