World Learning is a great organization which coordinates undergraduate student exchanges through its Global UGRAD program. Last November, they brought several international students to our DC elementary after-school programs at Bancroft and Thomson Elementary to talk about their home countries in Asia and Central/South America and volunteer with the kids. Everyone involved had a great time, so we were happy to partner with them for another international student volunteer day.
We had 11 international students come to Thomson Elementary on March 8 to volunteer with our students. After helping them with their homework, the international students gave short presentations about their countries. Many of the AALEAD students had questions for the volunteers like “what kind of food do you eat?” They also learned how to say “hello”, “goodbye” and “thank-you” from some of the volunteers.
On March 15, a separate group of 6 international students visited Bancroft Elementary. As soon as they arrived at the school, our students were excited to see them and play with them. After a quick game of kickball at recess, they settled down to homework with the help of the volunteers.
Once the students were finished with their homework, they got to learn more about the volunteers and their home countries.
All of AALEAD’s students had a great time with the World Learning volunteers. Thank you World Learning for bringing your students to our programs!
On February 10th, 11 college students from the Filipino Organization of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) visited our Bancroft Elementary after-school program for a dance workshop. The FOCUS students choreographed a dance just for our students to learn. Our students were very excited to learn a dance routine, and were very quick to catch on!
After getting on their feet and dancing the afternoon away (complete with a dance-off at the end with special moves!), they settled down with the FOCUS students to work on their homework and reading, while munching on some cookies made by FOCUS as a special treat.
Thank you FOCUS for coming out and volunteering with our students at Bancroft!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
At the beginning of this month, 34 of our Elementary School AALEADers from Thomson and Bancroft ES’s went on a field trip to the US Capitol Building. The day started off cold and windy, but the bright sun soon warmed us up as we traveled to the Capitol. Before the official tour, students got to explore the Capitol Building Museum, which included models of the Capitol and surroundings from the end of the 18th century to the present – students were amazed to see how much the area has changed! Thank you to our wonderful museum docent who showed students around and explained the significance of the models.
The tour itself started with beautiful 15 minute video introducing students to the history and significance of the US Capitol Building.
Students waiting for the video to start!
Next it was off to the Rotunda, where our tour guide shared about the construction of the Capitol Dome as well as the artwork and statues that decorate the inside.
Our next stop was the statuary room, where students saw statues sent from all over the country and learned that the room was originally built to be the House of Representatives chamber. They also learned a bit about acoustics and got to test out how sound carried from one side of the hall to the other.
Thank you to Mr. David Cox and Ms. Susan Rohol from Minnesota Senator Al Franken’s office for arranging this tour for us! Our students enjoyed the tour very much and truly benefited from the experience.
Thank You!!
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
ENTER HERE... if you dare!
This past week, for the third year running, our DC High School AALEADers pulled out all the stops to transform our normally mild-mannered office space into a tremendously creepy Haunted House for the benefit of our Elementary School students. It was a full house with over 80 elementary school students, many cleverly disguised as ghosts, goblins, princesses, cats, bunny rabbits, and all manner of terrifying creatures, gathered in the downstairs fellowship hall awaiting their turn to bravely follow their High School guides through the Haunted House. While they waited they enjoyed a slice of Pizza (thank you Pizza Bolli’s!), made masks, and got their faces painted.
Thank you our High School AALEADers for the incredible work that went into this year’s haunted house! Thank you to all the AALEAD staff, interns, and volunteers who pitched in to transport students, paint faces, and pass out pizza. Last but not least, thank you to our amazing Elementary School Program teachers who invest so much in our Elementary School students on a daily basis!
AALEAD is piloting a new photography workshop this year at Thomson Elementary School! Using donated cameras, students will see their surroundings from a new perspective while building positive self identity and learning responsible behavior. Students participating in the 4-week workshop will check out a camera each day and work on a preassigned project. Project photos will be displayed each week and the students will learn to offer constructive comments to their peers. We need your help getting this program off the ground. If you have an older working digital camera collecting dust in a drawer, please consider donating it to AALEAD for use in this project!
Mail your donation to: 2100 New Hampshire Avenue, NW Washington DC, 2009
Or contact Micah Shearer, mshearer@aalead.org, 202-884-0322 ext 106, to arrange drop off at one of our Elementary Schools or at our offices.
Posted By Asian American LEAD
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Students in AALEAD have been spending their hard-earned summer vacation with us this year, in a wide variety of summer programs that are running in Maryland and DC.
Currently, Maryland Middle School and High School Programs, as well as DC Elementary School and Secondary School Programs are all running our usual, high-quality summer programs with cultural identity workshops, resume and college application assistance, field trips, art projects and much more, but we’ve also added two new programs to our summer catalog this year!
Our Mentoring Program is working with our high school students to bring our Workplace Mentoring Program to summer. Each week, students have been going to the IBM offices in downtown DC to meet with mentors to go over job preparation, college applications and resumes. By participating in these weekly mentoring workshops, these students are getting the opportunity to get advice and feedback from well-established professionals.
AALEAD is also working with One Economy to implement the Digital Connectors Program (http://www.one-economy.com/what-we-do/digital-connectors) this year. 15 talented and motivated students from AALEAD’s Maryland and DC programs are going through training right now to help spread technological awareness to low-income, immigrant and other neighborhoods that don’t have access to this technology.
Check back in as the summer progresses and see updates from all of our programs!!
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Some of the DC SSP students on a trip to the movies.
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AALEAD’s Digital Connectors review their material before starting their community outreach.
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Maryland and DC’s High School Programs review resumes with their workplace mentors at IBM’s DC offices.
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Maryland Middle School Summer Program hard at work on a project at the Wheaton Rec Center.
Posted By Jonathan Henry
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Are you about to move out of the DC metro area and don’t know what to do with your old SmarTrip cards? Is your wallet too heavy and do you need to shed some cards? Did you find another mode of transportation and would love to donate your SmarTrip card to an organization that could do even more with it? Then, you’re in luck!
AALEAD is currently collecting SmarTrip cards to benefit the Asian American youth in Montgomery County and in DC. Metro fares are always increasing, and students in Maryland don’t have the benefit of a student discount on metro fares, we are in need of kind-hearted citizens to donate their SmarTrip cards in order for AALEAD to provide more opportunities for youth in the greater DC area.
Every year we offer unique field trips, community service opportunities, and large events which are in various parts of the DC region. Help us reduce travel costs in order to invest more into our students’ lives and spend less on metro expenses.
If you would like to send us your SmarTrip card, please email Edison Park at epark@aalead.org or call 301-942-9333. Donation Receipts will also be available upon request.
Please act now and help us provide greater service to our youth. Thank you!
On a hot and humid day, AALEAD EAS went to Homestead Farm for their first weekly field trip as a part of their summer program. As the bus arrived to pick up the young AALEADers, they began jumping and prancing around in nervous anticipation. The young students from Thomson ES were real troopers as they endured a near hour long ride to the farm. However, they were greatly rewarded upon reaching the farm as they saw ducks, turkeys, lambs, goats, and many other animals.
Many of the students were able to feed an animal for the first time as the tour guide gave each student some feed to give to the goats. Nervous at first, many students eventually fed and grew to love being around the goats and many others.
After feeding the goats, the tour guide thought it’d be best if the young AALEADers got a chance to eat. And so, each student was given a basket to pick some berries. The students learned what types of berries were safe and ripe to eat and learned a valuable lesson in the hard work that goes into the food they eat.
Before hopping back on the bus many of the kids began to eat berries and drink ice water to keep the blistering sun at bay.
Before the kids knew it, it was time to leave. Thankfully, the children were anything but sad on the return home. Together, the children sang and talked together about all the new things they learned today. What an unforgettable day! Hope EAS looks forward to many more adventures this summer!
Posted By Asian American LEAD
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**Meet Our other Summer ‘11 Interns!: Jeff, Drew, Elan, and Kendra!**
Sandra is with you this summer
Hi, this is Sandra from China. I am now a student in Beijing Foreign Studies University majoring in American Studies. I will assist Melor in DC Elementary Program this summer.
I’ve got knowledge and skills in English education during my undergraduate years and once worked as an intern teacher in a public middle school back in China for two months. This is my first time in the States and I’m still getting myself used to everything here. Everyone here in AALEAD is friendly and I really appreciate what they have done for the Asian American children here.
I’ve got the chance to meet the kids in Thomson Elementary School. I really like them and hope to do whatever I can to help those kids. Two months is short, but I’m sure it will be a great experience which I shall cherish for the rest of my life.
Posted By Asian American LEAD
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