{"id":16927,"date":"2020-10-07T04:00:37","date_gmt":"2020-10-07T08:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/?p=16927"},"modified":"2020-10-07T14:52:41","modified_gmt":"2020-10-07T18:52:41","slug":"upcoming-identity-project-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/?p=16927","title":{"rendered":"Upcoming Identity Project Events"},"content":{"rendered":"
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en espa\u00f1ol (PDF)<\/a> | \u12a0\u121b\u122d\u129b (PDF)<\/a> | \u0628\u0627\u0644\u0639\u0631\u0628\u064a\u0629 (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n

Thank you to everyone who was able to find the time to complete our survey about Virtual PLUS+ and to share your thoughts on the return to our school buildings. As I write, teams are analyzing the valuable data we have been able to collect and we look forward to sharing what we have learned in the coming weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Oct. 15, we will share our plans with the School Board for the second quarter of the 2020-21 academic year and the answers you have provided us will be key to our decision-making process. In addition to the survey results, we will use the following data to determine if it is feasible to transition into in-person learning for the second nine weeks: building capacity, staff availability, transportation, health mitigations and personal protective equipment (PPE), and the instructional model. As we have stated, the Virtual PLUS+ Learning approach is not ideal for all students and we will continue making the necessary adjustments when needed and feasible to accommodate our students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our community outreach about the consideration of the process to change the name of T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School continues this week with the first Student Conversation being held this evening from 6 to 7 p.m. More than anything, we want this process to be student-led, so please encourage your children to join this event to listen, to learn and to ask questions. Tomorrow evening, we have the final of three <\/span>Community Read-Ins<\/span><\/a> with Georgetown University professor Douglas S. Reed and Kennetra Wood, ACPS executive director of equity and alternative programs. Join us to find out the real story behind the Hollywood movie, \u201cRemember the Titans.\u201d More than 3,000 people have engaged with <\/span>The Identity Project<\/span><\/a> webpage and\/or viewed our read-ins so far.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, Monday is a Professional Development Day for our staff. Students are not required to participate in asynchronous learning activities on that day. Please enjoy the long weekend.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay informed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Superintendent of Schools<\/span><\/p>\n

Virtual PLUS+ School Day & Afterschool Recreation Center Program<\/b><\/h2>\n

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The availability of free, quality child care is critical to keeping the home lives of many of our students stable and healthy during the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the help of our Virtual PLUS+ community partners, ACPS has been able to offer this opportunity to many of our children whose families need support during the school day due to employment obligations and other factors related to family life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last week, we visited one of the Virtual PLUS+ School Day & Afterschool Programs, run in conjunction with the City of Alexandria\u2019s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities.<\/span><\/p>\n

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At William Ramsay Recreation Center, fifth grader Anh Nguyen is on a break from her Talented and Gifted class.<\/span><\/p>\n

She sits back in her chair and stretches away from her Chromebook for a few moments before saying thoughtfully, \u201cI was sad when school closed. I missed my friends, having other children to play with \u2014 and I actually missed the homework.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Identity Project: Community Read-Ins and Upcoming Engagement Sessions<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Last Thursday evening, Georgetown University professor Douglas S. Reed and Kennetra Wood, ACPS executive director of equity and alternative programs, hosted the second of three community \u201cRead-Ins\u201d to help frame the public discussion around the possibility of renaming both T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read-In #2: Alexandria\u2019s Role in Massive Resistance and School Segregation<\/span><\/a> discussed the broader picture of Virginia’s segregation and how what happened back then still impacts life today in our city. <\/span>Watch a recording of Read-In #2<\/span><\/a> or see the <\/span>highlights video<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Also <\/span>watch the first read-in<\/span><\/a>, in which Dr. Reed discussed the seminal moments in the career of T.C. Williams.<\/span><\/p>\n

Upcoming Identity Project Engagement Events<\/b><\/h2>\n

Join us for this week\u2019s two Identity Project events. See a list of all <\/span>Identity Project Community Engagement events<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Student Conversation #1<\/b>
\n<\/span>Tonight (Wednesday) at 6-7 p.m.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Join us on Zoom<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Read-In #3: The Real Story Behind “Remember the Titans”<\/b>
\n<\/span>Thursday, Oct. 8, 6-7 p.m. on Zoom.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Join us on Zoom<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/a>At the third and final Read-In of the series, Dr. Douglas S. Reed will present from his book,<\/span> \u201cBuilding the Federal School House\u201d<\/span><\/a> and put the \u201cRemember the Titans\u201d story into context, setting the stage by discussing riots, protests, systemic injustice, and the resulting civil rights crisis in Alexandria City. This is the un-Disneyfied tale of the merger of our black and white high schools, our integration plan, and a winning football team. ACPS Executive Director of Equity and Alternative Programs Kennetra Wood will co-host and identify ties to systemic racism rooted in our system. There will be a short Question and Answer period following the discussion.<\/span><\/p>\n

This month also marks the twenty year anniversary of the Disney movie \u201cRemember the Titans,\u201d which was released on Sept. 29, 2000. Read the <\/span>The Washington Post<\/span><\/a> article marking the anniversary.<\/span><\/p>\n

No School for Students Next Monday, Oct. 12<\/b><\/h2>\n

Monday, Oct. 12 is a Professional Development Day for ACPS staff. Students will not be required to participate in asynchronous learning that day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, food distribution on Monday, Oct. 12 will only be open at T.C. Williams High School<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Division-Wide Student Assessments Begin This Month<\/b><\/h2>\n

During the month of September, ACPS prioritized student social and emotional wellness in the initial return to school under Virtual PLUS+. No division or state-required assessments were administered during this time. Instead, teachers focused on forging relationships, tending to students\u2019 social and emotional health, and allowing for instruction to begin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Starting in October, teachers will begin administering division required assessments to students in grades K-12. See the division <\/span>Virtual PLUS+ testing calendar (PDF)<\/span><\/a>. The purpose of these assessments is to determine how students are performing, so teachers can best meet individual student needs. These assessments will allow teachers to provide targeted instruction for students to best support them in their learning. These assessments are not linked to student progress reports or grades.<\/span><\/p>\n

Students will be administered these assessments in their Virtual PLUS+ classroom by their teacher and other school staff. Schools are working hard to prepare students for taking tests in the virtual environment. Families may help by allowing students to answer assessment questions independently and have students ask any questions to the ACPS staff member administering the assessment to them. We want to ensure that the data we collect best represents the areas of strength and needs of our students as we work together to best support them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please know we have done all we can to prepare and best minimize any potential difficulties in administering these assessments in a virtual environment. We understand through our shared experiences that we may experience unavoidable technical difficulties and we will be sharing more next week on what you can do if a problem occurs. We thank you for your continued support as we work through the pandemic together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FAFSA Workshop: Apply for Student Aid for College<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Need help filling out <\/span>FAFSA forms<\/span><\/a>?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once your student has created a FAFSA ID, watch one of three webinars hosted by The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria during October to complete the process.<\/span><\/p>\n

Register for one of the FAFSA Step 2 Workshops:<\/b><\/p>\n