Send announcements to the Alexandria Gazette Packet, by e-mail to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos are encouraged. Call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6407 with questions.
Auditions for "Oklahoma" will be held on April 28 from 2-4 p.m. and April 29 from 7-9 p.m. with call backs on April 30 at 7:30 p.m. Come prepared with 16 bars of a Rodgers & Hammerstein musical number, current photo, conflicts from May 1 and on and dancing shoes. Performances are held at Aldersgate Church Theater from June 22-July 8.
Several Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) elementary schools will host open houses and tours geared primarily toward parents of prospective kindergartners. Here is a schedule of upcoming events:
* Charles Barrett Elementary School, 1115 Martha Custis Dr., 703-824-6960. A kindergarten children's visit is set for 12:45 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 26. Tours are available by appointment at 9 a.m. on Thursdays.
* George Mason Elementary School, 2601 Cameron Mills Road, 703-706-4470. An open house for kindergartners registered at George Mason takes place from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 29. School tours, by appointment, begin at 10 a.m. every Tuesday.
* William Ramsay Elementary School, 5700 Sanger Ave., 703-824-6950. No open house is scheduled, but parents of prospective kindergartners can call the school to arrange individual tours.
Alexandria City Public Schools will offer informative and instructional "Get More Out of Life" sessions from February to May for students in grades nine through 12, parents and teachers who wish to obtain creative tools and techniques for greater life balance, easier social interactions and improved time management and personal organization. The free workshops will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Media Center at Minnie Howard School, 3801 West Braddock Road, Alexandria. E-mail karen.parker.thompson@acps.k12.va.us or call 703-824-6639. Register on line at www.acps.k12.va.us. The sessions, each of which focuses on a different book, include the following:
* Tuesday, April 10, Session 3: "Crazy Busy" by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. deals with time management skills in a hectic world.
* Tuesday, May 8, Session 4: "It's So Much Work To Be Your Friend" by Richard Lavoie looks at the importance of social skills in our lives.
Alexandria Country Day School 8th Grader Claire Neimann provided a spirited argument supporting the United States during a Model UN Program in Mexico City this weekend, and was the only native English speaker to receive an honorable mention in her committee. Niemann was one of 19 ACDS Students who participated in a week-long exchange program with students from Mexico City that culminated in participation in the annual international Model UN program for middle school students.
Ten T.C. Williams High School Health Occupations students received awards at the Virginia Association of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) 27th State Leadership Conference, held March 2-4 in Richmond. Students took home the following honors:
*Nursing Assisting -- Farah Ali, first place
* Growth and Development Knowledge Test -- Courtney Wu, first place
* Medical Photography -- Courtney Wu - first place
* Hosa Bowl Team 1 -- Nabila Hafez, Tommie Johnson II, Songserea Wood, second place
* Medical Terminology -- Isata Sesay, third place
* Extemporaneous Speaking -- Shoaib Ahmad, fourth place
* Medical Spelling -- Carolina Gonzaga-Centra, fourth place
* Job Skills/ Interview and Resume -- Carolina Gonzaga-Centra, fifth place
* Hosa Bowl Team 2 -- Tabitha Thuguri, Farah Ali, Isata Sesay, Remi Sesay,
fifth place
Kindergarten registration for the 2007-08 school year begins Monday, March 26, for children who will be five years old on or before Sept. 30, 2007.
Parents are encouraged to register students as soon as possible so the school division can accurately estimate the number of incoming
kindergarteners. Register at the school in your attendance zone, even if your child will be attending a different school. If you aren't sure whichschool is in your attendance zone, call 703-824-6710.
For the 21st consecutive year, the Alexandria City Public Schools Special Education Advisory Committee will sponsor the Harry Burke Award for Outstanding Achievement in Special Education. Nomination forms may be downloaded from www.acps.k12.va.us/news2007/nr20070319a.php and submitted to Lillian Fennell, Division of Student Services, Alexandria City Public Schools, 2000 North Beauregard Street, Suite 203, Alexandria, Virginia, 22311. The deadline is 4 p.m. Monday, April 30. For more information, please contact Anne Lipnick, ACPS Parent Resource Center , at 703-706-4552.
"Give the gift of literacy" by getting involved as a volunteer with Wright to Read, a literacy program administered by The Campagna Center. Tutor/Mentors, Book Buddies and Reach Out and Read volunteers are needed to make a difference with children six months to 10 years of age. Days, evening and/or weekends are available. Call 703-549-0111, ext. 142 or visit www.campagnacenter.org for more information and upcoming orientation dates.
Cobra Track Club, a spring and summer Youth Track and Field program is open to boys and girls ages 7-19. The athletes compete in USA Track and Field Jr. Olympics and Track Meets throughout the spring and summer. This is a great way to get in shape, make new friends, no experience required, just a willingness to learn. Contact, Head Coach Chris Richardson at cobratrack@yahoo.com, or visit www.cobratrack.org.
Applications are being accepted through May 18 for the Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Science (TEMS) Summer Academy, a five-week program offering Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) rising middle-school students an opportunity to explore the four subjects through hands-on activities, group projects and field trips. The TEMS Summer Academy runs from Monday, June 25, through Friday, July 27, at George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mount Vernon Ave. For more information, contact Peter Balas, TEMS Summer Coordinator, at 703-824-6750 or e-mail peter.balas@acps.k12.va.us.
The T.C. Williams High School DECA students received the 2006-07 Top Growth Chapter honor at the Virginia DECA State Leadership Conference held March 9 through 11 in Norfolk. Stefan Allicock, an Advanced Marketing student, won first place on the Quick-Serve Restaurant Management test and third place on a Quick-Serve Restaurant Management Role Play. He was an overall finalist in Quick-Serve Restaurant Management.
Alexandria City Public Schools will be holding a series of community meetings to highlight academic achievements and ongoing challenges in the schools. Call 703-824-6710. For more information, contact the Department of Information and Outreach at 703-824-6635.
* West End: Monday, April 16 from 6 - 7 p.m. at William Ramsay Elementary School, 5700 Sanger Ave. Schools represented are William Ramsay Elementary, John Adams Elementary, Samuel Tucker Elementary, James Polk Elementary, Francis Hammond Middle School, Minnie Howard 9th Grade Center and T.C. Williams High School.
* Central Alexandria: Thursday, April 19 from 6-7 p.m. at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School, 1101 Janneys Lane. Schools represented are Douglas MacArthur Elementary, Charles Barrett Elementary, Patrick Henry Elementary, George Mason Elementary, Matthew Maury Elementary, Francis Hammond Middle School, George Washington Middle School, Minnie Howard 9th Grade Center and T.C. Williams High School
* East End: Tuesday, April 24 from 6-7 p.m. at Mount Vernon Community School, 2601 Commonwealth Ave. Schools represented are Mount Vernon Community School, Jefferson-Houston School for Arts and Academics, Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology, Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, George Washington Middle School, Minnie Howard 9th Grade Center and T.C. Williams High School
Alexandria's Mayor William D. Euille and City Council members are inviting the public to attend a forum to discuss local and regional transportation initiatives from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) auditorium, 600 Dulany St. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Geralyn Taylor at 703-838-3800 (TTY 703-838-5056) or e-mail geralyn.taylor@alexandriava.gov. For more information on the City's transportation forum, call Richard Baier or Tom Culpepper at 703-838-4966.
Family Rally. April 21 at 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mount Vernon Ave. Features representation from every Alexandria public school and information on programs offered. Free food, entertainment and giveaways. For additional information, contact Karen Parker Thompson at karen.parker.thompson@acps.k12.va.us or 703-824-6639.