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Monday, May 20, 2013

Public Invited to Jefferson-Houston Groundbreaking

Ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday behind current school building.

Alexandria is breaking ground on its new Jefferson-Houston School at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 at 1501 Cameron Street and the public is invited to attend the event. City Council approved a $44-million proposal to rebuild Jefferson-Houston School in December 2012. Alexandria City Public Schools cited rising maintenance costs, student population growth and a need for modern learning facilities as reasons to rebuild the struggling school, which serves pre-K through 8th grade and has been marked as one of six chronically failing schools in Virginia. Governor Bob McDonnell plans to create a body in July that would have the ability to intervene in the state’s lowest performing schools.  Neighborhoods including Old Town, Del Ray and the new Potomac …

Edmund Lewis

8:29 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013

http://www.alexandrianews.org/revenue-re-estimates-net-acps-10-million-in-additional-revenue/ How is ACPS all of the sudden finding $10 million in revenue? Don't be fooled by the promise of a new building. There are serious issues within this district and the new board now owns them.   more ›

Madison Day School Opens in Old Town

A new child care facility is now open on N. Henry Street.

Madison Day School recently opened to serve children ages two months through three years. The private school later this year plans to offer school instruction and activities for children up to five years old, according to a spokeswoman. It's located at 722 N. Henry St., near the intersection with Madison Street and is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. It already has a waiting list and is approved for a capacity of 26 children. The building was formerly occupied by Qi Home and Garden. For more information, call (703) 299-9800. For more news about Old Town Alexandria, "like" Old Town Alexandria Patch on Facebook, follow @alexandriapatch on Twitter and sign up for the daily, email newsletter. Find out more here.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Titans Earn Berth into Northern Region Tournament

T.C. Williams tops Lee 9-2 in Patriot District playoff game.

The T.C. Williams High School baseball team topped Robert E. Lee 9-2 Wednesday night at Simpson Stadium in a second-round game of the Patriot District tournament, according to The Washington Post.   “Far from perfect, but it was a memorable last game at home,” tweeted T.C. Williams ace Alec Grosser, who emerged as a major league pitching prospect this season. “Thanks to everyone that came out.” With the victory, the Titans advance to the district semifinals and also clinched a berth into the 16-team Northern Region tournament. T.C. Williams will travel to Burke to face Lake Braddock at 5 p.m. Friday, May 17, in a Patriot District semifinal game. The winner will play Monday, May 20 at Lake Braddock in the district final.  

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

City Honors Kenney for International Boxing Victory

Iesha Kenney, a 15-year-old at Minnie Howard, earned victory in international boxing tournament in Finland on May 4.

Minnie Howard student Iesha Kenney was recognized at City Hall Tuesday night for her victory in an international boxing tournament earlier this month in Finland with the USA Junior World Team.  Kenney, who is a straight-A student at Minnie Howard and also plays violin in the orchestra, won a unanimous decision over Elizabeth Dillion of England on May 4 in Pirkka, Finland, while representing the United States. “I was in Finland for three days,” the 15-year-old said. “The competition was two days. Prior to that, I was in training camp [in Colorado Spring, Colo.] for a few weeks. ... In the tournament, I was in one bout and won 5-0.” Kenney, who boxes in the 132-pound weight class, got involved at the boxing program at Charles Houston …

Friday, May 10, 2013

Marching Titans Head to Sugar Bowl

T.C. Williams High School band is one of 15 from around the country selected to perform at halftime of 2014 bowl game in New Orleans.

The T.C. Williams High School marching band is heading to The Big Easy. The Marching Titans will represent Alexandria and Virginia at the 2014 Sugar Bowl, to be held Jan. 2, 2014, at the Superdome in New Orleans. Directed by Carlos Gonzales, the T.C. Williams band is one of 15 high school units from across the country selected to perform at halftime of the BCS bowl game. The 80-member band will spend five days in New Orleans, rehearse with the other invited high school bands, learn from nationally renowned adjudicators and explore the city that gave birth to jazz. “I am thrilled to see that the Marching Titans will be representing Alexandria at the 2014 Sugar Bowl Game, bringing prestige and honor to our historic city,” Alexandria Mayor …

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Video: Robbie the Recycling Squirrel

The City of Alexandria's Department of Transportation and Environmental Services sends Robbie the Recycling squirrel and friends out to local elementary schools.

Robbie the Recycling squirrel from the city's Transportation and Environmental Services Department visits Alexandria's Charles Barrett Elementary to educate students about the importance of recycling.

Bike to School Day Wednesday

Be on the lookout Wednesday for students ditching four wheels for two.

Thousands of kids across the country will ditch the bus and carpool in favor of their bikes Wednesday in the second annual National Bike to School Day. More than a dozen schools in Alexandria have signed up to participate, according to the National Center for Safe Routes to School, which is organizing the event.  See the full list of schools participating here.  (Note: Mount Vernon Community School has postponed the event due to Wednesday's rainy forecast.) NCSRS also sponsors International Walk to School Day each October. Virginia is again among the states with the most participation in National Bike to School Day: More than 80 schools or groups across the state are planning organized bike rides.  Wednesday’s weather is a little bit iffy…

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Maury Fifth-Graders Honor Underground Railroad

Public art will be displayed outside the Russell Road elementary school through May 15.

Maury Elementary School fifth-graders painted more than 50 panels now on display along Russell Road and W. Masonic View Avenue inspired by the quilts of the Underground Railroad. The public art display is timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. The work honors the courage of slaves who risked their lives to escape to freedom.   Students studied the Underground Railroad quilt codes in Bettye Stroud’s “The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom.” Students learned the meaning of different patterns—which offered warnings and hints along the way—before selecting a pattern that was meaningful to them. The paintings will hang through May 15. The paint used was purchased through a grant from the Maury PTA.

Martha shelton

9:44 pm on Sunday, May 5, 2013

Really, really beautiful to see this art displayed outdoors at Maury Elementary while driving down Russell Rd. Bravo Luisa Tio- you make us Valley Drivers proud!   more ›

Register Now for Free ACPS Preschool

Alexandria City Public Schools offers a full-day program to four year olds who have not had a formal preschool experience.

Alexandria City Public Schools offers a pre-kindergarten, full-day program to four year olds who have not yet been in formal preschool setting. Children who are four years old by Sept. 30, 2013, and whose families are income eligible through the Campagna Center may participate in the program. Certified teachers with degrees in early childhood education provide appropriate instruction, according to the ACPS daily digest. The program takes place from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Sept. 5, 2013 through June 18, 2014 at Jefferson-Houston School and John Adams, Patrick Henry and William Ramsay elementary schools. Register through the Campagna Center, 418 S. Washington St. Call Leslie, 703-549-0111 x107 to schedule an appointment. …

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Register for Fall Classes at NoVa Community College

Registration starts May 3 at Northern Virginia Community College.

Fall is a distant thought amid the springtime beauty of Northern Virginia, but students should take note that registration for fall classes at Northern Virginia Community College begins in May. Registration starts May 3 for the community college’s fall semester, and students are encouraged to enroll early while the most choices are available.  Online registration is open 24 hours a day at www.nvcc.edu, and personalized service is available at NOVA’s campuses in Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas, Springfield and Woodbridge. The Alexandria campus is located at 3001 N. Beauregard St. Students may register in May and not pay tuition until July 29. After that, tuition is due by 5 p.m. on the next business day after registering. Classes …

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