ACPS Daily Digest For Jan. 27, 2010

(Wednesday) January 27, 2010

Happy 254th birthday, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! “Give Mozart a fairy tale and he creates without effort an immortal masterpiece,” French composer Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns said of the Austrian composer, whose music, according to some scientific studies, may temporarily boost listeners’ spatial reasoning abilities. Contrary to popular belief, Mozart did not write the music for “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” but he did compose variations on the theme.

Kick-off Tonight
Join Alexandria City Public Schools as we kick off our new Family Academy at Family Fun Night, 7 to 8:15 p.m. tonight at the T.C. Williams High School Minnie Howard Campus, 3801 Braddock Road! Find out about the exciting courses being offered in the new Family Academy, created to provide information, resources and tools to empower parents to support their children’s academic, emotional, physical and social success. Read more at http://www.acps.k12.va.us/news2010/nr2010012002.php .

Open Houses
Beginning in early February, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) elementary schools are holding open houses and/or school tours designed primarily for parents of rising kindergartners and other new ACPS students. Open houses and tours generally last one to two hours each. Based on your home address, your child is assigned to a neighborhood school. If you are not sure to which school your child is assigned, please call 703-824-6710 or refer to the online Attendance Zone Locator, at http://www.acps.k12.va.us/enroll/zonelocator.php. Call the individual school if you have further questions about visiting or enrollment. Read more at http://www.acps.k12.va.us/news2010/nr2010012701.php .

Entrepreneurship Award
Two students from Mary Ellen McCormick’s Entrepreneurship class at T.C. Williams High School won prizes on Jan. 26 at the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Greater Washington Regional Business Plan Competition in Washington, D.C.
Senior Dylan Clifton presented his business Cookie Crumbs Bakery, a small cookie business that earns big cash. He won $200 as a finalist. Junior Ernest Grant won $150 for his business Distant Reality Studios, a music production company operated out of his own house. Read more at http://www.acps.k12.va.us/news2010/nr2010012703.php .

ELL Workshop
As a parent, there are many things you can do to keep your children healthy. Join a discussion with Alexandria City Public Schools Nurse Coordinator Robin Wallin and learn how to keep your family on track for a healthy lifestyle. The workshop will take place from 6:45 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the Family Resource Center at Community Lodgings, 607 Notabene Dr., No. 1, Alexandria. Read more in English y en Español at http://www.acps.k12.va.us/news2010/nr2010012702.php .