School is Out! Have a great summer and we will see you in the fall.
Graduates Share their Plans
Listen to our graduates share their excitement about graduating and plans for college, career and other milestones. Congratulations to the Class of 2019. #APSGrad2019
Green Scene: Yorktown Composting
Learn how the Yorktown Environmental Club created a composting program at the school to help the environment.
Support Employees of the Year Video
From bus drivers, to custodians to classroom assistants, our Support Employees of the Year are amazing at what they do and deserving of this recognition.
Principal of the Year Video
Why did Barcroft Principal Judy Apostolico-Buck learn to floss? Find out and hear what colleagues say about our 2019 Principal of the Year.
2019 Teacher of the Year Video
Last week, the APS community gathered to honor our Teacher and Principal of the Year. Listen to what students had to say about Washington-Lee teacher Wilson Ramirez.
Students from Thomas Jefferson Middle School performing a scene from “Freaky Friday” at tonight’s School Board Meeting showcasing our theatre arts program.
Teacher Appreciation Week
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! Join us as we #ThankAPSTeachers throughout the week! APS will be celebrating teachers this week with a variety of activities and special events in classrooms and schools across the school division. Our teachers give so much all year round, so help us acknowledge what they do to support students every day.
Poetry Day at Oakridge
Oakridge Poetry Day is a three year old movement that grew out of the APS Pick-A-Poet program. This year, under the co-leadership of Oakridge exemplar project coordinator Dawn Amin-Arsala and spoken word artist educator and motivational speaker Joseph Green, the entire student body devoted an entire academic day to poetry. Students experienced poetry through three different sessions: Creating Words with professional poetry artists, Playing Words with Oakridge specialists and high school students from Wakefield and H-B Woodlawn, and Animating Words with general education teachers. Oakridge also hosted a Poetry Slam where families came to share their poems which were inspired by and created during Poetry Day. The event was sponsored by Oakridge PTA and the APS Humanities Department.
Vaping PSA: We need to talk about VAPING
Vaping and e-cigarette use is approaching epidemic proportions among young people in our country. See how students and staff at Williamsburg Middle School are educating their community with this new PSA.
Special Olympics Unified Champion School at Kenmore Middle School
Last week, Kenmore was presented with its Special Olympics National Unified Champion banner by ESPN at a special ceremony. Take a look at the highlights from that special event!
Books On, World Off - Behind the Scenes
Kids inspiring other kids to read – that’s the goal behind a brand new library show at Drew Elementary. Go behind the scenes of the first ever “Books On, World Off” TV Show, directed by students, for students, in this week’s Snapshots. It’s produced in partnership with Gunston video and film students. Check it out!
Scrabble With Seniors
Check out this week's Partners in Action featuring Scrabble with Seniors at Henry Elementary School. Henry started scrabble club 8 years ago to be part of their Exemplary Program which includes a service-based learning component.
Candle Making with Dr. Murphy
In celebration of Arts in Schools Month, Superintendent Dr. Pat Murphy visited Claremont Elementary to teach Miriam Cutelis’ 2nd grade art class how to make beeswax candles. The students were very excited and curious about the bees and how it all comes together! Take a look inside the classroom to see their reaction in this week’s Snapshots.
Programa de Inmersión Dual de APS
Por qué muchas familias escogen el programa de Inmersión Dual para sus hijos, cuando ya hablan español en casa? Escuchemos de maestras y estudiantes de @APSVirginia sobre los beneficios de ser bilingüe en este corto video.
Why choose Dual Language Immersion, if Spanish is your home language? Listen as @APSVirginia teachers & students share their perspective on the benefits of bilingualism in this short video with English subtitles.
National Social Workers Week
Our Social Workers are an important part of the school community. Did you know that social workers serve the “Whole Child” by connecting families, teachers and various community resources to work as a team to support our student’s well-being and academic success? Listen to social workers talk about how they serve students in their own words.
Arlington Superintendent Proposes FY 2020 Budget
Arlington Superintendent Dr. Pat Murphy presented his proposed FY 2020 Budget to fund operations for the 2019-20 school year. The proposed budget totals $671.6 million, an overall increase of just under 4.9 percent, as APS prepares to welcome more than 1,000 additional students and open five new schools next fall. Watch this short video and learn more about the FY20 Budget at https://www.apsva.us/post/arlington-superintendent-proposes-fy-2020-budget/.
APS Models of Excellence
Sponsored by the Office of Equity and Excellence, Models of Excellence celebrate the contributions of African American students, community members and staff who were nominated by APS Principals. The honorees were recognized in the areas of academic, professional, athletic achievement or civic leadership and involvement. Visit https://www.apsva.us/post/models-of-excellence-2/ to see the 2019 Models of Excellence.
Desegregation of APS Sports Special
Sixty years ago, on Feb. 2, 1959, four African-American children integrated Stratford Jr. High. This was only the first step in ultimately desegregating the entire Arlington County public school system. Earlier this year, the Desegregation of Arlington County Interscholastic Sports featured men and women representing Hoffman-Boston, Wakefield, and Washington-Lee High School Athletics. The panel discussion was moderated by former Pittsburgh Steeler and two-time Super Bowl Champion Reggie Harrison, a Washington-Lee graduate. This was an intriguing and heart-warming conversation about the desegregation of Arlington County interscholastic sports. To watch the full video, visit: https://www.apsva.us/post/desegregation-of-aps-sports-special/
Teamwork Night at Carlin Springs Elementary School
At Carlin Springs Elementary School, they regularly host Teamwork Nights where Academic Parent-Teacher Teams, comprised of students, parents and teachers, work together to close achievement gaps for students by learning how to support their child’s academic success at home.
Partners and Volunteers in Action: Everybody Wins DC
This week's Partners and Volunteers in Action showcases the partnership between Everybody Wins DC and Key Elementary School. Everybody Wins DC is a non-profit organization devoted to promoting children’s literacy and a love of learning through shared reading experiences with caring individuals. They match mentors with students so they can read together during their lunch hour. Listen to what a few of our mentors had to say.
APS Celebrates Black History Month 2019
Today begins the celebration of Black History Month at APS as we remember the many contributions African Americans have made to the Arlington community in the past. Join us for the kick-off event, Desegregating APS:Honoring the Past, Envisioning the Future, on Monday, Feb. 4 from 6-8 p.m. at H-B Woodlawn.
Dual Language Immersion at APS
What is Dual Language Immersion @APS? This new video describes the program, where it’s offered and the benefits, for those considering Spanish/English immersion. It also features the perspective of Wakefield and Gunston students who have continued on the immersion path from elementary through high school. As a reminder, the elementary application window opens tomorrow through April 15, and additional information about immersion is now available on the APS World Languages page: https://www.apsva.us/world-languages/immersion-program/
FY20 Budget Process
The APS FY20 budget process is underway. View this video to learn more about the process and ways to provide input. The Superintendent’s proposed budget will be presented to the School Board on February 28.
Williamsburg Middle School Chorus Holiday Performance
2018 APS Winter Message
This year's annual Winter Greeting was produced by an all-star Career Center student film crew and features a cast of students from Patrick Henry Elementary. We hope you will take a moment to watch it, as we all prepare to enjoy a wonderful and much-deserved break. Read More: https://www.apsva.us/post/aps-winter-break-message/
Partners in Action: McKinley's Partnership with the Educational Theater Company
For 18 years, the ETC: Educational Theatre Company (ETC) has partnered with McKinley Elementary School. This year marked the 30th show that ETC and McKinley have produced. Listen to students, staff and members of ETC talk about putting together their production of Two Ways to Count to Ten.
Snapshots: Mindfulness
This week's Snapshots highlights Abingdon's mindfulness initiative. Learn how mindfulness helps students improve their social and emotional development as well as their cognitive development. #MindfulAPS
Snapshots: Ron Berger visits Campbell Elementary School
Check out the latest episode of Snapshots as we follow Ron Berger of ELeducation as he tours Campbell Elementary School last month. Campbell is the only school in Virginia that uses the Expeditionary Learning Model.
#APSisThankful
Throughout the next few days, we’re sharing the many ways #APSisThankful. Thank you for being part of our APS community, and here’s a great one from Barcroft to kick us off. We’re thankful for cookies, too ;)
Teachers Mold Our Future
The Virginia School Boards Association annouced the winners of its annual High School Student Video Contest this afternoon. Arlington Career Center students Sebastian Duall, Jordan Flores, and John Campbell placed 2nd with their video "Teacher Mold Our Future." The VSBA video contest challenged high school students across Virginia to create a 30-second video around the theme of “Why Teachers Are Important.”
School Psychology Awareness Week
This week is School Psychology Awareness Week and we are celebrating the amazing job that our school psychologists do every single day. Listen to some of our school psychologists talk about their role in helping students in this week's Snapshots.
National Geographic & Oakridge Elementary School Partnership
Amazing things occur when a classroom is partnered with a National Geographic Explorer, such as when freshwater ecologist, Dalal Hanna from Canada, was partnered with Jennifer Burgin’s Kindergarten learners at Oakridge Elementary School.
Profile of a Virginia Graduate
Here at APS, we understand that there are multiple pathways to success, so we are glad that the new Profile of a Virginia Graduate allows us to help students explore the multiple post-secondary pathways available for students to foster their dreams.
High School Information Night
It's Time to A.C.T!
Last week, Williamsburg launched its S.O.S. (Signs of Suicide) campaign, spearheaded by a PSA developed by the school administrative team and Student Services Staff. The message encourages student to A.C.T., which stands for: Acknowledge that you see signs of depression or suicide in yourself or others; Care enough to listen, to support, and to be there for a friend; and Tell someone – a teacher, a counselor, a trusted adult, so that you can get the help you need. Watch the PSA below.
Middle School Information Night Continues. New Middle School at Stratford session with Principal Ellen Smith
Middle School Information Night
Snapshots: Inside Drew Model School
This week’s Snapshots is all about Drew Model School and the people and programs at the heart of the school. Take a look inside Drew and its emphasis on engaging students through project based learning and STEAM. From breakfast with families to STEAM Under the Stars, students, staff and families also share about the strong sense of community that makes it unique.
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