{"id":9585,"date":"2021-06-18T11:45:43","date_gmt":"2021-06-18T15:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/?p=9585"},"modified":"2021-06-18T10:09:32","modified_gmt":"2021-06-18T14:09:32","slug":"celebrating-our-graduates-and-new-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/celebrating-our-graduates-and-new-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Our Graduates and New Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>This Week\u2019s Headlines:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#once-a-titan-always-a-titan:-c\">Once a Titan, Always a Titan: Congratulations, Class of 2021!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#last-chance-to-share-your-voic\">LAST CHANCE to Share Your Voice: 2021 Equity For All Climate Survey Ends Sunday, June 20<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#school-board-approves-contract\">School Board Approves Contract Renewal for Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#acps-names-new-principal-for-j\">ACPS Names New Principal for John Adams Elementary School<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#acps-welcomes-new-executive-di\">ACPS Welcomes New Executive Director of Human Resources<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#acps-communications-team-earns\">ACPS Communications Team Earns National Honor<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#minnie-howard-campus-redevelop\">Minnie Howard Campus Redevelopment Design Community Feedback Form<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#juneteenth-\u201cfreedom-day\u201d-i\">Juneteenth \u201cFreedom Day\u201d is June 19, 2021<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#last-acps-insider-of-2020-21-s\">Last ACPS Insider of 2020-21 School Year<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Dear ACPS Staff,<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under overcast skies on Saturday morning, our 888 graduates filed out of T.C. Williams High School for the last time and entered Chinquapin Park, where they received their diplomas and officially became Titan alumni. It was also the first time these students were in person as a whole class in more than a year. There are so many things to say about this class but what stands out is their inquisitive nature, diversity of thought and their contributions to realizing racial equity and driving change in our community. Congratulations, Class of 2021!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We learn from your input and lived experiences. Your voice informs change and will ultimately make ACPS a more inclusive and equitable community. Please share your experience on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/equitysurvey2021\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2021 ACPS Equity For All Climate Survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and make ACPS a better place to teach, learn, lead and grow for all students, staff and families. There are only a few days left until the survey closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 20. Thank you for participating and for all you contribute to our ACPS community.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our community has engaged in The Identity Project for almost a full calendar year. The unimaginable death of George Floyd caused outcries from our students, alumni and community members saying they\u2019d had enough. It was time for a change. That change has become a reality as we move forward, officially renaming two of our schools on July 1, 2021. Community engagement was key to this effort and required an immense amount of planning and implementation to ensure everyone could be involved and informed. As such, I am proud to announce that the ACPS Department of School and Community Relations has earned one of the highest honors in school communications: the National School Public Relations Association\u2019s Gold Medallion Award for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nspra.org\/awards\/gold-medallion-winners\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Identity Project: Renaming Schools in a Dual Pandemic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Our community and this team will be honored at the NSPRA National Seminar in July.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is my honor, too, to continue serving as your superintendent, and I am grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the Alexandria City School Board which renewed my contract at the June 17 Board meeting. The dedication and teamwork that I see every day in our schools and offices has been critical to advancing our collective vision of empowering all students to thrive in a diverse and ever-changing world, and I am excited to continue to lead this work for the next four years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I am proud of our students and staff for all they have accomplished during this year of uncertainty and change. It is that time of year when our school community is wrapping up class assignments and celebrating the successes of our students while also planning for next year. Please join me as we celebrate our wonderful ACPS community in this last week of school.<\/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 id=\"once-a-titan-always-a-titan:-c\"><a id=\"once-a-titan-always-a-titan:-c\" name=\"once-a-titan-always-a-titan:-c\"><\/a><b>Once a Titan, Always a Titan: Congratulations, Class of 2021!<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/562539820?embed_email_provider=mailchimp\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/videoapi-muybridge.vimeocdn.com\/animated-thumbnails\/image\/56a0f261-eeb8-4073-b26c-79f2d102d9b6.gif?ClientID=vimeo-core-prod&amp;Date=1623978140&amp;Signature=bd36c222b70ddf15d726050241397d136c9f84b0\" alt=\"T.C. Williams High School Class of 2021 Graduation\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a year where uncertainty and change prevailed, 888 seniors from T.C. Williams High School \u2014 home of the Titans \u2014 proudly accepted their diplomas on June 12, 2021, and became the last class to graduate under this school name. The Class of 2021 navigated a dual pandemic of COVID-19 and racial unrest during the past 15 months of their high school education and played a prominent role in making the name change \u2014 Alexandria City High School \u2014 a reality.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI am so very proud of our Class of 2021 Titan graduates. This class stood out early on as a group with immense school pride and became a class that was passionate about using their voice. While I am, of course, proud of all of their academic and athletic achievements, what I will remember most about this class is their advocacy for others and their continuing involvement in fighting social and racial injustice,\u201d said T.C. Williams High School Principal Peter Balas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The graduation ceremony at Chinquapin Park in Alexandria included remarks from Superintendent Dr. Hutchings, Principal Peter Balas, Black Student Union President Fina Osei-Owusu and Class of 2021 President Karam Burjas. There were also two student performances by Jessica Zolbe, singing The Star-Spangled Banner, and Mia Humphrey singing her original song, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/562539820\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSummer 17.\u201d<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Class of 2021 Treasurer Ella Kahl presented the class gift, which will be painting the bleachers red and blue in the student cheering section of the school\u2019s newly renovated Parker-Gray Memorial Stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOur Class of 2021 has taken on big ideas and challenged long-standing beliefs and traditions. They are some of the first students to speak out on racial injustice by approaching administrators and the School Board about changing the name of their school, which was named after a segregationist. They wanted change. They called it, they challenged it, and today, we are proud to say that their voices were heard loud and clear. On July 1, 2021, T.C. Williams High School will officially become Alexandria City High School. The Class of 2021 has left an indelible mark on the City of Alexandria and the next generation of students who learn within these walls. We thank you, Class of 2021, for speaking your truth and being leaders in your community,\u201d said Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>About the T.C. Williams High School Class of 2021:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">591 members of this class have reported enrolling in a college or university (as of 6\/14\/21)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They will attend 196 colleges and universities<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30 Titan athletes signed letters of intent to compete in collegiate athletics in eight sports\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">376 seniors (42% of the class) graduated with an Advanced Studies Diploma<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are receiving $1,446,000 in merit scholarships\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">183 students received scholarships from the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria totaling $525,000\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this time, 22 students have indicated a commitment to serve in the U.S. military<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At least 30 seniors have planned gap years\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several students will attend trade schools\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During their four years of competing as Titans, they have won a State Championship in volleyball, 17 District titles and four Region titles in athletics<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tune in or read related news stories on the commencement ceremony from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/local\/education\/graduates-celebrate-new-beginning-for-tc-williams-high-school\/2021\/06\/12\/be8a80a0-cba0-11eb-81b1-34796c7393af_story.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Washington Post<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcwashington.com\/news\/local\/last-graduates-of-tc-williams-high-school-reflect-on-name-change\/2699776\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NBC4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alxnow.com\/2021\/06\/12\/t-c-williams-high-schools-final-graduating-class-walks-the-stage\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ALXnow<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/alexandria\/2021\/06\/we-will-always-be-titans-in-person-graduation-marks-final-class-with-t-c-williams-name\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WTOP<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Gj7cS_iMTqg\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Watch the full Commencement Ceremony<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/media\/set\/?vanity=acpsk12&amp;set=a.2072795612860223\">See photos from the Commencement Ceremony<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Congratulations, T.C. Williams High School Class of 2021!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"last-chance-to-share-your-voic\"><a id=\"last-chance-to-share-your-voic\" name=\"last-chance-to-share-your-voic\"><\/a><b>LAST CHANCE to Share Your Voice: 2021 Equity For All Climate Survey Ends Sunday, June 20<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/561358075?embed_email_provider=mailchimp\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/videoapi-muybridge.vimeocdn.com\/animated-thumbnails\/image\/4c9fae06-fb93-4f76-8fae-a25b3be46561.gif?ClientID=vimeo-core-prod&amp;Date=1623980352&amp;Signature=ffaed8bc711c4e4bde552c1c9a4b0c01684644f5\" alt=\"2021 Equity for All Climate Survey\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/561358075\"><b>VIDEO: Learn more about the 2021 Equity For All Climate Survey<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are just a few more days to share your voice with ACPS. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/equitysurvey2021\"><b>2021 ACPS Equity For All Climate Survey<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ends at 11:59 p.m. on June 20, 2021.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a continuation of our five-year strategic plan, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/2025\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equity for All 2025<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we are asking all families, staff, and those students in grades 6-12 to participate in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/equitysurvey2021\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2021 ACPS Equity For All Climate Survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Your candid feedback will inform ACPS about the racial and cultural climate in our schools and help our school division advance the goals in our strategic plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hanover-research.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_a9m6pgkpo5ZqAU6\"><b>Share Your Voice: Take the Survey Now &gt;<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"school-board-approves-contract\"><a id=\"school-board-approves-contract\" name=\"school-board-approves-contract\"><\/a><b>School Board Approves Contract Renewal for Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At its meeting on June 17, 2021, the Alexandria City School Board voted unanimously to approve the renewal of the contract for Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., through June 30, 2025. Hutchings has served as superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) since July 2018.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe Board is genuinely appreciative of Dr. Hutchings\u2019 leadership. As ACPS continues to address challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and systemic racism, we believe in his vision for our schools, and we look forward to supporting him in his work as he continues to move the division forward. He and his team are committed to closing opportunity gaps and removing barriers to equitable access for our students. This is essential to meeting our Equity for All 2025 strategic plan goals. With Dr. Hutchings at the helm, our Equity for All 2025 Strategic Plan will not be a document that sits on the shelf, but instead, will be a living, breathing force, and comprehensive guide for the change that we all seek. We thank him for his service and look forward to what the future holds for ACPS,\u201d said School Board Chair Meagan L. Alderton.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During Dr. Hutchings\u2019 tenure, ACPS has had a concerted focus on equity for students and staff. He led the development of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/2025\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equity for All 2025 Strategic Plan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which places racial equity at the center of ACPS decision-making, addresses barriers to learning, and empowers and inspires all students to succeed. Hutchings has made several operational changes to streamline decision-making and better support the school division\u2019s mission and strategic plan; these include reorganizing the senior leadership structure, refining the budget process, and ongoing implementation of department audit plans for facilities, human resources, family and community engagement and communications. Recent major facility initiatives he has advanced include <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/hsproject\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The High School Project<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is redefining the high school experience for future generations, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/Page\/2651\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Douglas MacArthur Elementary School modernization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with a new school scheduled to open its doors in January 2023, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/identityproject\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Identity Project<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which has engaged students and the community in renaming T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School. In 2019, ACPS achieved full accreditation for all schools for the first time in 20 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Hutchings expressed his appreciation to the Board and his enthusiasm for the work ahead: \u201cWorking together with our Board, ACPS leadership and staff, it has been a team effort on behalf of our students. Our work to address racial inequities and advance the bold goals of the 2025 Equity for All Strategic Plan continues to be central to all we do. I know that this has been especially challenging as we pivoted during the pandemic to support students and families. There is still much work to do and I\u2019m excited to lead ACPS as we continue to innovate and prepare our students for a bright future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. is a Class of 1995 graduate of T.C. Williams High School. He attended Patrick Henry and James K. Polk elementary schools, Mount Vernon Community School, and William Ramsay Elementary School during his elementary years, followed by Francis C. Hammond Middle School. Before becoming ACPS superintendent, Dr. Hutchings was a director of preK-12 initiatives and director of middle school programs with ACPS, and between 2013 and 2018, was superintendent of schools of Shaker Heights Schools in Ohio. An experienced educator and administrator, Dr. Hutchings has served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal at the middle and high school levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"acps-names-new-principal-for-j\"><a id=\"acps-names-new-principal-for-j\" name=\"acps-names-new-principal-for-j\"><\/a><b>ACPS Names New Principal for John Adams Elementary School<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17522 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/kingcaid.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Alicia Kingcade has been selected as the new principal at John Adams Elementary School, to begin on July 1, 2021. Dr. Kingcade has been teaching and leading with ACPS since 2010. Most recently, she has served ACPS as the assistant principal of the Early Childhood Center since 2019 and was previously an assistant principal at John Adams from 2013-2019. She served as the ACPS summer school coordinator from 2020-2021 and was able to ensure academic excellence and recovery for our students during the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Kingcade is originally from Philadelphia but grew up in Newark, DE. She earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in Elementary and Special Education from the University of Delaware, a master\u2019s degree in Educational School Leadership from Wilmington University, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership from Seton Hall University. Dr. Kingcade completed her dissertation research on the influences of principals\u2019 leadership behaviors on the implementation of professional learning communities which added to her extensive experience in developing and implementing professional learning communities at various schools and grade levels. Since education is her passion and she is a lifelong learner, Dr. Kingcade recently completed her Early Childhood Leadership certification from Harvard School of Education.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"acps-welcomes-new-executive-di\"><a id=\"acps-welcomes-new-executive-di\" name=\"acps-welcomes-new-executive-di\"><\/a><b>ACPS Welcomes New Executive Director of Human Resources<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17523\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screen-Shot-2021-06-15-at-5.46.25-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"717\" height=\"463\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACPS is pleased to announce that Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt has been selected as the ACPS executive director of human resources and will begin on July 1, 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Kay-Wyatt currently serves as director of human resources for secondary education in Spotsylvania County Public Schools, a division of 29 schools with 23,000 students and 3,100 staff. Dr. Kay-Wyatt is an adviser and past president of ASCD and served on its board of directors. Previously, she held positions as a middle school principal and assistant principal in Fredericksburg City Public Schools. She also served as a special education teacher at the elementary, middle and high school levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Kay-Wyatt holds a doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, a master&#8217;s degree from the University of Mary Washington, a master&#8217;s degree from Old Dominion University and a bachelor&#8217;s degree from Mary Washington College. Dr. Kay-Wyatt is our inaugural executive director of HR following the divisional staff restructure plan of January 2020.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"acps-communications-team-earns\"><a id=\"acps-communications-team-earns\" name=\"acps-communications-team-earns\"><\/a><b>ACPS Communications Team Earns National Honor<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17313\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/id-project.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"162\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) announced that the ACPS Department of School and Community Relations has earned one of the highest honors in school communications and public relations: the NSPRA Gold Medallion for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nspra.org\/awards\/gold-medallion-winners\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Identity Project: Renaming Schools in a Dual Pandemic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nspra.org\/awards\/national-school-communication-awards#gold-medallion\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gold Medallion<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is NSPRA&#8217;s top program award, recognizing superior educational public relations programs and campaigns grounded in strategic communication best practices. Entries may come from public and private schools; community or vocational\/technical colleges; state\/national education groups; and any agency, consultant or business in partnership with any of the above education agencies. Judging is against criteria as well as other entries, and is highly competitive. Winners receive medallions at the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nspra.org\/national_seminar\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NSPRA National Seminar<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"minnie-howard-campus-redevelop\"><a id=\"minnie-howard-campus-redevelop\" name=\"minnie-howard-campus-redevelop\"><\/a><b>Minnie Howard Campus Redevelopment Design Community Feedback Form<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The High School Project team invites you to complete a short feedback form regarding the redevelopment of the Minnie Howard Campus. The feedback form includes a short animation of the potential design of the Minnie Howard campus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fill out the feedback form in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/acpsweb.wufoo.com\/forms\/w1r1e5c909hh98q\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">English<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/acpsweb.wufoo.com\/forms\/wh91ggq120i7x0\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spanish<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/acpsweb.wufoo.com\/forms\/wll74m31f462qa\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amharic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/acpsweb.wufoo.com\/forms\/wgiqbjj0m0tts2\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arabic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can stay up to date on all ACPS capital improvement projects by checking the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acps.k12.va.us\/site\/Default.aspx?PageID=1529#calendar2513\/20210601\/month\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Modernization Calendar<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and signing up for our monthly <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/k12.us3.list-manage.com\/subscribe?u=c264d43033e4f4ca3b673bfc6&amp;id=343e386a8d\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CIP Newsletter<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"juneteenth-\u201cfreedom-day\u201d-i\"><a id=\"juneteenth-\u201cfreedom-day\u201d-i\" name=\"juneteenth-\u201cfreedom-day\u201d-i\"><\/a><b>Juneteenth \u201cFreedom Day\u201d is June 19, 2021\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17526\" src=\"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/freedom.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"871\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At ACPS, we embrace diversity, equity and inclusion through educating our community about the past, being actively involved in the conversation of the present, and looking to the future for solutions. Please take time to recognize the significance of Juneteenth in Alexandria and our country\u2019s history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This day in history represents freedom from slavery for all African Americans. On June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Texas to ensure all enslaved people were freed. The arrival of the troops in Texas happened two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is considered the longest-running African American holiday, which honors the end to slavery in the United States.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The City of Alexandria has provided some suggestions on how to acknowledge this day with educational activities. Learn more on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alexandriava.gov\/historic\/blackhistory\/default.aspx?id=116088\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">City of Alexandria website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"last-acps-insider-of-2020-21-s\"><a id=\"last-acps-insider-of-2020-21-s\" name=\"last-acps-insider-of-2020-21-s\"><\/a><b>Last ACPS Insider of 2020-21 School Year<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We know you count on ACPS Insider to deliver the most up-to-date information for ACPS staff. The last issue of Insider for the 2020-21 school year will be sent on June 25, 2021. ACPS Insider will resume publication in early to mid-August.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please enjoy our last two issues for this school year and stay tuned for the first issue of the 2021-22 school year coming to your inbox in August.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Once a Titan, Always a Titan: Congratulations, Class of 2021! \u2022\u00a0LAST CHANCE to Share Your Voice: 2021 Equity For All Climate Survey Ends Sunday, June 20 \u2022\u00a0School Board Approves Contract Renewal for Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. \u2022\u00a0ACPS Names New Principal for John Adams Elementary School \u2022\u00a0ACPS Welcomes New Executive Director of Human Resources \u2022\u00a0ACPS Communications Team Earns National Honor \u2022\u00a0Minnie Howard Campus Redevelopment Design Community Feedback Form \u2022\u00a0Juneteenth \u201cFreedom Day\u201d is June 19, 2021 \u2022\u00a0Last ACPS Insider of 2020-21 School Year<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":9586,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-announcements"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-16 19:12:09","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9585"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9585\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9589,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9585\/revisions\/9589"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}