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ACLAMO Family Centers Newsletter
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Providing our community with the services and skills for success
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FEBRUARY 20151
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Jerssie enjoys being a sea turtle
at Camden´s Adventure Aquarium.
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An Attitude of Gratitude Perhaps it's the sunshine, maybe it's that day last week when the thermostat actually topped 44 degrees. You would think it was spring! Then maybe it's more the stories in this month's newsletter. Once again, I am heartened by the generosity of our partners who provide us with volunteer service, gifts, festivities, and a general sense of inspiration. We are also grateful for the children who take in all the knowledge we can offer, as witnessed by our field trips. And lastly, we are always thankful for your support. - Juan Guerra
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ACLAMO STUDENT COULD NOT SLEEP
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Curious sharks get into the picture.
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"My child was so excited that she could not sleep," recounts Roberta, a mother in ACLAMO´s Family Literacy Program. Her daughter´s enthusiasm was all about the next day´s field trip to Camden's Adventure Aquarium.
Making it hard to sleep was an unintended result of lesson plans which focused student learning on the names of the sea creatures they would observe on the field trip, along with information about the ocean as a habitat. Teacher Linda´s enthusiasm was catching!
Over the years, the winter visit to the Aquarium has regularly been listed on student surveys as the best field trip in the program. This year was no exception.
On the way home, every single child fell asleep on the bus. They were getting some rest at last!
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FIFTH GRADERS PREP FOR TRIP TO MEXICO
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Juan and Linda meet with the fifth grade class bound for Mexico.
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Each year, fifth grade students from Plymouth Meeting Friends School spend two weeks studying and living with families in Mexico. Over the past few years, a pre-departure tradition has emerged.
The fifth graders collect food, clothing and school supplies and bring them to ACLAMO. Then small groups of PMFS students are paired with one or two mothers in ACLAMO´s Family Literacy Program. The students try key words and phrases in Spanish and learn about family life in Mexico.
These informal conversations form a part of the orientation given by PMFS to their students so they will have a better idea of what to expect during their upcoming Mexican adventure.
"The children had a real experiential opportunity," enthused Christina Babb, who represented the PMFS Parent Teacher Organization during the visit. "We appreciate the opportunity to share the morning with ACLAMO and to strengthen our mutual bond."
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Norristown native Maria Lopez grew up as one of 9 children in a Spanish speaking family. She watched as her older brothers and sisters began school and enrolled in the after school classes at ACLAMO Family Centers.
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Maria Lopez knows what she is talking about.
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When she began first grade, Maria was placed in an ESL class, which helped her English. However, she preferred to be with her friends in all of their regular classes. She knew what to do. She followed her siblings´ example and enrolled in ACLAMO´s mentoring and academic support program after school. By the end of the second grade, her hard work in the ESL class and at ACLAMO paid off and she was able to move into all regular classes in school.
Throughout elementary school, Maria continued to participate in ACLAMO´s after school program and its summer program. She especially remembers the fun of Christmas events, which her mother supported by helping to prepare food. "By the end of fifth grade," Maria recalls, "I was really moving ahead."
Indeed Maria did move ahead! Today she is finishing her bachelor degree at Temple University´s School of Social Work and has returned to her former classrooms at ACLAMO as a counseling intern. Next fall, she plans to continue for a master of social work.
Maria is just one of the many ACLAMO alumni who serve as examples of how hard work and study produce excellent results.
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SMALL BUT MIGHTY
Early in February, ACLAMO asked supporters to vote for its entry in First Niagara Bank´s Mentoring Matters contest.
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Luna speaks at a
Faces of Hope breakfast.
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The bank had received applications from mentoring organizations across Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania. In preliminary eliminations, the bank narrowed the field to eight of the best mentoring organizations. ACLAMO´s story of teacher Marla Benssy´s mentoring of student Luna Moscal was chosen as one of the finalists.
820 ACLAMO friends responded to the challenge and voted in this contest. ACLAMO was competing with several large organizations, but ended the contest in sixth place, qualifying for a prize of $1,000. Once again, ACLAMO supporters helped prove that small can be mighty!
THANK YOU FOR VOTING!
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UPPER MAIN LINE ROTARY
GOES BILINGUAL
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For many of the children, this was their first very own dictionary.
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The Upper Main Line Rotary Club has played a key role in supplying ACLAMO with important supplies and equipment.
In February, eight members of the club came to ACLAMO to present over 200 Spanish/English dictionaries to enthusiastic students and parents. The club is also arranging to replace ACLAMO's florescent lights with new energy efficient LED lighting through its First Light project.
In addition, members of the King of Prussia Rotary stepped up to support ACLAMO with a monetary donation.
"Once again, these great Rotary Clubs are demonstrating their commitment to the community and we are extremely grateful," said Juan Guerra, ACLAMO´s Executive Director.
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JENKINTOWN HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES VALENTINE´S DAY AT ACLAMO
| The only thing more enjoyable than icing cupcakes ... |
For longer than most ACLAMO workers can remember, Jenkintown High School Spanish teacher Richard Detwiler has brought his students to ACLAMO to celebrate Valentine´s Day.
This year, the students in the After School Program enjoyed games, crafts (button making was the favorite), and of course, food!
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| | Jenkintown students (and teacher) sample the cupcakes to insure top quality. |
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MENTORING MADE THE DIFFERENCE
 Anthony Rosado grew up in North Philadelphia and is proud of both his Italian and his Puerto Rican heritage. Today, Anthony is 38 years old, Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo Bank and Area President for Montgomery County Retail. "It was challenging at times growing up," Anthony recalls. "The big difference in my life was the great mentoring I received."
Anthony´s mother and older sister provided key support for him, but his first real mentor was his grandfather, Germano Pontarelli, who had come to the United States from Italy without any formal education or money. Germano worked several minimum wage jobs, but saved carefully and began to purchase real estate.
"As I grew up, my grandfather kept me working beside him every weekend," Anthony smiles. "I helped him by making repairs, doing roofing, working in the garden, and making wine, one of my grandfather´s special interests. He taught me to work - hard!" Anthony adopted his grandfather´s work ethic and even has taken over the wine making, to his grandfather´s great delight.
Since mentoring was so important in his life, Anthony wants to do the same for his children and his team members. "I believe that I have a fiduciary responsibility to each of the 400 bank team members in my area of responsibility," he affirms. "My goal is for each of them to succeed."
Anthony shares ACLAMO´s goal of helping young Latinos as they prepare to assume productive roles in society. He constantly seeks ways to mentor and support Latinos through his positions as chair of "Latin Connection", the organization of Wells Fargo Bank´s Latino team members, and as Vice Chair of the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
"ACLAMO appreciates the support we receive from Wells Fargo Bank," states Executive Director Juan Guerra. "We are inspired by Anthony Rosado´s example and are committed to working hard to see that many more Latino youth can emulate his success."
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ACLAMO Family Centers celebrates its 37th year of providing Latino and low income residents of Montgomery County and surrounding areas with improved access and programs in education, health and social services to foster academic excellence, self-sufficiency and economic success.
ACLAMO stands for Accíon Comunal Latinoamericana de Montgomery County, or Latin American Community Action of Montgomery County. ACLAMO is derived from the Spanish word aclamar, which means "to acclaim."
ACLAMO Family Centers ACLAMO Family Centers
512 W. Marshall Street 515 Walnut Street
Norristown, PA 19401 Pottstown, PA 19464
610-277-2570 610-970-2134
aclamo.org
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