At its May 4 meeting, the Alexandria City Public School Board announced that Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt would remain in place as ACPS Superintendent. Kay-Wyatt has served as Interim Superintendent since September 2022 and was also the ACPS head of Human Resources from 2021 to 2022. She is the first Black woman to assume the permanent superintendent role.
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A Hidden Demographic
The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (NADA) reports that 9% of Americans will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime. With anorexia (a type of eating disorder) having the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, and conversations about mental health drastically increasing in a post-pandemic era, challenges still exist in having inclusive awareness. Specifically, of the nearly 30 million Americans who will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime, 25% will be male.
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New Courses, New Opportunities
With the 2023-2024 school year coming up very quickly, counselors have begun to meet with students to help them choose their schedules for the next school year. For many students, choosing their new classes is very exciting and important, as these classes may influence their future career choices. This year, students may notice a few new course options that are coming to Alexandria City High School.
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‘Alive, but Dead’
In 2021, the Taliban invaded Afghanistan. Two ACHS students were there. They gave us a look into that traumatic day, and what followed.
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Without Lunch and Learn, Clubs Struggle to Meet
As the debate on Lunch and Learn’s potential return continues, many clubs begin to meet after school since meeting during school is no longer an option. Homework, sports, and overall availability are among the challenges that make it difficult for students to participate in clubs after school. Many students support Lunch and Learn since it would give them more time in their schedule to stay involved with clubs.
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The Frustrations of a Community: Alexandria School Safety Community Listening Session
Alexandria City Councilmember Canek Aguirre and ACPS School Board member Abdel Elnoubi hosted a community listening session about school safety at Beatley Library on Sunday, September 10. The session was permeated with discussions surrounding the Student Law Enforcement Partnership (SLEP) initiative, media response, and community involvement in legislative processes. Elnoubi said that the decision on what to do with school resource officers (SROs) will be made in October or November, whether that be to leave, remove, or reimagine the role of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the city and schools. This decision will come with the recommendations of the SLEP committee.
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Homework Survives… For Now
On Thursday, August 25, the ACPS School Board held a special-session meeting about a proposal to change their grading policy. Citing a lack of teacher input and a less than “ideal time,” the lengthy discussion concluded by tabling the overall proposal, including a section that would have eradicated the function of homework in the classroom. The Board voted to adopt aspects of the proposal, including regulating a 60/40% summative and formative grading ratio and abolishing class rank.
