A Note from the Head of School

By Mike Maruca

All times and seasons are busy ones when you work in a school.  Right now is the time and season for many things, most notably admissions.  This week we’re sending out letters to our new rising 4th grade students and a handful of others.  At the same time our 8th graders are receiving news about admissions to high school.  I’ve been moved once again by the hard work, generosity and diligence of our staff who are involved in both processes.  The number of applicants for admissions increases every year, and while that makes the decisions harder, we maintain the same criteria: low(typically very low) income families, residents in neighboring public housing communities, and those with siblings at AJC are all given first consideration.  For the 8th graders, over half of them were accepted to local independent schools and during the coming weeks we will be sorting out the financial aid, best fit, and other factors to see where they will land. In between those two classes, current 4th through 7th graders are all preparing to move up a grade and, before too much longer, we’ll be looking at the starting line-up for year ten.

 7th grade boys with Science Teacher Mrs. Hughes

Cool Things In (and Out of) the Classroom 

The AJC staff works hard all year long to provide a variety of creative outlets for our students to explore.  Over the past few months, many students have had success with writing poetry.  Our 4th grade class recently hosted a poetry party in their classroom. Leading up to the party, each student researched and produced a short biography on a famous poet.  They then used their poet’s works as inspiration to write an original poem of their own.  Each student had the opportunity to read aloud his or her poem for families and volunteers.

Frenemies

By Perry Carlton (4th grade)

Magnets attract

Like friends stick

Together like syrup

And pancakes 

Friends are just

Like a magnet 

But friends

Can repel like

Wind and water

Friends are like

A magnet both

Attracts and repels

Ms. Robertson’s 8th grade English class recently read the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry as part of their curriculum.  Luckily, the play was running during the same time through the Virginia Repertory Theatre company.  Ms. Robertson took students from her class for a Sunday showing and all enjoyed the experience.

AJC launched a pilot program with Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School this school year.  Once a week, students from Maggie Walker come over and teach Spanish to both our 5th and 8th graders.  "The exchange program with Maggie Walker has been a win-win," said Head of School Mike Maruca.  "Some of the brightest students in the City come in and work one-on-one with our students with their own self-designed lesson plans and our students, in turn, have been loving it." Gracias a todos, pero especialmente a Maestro Roberto de  Maggie Walker por su apoyo entusiasto!

Career Day: Round 2

Our Spring Career Day on March 7th brought both new and familiar faces into the building.  Our students learned lots of valuable tips from different professionals in our community.  They had a glimpse into the worlds of medicine, media, construction, recreation, and public service.  We even heard about what it takes to become a Secret Service agent! Many thanks to all of our presenters:

George Bland, Jr. of Rockit Sports, LLC

Tim Caddigan of the U.S. Secret Service

Juan Conde of ABC 8News - WRIC

Sheriff Irving of the Richmond City Sheriff's Office

Lt. Killingsworth of the Richmond Police Department

Ryan Maharaj of Kjellstrom + Lee Construction

Station 11/Engine 1 crew of the City of Richmond, VA Fire Department

Diane Walker of NBC12

Dr. Duane Williams of the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU

 Tim Caddigan of the Secret Service                 Sheriff Antoinette Irving

       Juan Conde of ABC 8News                   Diane Walker of NBC12

Graduate Workplace Readiness Program

 AJC’s Graduate Support Assistant, Mary Cay Kollmansperger, has been hard at work mapping out a Graduate Workplace Readiness Program for this coming summer.  Twenty of our graduates will each be placed at a worksite in the city for six weeks (June 18th-July 27th).  The graduates will work approximately twelve hours per week at their designated worksite. AJC will provide each participant with a stipend, transportation, and four training sessions leading up to the start of the program.  The school has received a grant to cover the stipends.  Worksite placements will include, but are not limited to, a barber shop, a woodworking shop, a public defender’s office, and even Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.

WE NEED YOUR HELP: If you have a business that would be willing to host a graduate for this program, please email Mary Cay Kollmansperger.

 Marcella Leonard-Jackson, AJC Graduate who participated in the program last summer and was placed at the office of Owen Conway, Defense Attorney for Henrico County

March 14th: An Inspiring Day for AJC

The Mayor of the City of Richmond, Levar Stoney, stopped by the morning of March 14th to meet AJC’s students and staff.  He told us about his journey of becoming the Mayor, which started at a very young age.  The story of his childhood contained many elements similar to those of our students’ lives.  All eyes were glued on him as he encouraged our students to face every life obstacle with optimism and drive.

An air of solemnity followed us into the afternoon.  Rev. Andrew Terry from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church led us in a chapel service dedicated to remembering our lost loved ones in ways that best honor the lives they lived.  At the end of the service, we blessed a tree in memory of Mikkaisha Smoot, a former AJC student whose life was taken by gun violence last year.  Mikkaisha’s mother and siblings joined us for the ceremony.  The tree will be displayed near the front door of the school.