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.
A free Health and Immunization Fair for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) students will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 29, at James K. Polk Elementary School, 5000 Polk Ave., Alexandria. The event is for any ACPS students in grades kindergarten through five who do not have access to medical care and who need physical exams, immunizations or Tuberculosis skin tests prior to school entry in September. Parents or guardians must accompany children and bring immunization records along with each child’s health history and allergy information. Reservations are preferred, and may be made by calling 703-321-1990.
Lucy Shapiro and Sara Neilson, seniors at TC Williams High School, participated in the Virginia's Governor School French Academy.
Michael Diggins has been named assistant principal for Francis Hammond Middle School. Mr. Diggins has been an ACPS teacher for the past 11 years, most recently serving as the student resource teacher at the T.C. Williams Secondary Training and Education Program (STEP). In 2003, he co-chaired the Advanced Placement and Honors Diversity Committee and in 2005, he coordinated the TEMS (Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Science) summer program. Mr. Diggins currently serves on the boards of Project Discovery and the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria.
With fall approaching, the non-profit Community Partners for Children is collecting supplies so needy kids have a chance to do well at school. Each fall, thousands of Alexandria children face the prospect of starting school without adequate supplies. Community Partners for Children collects new backpacks for all age groups, black and white composition books, spiral notebooks, wide rule notebook paper, pens, pencils, crayons, highlighters, erasers, pocket folders, pencil pouches, scissors, rulers, and other supplies. This year the Community Partners for Children Back-to-School Drive starts on July 27 and ends on Aug. 27. There will be donation boxes set up for people to drop off school supplies.
There are several ways to help:
* Attend the kick off held during the local celebration of National Night Out, on Tuesday Aug. 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and donate supplies then. The celebration takes place at the Colasanto Park and Pool, which is at the intersection of Mount Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues. Bring your kids so they can participate in the festivities and learn about local anti-crime efforts.
<sum> Donate with your tax deductible check to support Community Partners for Children’s Back-to-School drive, the Christmas Toy Drive, and the baby supply drive held each spring. Send your check to Community Partners for Children, 2212 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301.
Practices for most fall sports at T.C. Williams High School begin on Tuesday, Aug. 7. (Golf practice begins on Wednesday, Aug. 1). Completed schedules are available at http://www.acps.k12.va.us/tcw/sports/tryouts.php. Fall sports offerings include football, cross country, golf, field hockey, volleyball and cheerleading. Any T.C. Williams student wishing to practice or try out for a fall sport needs to get a sports physical and fill out a form, available by clicking on the link under "Forms" on the department’s Web site at www.tcwilliamsathletics.org. Completed forms must be submitted to the school’s Athletic Department, now located in the new T.C. Williams building, 3330 King St. For more information, contact the Athletic Department at 703-824-6860.
Rebecca Newsham of Alexandria was the recipient of the Rensselaer Medal. She is a rising senior at T.C. Williams High School. This award is persented to the most promising science and mathematics student.
Owen C. McAleer was named to the High Honors list at Phillips Exeter Academy. He is the son of Ysabel Burns McAleer and Charles F.B. McAleer, Jr. of Alexandria.