Schools | ARLnow.com

County Considering Historic Designation for Stratford School, Worrying Parents

Published June 16, 2015 at 1:15PM

With the H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program set to move from the Stratford building to a new building in Rosslyn, Arlington Public Schools is planning a $29.2 million renovation of Stratford that would allow it to house a new 1,000-seat neighborhood middle school. Both schools are set to open in 2019.

Tomorrow night, however, the county’s Historic Affairs and Landmark Review Board will hold the first of six public hearings on whether to recommend designating Stratford, which was built in 1950, a local historic district. It’s already on the National Register of Historic Places as a result of its role in the civil rights movement: in 1959 Stratford became the first public secondary school in Virginia to be racially integrated.

UPDATED: Key Elementary Closed Due to A/C Outage

By ARLnow.com

Published June 15, 2015 at 2:10PM | Updated June 15, 2015 at 9:18PM

“At this time, the air conditioning at Key Elementary School cannot be maintained at a comfortable temperature for students to return on Tuesday,” the school said in an email to parents. “If APS needs to close Key School on Wednesday, an additional notification will be sent. Otherwise, school will be open on time on Wednesday, June 17.”

“Fifth grade promotion will take place in the Washington-Lee High School auditorium (1301 N. Stafford St.) at 6:30 p.m. Fifth grade students should arrive at Washington-Lee by 4 p.m. for promotion practice.”

Debate Over Lighting Williamsburg Synthetic Fields Resurfaces

By Mariah Joyce

Published June 15, 2015 at 10:30AM | Updated November 16, 2016 at 1:34PM

The debate over lighting the fields at Williamsburg Middle School is making a comeback.

At its meeting ~~tomorrow (Tuesday)~~ in July, the County Board will charge a working group with leading a community process to evaluate whether or not to light the Williamsburg synthetic fields.

Oakridge Elementary Gets Desks With Pedals to Help Fidgety Kids Learn

By Heather Mongilio

Published June 3, 2015 at 11:05AM | Updated June 4, 2015 at 5:40PM

Oakridge Elementary is getting desks with bicycle pedals and swinging bars in an effort to incorporate movement and exercise into classroom learnings.

The new desks, as well as yoga ball chairs, are part of a pilot program to improve kids’ ability to learn while in school.

School Board Chair Responds to Softball Association

By ARLnow.com

Published May 19, 2015 at 4:45PM

On Monday afternoon Lander wrote to Steve Severn, president of the 30+ year old organization, regarding use of Wakefield High School’s softball field, as well as proposed batting cages and sponsor signage at Arlington Traditional School.

Lander said that the Wakefield softball field is closed to all teams due to safety concerns, that the school system is willing to find a location and design for the ATS batting cage that doesn’t interfere with school operation and that AGSA may put up temporary sponsor signage around school fields but must then take it down after games.

Goldstein Wins Dem School Board Caucus

By ARLnow.com

Published May 18, 2015 at 10:10AM

Goldstein received 1,252 votes in the Arlington County Democratic Committee caucus, which was held on May 14 and 16. His opponent, Sharon Dorsey, received 648 votes.

Democrats were quick to embrace Goldstein after his caucus victory.

Police to Increase Presence at Schools Until Summer

By Ethan Rothstein

Published May 15, 2015 at 11:00AM | Updated May 15, 2015 at 12:10PM

Walk and Bike to School Day 2012 at Oakridge Elementary School

School Resource Officers will conduct “saturation patrols” and educate students about the dangers of drug and alcohol use. Until school lets out June 18, ACPD plans to put more officers at malls, parks and community centers around Arlington. Police will also have a heightened presence at school and community events.

“This initiative encourages positive interaction between officers and the students of Arlington County,” School Resource Officer Supervisor Lt. Ron Files said in a press release. “Our goal is to provide a safe environment in the school communities by using crime prevention strategies and utilizing enforcement measures.”

School Field Disputes Throw Youth Softball Future in Doubt

By Ethan Rothstein

Published May 13, 2015 at 2:15PM | Updated May 13, 2015 at 3:38PM

The AGSA has been in operation for more than 30 years, President Steve Severn said, and currently serves about 500 girls, 92 percent of whom are Arlington residents. Those girls make up 38 local teams and six all-star and travel teams, who play games on just five fields in the county: Greenbrier Park next to Yorktown High School, Barcroft Park, Wakefield High School, Quincy Park and Arlington Traditional Elementary School.

This year, delayed construction at Wakefield has taken away that field, and Wakefield’s softball teams have taken the AGSA’s field at Barcroft Park. At the same time, the field at Arlington Traditional School is becoming increasingly problematic after Principal Holly Hawthorne banned sponsorship signs, a move the Arlington School Board supports.

Chemical Spill at Yorktown High School

By ARLnow.com

Published May 11, 2015 at 8:50AM

File photo

The spill has been contained to a classroom, according to Arlington County Fire Department spokesman Lt. Sarah Marchegiani.

So far no injuries have been reported.

Cash-Strapped Drew School PTA Hosts Spring Fair

By Ethan Rothstein

Published May 6, 2015 at 4:35PM | Updated May 6, 2015 at 5:21PM

Because of changes to local grocery stores’ policies in the last two years, donations that have come from shoppers signing up to donate a portion of their purchase to schools have almost disappeared. According to Drew PTA President Evan Thomas, grocery store donations accounted for $22,700 of the PTA’s $30,000 budget in the 2012-2013 school year.

This year, the PTA projects $495 in revenue from the two stores that it has received money from, Harris Teeter and Safeway.

APS Plan for School Overcrowding: 71 New Trailers

By Ethan Rothstein

Published May 4, 2015 at 4:45PM

Murphy’s plan, which he presented to the School Board last week, calls for 27 new relocatables for elementary schools in South Arlington by fall 2020. By fall 2019, Murphy plans for middle schools around the county to add 44 new trailers.

In five years, that would bring the total number of trailers for middle schools and South Arlington elementary schools to 120.

W-L Girls Lacrosse Beats Yorktown for First Time in Seven Years

By Rob Laybourn

Published April 29, 2015 at 2:30PM

The Generals (5-4) built a commanding lead deep into the first half, going up 13-6, behind the skill and goal-scoring of junior Meghan Fox. Fox had five of her game high eight goals in the first half, with senior Colleen Salazar adding three.

The Patriots (7-2), however, were able to cut the lead to three, 13-10, going into halftime.