365 - snitch

ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AWARDED $380,000 FEDERAL GRANT

ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AWARDED $380,000 FEDERAL GRANT

Funding to Support Much-Needed School-Based Health Care Services

 

  

Alexandria Va.  —  Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is the recipient of a $380,771 federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funding will help ACPS start a mobile health unit that will provide primary health, basic dental and mental health services to students in the William Ramsay, John Adams and Patrick Henry elementary school communities.

 

The funding is part of $80 million made available through the Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148), signed into law March 23, 2010. Part of the legislation’s aim is improving access to primary, mental and oral health care for school-aged children. The grants are premised on data that show better access to health care reduces the number of school days kids miss, as well as costly and often unnecessary emergency room visits. In addition, they help children with chronic illnesses attend school and provide screenings and health-promoting activities for all students.

 

ACPS is one of only two locations in the Commonwealth of Virginia to receive this funding. HRSA awarded grants to 197 applicants, which included school districts, nonprofits and medical service providers around the country. The mobile health unit that ACPS will operate will join the 1,800 school-based health centers that currently serve more than 1.8 million children. 

 

“This is an investment in creating an exceptional learning environment and educating the whole child,” said Dr. Morton Sherman, superintendent of schools. “We know that children whose physical, social and emotional needs are met are much better learners and perform better throughout their educational careers. We are committed to adding resources to this grant to ensure that it accomplishes its goals.”

 

William Ramsay, Patrick Henry and John Adams serve a combined 2,235 students. Of John Adams’s 820 students, about 65 percent are economically disadvantaged, 17 percent are students with disabilities and 33 percent are English language learners. Seventy-five percent of Patrick Henry’s 586 students are economically disadvantaged, 10 percent are students with disabilities and 34 percent are learning English. Ramsay serves 829 students, 86 percent of whom are economically disadvantaged, 8 percent of whom have disabilities and 52 percent of whom are English language learners.

 

“I know first-hand the health needs of students in these communities, and I witness daily how a little extra care can mean the difference between succeeding and failing academically,” said ACPS Health Services Coordinator Robin Wallin.  “So we are very excited about this new opportunity.” 

 

The next step involves ACPS working with community partners to develop a planning committee and identify service providers for the mobile health project. Administrators expect the unit could roll out as early as the beginning of the 2013-14 school year.

 

Questions about the project can be directed to Wallin at rwallin@acps.k12.va.us or 703-820-5362. 

 

365 - Christmas App

Anyone else using the Christmas App ?
We've been having fun with the facts, the countdown calendar, the snow globe AND the jokes!

City of Alexandria Announces Schedule of Services for the Christmas Holidays, December 24 and 25 

For Immediate Release: December 21, 2012

All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed on Monday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day holidays.

Health Facilities: The Alexandria Health Department (4480 King St.) and the Flora Krause Casey Health Center (1200 N. Howard St.) will be closed Monday, December 24 through Wednesday, December 26. The Teen Wellness Center (3330 King St.) will be closed on December 24 and 25.

Historic Alexandria: All the City’s Historic Alexandria facilities will be closed Monday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 25.

Hotlines: All emergency hotlines operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including the child protective services hotline at 703.746.5800; the domestic violence hotline,703.746.4911; the emergency services for mental health or substance abuse crisis hotline,703.746.3401; and the sexual assault hotline, 703.683.7273.

Libraries: All Alexandria Library branches will be closed from Monday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 25.

Parking: The Alexandria Police Department will not enforce parking restrictions at metered spaces, as well as time restrictions in residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits, from Monday, December 24 through Tuesday, December 25.

Recreation Centers: All City of Alexandria recreation centers, including the Chinquapin Recreation Center, will be closed December 24 and December 25.

Refuse Collection: Residential trash and recycling will be collected on Monday, December 24. There is no collection scheduled on Tuesday, December 25. Residential trash and recycling will be collected one day late. The Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Collection site will be closed on December 24 and 25.

Schools: The Alexandria City Public Schools will be closed from December 24 – January 1, reopening January 2.

State Offices: The General District Court, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, the Circuit Court, and the DMV Office, 2681 Mill Road, will be closed on December 24 and 25.

Transit: Alexandria Transit Company's DASH bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule until 7 p.m. on December 24. DASH bus service will not operate on December 25. The free King Street Trolley will run during its regular operating hours, 11:30 a.m. to 10:15 p.m., on December 24 and 25.

For more information, contact Andrea Blackford, Communications Officer, Office of Communications, at 703.746.3959 or andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov. 

Reindeer Food

Here is the recipe for Reindeer food ---

-some oatmeal
-some glitter
mix together in a bowl.



Be sure to take this magic reindeer food and sprinkle on the lawn. 
On Christmas Eve, Santa's reindeer travel miles before dawn.
The smell of oats and the glitter path will guide them on their way. 
And you'll wake up to Santa's gifts next morn' on Christmas Day. 

365 - Rudolph 2

365 - holiday

365 -Snow

we would really like some snow!

Alexandria Library Holiday Hours

Please note that Alexandria Library will have a change 
of schedule for the upcoming holidays.

In observance of the Christmas holiday, all Alexandria Library Branches will be 
closed Monday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 25.

For New Years Eve, December 31, all branches will open at 10:00 AM and close at 
5:00 PM.

All branches will be closed Tuesday, January 1, 2013, in observance of New 
Year's Day.

365 - CD

Annie Lennox CD
love Universal Child

Update on Fatal Pedestrian Crash

ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
3600 WHEELER AVENUE
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22304
703-746-6600

NEWS RELEASE
DECEMBER 17, 2012 #12-085
4:00 P.M. DONALDSON

UPDATE:  Alexandria Police Investigate Fatal Pedestrian Crash

The victim in last Friday’s fatal pedestrian crash has been identified as Robert C. Portelle, a 55 year-old City resident.

Crash Reconstruction Investigators believe that the victim may have been struck by a second vehicle. 

Anyone who might have witnessed the crash or who has additional information about this case is asked to call the Alexandria Police Department at 703.746.4444. 

Update on APD Stolen Cruiser

ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
3600 WHEELER AVENUE
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22304
703-746-6600

NEWS RELEASE
DECEMBER 17, 2012 #12-084
4:00 P.M. DONALDSON

2nd UPDATE:  Stolen Cruiser Recovery

Alexandria Police completed the inventory of the recovered stolen cruiser found in Prince Georges County, Maryland and confirmed that the Remington 870 shotgun and a Panasonic Toughbook Mobile Computer were taken from the vehicle. 

Additionally, detectives are investigating the theft of a second marked Alexandria Police Cruiser stolen from the 1500 block of Princess Street sometime in the overnight hours of Friday, December 14 and Saturday, December 15.  The 2007 Ford Crown Victoria was last seen parked and locked at 11:30 p.m. Friday and noticed missing at 4:35 a.m. on Saturday.  Shortly after the police cruiser was discovered missing, Metropolitan Police notified Alexandria Police of the location of the stolen cruiser in Northeast Washington, DC.  The police cruiser was towed to Alexandria Police Headquarters for further processing. No police equipment was taken and all property was recovered from the cruiser.

Detectives are looking into the possibility that these two cases are related. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about either of these cases is asked to call the Criminal Investigations Section at 703.746.6711.

Detectives would like to remind witnesses they can remain anonymous.

Alexandria Police Officer Recognized at 15th Annual WRAP Awards

ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
3600 WHEELER AVENUE
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22304
703-746-6600

MEDIA ADVISORY
DECEMBER 17, 2012 #11-083
2:00 P.M. DONALDSON

Alexandria Police Officer Recognized at 15th Annual WRAP Awards

For the second year in a row, Alexandria Police Officer Brandon Smith was recognized for his efforts in the fight against impaired driving at the 15th Annual Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) Awards.  The awards ceremony was held on Friday, December 14 at Maggiano’s Little Italy in the Tysons Galleria.

Officer Smith was among eleven law enforcement officers from the Washington, DC region recognized by WRAP for their outstanding commitment and exemplary service in the fight against drunk driving.

Smith, a three year veteran of the Police Department Patrol Operations Bureau, removed over 50 impaired drivers from Alexandria roadways during the past year.

The annual WRAP Awards ceremony is part of a kick-off campaign for the Holiday SoberRide Program, which is offered nightly (10:00 pm – 6:00 am) from December 14, 2012 until January 1, 2013.  This program provides free cab rides home (up to a $30 fare) to those over 21 years of age who call 800-200-8294 (TAXI).  The WRAP Awards ceremony also recognizes members of law enforcement for their efforts in impaired driving prevention. Founded in 1982, WRAP, is an award winning, public-private partnership working to prevent drunk driving and underage drinking in the Washington-metropolitan area.     
 
For more information on the WRAP program, visit www.wrap.org.

Universal Child

After dropping my kids at school this morning, seeing the police presence near the school and throughout the city,  I needed some Christmas music to get me in the spirit to knock out the last of the shopping.  I remembered I had a few holiday CD's in the car.  I looked for one, specifically the Nick at Night one with the Chipmunks, Frosty, The Grinch etc. but couldn't find it or any others.   Apparently I had left them in the CD player since last year. (I don't use the CD player much in my car).
I turned the CD player on and an Annie Lennox song started, apparently where I had left off last holiday season, and played Universal Child.
I light of last weeks tragic events I just couldn't stop crying while this song played.



"Universal Child"

How many mountains must you face before you learn to climb?
I'm gonna give you what it takes, my universal child.

I'm gonna try to find a way to keep you safe from harm.
I'm gonna build a special place, a shelter from the storm.
And I can see you, you're ev'rywhere, your portrait fills the sky.
I'm gonna wrap my arms 'round you, my universal child.

And when I look into your eyes, so innocent and pure,
I see the shadows of the things that you've had to endure.
I see the tracks of ev'ry tear that ran right down your face.
I see the hurt, I see the pain, I see the human race.
And I can feel you, you're ev'rywhere, shining like the sun.
I wish to God that kids like you could be like ev'ryone.

How many tumbles must it take before you learn to fly?
I'm going to help you spread your wings, my universal child.

I'm gonna help you to find a way to keep you safe from harm.
We're gonna build a special place, a shelter from the storm.
I can feel you, you're ev'rywhere, shining like the sun.
I wish to God that kids like you could be like ev'ryone.
And I wish to God that kids like you could be like ev'ryone.

For Immediate Release: December 17, 2012

Simpson Dog Park Temporarily Closed beginning December 20

As part of the ongoing construction at Simpson Park, 426 E. Monroe Ave., the general contractor will remove the dog park’s temporary unleashing entrance and reopen the original unleashing entrance. As a result, the Simpson Dog Park will be closed for one day as the relocation occurs.

Weather permitting, the work is scheduled for Thursday, December 20. The dog park will reopen on Friday, December 21. For a complete list of Dog Parks and Exercise Areas, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Dogs.

For additional information or questions about the work, call Zachary Lette, with LPDA, Inc., Project Liaison at 703.437.7907.

365 - Angel or Star

Are you an angel or star on the tree family?
We change from year to year - I let the kids decide.
(although, to me,  there is something really weird about putting a tree branch up an angels butt!)