Another Crazy Elf

Twas the Night Before Christmas

This little guy actually reads/tells the story….

New Use for Old Shoes

I thought this was pretty ingenious  --- use yours, your husband's or child's baby shoes as ornaments.

Let the Baking Begin

Family Fun Nights at Chinquapin Rec Center

For Immediate Release: December 20, 2013

New Family Fun Nights at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility Open Friday, December 27

The City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities presents monthly Family Fun Nights on Fridays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility, located at 3210 King St.

The inaugural program on Friday, December 27 features a Wipeout-style activity using a floating, inflatable obstacle course in the indoor pool. Admission prices are $4 per resident and $8 per nonresident and are paid upon arrival.

Each month’s Family Fun Night will have a different theme and will be suitable for families with children of all ages. Younger children will have open swim time in shallow water while older children enjoy water activities located in the diving area. The fitness room, racquetball courts and soft play room will also be available at no additional charge. 

Upcoming Family Fun Nights include January 17, February 14, March 14, April 11 and May 9.

For additional information, contact Ralph Baird at 703.746.5435 or emailralph.baird@alexandriava.gov.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Ralph Baird, Recreation Manager, at703.746.5435 (VA Relay 711) or e-mail ralph.baird@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. 

Favorite Christmas Baking

Here are some of our favorite recipes - some are a bit different.

Oreo Truffles

Peanut Clusters

Chinese Chews

Pretzel Wreaths

Seven Layer Cookies

Best Holiday Lights in Alexandria

I was relying on my readers and followers for the best lights in Alexandria. 
Somewhat sadly, this is what I got:  



From @McDorchester -- on streets surrounding Mt Ida. Look for house on south side of Nelson, just east of Mt Vernon- always awesome

and

409 E. Nelson



Somewhat tacky :

from @lssonoda corner of Taney and Latham


1500 block of Russell Road (same place with the big Halloween display)


Big white house in 2500 block of King St. that has the white lights up everywhere but also has all the halloween decorations up too.





Very pretty white lights:  

corner of Commonwealth Ave & East Walnut St. (across from Grape & Bean). 


If you have any other suggestions please post them in the comments of tweet them to me.  

Merry Christmas

Always time for a snowman

Here's a great way to prep for a snow day!
(thanks to a friend for sharing!)

Battle of the Elf on the Shelf

Favorite Christmas Reading

Our all time favorites are:

And a few of the others we like to read over and over:

Perfect Dinner

Perfect night for fondue!  

Christmas movie quotes

We are A Christmas Story kind of family.  We love this movie!  We have the leg lamp, the board game, ornaments, magnets, and more.

But we also love Elf, Home Alone, Scrooge (the Albert Finney musical version), and The Santa Clause.  

And if I can sneak in my favorites, It's A Wonderful Life and Love Actually.   

Here are some of our favorite movie quotes that we like to throw around during the holidays and all year round.    (can you guess the movie?)

"I want an official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two Hundre Shot rifle"
"You'll shoot your eye out kid"A Christmas Story


"Santa, Oh My God, Santa's coming.  I know him!  I know him!' 
Elf


Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner and the people who sold it on sale. Amen
Home Alone


"If you put on the suit, you're the big guy.”
The Santa Clause


You guys give up yet? Or are you thirsty for more?
Home Alone


Fa ra ra ra ra, ra ra ra ra 
A Christmas Story


We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup."
Elf


"Stuck!" 
A Christmas Story


"This is my house! I have to defend it!"
Home Alone

The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear."

Elf

My little brother had not eaten voluntarily in over three years.
A Christmas Story


You used up all the glue on purpose!
A Christmas Story


Buzz, your girlfriend, WOOF

Home Alone

Oooh fuuudge!
A Christmas Story


I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite

Elf

It's a Major award!
A Christmas Story


Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian.
A Christmas Story


I'm eight years old. You think I would be here *alone*? I don't think so.
Home Alone


Not too hot. Extra chocolate. Shaken, not stirred.
The Santa Clause

Christmas Reading

from the archives:

I thought I’d share some of my family’s favorite Christmas books. 

(And these are in no particular order)

Happy Holidays

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado

Alabaster’s Song by Max Lucado

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojceichowski

Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear by Don & Audrey Wood

Santa’s Book of Names by David McPhail

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

Snowmen at Night

and

Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner,

This is The Star by Joyce Dunbar

Santa Calls by Willam Joyce

Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck

Who’s That Knocking on Christmas Eve by Jan Brett

I’ve Seen Santa by David Bedford

The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett

Santa Mouse & Santa Mouse Where Are You by Michael Brown

Bright Christmas, an Angel Remembers by Andrew Clements

Rocking Horse Christmas by Mary Pope Osborne

How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky

Comments Sought on Draft Children and Youth Master Plan

Comments Sought on Draft Children and Youth Master Plan

The Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission will hold an additional meeting for comment on the draft Children and Youth Master Plan. The community forum on the draft plan will be held Monday, December 16, at 6:30 p.m. at T.C. Williams High School, 3330 King St., in the Rotunda Room on the second floor.

To view the draft plan, provide comment about the plan online, or learn more about the Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission, visitalexandriava.gov/CYFCC.  Call 703.746.5970 to RSVP, to request additional information or to request language interpretation assistance.

Gingerbread Firehouse Contest in Old Town: Event to benefit Friendship Firehouse Museum

Gingerbread Firehouse Contest in Old Town:
Event to benefit Friendship Firehouse Museum

December 14-15, 2013

The Friendship Firehouse Museum and Office of Historic Alexandria will host the start of a new holiday tradition in Old Town Alexandria, a Gingerbread contest and exhibition focused on the city’s proud firefighting heritage.  All contest entries must depict a firefighting theme associated with an architectural structure (real or imaginary) such as a firehouse or burning building, and will be judged on the creativity or originality in the use of gingerbread and other edible materials. Participants are invited to compete in either the adult or junior division.

All entries will be judged on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at the historic Lloyd House in Old Town, Alexandria, and prizes will be awarded in each division.  The aromatic displays will remain on view through Sunday, December 15, as part of the Candlelight House Tour event, and will be supplemented by a display of antique toys.  The first floor of Lloyd House will also be decorated to the period of 1932 when William Smoot, Mayor of Alexandria, resided there with his family.

For more information or a list of the complete gingerbread contest rules and entry form, please visit www.historicalexandria.org or call 703.746.4554.

2013 Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities Needs Assessment Findings Are In!

The City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities conducted a citywide Needs Assessment survey during Summer/Fall 2013. The purpose of the survey was to establish priorities for the future development of Alexandria’s parks, recreation, cultural facilities, programs and services based on identified community needs. The City of Alexandria, with a consultant, Leisure Vision, designed and administered the survey to obtain statistically valid results from households and to benchmark findings against the 2011 Needs Assessment results.

The Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities conducts a short-version survey (2013) every other year and a long-version survey (2011) every five years in order to assess change in residents' needs over time and strategically plan the future park and recreation system.

Significant Findings include:

• Visitation of Parks. Eighty-two percent (82%) of respondents visited the City of Alexandria Parks within the past 12 months. This is higher than the national benchmark of seventy-eight percent (78%). Of those, eighty-two percent (82%) of respondents who visited the parks, twenty-three percent (23%) of respondents rated the parks as being in “excellent” condition. Other condition ratings include: Sixty-one percent (61%) “good,” fifteen percent (15%) “fair,” and only one percent (1%) rated the condition of the parks as “poor.”
• Participation in Recreation or Cultural Programs or Special Events. Forty-eight percent (48%) of respondents said that they have participated in the City of Alexandria programs or activities within the past 12 months, which reflects a 2% increase since the 2011 needs assessment. City of Alexandria respondent participation in programs at forty-eight percent (48%) is significantly higher (by a margin of 18%) than that of the national average at thirty percent (30%).
• Need for Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Facilities. Eighty-one percent (81%) of respondents (representing 54,874 households) have a need for “walking trails.” Other similar needs include: Natural areas and wildlife habitats (67% representing 45,887 households), biking trails (53% representing 36,015 households) and indoor exercise and fitness facilities (52%; representing 35,062 households). Based on the sum of respondents with a need for facilities, sixty-seven percent (67%) of respondents with a need for “walking trails” has a rate of 75% or more of their needs being met. Respondents whose needs for facilities are being met 50% or less include: natural areas (representing 21,200 households), indoor exercise and fitness facilities (representing 21,143 households) and indoor swimming pools (representing 19,286 households).
• Need for Recreation and Cultural Programs. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of respondents (representing 52,083 households) state they have a need for Farmer’s Market programs. Other household needs include: Cultural special events, i.e. concerts, movies (59% representing 39,964 households), adult fitness and wellness programs (44% representing 29,820 households) and outdoor public art (42% representing 28,594 households). Respondents’ unmet needs for programs only being met around 50% or less include: Adult fitness and wellness programs (representing 20,188 households), adult continuing education programs (representing 18,991 households), outdoor public art (representing 18,186 households), cultural special events (representing 17,904 households) and natural programs and environmental education (representing 17,336 households).
• Actions Household are Most Willing to Support with Tax Dollars. Based on the sum of respondents’ top four choices, forty-eight percent (48%) of respondents said that they would be most willing to fund the improvement of trails that connect parks, which is the highest response of all choices. Other actions respondents are willing to fund with their tax dollars include: purchase land to preserve natural areas (41%), develop new trails that connect parks (40%) and improve existing passive use neighborhood parks (31%).

Visit www.alexandriava/recreation to view the full results.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, contact Dana Wedeles at 703.746.5590(Virginia Relay 711) or e-mail dana.wedeles@alexandriava.gov.

Del Ray Holiday Tree Lighting & Luminaries

FROM THE DEL RAY BUSINESS ASSOC.

Del Ray Celebration of the Holidays
Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, Luminaries, & Visit with Santa Claus!
Friday, December 6 ~ 6 pm
 
Events are at the Del Ray Farmers Market 
Corner of Mt. Vernon Avenue and East Oxford Avenue
And along Mt. Vernon Avenue
 

• Enjoy thousands of Luminaries along Mt. Vernon Avenue.
• Sing holiday carols at the Del Ray Farmer's Market led by:
• The Rainbow Lady from Rainbow Rock aka Kate Moran. 
• Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate provided by Evening Star & Buzz Bakery
• Sit on Santas lap and have a photo taken
• ·Come out and see if you can “Find the Spirits†in Del Ray.  Many businesses will be open late for shoppers & offering special holiday spirits/beverages.
• Stop by Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market to shop & enjoy festive food

 
 And, in the true spirit of the holidays, we are asking our neighbors to help those most in  need. In partnership
with Carpenters Homeless Shelter, we ask you to please bring and drop in the boxes at the tree lighting any of the following items:

• ·        Food - canned goods (soup, vegetables, canned meat)
• ·        Disposable diapers
• ·        New Twin Sheets
• ·        Towels and wash cloths
• ·        Deodorant/Razors 

 Volunteers are needed December 6 at 2 pm to distribute the luminaries along Mt. Vernon Avenue,


To help, contact Gayle Reuter at delraydrba@yahoo.com

Sponsored by the Del Ray Business Association

Special thanks to Bill Blackburn from Pork Barrel BBQ, Holy Cow & Sushi Bar for taking the day to drive all the way out to a Christmas Tree farm to cut down & bring back our beautiful tree.  If you see him, please be sure and say thanks!

Civil War Christmas at Fort Ward

Meet a patriotic Civil War Santa Claus, visit an officers’ hut decorated for the season, talk with soldiers in winter camps, and tour the historic Union fort at Fort Ward Museum’s “Civil War Christmas in Camp.” This historical holiday program will take place Saturday, December 14 from 12-4 p.m. Suggested donation is $2 per person.

The program will feature a variety of fun and educational activities for all ages. Learn about the history of Santa Claus from historian and interpreter Kevin Rawlings, who portrays a patriotic Union Santa Claus based on a period woodcut engraving from Harper’s Weekly. Civil War Santa will listen to children’s holiday wishes, read “The Night Before Christmas,” and visit troops in camp.  Reenactors will interpret how soldiers celebrated the holiday, including opening Christmas boxes from home and decorating living quarters in camp. Children can make a Victorian ornament or greeting card, and see examples of period ornaments on the Museum’s Victorian tree. The Museum and reconstructed Officers’ Hut will be decorated in period style. Soldier-led tours of the fort will be offered, weather permitting. Visitors can also enjoy hot mulled cider and shop for Civil War gifts in the Museum shop.

Fort Ward is the best preserved of the extensive network of Union forts that comprised the Civil War Defenses of Washington. The Museum offers exhibits, programs and special events throughout the year. Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site is located at 4301 West Braddock Road in the west end of Alexandria. For more information, please contact the Museum at 703-746-4848 or check the web site, www.fortward.org. 

Greenstreet Gardens Holiday Open House

Happy Thanksgiving!

Local Author Book Launch Party

Nice Beaver

Who knew we had beaver near us!

Del Ray NEEDS Volunteers

FROM THE DEL RAY CITIZENS ASSOCIATION:

We Need a Miracle of Volunteers

Get ready to network and get ready to exercise. We need volunteers to help us with the dates below. We have a host of opportunities to get involved. Bring your friends and family to help make our neighborhood extra special. 

Tuesday November 26th

Estimated Volunteers Needed: 15
George Washington Middle School Gym
5:30pm to 8:00pm - Build runner packages
Sign Up:  http://www.alexandriaturkeytrot.com/volunteer


Wednesday November 27th

Estimated Volunteers Needed: 20
George Washington Middle School Gym
5:30pm to 8:00pm - Distribute runner packages & t-shirts
Sign Up:  http://www.alexandriaturkeytrot.com/volunteer 


Thursday November 28th

Estimated Volunteers Needed: 25
George Washington Middle School Gym
6:00am to 11:00am (2 hour shifts) - Parking, Registration, Information, Line Up, T-Shirt Sales, Doggie Support, Recycling, Trash, Awards, Signs, Clean Up
Sign Up:  http://www.alexandriaturkeytrot.com/volunteer 


Saturday November 30th

Estimated Volunteers Needed: 10
2301 Mt Vernon Avenue - A Show of Hands
10:00am to 12:00pm - Placing Lights on Trees
2:00pm to 4:00pm - Placing Lights on Trees, Street Sign Decoration
Sign Up Email: pmiller1806@comcast.net 


Sunday December 1st * If Needed *

Estimated Volunteers Needed: 10
2301 Mt Vernon Avenue - A Show of Hands
1:00pm to 3:00pm - Placing Lights on Trees * If Needed *
3:00pm to 5:00pm - Placing Lights on Trees * If Needed *
Sign Up Email: pmiller1806@comcast.net 


Friday December 6th

Estimated Volunteers Needed: 15
Farmers Market Lot, East Oxford and Mount Vernon Avenue
2:00pm to 5:00pm - Set Candles, Light Candles
6:00pm - Help with Tree Lighting and Santa Photos
10:00pm - Put Out Candles and Dispose of LuminariesSign Up Email: Gayle.Reuter@mail.house.gov 


It takes a small village of people to make these events happen, but we have lots of fun. Please join us!

Thank You

City of Alexandria’s Annual Tree Lighting

For Immediate Release: November 14, 2013  

City of Alexandria’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony Scheduled for Friday, November 29 at 6 p.m.

Kick off the holiday season by making plans to attend the 2013 City of Alexandria Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, November 29, at 6 p.m. at Market Square, 301 King St. Admission is free, and the event will occur rain or shine.

At this official kickoff to the holiday season, the Mayor Euille and Santa Claus will light the City holiday tree in Market Square. Entertainment features a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, performances by the Alexandria Harmonizers and the Alexandria Choral Society, caroling and a community sing-along.

The public is encouraged to take public transit or walk to the event. Visitors to Old Town can take the Metrorail lines to the King Street Station, and then take the free King Street Trolley to the event. For DASH schedule information, call 703.370.DASH or visitwww.dashbus.com.  For Metrobus schedule information, call 202.637.7000 or visitwmata.com. For a parking map, visit www.alexandriava.gov/12490.

For additional information, please call the City’s Special Events Hotline at 703.746.5592or visit www.alexandriava.gov/Recreation.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Cheryl Lawrence, Office of Special Events, at 703.746.5419 (VA Relay 711) or e-mail cheryl.lawrence@alexandriava.gov. 

Pay-By-Phone Service Will Soon Make Parking Easier in Alexandria

Pay-By-Phone Service Will Soon Make Parking Easier in Alexandria

For Immediate Release: November 19, 2013

The City of Alexandria will soon offer customers the ability to pay for metered parking spaces by phone or with a smartphone app.  The service, which will begin the week ofDec. 9, will be an alternative to the current pay station kiosks. Alexandria will be the first locality in Virginia to offer pay-by-phone for on-street parking.

“We are delighted to provide this convenient service to our residents, visitors, and businesses,” said Mayor William D. Euille.  “We want to make it as easy as possible for everyone to get around Alexandria.”

The service, which will be operated by Pango USA, will be available via the Pango smartphone app, or by calling toll-free 855.547.2646.  The app is available for iPhone and iPad, Android, and BlackBerry 10. 

Customers register their credit card and license plate information to create an account.  Each time a customer parks, the app or phone number is used to start parking by entering the zone number found on signs along each metered block.  Because parking enforcement officers will use their handheld devices to see a list of license plate numbers with active parking payments, it is not necessary for a customer to visit a pay station or display a paper receipt if the pay-by-phone service is used. 

When the customer returns to the vehicle, the app or phone number may be used to end the parking session.  Unlike current options, this allows the customer to pay for only the time actually used to park.  If the customer does not end the session, it will end automatically when the maximum time permitted for that space is reached.

Pay-by-phone users will pay the normal metered parking fee, plus a convenience fee of 24 cents per session if funds are drawn from a prepaid Pango account, or 29 cents per session for all others.  As part of the City’s launch, Pango USA will provide two hours of free parking to the first 5,000 users, and will waive the convenience fee for all users through March 1, 2014.

The system will also let restaurants, shops, and other businesses provide complimentary parking promotions to their customers via prepaid codes.  The smartphone app will also include a map of City-operated and privately operated parking garages. 

The City selected Pango USA to operate the system, after a competitive bidding process.  There is no cost to the City to establish or maintain this service.  Pango USA will pay for all necessary software, signage, and marketing materials. Today, Pango operates in 47 cities worldwide, serving more than 1 million active accounts.

For more information about the City’s pay-by-phone service visitalexandriava.gov/PayByPhone or contact Kathleen Leonard, Communications Officer, at Kathleen.Leonard@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.4027.

Alexandria City Council Moves to Resolve Old Dominion Parking Lot Dispute

Alexandria City Council Moves to Resolve Old Dominion Parking Lot Dispute
For Immediate Release:  November 19, 2013

At a special public hearing on Tuesday, November 19, the Alexandria City Council voted 6–1 to direct City Manager Rashad M. Young to continue discussions for 90 days with the Old Dominion Boat Club (ODBC), in an attempt to resolve issues relating to the City’s Waterfront Small Area Plan and the ODBC parking lot.  The Council also directed the City Manager and the City Attorney to take the steps required to initiate the eminent domain process for the necessary property in the event a consensual resolution is not reached.  At that time, the Council can, or will, consider action to exercise its right for eminent domain. 

Council also discussed the City using an independent mediator during discussions with ODBC, if both sides concur.

The Waterfront Plan, a 20-30 year vision for the City’s Potomac shore, was approved by City Council in 2012. The Plan provides a framework for revitalizing Alexandria's waterfront through several means, including: incorporating Alexandria's history as a foundation for planning and design, expanding and enhancing public open spaces, improving public access and connectivity to the waterfront, promoting the waterfront as an arts and cultural destination, and ensuring compatible development.

For more information contact Tony Castrilli, Director, Office of Communication and Public Information at 703.888.7166 or tony.castrilli@alexandriava.gov.

The Alexandria Tutoring Consortium is seeking volunteers

The Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC) needs volunteers to tutor 70 more children in Alexandria City Public Schools' kindergartens and first grades to develop literacy skills. Training, lesson plans, and guidance will be provided. Tutoring sessions are one-on-one for 30 minutes once or twice a week through May. 

Questions? Call: 703-549-6670 x119 or email: atc@opmh.org 

http://www.alexandriatutors.org

For more information: 

http://www.actionalexandria.org/action/help-alexandria-students-learn-read-volunteer-now-0

Here is the info from the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium Website: 

__._,_.___

Who We Are 
The Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC) is a 501 ( c) (3) organization working in partnership with Alexandria's Faith Community, the City of Alexandria, the Community at Large and Alexandria's Public Elementary Schools to recruit, train and match volunteers from congregations, community groups, businesses,City employees and individuals who sign up to tutor kindergarteners and first graders in literacy skills. 
Vision
Every child in Alexandria can read and succeed! 

Mission 
To provide the foundation for future learning success by helping to ensure children in the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) can read at or above grade level by the end of third grade. 
Values
How we do our work - as the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC), we commit to the following values:

RESPECT 

• Value each person's contributions, concerns, and time
• Trust others, and be worthy of trust
• Fulfill commitments

TEAMWORK

• Seek the input of all relevant parties
• Encourage others to use their strengths and talents
• Collaborate internally and externally in service of the children of Alexandria
• Attend to barriers that may impede inclusive participation

SERVICE

• Filter all decisions and actions through the lens of how they will benefit the children of Alexandria
• Celebrate our mission together

EXCELLENCE

• Regularly seek and respond to evaluation and feedback
• Regularly set goals, and evaluate progress
• Be open to change
• Strive for continual improvement
• Expect high-performance in all aspects of ATC work

History

In 1996, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) launched the Primary Initiative with the goal that all students in ACPS would be able to read and do math at grade level by the end of second grade. When the Rev. Gary Charles, then pastor of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, heard about the Primary Initiative, he joined with Herbert Berg, then superintendent of ACPS, and Steve Rideout, then Chief Judge of the Alexandria Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, to start a program that united local faith communities and elementary school principals, teachers, and reading specialists to provide reading tutors to first and second grade students in the public schools. They named the organization Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC).

Today, in order to meet the need for volunteer tutors expressed by ACPS, we have expanded our recruiting base beyond our supportive member congregations to include any individual who wants to tutor, community groups and businesses, and, through Mayor Euille's Initiative, Alexandria City employees.

In 2006, ATC incorporated and received tax-exempt 501c3 status. As a result we are able to receive tax-deductible contributions from individuals, organizations, businesses, etc. to support our work.

The need for tutors is great. In spring 2012 and again in 2013, 24% of ACPS third graders did not reach reading proficiency on Virginia's spring PALS (Phonological Awareness and Literacy Screening) tests. According to the Casey Foundation Kids’Count report, those 250 plus children are now on the "dropout track" because they will not have the necessary skills to engage in language and higher learning activities in 4th grade and beyond. The National Research Council states that "academic success, as defined by high school graduation, can be predicted with reasonable accuracy by knowing someone's reading skill at the end of third grade."

An additional challenge for ACPS and ATC is that, for whatever reason – not having attended preschool, English is a second language, lack of books in the homes,  each year approximately 25% of Alexandria’s children enter kindergarten needing extra help bringing their literacy skills up to grade level. To increase the percentage of children reading at or above grade level by the end of third grade is the current mission of the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium. Please join us in fulfilling this mission. There is no greater gift to a child and to Alexandria's future than generations of children empowered with the ability to read.

 Board of Directors and Staff

Board members are responsible for the overall policy and direction of ATC, and delegate responsibility of day-to-day operations to the staff and committees. Board meetings are open to other interested parties.