Long before his official start date, our new Head of School Mr. Tommy Blain, began getting to know the people who make AJC so special—meeting with staff, families, and students and listening carefully to what they believe is sacred about our school and community of affection. By his first day on July 6th, Tommy was already deeply invested in AJC and ready to step into his leadership role. He helped us welcome 60 new students and 11 new staff members for our four-week summer session and quickly embraced the opportunities and challenges that come with such a remarkable period of growth. We are grateful for the care and energy Tommy has already brought to our community. The heart of AJC remains strong, and we are excited for the year ahead! A former teacher, Mr. Blain visits a Kindergarten class. Group and one-on-one family orientation meetings have been ongoing throughout the summer.

On June 30, students, families, trustees, supporters, and friends of Anna Julia Cooper School gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting of our beautiful new Lower School building at 2000 N. 29th Street. It was a joyful day as we marked a milestone years in the making. Thanks to the incredible team at Kjellstrom + Lee Construction, we went from groundbreaking to grand opening in 13 months—just in time for our summer session, when we welcomed additional sections of both second and third grades, bringing our enrollment to 230 students. We were honored to hear remarks from Richmond City Council President Cynthia Newbille, members of our Board of Trustees, Lower School Principal Michael Crane, and Mike Maruca, who closed the celebration on the final day of his 17-year tenure as Head of School. Thank you to everyone whose generosity, partnership, and belief in our students made this day—and our continued growth—possible.

Founded in 2009 by Mike Maruca, Anna Julia Cooper School has grown from 25 students in a house to a thriving community serving 215 children across two campuses—a reflection of his vision, dedication, and belief in the students and families of Richmond’s East End. As he retires, we celebrate our leader whose impact is felt in every corner of our community. Students will remember his humor, his high expectations, and most of all, his deep love and care for them. As one student put it, he is the reason they can “laugh, sing, dance, and be together while also getting an education.” There is too much to fully capture in words, but one thing is clear: Mike Maruca’s legacy will continue to shape this school for years to come. Congratulations, Mike, and we wish you all the best in your retirement! An emotional moment as Mr. Keiper, also in his

It’s incredible to see what’s been accomplished since our Lower School groundbreaking last May. Floors are in, painting is nearly complete, and classrooms have taken shape. A playground will be installed next week and we are on track to begin our move in early June, with a ribbon-cutting planned later that month—just in time to welcome students for our summer session. Our new school will allow us to serve even more students, including a second section of 2nd and 3rd grades beginning in July. Front Entrance Huddle Spaces Kindergarten Classroom We are approaching the home stretch of our Hope Grows Campaign. The $37 million campaign supports the new lower school building, athletic field, endowment, and multi-year operating funds as we grow to serve over 270 students. Thanks to the generosity of a lead donor, all new gifts are being matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1 million. With matching funds in place, this is a pivotal

Family partnership is at the heart of AJC, and parent-teacher-student conference day is an opportunity to connect with caregivers and celebrate the pride we all share in their children. For many families, getting to AJC requires extra effort—from juggling schedules to arranging transportation—yet we have 100% participation year after year. These meetings are opportunities for uplifting conversations and a chance to ensure families know they and their students are seen, known, and loved.