Coming Up for March: Community Engagement and Calendar Reminders

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

ACPS Academic Calendar Reminders 

Last Day of Second Quarter
Thu., March 27, 2025
Teacher Work Day
Mon., March 28, 2025

There will be no school for students (This is a regular school day for Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School).

Eid al-Fitr Holiday
Mon., March 31, 2025

All ACPS schools will be closed in observance of the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

Community Engagement Events

Alexandria Library: Beginner and intermediate English Conversation

Weekly sessions at different library locations.

Improve your English speaking skills. The Alexandria Library invites all those interested to join a conversation group to practice English and gain confidence. No registration is needed. 

Alexandria Library 

The Alexandria Library hosts exciting events and activities for all ages. From storytime for kids to book clubs, workshops and community gatherings, there is always something happening at your local branch. Check out the events calendar to find something that interests you.

Alexandria Parks and Recreation

Looking for fun and engaging activities around the city? The Alexandria Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA) Office offers a variety of programs and events for all ages, including sports, fitness classes, family-friendly festivals and much more. Visit their upcoming events calendar to explore what is happening near you.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Sat., March 1, 2025 | 12:30 p.m.
Old Town Alexandria (300 King St.)

Held annually on the first Saturday in March, the St. Patrick’s Day parade has grown to be the largest one-day event in Old Town Alexandria. It features bagpipe bands, Irish dance schools, community groups and a host of other musicians and performers. It is a fantastic day to spend with family or friends.

Virginia Tech (VT) Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Discovery Fair

Sat., March 1, 2025 |  2:30 - 5:45 p.m.
VT Innovation Campus (3625 Potomac Ave.)

Virginia Tech (VT) STEM Discovery Fair is an annual interactive, educational event designed to inspire curiosity and innovation among students, parents, educators and community members. This interactive experience invites students and parents to explore the dynamic fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), college and careers through hands-on workshops, cutting-edge demonstrations and expert-led discussions.

George Mason Modernization Virtual Community Meeting (Capital Improvement Plan CIP)
Mon., March 3, 2025 | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Zoom link

The ACPS Capital Programs, Planning and Design team invites you to join them for a virtual community meeting to receive updates on the interior and exterior design, the Development Special Use Permit (DSUP) timeline and the overall project timeline.

Minnie Howard School Integration Sign Unveiling

Sat., March 8, 2025 | 11-11:30 a.m.
Alexandria City High School - Minnie Howard Campus (3801 W. Braddock Rd.) 

A historic interpretation sign honoring the Belk and Bradby families — the first Black students to integrate Minnie Howard Elementary School during segregation — will be unveiled on Saturday, March 8, followed by a special program and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Limited seating available; parking is at the front entrance.

Congressman Don Beyer Presents: Rising to Meet the Challenge - Resource Fair for Federal Workers and Contractors

Sat., March 8, 2025 | Noon-5 p.m. 
Wakefield High School (1325 S. Dinwiddie St. Arlington, VA 22206) 

Congressman Don Beyer, in partnership with the City of Alexandria, the City of Falls Church, Arlington County and Fairfax County, invites you to attend a pop-up resource fair to access vital services including unemployment assistance, mental health support, housing information, food aid and information on federal workers rights. 

Building Bonds Beyond the School: Webinar Series for Families

Wed., March 12, 2025 | 6-7 p.m.
https://acps.cc/buildingbonds (Zoom link)

Join the Department of Student Services and Equity (DSSE) to learn how ACPS brings social-emotional learning (SEL) practices into the classroom to help students better understand and manage their emotions, build healthy relationships and make good decisions. These skills help children feel more confident, get along with others and handle challenges at school, home and in life. Learn more and RSVP here!

Essential Workers Appreciation Day
Wed., March 19, 2025 | 9-10 a.m.

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), together with the City of Alexandria, is celebrating its Fourth Annual Alexandria City Essential Workers Appreciation Week, March 17-21, 2025. A special event is planned for Wed., March 19, at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School.

Redistricting Hybrid Community Meeting 

Tue., March 18, 2025 | 6-7:30 p.m.
In-Person location to be determined; Zoom link to Participate Virtually

Community engagement is a key part of the school boundary redistricting process, and we invite the community to participate in the upcoming hybrid redistricting community meetings to provide your input and learn more about the school boundary proposals.

The School Board vote on the final school boundary proposals will take place on June 12, 2025, with the new boundaries going into effect for the start of the 2026-27 school year.

We encourage all families to stay engaged in this process by participating in the community meetings and reviewing the available materials online. Your input is essential to shaping the future of ACPS. If you have any feedback or questions, please email ask@acps.k12.va.us.
 

Meaningful Conversations: Loving Our Neighbors
Thu., March 20, 2025 | 7 - 8 p.m.

Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.) 

Meaningful Conversations resume, exploring and celebrating the diversity of cultures and peoples in our area. These discussions address the attitudes and behaviors that still divide us and seek remedies rooted in the understanding that we are one interconnected, interdependent human family.

Teen Appreciation Day 
Fri., March 21, 2025 (different times per site) 

Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA) celebrates and uplifts our youth with events across five recreation centers on Fri., March 21, 2025:

• Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center (formerly Cora Kelly), 25 W. Reed Ave., from 4 - 6 p.m.
• Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4653 Taney Ave., from 6 - 8:30 p.m.
• Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St., from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
• Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center, 5750 Sanger Ave., 7 - 9 p.m.
• William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Ave., 7 - 9 p.m. 

Teens can enjoy a day packed with fun, friends and freebies — including March Madness game day, group discussions, raffles, a TikTok dance challenge, music, food and more.

College and Career Readiness Workshop Series: Session Two - Financial Aid 

Thu., March 20, 2025 | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 

George Washington Middle School (1005 Mt. Vernon Ave.)

Thu., March 27, 2025 | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Francis C. Hammond Middle School (4646 Seminary Rd.)

It is never too early to start planning for your child’s future. Attend an informative workshop on financial aid, college preparation and scholarship planning. Dinner, childcare (ages 3-8) and interpretation services will be provided. Please register and choose the location that works best for you. Attendance is only required at one session.

ALIVE! Pop-Up Food Distributions

• Sat., March 29, 2025 | 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center (25 West Reed Avenue)

Del Pepper Community Center (4850 Mark Center Drive) New Location 

• Thu., March 27, 2025 | 4 - 6 p.m.

Francis C. Hammond Middle School (4646 Seminary Rd.)

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. Make sure to check out the ALIVE website for more information about the Food Hubs.

Cultural Observance Days

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

• March 1 - First Full Day of Ramadan
• March 30 - Eid al-Fitr begins (evening-only observance)

Upcoming School Board Meetings

• Thurs., March 6 at 6:00 p.m.
• Thurs., March 20 at 6:00 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.