Coming Up in October 2024: Community Engagement and Calendar Reminders

Learn about calendar reminders and upcoming community events for October. Find out when the ACPS Community Outreach team will be in your neighborhood!

ACPS Academic Calendar Reminders

Professional Learning Day
Wed., Oct. 2
There is no school for all ACPS students. It is a professional development day for staff.

Rosh Hashanah

Thurs., Oct. 3

All ACPS schools will be closed for the Rosh Hashanah holiday. Employees should check the 2024-25 Work Calendars to confirm their scheduled workdays.

Parent-Teacher Conferences 

Fri., Oct. 4
Parent-teacher conferences are an important opportunity for families and teachers to discuss students’ social, emotional and academic learning progress. Schools will communicate with their students, staff and families regarding the schedule for conferences. There will be no school for students (except for Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School students).

Indigenous Peoples Day
Mon., Oct. 14
There is no school for students in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day. It is a professional development day for staff. 

Last Day of First Quarter
Thurs., Oct. 24

Teacher Work Day

Fri., Oct. 25
There is no school for students (except for Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School students). Employees should check the 2024-25 Work Calendars to confirm their scheduled workdays.

Professional Learning Day
Thurs., Oct. 31
There is no school for all ACPS students. It is a professional development day for staff.

Community Outreach

Improve your English Speaking Skills! (Beginner and intermediate conversation)

Weekly sessions at different library locations.

The Alexandria Library invites all interested to join a conversation group to practice English and gain confidence. No registration is needed. Just come by!

Hispanic Heritage Events & Festivals

Join the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs as they wrap up Hispanic Heritage Month with celebrations for all ages. Visit the website for more information.

DASH ROADeo

Sun., Oct. 6, 9 a.m. - noon. DASH Headquarters (3000 Business Center Dr.).

Come watch DASH bus operators showcase their skills and expertise in a thrilling driving challenge! The ROADeo is all about safety, precision and efficiency as operators navigate a course filled with obstacles, tight turns and stops. It is a fun and exciting way to see firsthand how they handle various driving situations with expert care. Do not miss out on this unique event!

ALIVE! Pop-Up Food Distributions

Various dates and times (be sure to check out the ALIVE website for October Pop-Up food distribution dates and locations).

ALIVE! is a local not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing emergency and basic needs support to children, families and individuals living in poverty and with hunger in the City of Alexandria. ALIVE! will distribute bags of food to Alexandria City residents. No ID is required.

• Thurs. Oct. 17, 4-6 p.m.: Francis C. Hammond Middle School (4646 Seminary)

• Sat., Oct. 26, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.: William Ramsay Recreation Center (5650 Sanger Avenue)

• Sat., Oct. 26, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.: Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center (25 West Reed Ave)

Spooky Mad Science Expo 

Sat., Oct. 19, 3-7 p.m. (Rain date Sat., Oct. 26)

Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Ave) 

Join Chrysalis Development Group and the Patrick Henry Recreation Center for a fun, free science-filled Spooky Mad Science Event! Costumes are encouraged and all ages are welcome. 

43rd Annual StepALIVE

Sun., Oct. 20, 2-4 p.m. First Christian Church (2723 King Street)

Join ALIVE for its 43rd annual StepALIVE! Walkathon to benefit ALIVE!

Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest

Wed., Oct. 23 - Thurs., Oct. 31

“Life is a Movie. Film Drug Free” is the theme for the 2024 National Red Ribbon Week, observed Oct. 23-31, 2024. All ACPS students are invited to take part in the Red Ribbon Week poster contest to help promote a drug-free lifestyle and have the chance to win a $100 gift card. There are three categories for entries: elementary, middle and high school. All posters must be submitted or postmarked by Nov. 10, 2024.

Cultural Observance Days

On weekdays, these are regular school days. However, these days should not have scheduled assessments, sporting events or any other school-sponsored special activities. Any missed assignments due to student absences on these days can be made up without penalty.

• Wed., Oct. 2 - Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown

• Fri., Oct. 11 - Yom Kippur begins at sundown

• Sat., Oct. 12 - Yom Kippur

Upcoming School Board Meetings

Thurs., Oct. 10 at 6 p.m.

Thurs.,  Oct. 24 at 6 p.m.

The regularly scheduled School Board meeting will take place.

School Board meetings are held in person in the School Board meeting room at 1340 Braddock Place, unless noted otherwise. Members of the public may attend in person or via Zoom. Please visit the School Board webpage for any updates to the meeting schedule.