Press Releases

April 27, 2023 – AHC Inc., a leading developer of affordable housing in Maryland and Virginia, today held its grand opening of The Terraces at Arlington View, a $40.8 million redevelopment of an affordable housing community located on the eastern end of Columbia Pike, at 1420 S. Rolfe Street. The Terraces includes 77 affordable apartments and more than doubles the number of homes from the previous building. The new community features many sustainable elements, including solar panels, a green roof, and electric charging stations.

Numerous local dignitaries attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including Virginia State Senator Barbara Favola, State Delegate Alfonso Lopez and Arlington County Board members Christian Dorsey and Takis Karantonis.

“We’re excited to open The Terraces at Arlington View and to bring more quality, affordable homes to the Arlington community,” said Paul Bernard, President & CEO of AHC Inc. “The Terraces is in a prime location, central to jobs and transportation, and close to shopping locations on Columbia Pike. The new building will not only provide dozens of families and individuals with an opportunity to build brighter futures – but also contribute to the economic vitality of Arlington and the Commonwealth.

“The redevelopment and expansion of The Terraces at Arlington View by our longstanding affordable housing partner, AHC Inc., speaks to many of the County’s housing goals in Arlington: providing beautiful, energy efficient units accessible to households earning lower incomes,” said Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey. “I am proud of the County’s role in funding the project through $8 million in AHIF and TOAH funds and welcome this new addition to our community and affordable housing inventory.”

This new building is phase one of a larger redevelopment plan. A second phase for The Terraces at Arlington View will eventually bring redevelopment of the other buildings on the west wide of S. Rolfe Street, providing even more brand-new homes to the community.

“We applaud the efforts and commitment of AHC and Arlington County to create and preserve affordable housing in this community,” said Ed Delany, Senior Capital Officer for Community Finance in the Mid Atlantic region. “The Terraces at Arlington View is a prime example of the success that comes when public and private entities engage to bring safe, high-quality and affordable housing to residents.” 

Features and Amenities

Sustainable design elements of the building include a 190-panel solar system, AHC’s second solar project in Arlington, and a large green roof to support stormwater management. The solar is expected to generate 84,000 kwh a year, enough to power nearly eight single-family houses a year. The parking garage also has two electrical vehicle (EV) chargers.

This new community is AHC’s first Energy Star-certified building and the achieved Gold-level certification with EarthCraft Multifamily, the nation’s first multifamily-specific green building program.

The building includes a new community room, fitness room, courtyard, leasing office, and resident services onsite space. The apartments feature modern fixtures and finishes, bigger and more numerous windows, new appliances, and WaterSense plumbing fixtures. As part of AHC’s efforts to break down the digital divide and create digital equity, every apartment also will have free Wi-Fi.

Apartment Affordability and Sizes

The 77 new affordable apartments at The Terraces will house families earning between 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

The building includes 15 three-bedroom apartments, 47 two-bedrooms, 14 one-bedrooms, and one studio apartment. Eight homes have been set aside for Arlington County’s Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program, which provides the opportunity for residents with disabilities to maintain their housing and pay no more than 30% of their income towards rent. Eight apartments are fully ADA accessible, and all the homes in the new building meet Universal Design standards.

Project Partners

This project was made possible by AHC Inc.’s many partners.

The project won an allocation of $2.03 million in competitive tax credits from Virginia Housing (VH), which generated $19.5 million in tax credit equity from Capital One through Hudson Housing Capital. The Arlington County Board allocated $7.1 million from the AHIF (Affordable Housing Investment Fund) and $984,000 in Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing (TOAH) funds. The project received $16 million in construction financing from Capital One and $10.57 million in permanent financing from Virginia Housing, plus a $900,000 loan from the Virginia Housing Trust Fund.

AHC Inc. also collaborated with Cunningham and Quill Architects, who designed the renovation, Harkins Builders, who executed the construction, Walter L Phillips, AVT’s civil engineer and Klein Hornig, LLP, financing counsel.

Jamestown, a design-focused real estate investment and management firm, today announced a wave of new office leasing at Ballston Exchange, a mixed-use retail, dining, and office development in Arlington’s Ballston neighborhood. The three deals, which total nearly 30,000 square feet, will add to the dynamic workplace environment at the property and bring new career opportunities to the neighborhood.

• Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global nonprofit advisory organization that provides governments, health organizations, and the private sector with health system support, leased approximately 15,000 square feet at the property. MSH was represented by CRESA and Jamestown was represented by Cushman & Wakefield.
• EPIGEN, a professional management and technical services company, leased approximately 10,800 square feet at the property. Cushman & Wakefield represented both parties in the deal.
• COMTO, the leading national advocate for employment diversity, inclusion, and contracting opportunities in the transportation industry, leased approximately 3,800 square feet at the property. COMTO was represented by CRESA and Jamestown was represented by Cushman & Wakefield.

“With its proximity to transit and expansive, tech-enabled common spaces, Ballston Exchange offers businesses a flexible and hyperconnected workplace environment,” said Mark Witschorik, Director of Asset Management for the Mid-Atlantic Region at Jamestown. “The property’s many indoor and outdoor common spaces and amenities, including the shared conference center and event space, provide tenants with added capacity to support their evolving and variable needs without investment in additional space, and that built-in flexibility is an amenity in its own right.”

Ballston Exchange is well situated with direct access to the Metro and offers a range of tenant amenities, including indoor and outdoor public open space, concierge services, and event space. In addition, Jamestown has outfitted Ballston Exchange with new shared tenant amenities, including a 10,000-square-foot, full-service conference center, to address the needs of modern companies and tenants.

Since acquiring the property in 2015, Jamestown has modernized the property via architectural renovations, landscaping, and streetscape improvements. The property’s diverse retail tenants include Shake Shack, Orange Theory Fitness, CorePower Yoga, Greenheart Juice Shop, Dunkin Donuts, We, The Pizza, Farmbird, El Rey, Hawkers, Tend, Chopt, CAVA, MyEyeDr, The UPS Store, and Bearded Goat Barber. Office tenants include Booz Allen Hamilton, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), CENTRA Technology, and more.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) has forecast a Code Orange air day for the metropolitan Washington region tomorrow: Friday, April 21. Code Orange levels mean the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The region recorded its first Code Orange for the year on April 13.

On unhealthy air days, COG advises the following health precautions:

• Children and older adults should reduce outdoor activities.
• Healthy individuals should limit strenuous work or exercise, especially outdoors.
• Individuals with respiratory and heart ailments, emphysema, asthma, or chronic bronchitis should limit their activity level. If breathing becomes difficult, move indoors.

Residents can check current air quality conditions on COG’s website or by downloading a free air quality app from Clean Air Partners.

On unhealthy air days, residents are encouraged to take the following actions to help reduce pollution:

• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use and follow tips from your electric utility about how to use less electricity to cool your home.
• Avoid lawn mowing or use an electric mower.
• Use transit, carpool, or work from home to limit driving. Fill up your gas tank during evening hours.

COG provides air quality forecasts and current air quality conditions for metropolitan Washington. It also educates the public about voluntary actions people can take to reduce pollution and the health risks of bad air quality through its Clean Air Partners program, which is co-sponsored by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and 12 colleagues in introducing a resolution that would designate April 2023 as “Preserving and Protecting Local News Month.” The resolution officially recognizes the role of local news as an essential function for democracy in the United States.

“In Virginia and across the country, local news outlets are relied on to keep our citizens informed, combat disinformation, and serve as a crucial check on our government institutions,” said Sen. Warner. “It is important that we continue to honor the hard work that local journalists do for our Commonwealth and for our democracy in the face of continued budget cuts, newsroom closures, and staff reductions that have made their work more challenging.” 

According to research, the overall employment in newspaper, television, radio, and digital newsrooms in the United States fell by 26 percent, or 30,000 jobs, from 2008-2020. More than 100 local newsrooms were forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 30 percent of local television stations reporting budget cuts and staff reductions. As of September 2022, 42 local newspapers have closed or merged in Virginia alone, with significant staff cuts plaguing surviving papers. This resolution affirms the significance of local news in increasing civic engagement and strengthening democratic norms and practices, and acknowledges the valuable contributions of local journalism toward the maintenance of healthy and vibrant communities.

In addition to Sens. Warner and Schatz, the resolution is co-sponsored by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

The resolution has been endorsed by PEN America; Alliance for Community Media; Free Press Action; National Press Photographers Association (NPPA); Native American Journalists Association (NAJA); Writers Guild of America, East, AFL-CIO; Ethnic Media Services; Society of Environmental Journalists; Society for News Design; Common Cause; Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO; National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ); Native Public Media; Public Knowledge; Society of Professional Journalists; Theatre Communications Group; National Newspaper Association (NNA); National Writers Union (NWU); and National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

 Sen. Warner has long been an outspoken supporter of local news. In the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Sen. Warner led colleagues in a push to include local journalism and media outlets in relief packages.

 Full text of the resolution is available here.

Culpepper Garden, Arlington’s sole retirement community for low-income seniors, welcomed Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08) and Arlington County officials for a dedication ceremony in honor of the city’s first responders on Wednesday, April 12. Representatives from the county sheriff, police, fire, and emergency management departments joined Rep. Beyer to inaugurate the First Responders Garden in the garden to mark the contributions of first responders to the Arlington community.

“There is no better group to honor than these outstanding individuals who bring their professionalism and compassion with them every time they step into our buildings. We know when we see their vehicles, whatever the circumstance, they are there to serve and support,” said Culpepper Garden Executive Director Marta Hill Gray. “Our gratitude knows no bounds and in these times of much uncertainty we have chosen to dedicate our gardens to those who came before you, those of you who are with us today, and to those who will serve us in the future.”

Rep. Beyer echoed the sentiment in his remarks, “I share the gratitude for our first responders. My dad was an Army MP so I know the sacrifice and dedication it takes to be in this line of work. Whether it’s a Capitol Police officer protecting me and my colleagues, a 9-1-1 operator, or a driver engineer, your work is truly valued. Thank you for having me here today for this special dedication.”

Culpepper Garden provides 350 affordable apartments for low-income older adults and is home to a vast green space that is home to more than 30,000 daffodils and numerous native Virginia plants.

“The First Responders Garden will be a place of beauty, refuge, continued growth, improvement, and investment,” Gray continued, “We will continue to gather each spring and honor you with this ceremony that will allow us to share the progress of the gardens. Each fall we will ask members of the community of responders to come and help us plant new trees in honor of the relationship we treasure.”

The gardens are the longstanding legacy of Charles Washington Culpepper, a horticulturist and civil servant who tended meticulously to the garden before selling the property in 1971. A team of volunteers, gardeners, and staff work year-round to maintain the gardens, and add a new batch of daffodil saplings and native plants each year.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) prevented a Spotsylvania, Va., woman from bringing her loaded handgun onto her flight early this morning (April 10).  The .380 caliber gun was loaded with five bullets.

The weapon was caught as the woman entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on her handbag, which was searched and the firearm discovered inside a zippered pouch inside the purse. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police confiscated the gun and cited the woman on a weapons charge. The woman told officials she carries the gun for protection and forgot that she had her gun with her.

“The spring travel season is here and checkpoint operations are very busy,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director the airport. “We’ve seen an increase in travelers, and I am personally grateful that TSA officers here at Reagan National Airport and across the country remain focused on their mission.

Unfortunately when a gun-owner forgets where they store their firearm and tries to bring it through our checkpoint we have to stop the screening operation and move all passengers to another area. The unsecured firearm in a traveler’s carry-on presents a high risk in a crowded environment and we take these situations very seriously. Let this incident serve as a reminder to others who are traveling with a firearm, to take a few moments before you come to the airport to refresh your familiarity with the proper procedures on how to pack a gun for a flight. Firearms should never be brought to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage.”

Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case. Then the locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.

In addition to the citation by airport police, this individual now faces a stiff financial civil penalty, and penalties for carrying a weapons were recently increased to a maximum of $15,000.

Firearms are not permitted through a security checkpoint because passengers should not have access to a firearm during a flight. This even applies to travelers with concealed carry permits or are enrolled in the TSA PreCheck® program, who will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges if they bring a gun to a checkpoint.  Individuals who bring their gun to a security checkpoint also face a federal financial civil penalty.

Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Eighty-eight percent of those guns were loaded.

Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.

Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and passengers should do their homework to make sure that they are not violating any local firearm laws. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).

Today, Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) announced that the Arlington Presbyterian Church (APC) congregation has committed $200,000 to help low-income residents facing eviction remain in their homes at four APAH-owned properties along Columbia Pike. This funding will help eliminate outstanding rent balances for as many as 200 APAH residents and their families. The timing of the gift is critical, as multiple pandemic-era safety net programs that provided relief to struggling renters have ended.

“These relief programs provided lifelines for vulnerable residents to ensure their housing needs were met, and right now, low-income households everywhere are experiencing hardship now that the safety nets are no longer available,” said APAH President and CEO, Carmen Romero. “APAH is committed to ensuring that its residents have a stable place to call home and we are grateful to have a partner like Arlington Presbyterian Church who shares our mission. Our hope is that APC’s generosity inspires more community partners to join them in helping our neighbors remain housed.”

The funds will be made available this Saturday, March 18, during a dedicated resident-only event. The goal is to eliminate outstanding rent balances at Gilliam Place, Buchanan Gardens, Columbia Hills, and Columbia Grove. APAH Resident Services staff, members of Arlington Presbyterian Church, Arlington County Government, as well as Arlington Thrive will be onsite to assist residents, determine their needs, and provide critical financial relief. The partnership underscores APAH’s commitment to provide stable, affordable homes to those who need them most.

“Our faith mandates us to put the well-being of our neighbors at the center of all we do,” said Arlington Presbyterian Church Pastor Ashley Goff. “We care deeply about our Gilliam Place and Columbia Pike neighbors, and if we join our partners in the work, we can generate real power for change together. This gift is one way in which we live out this narrative and our core values.”

Community organizations, businesses and individuals interested in supporting APAH’s mission and its residents can visit www.apah.org/get-involved/donate/ways-to-give/ or email [email protected].

Today, Marymount University becomes the first higher education institution in the U.S. to have an on-campus convenience store powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology.

Located in the lobby of Gerard Phelan Hall on Marymount’s main campus in Arlington, the new convenience shop – Saints 24 – opens to the University community for the first time today. The implementation of Amazon’s cutting-edge Just Walk Out technology is designed to eliminate checkout lines and provide an effortless customer experience. Customers simply use their credit card at the entry gates of Saints 24, grab what they need and the technology automatically detects what is taken from (or returned to) store shelves, creating a virtual shopping cart. When customers have completed their shopping, they can leave the store without stopping to check out, and their credit card will be charged for the items they took.

“At Marymount, we are proud to be known as ‘Arlington’s University,’ as no other college or university has its main campus within Arlington County. And in recent years, we have seen Arlington rise even higher in importance for our nation’s economy – with no better example than Amazon’s decision to locate its HQ2 right here,” said Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University. “Becoming the first university in the U.S. to collaborate with Amazon in incorporating its Just Walk Out technology at an on-campus convenience shop demonstrates how Marymount is leading the way in fostering an innovative and exciting student experience that appeals to the tech-savvy college students of today.”

In initial planning for the Saints 24 store, Marymount administrators surveyed student leaders in the University’s Student Government Association (SGA) to hear firsthand what products they would most like to see in a new convenience shop on campus. Their recommendations led to an available item list that includes food options featuring freshly prepared sandwiches, wraps, salads, sushi, yogurt and ice cream, as well as other items such as toiletries, feminine hygiene products and more.

“Marymount is committed to providing students with new and exciting on-campus experiences that cater to their needs, and we’re proud to collaborate on their first checkout-free store,” said Dilip Kumar, Vice President of AWS Applications. “Now, students and guests can grab food, beverages and other essentials in a way that is easy and convenient for them.”

Next month, Marymount will hold a grand opening ceremony event for Saints 24 on Thursday, April 20.

WATERLOO, Ontario, February 16, 2023: eleven-x, a global leader providing complete, high-performance, wireless IoT and Smart City solutions, today announced it was selected by Arlington County, Virginia for one of the largest municipal smart parking installations in North America. As part of the County’s mission to leverage smart city initiatives to help improve their citizens’ quality of life, the county has selected eleven-x to provide its award-winning  eXactpark™ smart parking solution. Through this comprehensive parking monitoring sensor and software solution, Arlington County aims to help drivers quickly and efficiently find available on-street parking, thereby reducing cruising and congestion, while improving overall safety in the area and helping lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In support of Arlington County’s objectives of improving quality of life, sustainability and economic development, eleven-x will embed approximately 5,000 of its SPS-X sensors in all on-street parking stalls around the vibrant commercial district. The award winning, patent pending SPS-X sensor utilizes multiple technologies to provide 99.5% accuracy, the highest in the industry. Drivers will be able to find available parking with the aid of signs and a wayfinding app that provides real-time stall occupancy data. Furthermore, eXactpark’s robust software platform will be integrated with pay meters to enable dynamic pricing initiatives, which is a key requisite for the county. This capability will help them achieve desired parking and stall availability targets, helping improve traffic congestion and better address parking issues.

eXactpark’s SPS-X sensor will identify key parking trends such as occupancy/use patterns, underutilized parking spaces, hot spot indicators and more. While the public facing use of this data will provide real-time parking guidance to available spots, these metrics will also be an essential input into eXactpark’s software that includes several features to help the County address traffic and parking concerns. The real-time data will enable the parking management team to gain a better understanding of parking usage, while the demand-based pricing module will provide tools to influence parking behavior through dynamic pricing. Additionally, through the curbside management feature, parking managers can develop a digital twin of the physical curb and overlay pricing options, as well as occupancy thresholds, to test the outcomes of various policy initiatives. This will enable the County to develop efficient and effective parking policies. eleven-x is leading this large-sale innovative project with several partners including Arcadis|IBI Group, Smarking, Rhodeside & Harwell, and Guidehouse.

“Many people do not realize the wide-ranging, positive impact a frictionless parking experience can have on a community and local businesses,” said Dan Mathers, CEO of eleven-x. “By improving the parking experience and reducing traffic congestion, Arlington County will be able to increase mobility, encourage more visits to the commercial corridor, advance public safety, and help lower GHG emissions. We are thrilled to work with the progressive, innovative team at the County to roll-out our comprehensive eXactpark solution for the public benefit.”

Arlington County has launched launch a public engagement program to help the community understand the solution and collect feedback. As part of County’s community engagement initiative, eleven-x will first install sensors in the Courthouse Plaza parking lot and launch the software program. Once the fully operational system goes live in the summer of 2023, Arlington County will join the growing number of cities and institutions across North America that are benefiting from eXactpark.

For more information on eleven-x’s eXactpark solution please visit exactpark.com.

About eleven-x Inc.
eleven-x has a world-renowned reputation as a global leader providing wireless, high-performance, IoT and Smart City solutions for cities, campuses, and enterprises. Customers rely on the company’s expertise to deliver comprehensive solutions that are easy-to-use, fully scalable to help reduce costs, drive additional revenues and most importantly, deliver better services.

eleven-x is currently transforming the parking experience through its industry leading parking technology offering eXactpark™, a sensor-based space occupancy monitoring solution and comprehensive software platform, which enables frictionless parking for drivers and parking managers. Built on the award-winning, patent-pending SPS-X sensor, eXactpark helps customers achieve their key goals of traffic reduction, real-time status availability, improved compliance, increased revenues, lower operating costs and reduced GHG emissions. The solution is being utilized by cities and institutions across North America to successfully address mobility challenges. Visit eleven-x.com for more information and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

“Presidents” eat free at WOB Bar & Kitchen Arlington this Presidents Day! On Monday, February 20, 2023, to celebrate the holiday, anyone with the last name of any U.S. President will receive a free BYO (build your own) Burger from WOB’s famous menu!   Guests who have this unique tie to American history can visit WOB Bar & Kitchen and present a valid I.D. to redeem the free BYO Burger, which is made with fresh Angus beef on a brioche bun and served with a free side of either tater tots, fries or cole slaw.  Customers can build their own burgers, choose from a variety of mouthwatering sauces and cheeses, and finish it off with fresh toppings*, creating the perfect personalized burger, truly fit for a president.

“Everyone deserves a little presidential treatment every now and then, especially our loyal guests at WOB Bar & Kitchen,” said James Buell, Chief Operating Officer, WOB Bar & Kitchen. “We think this Presidents Day offer is a great way to celebrate our wonderful customers, while also paying homage to all the great leaders that have played such a huge part in our country’s history.”

*Limit one per customer. Certain toppings added at additional cost.

**Must show valid I.D.

***Offer valid only on February 20, 2023.

When:

Monday, February 20, 2023
Open til close

Where: 

WOB Bar & Kitchen Arlington
4300 Wilson Blvd #30
Arlington, VA
(703) 576-0395

Dear APS Families,

I have been reflecting on our communication following recent incidents and working with our staff on ways we can ensure it is as informative and reassuring as possible. We will be making changes moving forward.

Our goal is to inform families about what is happening at school as quickly as we can, and ensure they have accurate information about what is happening at school, including the steps being taken to protect the health and safety of students.

If there is a police presence at school, or any threat to safety, we will alert the school community affected as soon as possible. Moving forward, all messages regarding school safety will include the nature of the threat in as much detail as we are able. In evaluating some of the recent communications, there were instances that did not include this information, so we need to ensure this happens consistently.

There are three instances when we cannot share detailed information:

• In a medical emergency, we notify families that there is an ambulance at the school due to a medical emergency, to provide reassurance that there is not a broader threat. We cannot share any further information with the school community as part of our legal obligation to maintain student’s private medical information.
• When a school receives a threat of violence under active police investigation, we work closely with ACPD to ensure we do not jeopardize their investigation by releasing confidential or inaccurate information ahead of the police report. Once the investigation is complete and the report has been posted, we share it with our families.
• Regarding student discipline, our goal is to assure families that appropriate disciplinary action has been taken to prevent further harm or danger. In most cases, we cannot provide specific information about disciplinary action related to individuals involved in making threats or other unsafe behaviors, due to student privacy.

We will continue to reflect and debrief after each incident to provide as much clarity as possible. I appreciate your feedback and partnership, as well as your vigilance and shared commitment to safety.

Other Updates and Reminders:

• WIDA Testing for English Language Learners: Students who are eligible for English Learner services are taking the annual WIDA ACCESS English language proficiency assessment from Jan. 17-Mar 17. This is used to monitor student progress and shape instruction that meets the strengths and needs of every student. The results also determine if a student has reached English proficiency, or if they are eligible for testing accommodations on standardized tests. Families will be notified of the results after testing is complete.  Learn more
• Thanking APS School Counselors: Our school counselors continue to play a vital role in the success and wellbeing of our students. I encourage everyone to thank your school’s counseling team this week, in honor of School Counseling Week. We are fortunate to have 127 talented professional counselors helping students grow and thrive.
• Appreciating APS Crossing Guards: This week is also Crossing Guard Appreciation Week, so remember to thank them for keeping students safe on their way to and from school.

I want to again thank our APS community for working together when threats or other situations arise. Thank you for your partnership!

Sincerely,

Dr. Francisco Durán
Superintendent
Arlington Public Schools