The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has announced that Virginia will move forward with a proposed draft of social studies standards that will, in the words of the draft, “just get rid of the dang thing.” This move comes after weeks of intense criticism from stakeholders, parents, teachers, students and academics over the January draft, which controversially included such changes as omitting the words “fascism” and “diversity.”

On September 16, the Virginia Department of Education released new model policies for school boards addressing the treatment of transgender students. The models mandated misgendering, outing, and sex-based bathrooms, alongside optional parental restrictions on student counseling services. Immediately, the policies sparked widespread reactions throughout social media. Twitter thrummed with thousands of opinions, calls to action, and profile picture changes as the country, state, and community weighed in on Governor Youngkin’s latest swing at student rights in the name of “empowering parents.” 

On Friday, May 13, Alexandria City High School's jazz band competed in the Chantilly Jazz Festival (one of the oldest and most prestigious in the DMV region). Jazz Band "A" won first place and Jazz Combo won 2nd place.

Five Alexandria City High School students participated in the All-Virginia Band & Orchestra Event on April 21-23 at Christopher Newport University (CNU). This event brings the state’s best student musicians together in one location to work with world-renowned conductors. 

Critical Race Theory, frequently shortened to CRT, has been recently transformed into a rallying cry and a political death sentence; in short, it has become scholarly gunfire. In the midst of loaded statements, tumultuous think-pieces, and competing propaganda, Virginian students, parents, and citizens are left dangling between spheres of competitive influence where policy has forbidden an elusive ‘something’ that previously was rarely given name outside of higher education. The slew of misinformation that haunts its rhetoric has not been aided by recent talking points. Demystifying the surreal imagination of CRT in Virginian schools, students and teachers of ACHS speak on its impact.

Following an editorial arguing for the reselection of the Virginia state bird by Theogony editor Ethan Gotsch, Theogony reached out to several politicians, including the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee and former Massachusetts Governor Mike Dukakis, for their views on the northern cardinal being the Virginia state bird. 

Governor Ralph Northam took to the hallways of Alexandria City High School on December 6 to announce a proposal for a 10% teacher salary increase and affirm his support for Virginia public schools. Fellow local officials and policymakers, including Councilmember and Delegate-elect Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, ACHS Principal Peter Balas, and Superintendent Gregory C. Hutchings.

In 1950, the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was established as the state bird of Virginia. With its vivid red color and tufted head, the cardinal is instantly recognizable and it is easy to see why Virginia would pick a bird that stands out among other garden-variety fowl. Since its establishment, the cardinal has become a beloved figure not only for its stunning plumage but also as a symbol of Virginia state pride. So if all of this is true, why should Virginia change its state bird?