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ASA Raises Nearly $30,000 at Annual Fundraiser!
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From left: 28th Ward Alderman Jason Erving, ASA Principal, Gladys B. Simpson, Director of Student Services, Nicole Simpson, and Former 28th Ward Alderman Ed Smith at The 2011 ASA Academy Awards dinner fundraiser on November 5th. Smith was one of four award recipients at the event. |
ASA would like to thank all of its supporters for helping raise nearly $30,000 at The 2011 ASA Academy Awards. As of this week, the total amount raised is $29,735. The November 5th event featured an awards ceremony, student performance, raffle prizes and a silent auction. Nearly 170 guests were in attendance. Awardees included Holland and Knight Partner, Tom Kinasz, who took home the Corporate Award; Former 28th Ward Alderman Ed Smith, who was honored with the Service Award; Musician Donald Singleton, walked away with the community award; and Christopher Minter Sr. took home the Alumni Award. All awardees were recognized for their commitment and service to ASA during the school's 33-year history. Special guest, 28th Ward Alderman Jason Erving, was on hand to present the Service Award to his predecessor, Committeman Smith. For pictures of the event, click here, or visit our Facebook page. |
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ASA Awarded $2,000 for Financial Literacy
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Above (left to right): Principal Simpson and Community Bank of Oak Park River Forest representative, Bernard D. Headley II hold a $2,000 check, being awarded to ASA as part of the Bank's Champion Grant Program. ASA is using the grant funds to launch a financial literacy program in March for students and their families. |
The Community Bank of Oak Park River Forest has awarded ASA a $2,000 grant to institute a financial literacy program. Funding assistance will enable ASA to provide students and their families with online job preparation, career development programming, and a one-day financial literacy workshop designed to help students and their families save money, avoid debt, establish positive credit and build asset wealth. ASA's program will comprise three components: an online consumer economics course, a resume writing and job interviewing workshop, and a Finance 101 Financial Literacy workshop. The program kicks off in March. |
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Students Meet CPS Executive Brizard
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From left: Johnnita Lane, Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard, Brea Lobley, Sade Eubanks, and Javon Stallworth. The students met Brizard at a December 7th policy forum on re-enrolling high school dropouts. |
Four ASA students
met Chicago Public Schools CEO, Jean-Claude Brizard in December. The students were attending a policy forum on high school dropouts and the importance of re-enrolling youth in school. Brizard was one of three prominent keynote speakers at the Re-Enrolling Out of School Youth: A State, County & City Action Blueprint. The event took place December 7th at The Union League Club of Chicago. Other guest speakers included Illinois State Board of Education Chairman, Gery Chico, and Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle. More than 300 policy leaders and re-enrolled youth were in attendance.
A highlight of the forum was a new report commisioned by the Alternative Schools Network and prepared by Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies. It found that high school dropouts are more likely to be incarcerated, on welfare, and earn less in their lifetime than high school graduates. The report details specific data on Chicago's high school dropout population. For the entire report, go to: http://www.northeastern.edu/clms/wp-content/uploads/High-School-Dropouts-in-Chicago-and-Illinois.pdf. |
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Students, Staff Celebrate Halloween
Halloween isn't just for little kids anymore! That was the case October 31st when students and staff got into the Halloween spirit, with a handful dawning costumes to mark the ghoulish holiday. Prizes went to Seniors La'Que Burgin and Sedria Smith who dressed up as a fairy and lady bug respectively. Guidance Counselor Walter Sebuck and English Teacher Danielle Lewis got in on the action too. Lewis reported to work as Mario, and Sebuck as a scary, skeletal jack-o-lantern. |
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Register Today!
Registration for the 2011-2012 second semester is going on now. If you or someone you know is in need of enrolling in high school, call the ASA Registrar at 773-921-1315. Registration ends soon and space is limited. Call today! |
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Where Are They Now?
Name:
Sean Lewellen
ASA Graduation:
2010
Employer:
U.S. Army
Job Title:
Petroleum Supply Specialist
Job Responsibilities:
I keep the army at a state of readiness by purifying the gas and oil, separating the water and settlements out of the gas and making sure its clean. I fill up the jets, helicoptors, cargo planes, tanks, humvies, and trucks. I also supervise and manage the reception, storage and shipping of bulk or packaged petroleum-based products.
Looking Back on ASA:
I had a lot of fun. It was a great staff that kept me motivated to go on. The teachers are highly-trained and proficient in their tasks. Motivation was the key. When times got hard, they motivated me to keep going.
Advice for ASA Students:
Stay motivated... work on that 10-page paper! It's a beast! Always place the mission first because there'll always be a lot of time to party. Never accept defeat, and just do the right thing. |
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ASA At the Movies
Students and staff headed to the cinema this semester to view The Interruptors
and Courageous - two movies packed with powerful messages. The first, a documentary, details the lives of three "violence interrupters" in Chicago as they work to prevent youth from criminal activity and a life on the streets. The second, Courageous, follows four police officers who excel on the job, but struggle to be good fathers. "I liked both movies," said ASA student Laporsha Meredith. "I really liked The Interrupters because they talked to real people and they were really trying to help." she said. According to Principal Simpson, the school-sponsored field trips were learning opportunities for students and staff. "It's important that students see images they can relate to," she said. "When they see images of them-selves, they realize they're not the only ones experiencing life struggles. For staff, it was an opportunity to understand what our students are going through day-to-day." |
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ASA Mission
To accept students where they are academically, socially, and emotionally by educating, supporting, celebrating and empowering students to achieve a higher quality of life.
ASA Vision
To cultivate compassionate, self-sustaining, globally-minded, critical thinkers who can compete and succeed in the world economy.
ASA Core Values
Integrity
Discipline
Compassion
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