Saturday, March 10, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Spring & Summer Guide
FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA:
Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities' Spring & Summer 2012 Program Guide Now Available
The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities’ Spring & Summer 2012 Program Guide is now available by visiting alexandriava.gov/recreation. The program guide highlights City classes, programs, activities and special events occurring April through August 2012. Registration for spring & summer classes and activities begins at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28 for City residents, and Friday, March 30 for nonresidents. Individuals who subscribe to receive the program guide by mail will receive it the week of March 12.
Individuals who did not subscribe can download a free copy or pick up a printed copy at the following locations on Friday, March 9:
- Department of Communications & Public Information, City Hall, 301 King St.
- Charles Barrett Recreation Center, 1115 Martha Custis Dr.
- Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St.
- Chinquapin Park Recreation Center, 3210 King St.
- Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 25 W. Reed Ave.
- Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Recreation Center, 1605 Cameron St.
- Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center, 5750 Sanger Ave.
- Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave.
- Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St.
- Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4643 Taney Ave.
- William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Ave.
- Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen St.
- Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St.
- Burke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Rd.
- Duncan Branch Library, 2501 Commonwealth Ave.
Program guides are mailed to subscribers three times each year: Fall Programs (August); Winter Programs (December); and Spring and Summer Programs (March). To sign up for a free subscription to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities’ Program Guide, visitalexandriava.gov/recreation or call 703.746.4343.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Alexandria's Firefighting History
FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA:
Explore Alexandria’s Firefighting History This Spring
Walking Tours in April and May Cover 19th-Century Blazes, Historic Firehouses
This spring the Friendship Firehouse Museum is offering special tours exploring Alexandria’s firefighting history on Saturday, April 14, and again on Saturday, May 12. The walking tour, “Blazing a Trail: Alexandria’s Firefighting Past,” begins at 1 p.m. at the Friendship Firehouse, 107 South Alfred Street, in Old Town.
As they walk through Old Town, participants will learn about volunteer firefighting in early Alexandria and stop at historic buildings that once served as fire stations. They will also learn how three major fires devastated Alexandria and discover how the Union occupation during the Civil War affected local firefighting. The tour is scheduled to return to Friendship and end about 2:30 p.m.
Advance reservations are required, as space is limited. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for youth ages 10 to 17. (This history tour will not interest small children, but may be of interest to kids 10 and older.) Tickets may be purchased online at www.friendshipfirehouse.net or by calling703.746.4994.
Bully, the movie
FROM PARENTING.COM
Let your children see this R-rated movie
March 2, 2012
It was the stomachache that lasted a week.
On a Monday morning in first grade, I told my mom I was sick, feeling gross, tummy hurts. Of course, she did her good mom thing. Take this Pepto Bismol. Drink this Coke. Eat these Saltines. With each passing day, the illness confused her a little more, the looks on her face more quizzical. We saw a doctor. Tongue depressors. Pushing on my abdomen. More quizzical looks.
The last thing I remember about that week was the end of it. Sitting at our kitchen table with my mother and father. By then, they knew I was a fraud. I was not sick. I was scared. But still I begged. Please don’t make me go back to school.
What my mom and dad didn’t know--what no one knew, really--was that I was not allowed on the school playground. The Kid made sure of it. At recess, the students at Clarksville Elementary flocked to the playground: a large expanse of matted dirt and gravel peppered with slides, swings and molecularly shaped climbing structures; a massive oak tree was the center attraction. But I never slid, swung or climbed. Acting as a bouncer, The Kid eyed me, ensuring I stayed on the nearby asphalt parking lot, away from friends and classmates, away from acceptance. His fists and elbows enforced the rules. I was the dog with a shock collar, and he installed the invisible electric fence. One recess, I tried to sneak on. I made it into the shade of the oak tree. That’s where he found me. He socked me in the gut. Hard. Enough to provoke tears. That was the day I got the stomachache.
I got bullied. My son has been bullied. 13.1 million kids will be bullied this year. Lee Hirsch was bullied throughout his childhood and middle school. That’s why he wrote and directed Bully, the new documentary about an epidemic that we are addressing in the public eye, but are letting off the hook in school hallways and on playgrounds. See the trailer here:
While he considered doing the movie for years, Hirsch didn’t get serious until April 2009. That’s when he heard about two 11-year-old boys: Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover of Massachusetts, and Jaheem Herrera of Georgia. They both took their own lives as a result of chronic bullying. On a Monday night, Carl's mother found him hanging by an extension cord on the second floor of their home. He was called gay on a daily basis at school.
Almost three years to the day after Carl and Jaheem took their lives, Bully will hit theaters (April 23). AndBully is no talking head film. It's not a series of interviews with principals in bad sweaters and psychologists in front of plastic ferns blathering on about the bully mentality. Bully takes you into the schools, into the cruelty, into the anxiety of those long walks down the locked-adorned hallways. In this film you’ll see kids punched in the face and the stomach. Boys swarming like hornets on bus rides. You see a bespectacled boy getting choked, his face smashed into the bus seat in front of him. The boy's mother visits the school and pleads for help. "I've been on that bus," the school administrator says. "They are just as good as gold."
The film went viral earlier this week when the MPAA gave it an R rating, based on strong language. (Bullies aren’t Pixar characters, you know.) That inspired a serious backlash from producer Harvey Weinstein. “As a father of four, I worry every day about bullying,” Weinstein states in his press release. “It’s a serious and ever-present concern for me and my family. I want every child, parent, and educator in America to see Bully, so it is imperative for us to gain a PG-13 rating.”
You can’t blame the MPAA for doing its job. F-bombs are f-bombs. So here’s what we’re going to do: We’re going to say “f#@$ the f$#@ing MPAA.” Let your underage child watch the movie. Sneak him into the movie theater in a backpack, or put him under your trench coat. Wait for the DVD and watch it together as a family. Granted, Bully isn’t for little kids, but if your child can handle Spider Man 2 (which he did, with flying colors—admit it) and was within earshot when you stubbed your $#@$ing toe on the leg on the dining room table (which he was), he can handle this movie. The bullies in this documentary are no scarier than Dr. Octopus or Voldemort. But the school administrators, teachers, and bus drivers who aren't seeing the problem just might be.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Judith Viorst to Speak in Alexandria 4/23
Best-selling Author to Speak at Anniversary Celebration for At Home in Alexandria! (April 23)Judith Viorst, author of dozens of popular books and poems for children and adults, will speak on “Life Lessons from Under Eight Until Unexpectedly Eighty” at the one-year anniversary celebration of At Home in Alexandria!, a nonprofit that provides a network of support for Alexandrians 55+ who prefer to remain in their homes as they age. The event will take place from 4-6 p.m. at Beth El Hebrew Congregation. Registration is required.
TC Williams Lacrosse Mulch Sale
FROM TC PTSA:
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ACPS Cyber Bullying Information Session
City of Alexandria Therapeutic Recreation
Miracle League:
I would like to spread the word about our upcoming Spring Session of the Miracle League Baseball 2012. We are currently accepting registration forms for anyone who would like to take part in this wonderful opportunity. This league will allow your clients an opportunity to get active and play baseball with their peers. This season, they are planning on having two types of leagues, one for participants with moderate to severe disabilities and the other league is for participants wanting a “less intense, less competitive and more relaxed” atmosphere. Both leagues will give all participants an opportunity to be successful and enjoy the game.
All registration forms can be sent attention: Brenda Holloway at Therapeutic Recreation Program 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, VA 2231.
Dates: April 21, 2012 through June 2, 2012. On inclement weather games are held at one of the neighborhood Recreation Centers.
Time: 12:00 noon t0 1:30pm.
Cost: $30.00 for all Therapeutic Recreation registered participants and $50 for anyone not registered in the TR program. Please Note: Fee assistance is available upon request. Deadline for registration and payment: April 13, 2012. Payments can be made in cash, check or money orders. Please make all checks and money orders payable to the City of Alexandria.
*Each player will receive an official Major League Baseball replica shirt and hat to play in the league.
Each season we have volunteers from various groups, programs and organizations that volunteer as “Angels in the Outfield Buddies”. If you know of anyone who would like to volunteer or assist in anyway, please let me know. Angels in the Outfield will partner up with the participants and help them navigate the baseball field.
Please get involved in Miracle Baseball League this season and please SPREAD THE WORD TO OTHERS!
Please see the attached registration form, opening day flyer and program fact sheet. If you have any questions, please let me know.
TOPSoccer Alexandria:
TOPsoccer for the City of Alexandria is currently registering kids for the Spring season which starts March 21st. Please see the attached letter and flyer
For additional information, please contact Peter Abed at 703.231.7354 or by email peter.abed@gmail.com
The Alexandria Soccer Association office staff can assist as well, 703.684.5425
As we aim to do better in serving our customers and ensuring they are completely satisfied with our services, we need your feedback. Please take a moment to answer a short survey on our customer service today. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DBHXK2D.
Brenda Holloway
City of Alexandria, Department of Recreation,
Parks and Cultural Activities
Therapeutic Recreation Program
Assistant Director
Office: 703.746.5424
Fax: 703.535.5863
Recommended reading for St. Patrick's Day
Patrick, Patron St. of Ireland by Tomie dePaolo
Jamie O'Rourke and the Pooka by Tomie dePaolo
Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaolo
Too Many Leprechauns, or How That Pot O' Gold Got To The End Of The Rainbow by Stephen Krensky
A Day to Remember at Giant's Causeway
Fluffy's Lucky Day
A Fine St. Patrick's Day by Susan Wojciechowski
The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh by Janet Nolan
St. Patrick's Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting
That's What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting
Fergus and The Night Demon, An Irish Ghost Story, by Jim Murphy
The Leprechaun in the Basement by Kathy Tucker
Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman
Jamie O'Rourke and the Pooka by Tomie dePaolo
Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaolo
Too Many Leprechauns, or How That Pot O' Gold Got To The End Of The Rainbow by Stephen Krensky
A Day to Remember at Giant's Causeway
Fluffy's Lucky Day
A Fine St. Patrick's Day by Susan Wojciechowski
The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh by Janet Nolan
St. Patrick's Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting
That's What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting
Fergus and The Night Demon, An Irish Ghost Story, by Jim Murphy
The Leprechaun in the Basement by Kathy Tucker
Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
ACPS Kindergarten Registration Begins April 9
FROM ACPS:
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When to Register
According to Virginia law, your child must be five years old on or before September 30 toregister for kindergarten. There is no deadline for registration, but ACPS urges parents to register early. To be admitted, a child must meet all documentation and health requirements. If you decide not to register your child for kindergarten, you must contact the school system in writing.
Children who will be six years old on or before September 30, must, by law, attend school. Parents of students who are starting school as first-graders should follow kindergarten registration procedures.
Parents of students transferring to ACPS from other school districts should enroll their children as soon as possible upon moving to Alexandria. Registration dates for transfer students are ongoing.
Parents who want their children to attend an ACPS school with a city-wide program must fill out a lottery application. The application deadline for the 2011-2012 school year lottery was March 25, 2011.
Where to Register
If your child speaks English and was born in the United States, you must register at your home school, even if your child will attend a different ACPS school. To determine your home school, visit the online Attendance Zone Locator.
If your child will require English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) services or is not a United States citizen, you must register through the ELL office.
Residency Requirements
Parents registering their child must have proof of residency. Two documents proving Alexandria City residency are required.
Registration Requirements
- Health and Immunization Requirements
- Tdap Requirement for Children Entering Grade Six
- What You Need to Bring to Registration
Registration Forms
- Student Registration Form (PDF)
- Residency Verification Form (PDF)
- School Health Entrance Instructions and Form
- Free and Reduced Price Meals
- Administrative Transfers
- Adult Education Registration
Quick Links for More Information
- Kindergarten Preparatory (K-Prep) Program
- Children Born Outside the U.S. or Not Fluent in English
- Citywide School Options (Lottery)
- Administrative Transfers
- Pupil Placement Options (PDF)
- Summer School
- Middle and High School Course Planning and Graduation Requirements
- Before- and After-school Care
- Adult Education
Monday, March 5, 2012
G.W. Middle School Fundraiser 3/8
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KNOW SOMEONE WHO LEARNS DIFFERNTLY? CHECK OUT THIS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
FROM PEATC:
Scholarship Information
WISER’s goals are to improve educational services and promote child advocacy by providing comprehensive resources to children and parents. To achieve these goals, WISER will: “Engage in various activities of a professional or charitable nature in order to disseminate information regarding the welfare of children and their special needs.”
The WISER Board of Directors collaborates with NCAG (National Collegiate Advocacy Group- a 501(c) (6) organization) to support students meeting the GT/LD learning categories by providing a scholarship to students who demonstrate their originality and leadership skills through community service.
In order to make this scholarship successful, we are always looking for donations. Please print the PDF out below and send us your donation today! We are partnered with a 501(c) (6) so it is tax deductible.
Use the following form to learn about donating for WISER Scholarships!
WISER Scholarship for Higher Education Donation Form
Use the following form to learn about donating for WISER Scholarships! WISER Scholarship for Higher Education Donation Form
ARE YOU A STUDENT OR DO YOU KNOW A STUDENT WHO
• IS a college bound high school junior or senior in the DC/MD/VA metro area ?
• HAS a documented learning challenge ?
• DEMONSTRATES leadership through a community service project(s)?
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