Photo Gallery

Final Walkthrough: ACC’s Favorite Spaces

Julian Navia Ventura, Staff Reporter • June 16, 2026

This year at ACC was a whirlwind, and our new Grace Hopper building has come up just as fast. Now, it’s time to memorialize some of our favorite...

Photo Gallery

Congratulations, Class of 2026

Steven Jones, Instructional Technology Coordinator • June 16, 2026

Chronicle Comics

ACC’s Trailers: Tear It All Down

Julian Batista-Gollopp, Staff Reporter • June 16, 2026

Clubs & Extras

An End-of-Year Art Project

Fae Montgomery, Art/Photography Teacher • June 16, 2026

For the final exam in Art I, students proposed their own creation, carefully documenting their brainstorming and progress as they created an...

Entertainment

What Does Your Chinese Zodiac Animal Mean For 2026?

Erin Chen and Alice Cheng • June 11, 2026

Each year, there is an assigned Chinese zodiac animal paired with an element. You can either be born in the year of the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit,...

Final Walkthrough: ACC’s Favorite Spaces

Julian Navia Ventura, Staff Reporter

June 16, 2026

This year at ACC was a whirlwind, and our new Grace Hopper building has come up just as fast. Now, it’s time to memorialize some of our favorite parts of the original building that we’re leaving behind.

Students in Ms. McFarlane’s classes captured these photos for a “final walk-through” collection. Plus, students and staff sent us notes about the spaces they’ll always hold dear.

Miyako Dodge is a sophomore at ACC for one year. She expresses how the commons is a focal point school. Ms. Cupero recalls the pictures that used to be in the Commons of all classes since the Career Center started, and says, “Students loved looking at the teachers, and many of their parents who attended.” Ms. Lisa Lee describes the Commons as a happy place. “It is a central location to bring together our ACC family, have fun with friends, and invite the Arlington community in to see all of the amazing things that happen here. I hope that we are able to continue to capture that essence in the new Grace Hopper Center!

Ms. Dee Alexander, a mainstay at ACC for 24 years, will miss the happy times in the cosmetology and barbershop. Mr. Justin Rankin says the cosmetology and barber lab is the first place where I truly felt at home here. Those were the coworkers who took me in from day one. No judgment, no hesitation, just genuine love, support, and community. I can walk in there and talk about anything: work, life, stress, wins, losses. And on top of that, they keep me looking sharp with the kind of cuts and styles that remind me of a traditional Black barbershop.”

After 28 years, Ms. Cupero has fond memories of the TV studio where countless interviews, AETV productions, and even crime scenes for forensics took place.

Lexi Kalish, Class of 2027, describes the nook beneath the stairs of the Commons as one of their favorite places because of time with their friends there. The same is true for junior Adam Archie, sophomore Vivien McGinn, and freshman Riey Yonatan Amir!

Sarai Cemey Gomez, Class of 2028, says one of her favorite places is the library and the space curated by Ms. Alexander, our school librarian.

Jeff Elkner, with 20 Years as a CTE teacher at ACC, reminisces about the times in the trailers. He hopes the fourth floor of the new building will be able to “get the same kinda feeling.

Richard Ellison, a teacher for 4 years, talks about how the electrical lab had no air or heat, but had a sense of magic.

Countless students name the animal science lab as their favorite. Ms. Cupero remembers: “a saltwater aquarium, a giant iguana, rooms full of birds, chickens, and goats roaming through the greenhouse.”

Bryon Schwind, a teacher at ACC for 23 years, is thankful on through his years he’s had a giant room with a big window view of the Montessori. Pictured is Ashley Ladner’s classroom, where visitors enjoyed the view of the construction site from start to finish.

Henry Adams describes the purple wing as a great place where “procrastination thrives and doing work dies.”

Delanie Jones, Class of 2027, states that the tables outside were a great place to feel the sun on their skin during lunch.

Sarai Cemey Gomez, Class of 2028, says one of her favorite places is the library and the space curated by Ms. Alexander, our school librarian.
Henry Adams lists the memories of the purple wing as a great place where “procrastination thrives and doing work dies.

As we say goodbye to our ACC building, let’s honor the spaces that helped to make our days special. Our new school won’t be the same, but there will be plenty of room to make more memories in the future.

About the Contributor

Julian Navia Ventura, Staff Reporter

ACC Chronicle

ACC Chronicle

Final Walkthrough: ACC’s Favorite Spaces

ACC Chronicle