International Academy Soccer Club at Francis C. Hammond Middle School

With support from Communities In Schools of NOVA, the International Academy Soccer Club at Francis C. Hammond Middle School had its inaugural practice in March 2016. 84 young men and women signed up to participate, with the leadership of four volunteer International Academy faculty and CIS of NOVA’s Outreach Coordinator, Candace Hill. This startup venture was supported by a partnership with the NOVA Gang Prevention Task Force, and the Alexandria Soccer Association, with enthusiastic support from International Academy Academic Principal, Tim Brannon, and Hammond School Principal, Pierrette Hall. It originated after a discussion regarding gang prevention amongst the faculty. The consensus was [...]

2020-03-08T14:19:41+00:00June 27th, 2016|0 Comments

Partnership Highlight: Arlington Food Assistance Center

The Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) has been serving Arlington County residents in need of supplemental groceries for over 25 years. With the weekly assistance of a small army of volunteers, AFAC distributes nutritious food to over 2,200 county residents each week. About 35% of those who receive food from AFAC are children. Barcroft Elementary is the most recent school that AFAC has partnered with to provide students in need with supplemental meals. Through the Backpack Buddies Program, students may receive a bag of groceries to take home with them on Friday afternoons. Each bag contains two days worth of nutrition (six [...]

2020-03-08T14:20:14+00:00June 20th, 2016|0 Comments

Healthy Hammond Community Fair & 5k Color Run

By Candace Hill, CIS of NOVA Outreach Coordinator The forecast had predicted a torrential downpour with heavy winds and rain, but there was no turning back, as the already rescheduled Healthy Hammond Community Fair and 5k Color Run was going to happen on May 21st, rain or shine! Even with the unpredictable morning rain, there were many “shining moments.” I could talk about the girl that came to the event alone, walking 1.5 miles from home to participate in the 5k, only to walk 1.5 miles back home after running the 3+ miles. Or about the other student who showed up an [...]

2020-03-08T14:21:26+00:00May 27th, 2016|0 Comments

Nursing Students Provide Nutritional Facts for Arlington Mill & Career Center Students

For 6 weeks, nursing students from the Chamberlain College of Nursing provided and displayed nutritional tips and information during the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) weekly food distribution at the Arlington Career Center. Every Wednesday during the AFAC weekly food distribution, 4 nursing students set up a table with a display on a topic that covered health-related facts that our students read, while also giving out free samples using some of the related foods. It was a unique and efficient way to promote healthy eating, while also introducing students to nutritious (and delicious!) food they can easily make at home. “This opportunity gave us a different experience than with [...]

2020-03-08T14:21:48+00:00May 10th, 2016|1 Comment

Teaching Sportsmanship & Responsibility through Soccer & Literacy

The Real Madrid Foundation leads a weekly after-school soccer program at Gunston Middle School. This program brings experienced and foundation-trained coaches to Arlington Public Schools to teach students not only soccer skills, but also important life values such as good sportsmanship and responsibility. At Gunston, Communities In Schools has partnered with the Minority Achievement Coordinator and school faculty to tie the soccer program with a once-a-week literacy session, where students get extra help and strategies in reading and English. The students are excited to play soccer in organized teams outside, where they are developing personal responsibility by having their daily actions and [...]

2020-03-08T14:24:54+00:00April 11th, 2016|0 Comments
Go to Top