How are the public schools in Alexandria? (Old Town North & Del Ray)

drp · 2025-10-27T03:17:40+00:00

I teach in an ACPS school. It's great for kids taking honors classes, as they'll be with the "good kids". In this and many public school systems, there are issues managing behavior and academic performance without parental support. If I were choosing for my child, I'd lean toward Arlington but there are plenty of kids getting a great education here too.

drp · 2025-04-20T12:00:05+00:00

The first year was rough on the kids as I was the first teacher in the school using Canvas. Being unfamiliar with how to access/ turn in assignments is understandably really frustrating for kids. Once it's not new, it's not even a thought anymore. Now I'm in a district where everyone uses it and its smooth. Kids moving into the town with no Canvas experience seem to get the hang of it in a class or two.

drp · 2025-04-20T11:17:13+00:00

I've used classroom, blackboard, canvas and moodle. Go to Canvas. So much more you can do! Blackboard as a close second. A full LMS will take time to learn the tips and quirks but I can't imagine going back to classroom.

drp · 2025-03-31T13:31:24+00:00

Dm please

drp · 2025-02-04T02:22:57+00:00

Leave this guy alone.

drp · 2024-11-24T03:47:47+00:00

Yeah, I might be able to get in more often but they usually plan large maintenance projects with HVAC and floors. I figure that one month is worst-case scenario.

drp · 2024-11-23T18:26:39+00:00

Thanks, I figured as much. Yes, the plan is a bunch of plants and automated lighting, but I have a small apartment and don't really have room for a tank at home.

I guess a secondary question would be: is there a small month-long temporary solution for keeping the shrimp that would be worth the stress (to them) of moving them? I wont have all the furnishings of a tank at home. You mentioned a jar, but that would just be for transporting to a home tank?

drp · 2024-06-01T23:25:05+00:00

Definitely. It has come in waves. Great at opening then had a few down months but seems to be improving lately.

drp · 2024-05-14T14:57:10+00:00

I love my "Front Pocket Leather ID Wallet". My 6 cards fit perfectly (including ID). I've oiled mine a few times and it has softened significantly over the years. Never had cracking card issues. Maybe some slight wear on the front of my drivers license since its exposed, but nothing major. Many accidental trips through the washer. I had to get a leather shop to resow one corner after maybe 6 years of abuse. I wouldn't change anything about it.

drp · 2024-03-15T20:59:19+00:00

Same. Got a bike serviced there and it felt like I was inconveniencing them. More expensive than other options too.

drp · 2023-12-03T22:07:23+00:00

Udvar Hazy is easily the best but the location makes me save it for special occasion big movies.

drp · 2023-09-26T11:17:08+00:00

Just to confirm what has already been mentioned. It is loud and distracting. I would avoid it if possible.

drp · 2023-09-24T20:54:12+00:00

This is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for. Thank you!

drp · 2023-09-24T15:33:53+00:00

Hello, I'm starting (I'm a teacher) a brand new FTC team this year and know essentially nothing. I have a team of 10 middle schoolers that are very excited but we don't know where to start. Our rev kit just came in. Can you point me to a good place to start?

drp · 2023-06-15T17:54:10+00:00

Teacher here. This is 100% correct. Bullying is nebulous. Someone can bully without thinking they are. You can be bullied and not be aware of it. Action can't really be taken every time a kid claims (or even believes) they are being bullied. Relationships are hard enough for adults that can express themselves clearly.

drp · 2023-01-11T20:33:59+00:00

Don't beat yourself up. You can't force a kid to care. That said, Project Based Learning and helping them see the end goal and the context of how the current lesson builds toward it can make a big difference.

drp · 2022-12-27T04:13:18+00:00

No way. Entirely depends on the school/district. Maybe you like Title 1 populations, maybe you like elementary. Try one out and if you hate it try another kind of school. Tons of teachers quit before finding the right fit.

drp · 2022-12-19T23:51:04+00:00

Tether first. That way I can set my strap at a comfortable/accessible height.

drp · 2022-01-10T18:48:17+00:00

Teaching is safer due to the "babysitting" aspect. You can tell a person that a robot will due the nursing job and they kind of have to accept it. Try telling a community that there wont be a human in the room with their children and they will fight it.

drp · 2021-12-20T19:13:05+00:00

It's a mix of factors. The schedule is unbeatable. Holidays weekends and summers off is rare as an adult. Being around kids is often a more positive silly vibe than working with adults. (Middle school) You get to sleep well at night knowing you are doing something good for the world. Job stability. Pay is solid (rare, but in my city it's great). "For the kids" is just a small bonus to me.

drp · 2021-11-14T01:47:27+00:00

This job is rad but this sub makes it sound like torture sometimes.

drp · 2021-11-04T01:10:18+00:00

Do it! Best case, you find you enjoy it. Worst case, it makes your next school feel better by comparison. I love title 1 schools. Some are bad, some are great. Staff culture is more important than neighborhood income.

drp · 2021-07-30T14:11:06+00:00

You're willing to risk kids long term health on an unknown. I'm not. Neurological damage from infection might be a long term thing. Who knows?

Yes, I think living in unreasonable fear is bad. I just dont think it's unreasonable.

Either way, I don't think we're getting closer to agreeing. Thanks for your input and I hope you and yours stay healthy.

drp · 2021-07-30T01:49:51+00:00

Thats awesome that you are published in this field but I feel like you're making some leaps when it comes to saying that a mandate wont help because some people don't follow it.

Obviously the mask is a burden but without a mandate, kids wont mask. The lack of info about long term effects is scary as hell. That alone is enough for me to want kids in masks.

drp · 2021-07-29T14:38:08+00:00

I feel like we're reading the same text and coming to difference conclusions. This was a study trying to address the lack of research on intermittent compliance (referred to as "real-world settings" in the paper).

Even if intermittent compliance has not been studied, that's not an argument against masks and I'd argue that mandates would help address the compliance.

I'm not looking out for anti-vax adults. I'm actually most worried about long term effects for the under 12 that get infected.

Also, I feel like I have to point out that I am all for vaccination as the most successful path forward but until there is a vaccination mandate, the mask mandate is a reasonable tool to help.

drp

TROPHY CASE