Note from the Head of School

     It's a great thing to become good at something you love.  It's even better when you can take that something to another level in a performance, a competition, or just shared among friends and family.  A lot of that has been going on at AJC these past ten days.  A group of 8th graders vulnerably and movingly shared some of their poems in a poetry slam at a local coffee house.  The 6th grade boys and girls took turns visiting their peers at the Collegiate School and slammed some poetry themselves.  Their AJC and Collegiate teachers reported it was "awesome" and "fantastic" respectively.  I didn't see them perform but I read the poems and they were. 

     The Varsity Boys' Basketball team left it all out on the floor, as they say, and in the process won their championship this year.  They were cheered on through every game by what is perhaps our best team---the Pep Squad.  Five boys from the Chess Team emerged after a day-long competition at their first tournament with the team trophy.  Many of their matches lasted well over an hour.  At our first Black History Family Night the Songbirds sang loud and proud and the Step Team pretty much killed it in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd.  That night, nearly every wall in the building was covered with poems, artwork, and AJC students' family histories, each one its own silent and artistic performance. The next day, for an encore, Mr. Crane took the Step Team to Petersburg to participate in their first competition.

     It's a thrill to see our students put themselves out there in song, art, sports, chess, dance, and verse.  I can't wait to see more.   As always, you're welcome to visit us anytime and witness firsthand the daily performances within our halls.

-Mike Maruca

Anna Julia Cooper Day

     On Friday, February 22nd, the entire school put aside the typical assignments for a day of reflection on Anna Julia Cooper's life.  We also focused on a few ways our school community is living out her legacy.

     A few teachers put together an activity very similar to an "escape room."  Students were tasked with navigating around a classroom, solving a series of clues about Dr. Cooper and the lasting impact of her life's work.  Students were also given the opportunity to produce some reflective poems with an emphasis on the strength and resilience Dr. Cooper modeled throughout her life.  And, as always, we included an element of service by making motivational cards for MLK Middle School students who will take Spring SOL tests soon.

     The afternoon was all about fun and strengthening our bonds with one another.  Everyone of us, students and staff alike, loaded up in buses, vans, and cars and headed out to RockIt Sports.  We rotated through a handful of team sports for some friendly competition and lots of laughs.  The highlight of the trip was the Staff vs. Students basketball game.  Coach G and her "mature" teammates took home the win, securing an undefeated streak for the Staff.

AJC Black History Family Night 

     Last Friday night, members of the AJC community gathered inside the school to celebrate Black History Month and our own family histories.  Our students spent all of February creating artwork and working on various projects that were placed on display during the open house event.  In addition to the walking exhibits set up throughout our hallways, guests were treated to live performances from our choir, The Songbirds, and our step team, Julia’s Lions. Malik (8th Grade) and Talar (8th Grade) presented their family trees for all who were in attendance.  

     Thank you to everyone who came out and supported our students during the event. Stop by the school if you can and we would be happy to share with you some of the work that was showcased.

Special Feature: Family PRIDE

     This school year we have launched a parents and family association called AJC Family PRIDE. The group is led by a handful of dedicated parents and our Family Support Coordinator, Mary Cay Kollmansperger. Family PRIDE is working to strengthen our community of affection in a number of ways. They plan and host fun events like board game and bingo nights. They also spend time volunteering in the classrooms during the school day.

     Having families come through our doors more often has brought about a renewed energy this year. If you would like to support the mission and longevity of AJC Family PRIDE in any way, please contact Mary Cay at kollmanspergerm@ajces.org.

New Elective Spotlight

This year we have added a new team to AJC's line-up: a Step team!  Led by Science & English teacher Mr. Crane, Julia's Lions is a co-ed Step team for grades 6-8. As noted in Mr. Maruca's opening letter, the team had already had two performances: first during our Family History Night and then the very next day at a showcase in Petersburg.  We are hoping to get a few more performances scheduled soon, so stay tuned for details!