ASPIRA's VISION is to Educate, Inspire and Lead as we support our MISSION, to empower the Puerto Rican and Latino (and community of color) through advocacy and the education and leadership development of its youth."

Aspirantes and Families... we want to welcome you back to the second half of the 2023-2024 school year. This will be a new format that we use to keep you and your families informed of policies, procedures, opportunities and much much more. We can't wait to see you return.

Always excited to see you, Ms. Cruz - Principal and Mr. Kenebrew - Assistant Principal

Puerto Rican Police Association

Felix 'Tony" Olivieri Scholarship

Arael Borrero

Jennifer Perez

Football Recruitment offers

Arael Borrero

US Coast Guard Academy

Grinnell College (Iowa)

Elmhurst College (Illinois)

Jacinto Martinez

Elmhurst College (Illinois)

Parents.. this KNOW YOUR RIGHTS Workshop is key in helping you navigate your community services.

Hello Parent/Guardian... Would you like to be a volunteer and help at the school on a regular basis? Maybe you want to attend all the field trips, help in the cafeteria, assist on the floors; if this is of interest to you, please click the button and complete the survey so we can get the volunteering documents to you as soon as possible. 📝

Our Mentors and Mentees recently gathered to be part of an intense gingerbread making competition! Together, they created over 25 gingerbread houses. The results of the contest have been announced:

1st Place: Team Q "Starfish"

2nd Place: Team G & E

3rd Place: Team V

Check out their hard work below!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b6XTRuf_10_UikB8Nvu79IwGE5Dx2LzRMeaiBE67dL0/edit

At this time of the school year, ALL current students have received the initial 3-5 uniform shirts/tops/sweatshirts. ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN FULL UNIFORM UPON RETURN. We do not have any more uniform shirts to give to current students. Wash your uniforms as needed to have them available for the entire week of usage . A reminder of the uniform:

• Aspira shirt 👔
• NAVY blue long bottoms (NO light jeans, no black pants, no torn jeans, no leggings,) 👖
• Solid color shoes (NO crocs, slippers, slides, open toe shoes, open heel shoes) 👢👟
• NO non-school hoodies

Failure to ARRIVE TO SCHOOL IN FULL DRESS CODE can and will result in AFTER SCHOOL DETENTION. There will be NO TIME to go to the restrooms to change into your school uniform. The detention policy will be shared later in this newsletter.

In order to keep students engaged in classes, we will be implementing an AFTER SCHOOL DETENTION for those students that fail to follow the school policies. Repeat offenders will face harsher consequences based on their respective actions against school rules and/or policies. DETENTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IMMEDIATELY UPON DISMISSAL. Parents of students with detentions will be contacted the day of said detentions.

Students with excessive attendance/tardies/cutting issues [excessive begins with 3 incidents in any combination] will receive a consequence including but not limited to AFTER SCHOOL DETENTION or SATURDAY SCHOOL DETENTION.

Teachers have been instructed to lock their doors upon the start of each period. Students that are not in class will need to go to the office to obtain a pass. If a teacher or counselor is holding you in their room, they are responsible for letting your next teacher know IN ADVANCE that you are with them. Learning Lab time IS NOT FLOATING TIME, you are expected to be in your designated location, as attendance is taken there as well.

Parents will be required to participate in PARENT CONFERENCES regarding their student. Further details and documents will be shared in the next newsletter.

Upon your return, you will be assigned your LOCKER and LOCK. Teachers will give you time to practice opening and closing your locks before taking you into the corridors for your assigned locker. Attached is the document you will receive showing you how to operate your locks. You will also find the locker policy attached here.

Are you interested in COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY? Here is a great opportunity to join this program and enter the world of technology. Learn about programming, coding and much more.

Check out the short 15 minute video below to see all that you can learn and the sign up today!

The Chicago Police & Firefighter Training Academy (CPFTA) provides training for students interested in careers in public safety. The 2-year program was developed jointly by the CPS, CPD,

CFD and CCC. Since 1998, CPFTA has recruited and training up to 125 public and non-public high school students each year. CPFTA's mission is to support the next generation of public servants by providing them with the education and experience the need to serve and protect the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois.

MESSAGE FROM YOUR COUNSELOR:

Hello Amazing Seniors! Many of you have been getting acceptances into college, woo hoo!!! There is also a good amount of you who have already received scholarships, weeee!!!

We want to be keeping track of all of your accomplishments! Please fill out the forms below for EACH college acceptance and EACH scholarship! 🙂

• College Acceptance Form: https://forms.gle/KJzHNGheZEYeJJTh9
• Scholarship Form: https://forms.gle/U9Y7JRHbgHwRQ3Aw6

🤞The FAFSA SHOULD be opening on December 31st. We are all crossing our fingers!!! 🤞
English:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XjEvmvpDWvkb5cw1s1mtpsOAd63BM0Ei/view?usp=drive_link

Español:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XjEvmvpDWvkb5cw1s1mtpsOAd63BM0Ei/view?usp=drive_link

Hello Student and Scholar... As you think about returning to school, is there any staff member that you are particularly looking forward to seeing? Do you have a staff member that always helps you? Is there someone who always makes you feel welcome? Do you have a "go to" person who always encourages you to be your best? If so, complete the form below so we can share your reasons and give them a SHOUTOUT!