Community Engagement Opportunities – March 2021

Dear Friends of APS:
We were so excited to begin welcoming PreK-2nd grade and elementary special education students for in-person learning this morning after a long and trying year. We continue to serve full-time distance learners, and are grateful to be able to extend in-person learning opportunities to students in all grades by mid-March.

Upcoming APS Community Engagement Opportunities: (Virtual unless otherwise noted)

Public comment deadline for draft School Board Policies:
Last call:               G-1.2 Staff Electronic Technologies Acceptable Use Policy, available for public comment on the APS Engage website by tonight, Mar. 2

Next week:
Tu. Mar. 9           School Board Virtual Budget Work Session #2
5 – 9:00 p.m.       (Dinner break 6 – 7:00 p.m.) Watch School Board Work Sessions Live here. Work sessions are open to the public, but no comments are accepted.

Th. Mar. 11        First limited in-person School Board Meeting: Action on Naming the New Elementary School at the Key Site and Update on the English Learners Program.
7:00 p.m.            Watch School Board meetings live online or on Comcast Channel 70 or Verizon Channel 41.  This month:

Tu. Mar. 16         Virtual School Board Budget Work Session #3
6 – 8:00 p.m.       Watch School Board Work Sessions Live here. Work sessions are open to the public, but no comments are accepted.

Tu. Mar. 23         Virtual School Board Budget Work Session #4
6 – 8:00 p.m.       Watch School Board Work Sessions Live here. Work sessions are open to the public, but no comments are accepted.

Tu. Mar. 23         School Board Meeting: Public Hearing on the Superintendent’s proposed FY 2022 Budget 
8:00 p.m.            Watch School Board meetings live online or on Comcast Channel 70 or Verizon Channel 41.

Th. Mar. 25         School Board Meeting: Recognition of National Board Certified Teachers. Information on Naming the New Elementary School at the Reed Site.
7:00 p.m.            Watch School Board meetings live online or on Comcast Channel 70 or Verizon Channel 41.

Public comment deadline for draft School Board Policies:
Now – Mar. 17    I-7.2.8, Instructional Delivery Options, available for public comment on the APS Engage website and
J-6,8.1, Student Safety – Bullying/Harassment Prevention, available for public comment on the APS Engage website by Mar. 17

Arlington Community events:

W. Mar. 10        Panel: How Has the Pandemic Impacted Student Learning and Well-Being? hosted by the Arlington Committee of 100
7 – 8:00 p.m.     Click here to register.

F. Mar. 19         Virtual Social Services Open House hosted by Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center
10-11:30 a.m.   Register here:https://forms.gle/b8SThG4XSoa1sa2t8

Now – Mar. 14   Arlington County has launched a search for a new logo to replace the current depiction of the Robert E. Lee Memorial to usher in a new era of Arlington’s visual identity. In this first phase, community members are invited to submit a new logo, to be reviewed by a panel of resident volunteers for selection to present to the County Board in June.

Now – May 21    Writing contest for grades 8-12 students on the terrorist attack on the Pentagon known as 9/11, hosted by the Arlington Historical Society, in partnership with Cherrydale-Columbia Lodge 42. Deadline May 21. More information here.

Arlington Community Resources:

– No-cost COVID-19 testing. Sites do not require insurance, ID or a doctor’s referral. Arlington County operates a free, walk-in clinic M-F 12-5 p.m. at Arlington Mill Community Center (909 S. Dinwiddie St.). Aurora Hills Community Center and Tucker Field at Barcroft Park sites offer electronic results within 72 hours. Visit web or call 703-912-7999 for information.

– Arlington County offers food, financial and medical assistance resources. For food, call 703-228-1300.

– A helpful resource for those people suffering from substance use disorder. Addiction hotlines and community-specific hotlines, such as veterans, LGBTQ individuals, domestic violence. These hotlines are all free, confidential, and available to the public 365 days a year, 24/7.

Note:To read Community Engagement Opportunities in languages other than English, visit https://aps2016.apsva.us/school-community-relations/community-engagement-opportunities/ and use the auto-translation feature at the top of the page to select a different language.

Visit aps2016.apsva.us/Engage for more community engagement opportunities, School Board calendar, Arlington County’s Engage calendar.

Thank you for all you do.

Dulce Carrillo
Coordinator of Community Engagement  |  School and Community Relations