Heading into the Thanksgiving season, we're grateful for so many things. You can read about some of them in this newsletter. Like you, we're also grateful for our families, friends, faith, and are looking forward to some of our favorite, home cooked food over the holiday. I know the staff and students are grateful year-round for those of you who make this place possible. At this time of year in particular, we are reminded that we aren't here without you. And that's truly something to be grateful for because within our walls our cups are running over with joy and fun, kindness and care, resilience and hard work in the AJC family. Thanks for that, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones. - Mike Maruca, Head of School
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Special Visit from Homeboy Industries |
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During a recent visit from our friends at Homeboy Industries, the largest and most successful gang rehab program in the world, founder Father Greg Boyle and 'homegirls' Dyamond and Purple shared stories of kinship and resilience with middle school students. The women spoke of finding their way to Homeboy Industries and overcoming difficult histories. Their messages resonated with students and reminded all of us of how we hope to show up here at AJC -- uplifting one another and being the very best we can be.
“Love each other. There's no point in being angry. Life is too short!” -Purple "Life is not perfect, there's things that we go through - pain, trauma, hurt - but with that, it can fuel you to become stronger.” -Dyamond
Dyamond spoke about discovering her talent and passion through music. She encouraged students to find something they enjoy and to use those interests as fuel to make a better life for themselves. |
Invited to the mic by Dyamond, two students stepped up to show off their talents! |
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Introducing Meridyth Everett, AJC's 6th Grade English & History Teacher! Meridyth was born and raised in Richmond but moved to Waco, Texas to attend Baylor University where she received a B.A. in International Studies (2018) and an M.S. in Education (2019). She spent five years teaching social studies & English in international schools in Abu Dhabi and Cairo. She joined the AJC family this school year. Her calm, uplifting teaching style makes for a warm classroom environment where students feel safe and seen.
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What drew you to AJC? When I first came to visit two years ago, it was the most positive and uplifting school environment that I had ever been in. Even though kids were here for summer school, they were still all so excited to be here. I knew that I wanted to work somewhere like that, and I was also really excited that AJC not only allows, but encourages teachers to talk about faith.
What are your students' greatest strengths? My 6th graders are some of the most curious students I've ever taught. They could easily spend an entire class just asking questions - sometimes about the lesson and sometimes just about general wonderings they have. It is really fun to teach such curious students because they always want to know more and are eager to connect what they're learning to their own experiences.
If you had a motto, what would it be? My teaching motto is "progress over perfection." It's easy for students to get caught up in doing everything "right" and I love it when they aim high, but then they can overwhelm themselves looking at the mountain looming over them that they need to climb. Instead, I encourage them to focus on doing their best on what's right in front of them, and to focus on just growing and getting a little bit better every day. |
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This month's Powerful Partnership highlight is Talk Therapy, LLC. With the financial support of Dominion Energy, our growing partnership with 'Talk' provides speech therapy and reading intervention for identified students. This collaboration ensures our students, who might otherwise lack access to specialized support, receive the tools they need to succeed as early as possible.
To learn more, or to support our important wrap around services, please reach out to Krissi Morley at morleyk@ajcschool.org. |
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In the heart of the East End, where open spaces are rare, our students now have a field to call their own. We've transformed about an acre across from our Lower School into a green space, giving our students a dedicated place to run, play, and compete. This new field is set to welcome football and soccer practices, kickball, and lively field days in the future! |
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Victoria Buskey, Class of 2012 | A member of the AJC's very first class, Victoria has found success while following her love for science, which she shared was fueled by her experience on the robotics team at AJC.
Victoria attended Richmond Community High School. With a full academic scholarship to Virginia State University, she completed her Bachelor and Master of Science in Biology with a focus on Cancer Biology and Secondary Education. Below she shares her remarkable journey. |
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My time at VSU was marked by a deep dive into research, leading me to present at multiple national conferences and conduct research at esteemed institutions. In 2022, I transitioned to Cleveland, Ohio, where I immersed myself in leukemia research at the Cleveland Clinic, eventually finding my passion in sickle cell research. I now serve as a pharmaceutical research technologist.
One of my proudest accomplishments is my ability to overcome challenges with determination. Despite facing hurdles, I've used these experiences to shape a resilient version of myself, always striving for growth and improvement.
Looking ahead, I am currently in the final year of my Ph.D. program in Developmental Psychology. I aim to merge my passion for biological science with mental health to make a positive impact on my community.
I am grateful for the experiences and opportunities that have shaped my path so far and look forward to the chapters yet to come! |
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| Our littlest lions say going to the forest is... |
...more fun than recess! "There are more things to see, more fresh air. It's kind of relaxing."
...different every time. "Sometimes it rains, or a tree falls, or the leaves change." ...calming. "I feel more peaceful. Sometimes when you're angry you can go somewhere in the forest that’s quiet and you can get some alone time. " |
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...an adventure! "I like nature and I like to explore things that I think are new. I'm adventurous. I started going in 2nd grade. I was very excited because I had never been to the forest. We found crawfish and salamanders and tadpoles and frogs and a turtle. We caught them. McKenzie's finger got pinched!"
The 'yes' culture here at AJC encourages teachers to think outside the box. For our lower school students, a resounding 'yes' to going to the forest as part of the Lower School curriculum has become an opportunity for hands-on learning and a highlight of their week. |
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| Learning persistence through LEGO Robotics |
Trial and error is the name of the game during weekly robotics classes, where students learn to never, ever give up! Students are learning to build, code, and work together to find solutions to a variety of challenges. Success takes digging in, without fear of failure. We're learning that the engineering process - try, fail, adjust, and try again - makes a win way more rewarding! |
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Richmond Young Writers and VCU graphic design graduates teamed up to collaborate with students across Richmond to publish their written work. On a recent Sunday evening, two of our very own had the opportunity to share their work with an audience at Pizza Bones in Church Hill. Aniylah, now a self-proclaimed poet, is shown here beaming with pride after her reading. Shout out to Elise Steele from RYW for making it happen! |
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"Richmond Young Writers creates space for kids ages 9–18 to harness the power of their authentic voices. We write, we read, we laugh, we cry, we get messy, we polish things up, we bond. We make each other better."
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| | School CLOSED for Thanksgiving November 27th-29th! Basketball season begins soon! Check back through our social pages for the upcoming schedule. We hope to see you court-side!
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Want to get involved? There are many ways to support our students! |
From all of us at AJC, thanks for the love! |
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