ASPIRA NEWS

May,2016

A Letter From The Coordinator

We have just over one month left of ASPIRA programming left! Do you know
what your kids will be doing this summer? We are currently accepting
applications for our free, full day ASPIRA Summer Program. We will provide
free transportation and weekly field trips. Also, dont forget to attend our 1st
annual ASPIRAtion Showcase on May 12th from 5pm to 7pm. There will be
student awards, Free food and student provided entertainment!
OUTSTANDING ASPIRA STAFF MEMBER

MS. Valladolid

The Aspira Program would take some time to express how

much we appreciate you. You are truly are a standout
teacher because of your sheer dedication to your students.
Especially when teaching FLSC, you always make sure the
students are comfortable in sometimes an uncomfortable
situation. Being able to count on you for extra show how
much you care about the happiness and success of our
students. Even though youve only be working in the
program a few months, your passion for teaching and
student learning is evident. Thank you for always going the
extra mile as a teacher. We appreciate it more than you will
ever know in the Apsira Program.
~Kinyetta Bird, Academic Coordinator

APRIL IN REVIEW
April was dedicated preparing an amazing
ASPIRAtion Showcase for all of our parents and
family members at Luis Munoz Marin Schools for
Social Justice. Below is a brief overview of some of
the trips we will be making.
Tue Apr 12

Library Field Trip - Cohort 7, Cohort 5

and Cohort 6
Wed Apr 13
Library Field Trip - Cohort 3, Cohort 9
and Cohort 10
Thu Apr 14
Library Field Trip - Cohort 8, Cohort 1
and Cohort 4
Fri Apr 15
No ASPIRA - Staff Meeting
Thu Apr 21
CHISPA Site Visit
Wed Apr 27
Field Trip - Chelsea Piers 1:305:00pm
STAFF DEVELOPMENT - NO ASPIRA AFTER SCHOOL

April Students of the Month

MAY AND JUNE IN ASPIRA

May will be the most exciting month in ASPIRA so far!
The whole month will revolve around wrapping up the
school year and showing off all of the amazing things
our kids have accomplished this year.
Thu May 12
Thu May 26
Mon May 30
Wed June 1

Sat June 4
Mon June 6t

Fri June 10

ASPIRAtion Showcase and student

awards ceremony
NO ASPIRA
NO ASPIRA
Lead poisoning parent workshop
hosted by The Department of Health
& Community Wellness
field Trip to Liberty Science Center
National Council of La Raza parent
workshop about Common Core and
how to support your children through
the summer
Last Day of ASPIRA

Job Club

English Language Arts/Readers Theater

Job Club overview! "Doodling for Dollars!" Our students

have set their goals and have planned to live on their
own someday and or go to college! Now the question
they ask themselves is how much money do they need?
Therefore we have decided to create an into graphic to
show what savings looks like for them. They started by
writing a savings goal. To begin they showed the money
they receive each month from parents, work, gifts etc. if
they didn't receive a regular amount we used $50. Pay
Yourself First(PYF) show them how they can save more
money(even if it's just a dollar or two). Then they created
a pie chart to show how they spent their money each
month (music, eating out, movies, c lothes etc.). Finally
we established different places to keep their
money.(piggy bank, credit union bank). "We are working
hard to reach the top! Ka-Ching, Ka-Ching, now we are
hot!"

During the month of April, students have had a "blast"

listening to different types of music; analyzing it's lyrics.
Students have had interesting and passive discussions on
how certain types of Music today are of negative
influence to people. Types of Music which are of a better
influence and "clean"lyrics has been mentioned. Cohort 6
is looking forward to the May 12thShowcase where they
will be able to present their thoughts and investigation.

Habeeb Muhammad
ASPIRA Job Club Coordinator

Crazy 8 Math
This month we are working with a new curriculum " Crazy
8s Math Club". The students are learning to love math.
Eack week we are building stuff and make a mess. Through
these fun activities the students are building friendships.

Ms. Crawford
ASPIRA Crazy 8 Math Teacher

Creative Expression
Students have been busy continuing to work on their
self-portraits. Layering colored pencils for realistic skin
tones, creating patterned borders, and deciding on
lettering styles have been the focus of the component.
The self-portraits are looking fantastic and will be
proudly displayed at the May 12 Aspira Showcase. I
hope to see everyone there!
Stella Sormani
ASPIRA Art Teacher

Communicative Self-Expression
This month in communicative expressions the students
did a lot of hands on and team building activities. It was
wonderful to see the students work among their peers
and apply their critical thinking skills. This month we
played games like Scrabble and Jumble Charades. Both
games challenged them to think outside of the box.
Ms. Way
ASPIRA Cooperative Games For Social Change Teacher

Ms. Tejada
ASPIRA English Language Arts, Readers Theater

Math U
The Math Curse has surfaced and revealed an
immediate impact on the students of ASPIRA. Mr.
Vitale reminds the students of Math U that They can
think of almost everything in life as a math problem.
In the spirit of the award winning book Math Curse,
the students are coming to understand how math is
used in everyday situations and how they can apply
math strategies to solve common problems. The
students of Math U are examining their day-to-day
schedules, considering routines, questions that may
arise and situations they encounter daily. Our daily
routines are engrossed with math problems and the
students will spend their time in Math U preoccupied
with identifying the problems they face and the
solutions that such daily problems yield. The students
of Math U are tasked with creating their own
personalized version of the Math Curse, complete
with a central character, clearly defined problems and
strategized solutions.
Mr. Vitale
ASPIRA Math U Teacher

In other News
Hello parents and friends, my name is Angel Ortiz and I am the vice- president of the student council in the Aspira
Program. Part of my job in the program as the vice- president is to help the program to find new ideas that make the
program more effective for every student and to provide parent with the information that they need to keep in touch
with what is happening with their children.
As all of you might hear on the news or by the school staff, there is a serious problem with the water that we drink at
school. A number of schools water were tested and 16 samples from drinking water sources showed levels about the
15 parts per billion. The results on one fountain were nearly 20 times the federal limit.
Last Wednesday, April 6th 2016, we had the opportunity to discuss this issue with the Superintendent of education
Mr. Christopher Cerf and many others NJ school principals at a community meeting at Elliot School in Newark NJ.
He was very concern about the problem and explained that
the one of the reason that the water has lead is because
most of the school buildings are old and their water pipes
and made of metal. Mr. Christopher Cerf stated that in the
vast majority of cases where lead is found in drinking water,
it enters through the water delivery system itself when it
leaches from either lead pipes, household fixtures
containing lead, or lead solder.
Ms. Larranaga expressed her concern about this problem to
Mr. Christopher Cerf and he promised to help her with the
expenses that the Aspira program is having because of the
lack of drinking water at Luis Muos Marin School.
Your children safety is our priority.
Sincerely:
Angel Ortiz
Vice-Principal of Students Council of Aspira

The Kids Bowl Free Summer Bowling Program is available in our community and we though that your
family might enjoy this great day. Each child receives 2 FREE Games of Bowling Every Day All Summer.
Here's How You Can Register Your Children/Family

1. Go to www.KidsBowlFree.com
2. Click on the State and then select the bowling center that you'd like to
participate at.
3. Register your children to receive Free Bowling all summer long

The ASPIRAtion Showcase is an opportunity for our students to shine for you and show you what they have
been working on all semester long. Students will teach back and articulate what they learned from their
highly skilled ASPIRA teachers during their time in the ASPIRA 21st Century Community Learning Center
After-School Program. They will demonstrate 21st century communication skills by sharing what they
learned with teachers, parents, and community members through science-fair like booths as well as
products, performances or presentations.
El mostrador de ASPIRA es una oportunidad para nuestros estudiantes brillar para ustedes y mostrarles lo mucho que han
estado trabajando este semestre . Los estudiantes ensean y articulan lo que aprendieron de sus maestros (altamente
calificados), durante su tiempo en el programa de ASPIRA 21st Century Community Learning Center After- School
Program. Se demuestran habilidades de comunicacin del siglo XXI al compartir lo aprendido con los maestros, padres,
miembros de la comunidad, por medio de la Feria de Ciencias, as como productos, actuaciones o presentaciones.

Free Summer Program

Dear Parents/Legal Guardians
We are proud to announce that ASPIRA will be holding its 6-week ASPIRA Summer

Program running from July 11 through August 12 at Park Elementary located at 120
Manchester Pl, Newark. The program will run Monday through Friday, 8AM 3PM. Bus
transportation will be provided to Park Elementary! Students must report to Luis Munoz Marin
Elementary, where they will be picked up in the morning and dropped off again at the end of the
day. The 5-week program is a combination of both educational components and recreational
activities, further enriching and empowering our students with knowledge and leadership skills
while also exposing them to many fun summer activities. There are no fees associated with this
program and it is limited to students entering 5th grade and students leaving 8th grade. Preference is
given to current ASPIRA participants.

Weekly Field Trips!

Academic and Recreational Activities each day!
Monday Friday 8AM-3PM
Bus Transportation Provided!
Please sign below and return as soon as possible! Space is Limited!
Student Last Name: ______________ Student First Name: _____________ Current Grade Level _____
Parent Last Name: _______________ Parent First Name: ______________
Cell phone number: _________________
Cell Phone Carrier _________________ (Used to send informational text messages from alternative devices. Information not given to anyone outside of ASPIRA staff)
Is your child currently enrolled in ASPIRA: yes

no

May 2016

April

Sun

Mon

Tue

June

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

10

11

12

13

14

ASPIRAtion
Showcase
and Student
Award
Ceremony!
Dinner provided
5PM to 7PM

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

NO ASPIRA
Staff Meeting

29

30
NO ASPIRA
Memorial Day

31

June
June 1st Lead poisoning parent workshop hosted by
The Department of Health & Community Wellness
June 4th Field Trip to Liberty Science Center
June 6th National Council of La Raza parent workshop
about Common Core and how to support your children
through the summer
June 10th Last Day of ASPIRA