In Bird by Bird, one of my favorite books about the art of writing, the celebrated author Anne Lamott tells the relatable story of her 10-year-old brother sitting at the kitchen table, tearfully agonizing over how to begin a major report on birds that had been assigned three months earlier and was due the next day. Lamott’s father puts his arm around her brother and says, “Bird by bird, buddy. […]
One of my favorite historical photographs is a picture of my husband David’s grandmother (who was named Laura but called Mimi by her family) holding his mother–then an infant–also named Laura. It was taken in the fall of 1922 at an outdoor event, likely in the suburbs of Chicago, and if you look closely in the background, you can see a flag-draped booth with a banner that reads “Vote for […]
The following article appeared in the August 2, 2018 edition of The Alexandria Gazette: The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1943, in the depths of World War II. The occasion of its 75th anniversary gives the ASO and its new Music Director, Jim Ross, an opportunity to look back at what our city was like when the orchestra was formed. The Alexandria Gazette was a daily paper in those […]
The last month of school is always a busy time, but these events merit your attention: Wednesday, May 16: Alexandria PTA Council Education Forum at T.C. Williams High School from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. This forum will focus specifically on the mayoral and city council candidates’ views of education in the City and the role of these elected officials in addressing education in the City of Alexandria. You can submit […]
Welcome to Port City Notebook’s fifth annual Guide to the Program of Studies for parents of middle- and high-school parents. You might benefit from looking back at previous editions of this post (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017) which contain general information that’s largely still current about course requirements and selections. At 115 pages, the Program of Studies resembles a college course catalog. Take a quick glance at it and you’ll […]
While watching the movie STEP earlier this fall, I couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that there are at least two programs for ACPS students that can have this sort of life-changing impact—AVID and ASO Sympatico. STEP is a documentary about the senior year of a high-school dance team at an all-girls school in Baltimore’s inner city. The team provides a space for girls to find their place away […]
The following ran in the “My View” column in the August 31, 2017 edition of the Alexandria Times: Alexandrians are accustomed to the transient nature of our town. Neighbors come and go, restaurants open and close, and friends who work in politics, foreign service or the armed forces find a temporary home here for a few years before moving on to their next assignments. Perhaps that’s why those of us […]
As Alexandria schoolchildren sharpen their pencils for the first day of school, the majority of students across the state are entering their second, third or even fifth week of instruction. Remember that so-called “Kings Dominion Law” that prevents school divisions from opening before Labor Day in order to help the commonwealth’s tourism industry? Out of 133 school divisions, 83 of them (62%) have waivers from the state Department of Education […]
When my daughters were in preschool, the gifted and unfailingly patient teachers there taught their young charges the “STAR” method for dealing with challenges and frustrations: Stop, Take a Deep Breath, And Relax. There was even a little song that went with it. The somewhat-annoying little ditty had the (probably intended) effect of rubbing off on the parents. I confess that I still fall back on those simple instructions 15 […]
Each year unintentional shootings claim the lives of at least 100 children age 17 and under, and more than 400 other children commit suicide using a gun, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. As a response to these tragedies, Moms Demand Action, a grassroots organization that formed after the Sandy Hook school shooting, has developed Be SMART, an educational outreach program. Be SMART promotes responsible gun storage and encourages adults […]
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