As we all prepare to celebrate the greatest gift of all - God’s love among us - we are deeply moved by the generosity that makes it possible to share this love with more students here in Richmond's East end. Our hearts are filled with joy and hope for all that lies ahead as we look forward to expanding our community of affection in 2026.

We recently celebrated a meaningful milestone alongside our construction partners, Kjellstrom and Lee (K&L), as they placed the final beam on the roof of our new Lower School. In keeping with their commitment to making this project a learning experience for students, K&L paused construction to host a “Topping Off” ceremony—an exciting moment captured below.

Fourth grader, George-Wesley, carefully signs his name

to a truss which will be on display in the new gym.

Students blew bubbles up to the construction team as the last beam was set into place at our Topping Off Ceremony.

We are grateful to all who have supported the Hope Grows Campaign. Now in the home stretch, Hope Grows is a comprehensive campaign to build our new Lower School and athletic field, provide multi-year operating support, and expand our endowment. If you haven’t yet had the chance to participate, we invite you to join us—and we thank those who have already made this work possible.

Big thanks to Jonathan Clarke, Mentor Ministry Leader with Real Men Ministries, who, alongside his son, donated gifts collected through Toys for Tots to AJC last week. Guided by his mission of pointing men toward “a higher proposed life,” Clarke’s thoughtfulness helped create a special opportunity for our Lower School students.

With help from Volunteer Coordinator Ashley Raggi, a sweet Sibling Pop-Up Shop quickly came together, complete with a gift-wrapping station. Students shopped one by one for their siblings, taking pride in choosing gifts they knew would bring joy to their brothers and sisters on Christmas morning.

Real Men Ministries, AJC staff, and our awesome volunteers came together to empower our Lower School students

with the opportunity to bring joy to their loved ones.

Here at AJC, we’re always looking for creative ways to build literacy skills and reading fluency. Our recent 3rd Grade Readers Theater added a festive twist. Students were placed into small groups and worked with scripts, practicing daily, with a focus on reading smoothly, using appropriate tone and expression, and working as a team to bring their characters to life.

The experience culminated in a live performance attended by parents, staff, and even some AJC grads who showed up in support. Their warm and encouraging audience gave students a chance to build confidence and take pride in their hard work. Bravo to Mrs. Wean and her 3rd Grade readers!

Congratulations to our neighbors at Armstrong High School on an incredible football season! The Armstrong Wildcats finished the 2025 regular season undefeated at 11–0. Competing in Regionals for the VHSL Capital District, the team gave Richmond plenty to cheer for and ended the year with a season to remember.

To help celebrate this achievement, AJC staff recently came together to donate sweatshirts commemorating Armstrong’s undefeated season and recognize the hard work of these athletes and their coaches. Way to go, Wildcats—you made your school and City proud!

This year's Christmas celebration was a delightful showcase of student talent and hard work. The Middle School Band, directed by Quintin Terrell, Markaya James (pictured below), and Daniel Martin, impressed the audience (our largest yet!) with holiday favorites—pretty remarkable as many students had just picked up their instruments for the first time this year. Our middle school theater class performed a reimagined Grinch, fourth graders shared a play about the true meaning of Christmas, and the lower school choir sang a sweet selection of holiday favorites.

We also announced this year's Gabriel Award recipients: Middle School volunteer of 17 years, Betsy Fauntleroy; Lower School volunteer, Lee Hatcher (pictured below); and pro-bono occupational therapist, Janet Williams—incredible people whose gifts of time and uplifting relationships have enriched our school community in countless ways.

Gabriel Award recipient, Lee Hatcher

Gabriel Award recipient, Betsy Fauntleroy

AJC topped the tournament, with both teams claiming first place.

Photo courtesy of the Black History Museum &

Cultural Center of Virginia (BHMVA).

Born and raised in Richmond’s East End, Floyd Brown wears many hats. From Maintenance Assistant to Football Coach here at AJC, he's often among the first to arrive each morning and the last to leave.

Students affectionately call him “Mr. Peanut,” a nickname he’s had since childhood. Floyd’s favorite part of working at AJC is connecting with students through his warm sense of humor.

Outside of school, Floyd spreads joy throughout the Richmond community as “Soul Santa” at the Black History Museum of Richmond and area preschools, earning a reputation as “a true community man.”

Whether mentoring youth, coaching football, or bringing Santa to life, Floyd simply enjoys quietly uplifting the people around him—a steady, caring presence within his community.

To give of your time and talent as a volunteer, please contact Ashley Raggi at raggia@ajcschool.org.

Check out our Amazon Wishlist or make a gift here.

From our family to yours,