May 10 | Mother’s Day Celebration at LEAP Academy On May 8, one hundred parents attended and were welcomed by the school community to celebrate Mother’s Day with a special luncheon at the STEM campus of the LEAP Academy. Chef Michele Pastorello prepared a delicious, healthy meal of whole wheat pasta with fresh zucchini, chicken and red bell peppers, as well as a choice of apple pie or custard for dessert.
Click here to see photos |
Click here for story
April 10 | LEAP Academy Social Studies teacher Randy Miller has written a chapter in the newly published book Black Male Teachers; Diversifying the United States’ Teacher Workforce. In 2012, he published The Double D’s of Destruction. This book speaks to the issues of distraction and desensitization that are slowly destroying families and communities in the nation’s cities.
See below for the links to these books. Congratulations Randy.
April 10 | Case Summary of the LEAP Academy University Charter School’s Performance-Based Compensation Program completed by the Center for Educator Compensation Reform (CECR)
The CECR released the results of a case summary of the LEAP Academy’s Performance-Based Compensation program. The summary discusses the program’s successes and impact on student achievement and teacher quality at LEAP Academy, which is the first unionized public school in New Jersey to have such a compensation system. The CECR’s work on this paper was supported by the U.S. Department of Education. The document includes an overview of the history of the school, an overview of how teachers are evaluated and compensated, and the lessons learned. Click here for more information
March 27 | Quinton Aaron, the actor who co-starred with Sandra Bullock in the 2010 Oscar-nominated movie, “The Blind Side“ visited LEAP Academy on March 27th to speak to our students. Quentin and his foundation brought a message focused on character building and anti-bullying. His visit is part of a national initiative that he is undertaking through his Foundation to get youth motivated. Quinton Aaron, best-known for his portrayal of Michael “Big Mike” Oher in the blockbuster movie, “The Blind Side,” now dedicates himself to motivating children and youth to make good choices and engage in positive outlets. 300 LEAP students gathered in the school’s gymnasium to welcome and listen to his message. LEAP has now joined his network of schools.
Click here to see photos of the event.
9th Annual National Honor Society Induction Ceremony
On March 28th the LEAP Academy University Charter School inducted more than 120 students into the National Honor Society. Parents and family members of the honorees attended the event, which was held at the Upper High School. Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, founder of the LEAP Academy, Distinguished Service Professor at Rutgers University, and Director of the Community Leadership Center acknowledged the students accomplishments and hard work.
The 2012 -2013 inductees took part in a candle lighting ceremony. This symbolized passing the light of learning and making the promise to uphold the National Honor Society expectations of character, scholarship, leadership, and service.
The inductees also took the National Honor Society Oath which pledges that the students will achieve the most from their education, demonstrate responsibility, show enthusiasm, work hard, learn the skills of leadership, be of service to their school and community, and be a role model for their peers.
March 19, 2013 | Board of Trustees meeting included an awards ceremony for teachers and a school fair highlighting the successful accomplishments of students. The Board of Trustees and the Administration of the LEAP Academy University Charter School awarded school teachers: Bob Bonner, Marie Green, Nina Speart, and Silvia Vasquez certificates of Recognition and Performance Bonus Awards, based on their outstanding performance in working with students in 5th grade to successfully score at the proficiency level in the NJASK-Math tests in 2012.
The school fair portion of the meeting enabled the Trustees to see presentations created by students that highlighted their efforts in a variety of activities. These included the LEAP Lancers Baseball Team, the STEM high school Robotics team, Lower LEAP Student Congress, Math Club, Fruit and Vegetable program, Building Character Club, and the Safety Patrol. Click here to see photos
March 19 | Discover the latest achievements of the Community Leadership Center in the 2012-2013 Annual Report. This comprehensive document also includes: highlights of the LEAP Academy, profiles of teachers and staff, and a demographic overview of LEAP Families. Click here to read the full report
February 15 | ( For Immediate Release) LEAP Academy Has 501(c) (3) Status Reinstated -- The LEAP Academy University Charter School has had its 501(c) (3) status restored by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), effective May 17, 2012.
Furthermore, the IRS continues to consider LEAP’s request to have its tax exempt status retroactively restored to cover the period between November 15, 2010 and May 16, 2012, during which its status was automatically revoked. Click here to read full release
February 14 | Check our Family Support Center Winter Newsletter
February 27| AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY CELEBRATION - LEAP LOWER SCHOOL CAMPUS A standing room only crowd attended the Black History Month celebration at LEAP Academy University Charter School. Parents, siblings and friends packed the room to see the talented students. The event included musical performances with bongo drums, singing, and other artistic contributions. The efforts of all concerned were greatly appreciated. Teachers, students, and volunteers collaborated to make the event a success. Their combined efforts exemplify the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child.” Click here to see photos
January 18 |( For Immediate Release) LEAP Academy Has 501(c) (3) Status Reinstated -- The LEAP Academy University Charter School has had its 501(c) (3) status restored by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), effective May 17, 2012.
Furthermore, the IRS continues to consider LEAP’s request to have its tax exempt status retroactively restored to cover the period between November 15, 2010 and May 16, 2012, during which its status was automatically revoked. Click here to read full release
February 8 | Register today for the Communities of Learning for Urban Environments and Science (CLUES) workshop. CLUES is a 5-year program that focuses on teaching science to families in communities of the Philadelphia-Camden region. It is a collaboration between the New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences, The Franklin Institute Science Museum, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and ten Community Based Organizations (CBOs). Parking and dinner is available for all workshops and adults and children must attend together. Click here to download registration form
Attention Parents: Risse Brothers School Uniforms has a new location. Click here for more information
Janurary 28 | Mid-year message to parents from Janice Strigh Lead Person/ Chief Academic Officer.
Click here to read full messaje.
January 10 | STEM Robotics Team Wins the Rockwell Collins Innovative Award
The STEM Robotics Team won their first trophy, the Rockwell Collins Innovative Award, on Saturday, January 5th of 2013. Click here to read full article
November 27 | Stanford study upbeat on N.J. charter schools by Dan Hardy, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Students in New Jersey charter schools show greater learning gains, on average, than those in comparable traditional public schools, a study released Tuesday by a Stanford University research center shows.
Click here to read a full article.
October 15 | Super Women by Colleen Patrice Clark South Jersey Magazine
Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, Ph.D.,
Founder and Chair of LEAP Academy University Charter School is featured in South Jersey Magazine, as one of 40 Women Making A Difference. Click here to read full article
October 10 | Attention LEAP Girls Raise your voice!! Every Monday and Wednesday from 4:00-6:00pm at LEAP Academy. Through the Sister Cities Girlchoir: and El Sistema-inspired music for social change initiative that is powered by the Girl Effect Mission: Sister Cities Girlchoir builds communities of music makers that empower girls to occupy their unique position to create a better world. Click here to learn more
October 10| Video clip Univision nueva esperanza academíca en Camden. Click here to see full video
October 10 | At charter's grand opening, schools chief expresses 'hope' for the future by Kevin C. Shelly Courier-Post. CAMDEN — Breaking every tie should always be done “in the best interest of the students,” Education Commissioner Chris Cerf said during a speech Tuesday, just days after the local board of education deadlocked on a significant vote.
October 9 | New-STEM-school-builds-LEAP-Academy 's success by Kevin C. Shelly Courier-Post
$12.5 million school dedicated to teaching science, technology, engineering and math in the heart of downtown celebrates its grand opening beginning at 10 a.m. today with a host of speakers, led by state Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf.
Sept. 18 | Education and the Candidates Read Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago latest blog on Huffington Post.
September 12 | Center for College Access calendars of events for LEAP Elementary School
Click here download the calendar for September.
August 16| Aug 16 | New Tenure Laws Make Good Sense
Read Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago’s latest blog on in Huff Post Education.
July 30 | LEAP Class of 2008’s Marchelle Roberts (a current Temple Univ. senior) was featured on CNN for her role in a federal program that places foster children into internships on Capitol Hill. Marchelle is interning for Senator Mary Landrieu from Louisiana. Click here for story
July 02 | Click here for photos of the Class of 2012 commencement ceremony
Jul 02 | LEAP Academy's Kindergarten Class of 2012 (and future High School Class of 2024) graduated on June 27, 2012. Click here for photos
June15 | Father and Dauther Dance
LEAP Academy hosted its annual Father-Daughter Dance on Friday, June 15, 2012. Click here for photos
Jun 04 | No Excuses: We Need 100% High School Graduation Read Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago’s latest blog on US News & World Report, which calls for 100% graduation rates for high schools across the country.
Jun 02 | LEAP hosts 3rd Annual Walkathon & Health Fair
For the third straight year, LEAP hosted its annual “LEAP Across the Bridge” Walkathon & Health Fair when over 250 participants walked the Ben Franklin Bridge. | See photos here
June15 | Father and Dauther Dance
LEAP Academy hosted its annual Father-Daughter Dance on Friday, June 15, 2012. Click here for photos
May 15 | LEAP pitcher Kelvin Ramos throws rare no-hitter
LEAP Academy student athlete Kelvin Ramos pitched LEAP baseball’s first ever no-hitter in a 12-1 win over Camden High School on May 14.
May 10 | 6ABC: LEAP student to attend Ivy League College
ABC news interviewed Geehem Smith and Khary Golden about Geehem's future attendance at Cornell University and the obstacles he's had to overcome along the way.
April 23 | STRUGGLES TO SUCCESS Camden teen's ambition turns his life around
Read story in CourierPost .
April 18 | LEAP Academy 5th/6th Grade Spelling Bee
LEAP Academy hosted its first ever school Spelling Bee competition for 5th and 6th grades. Six finalists in each grade competed for the top spot after advancing to the final round, held on April 18, 2012
Mar 28 | Alejandro Garcia Padilla visits LEAP Academy
Puerto Rico Senator Alejandro Garcia Padilla (a candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico), his wife Wilma and guests visited LEAP Academy and Rutgers ELRA on March 28, 2012. Click here to see Video
Mar 20 | NJCSA names Dr. Santiago “2012 Advocate of the Year”
LEAP Academy Founder and Rutgers professor Dr. Gloria Bonilla Santiago was named “Advocate of the Year” by the New Jersey Charter School Association. She will receive the award on March 26.
Mar 19 | Six LEAP STEM students place at Coriell Science Fair
Six students in LEAP Academy’s STEM program took home awards at a Science Fair competition on March 17 at The Coriell Institute.
Mar 19 | Dr.Santiago’s Huffington Post Op-Ed: Pass The DREAM Act
Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago’s new op-Ed on the Huffington Post urges Congress and the President to pass the DREAM Act, now.
Mar 13 | LEAP opposes loss of Rutgers from Camden
A delegation from LEAP spoke out against the proposed takeover of Rutgers–Camden at a community forum on March 13. Comments from LEAP Parent Council President Vanessa Jones were featured in an article by NJ Spotlight.
Mar 02 | LEAP student-athlete Harvey-Carr finishes a strong high school career
LEAP Academy senior Brandi Harvey-Carr has been in the news recently for her accomplishments on and off the basketball court.
>Read more about Brandi’s outstanding high school career
>Watch her profile on FOX29-TV
>Read her story in the Philadelphia Inquirer
>See the cover of the Inquirer Sports Section for March 2
Feb 15 | Dr. Santiago named “Champion of Choice” by Foundations, Inc.
CLC Director and LEAP Academy Founder Dr. Gloria Bonilla Santiago was named a “Champion of Choice” by Foundations, Inc. She will receive her honor at its national conference in San Francisco from Feb 15-18, where she will also be a featured presenter on charter schools.
Feb 13 | NBC10: LEAP Charter Leaves No Student Behind
A NBC-TV news segment highlights LEAP founder and board chair Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago and three LEAP seniors in the wake of New Jersey’s exemption from NCLB.
Feb 10 | Inquirer: NJ, nine other states get waivers from No Child rules
This article by the Philadelphia Inquirer on NJ’s exemption from NCLB regulations features comments from Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago on how this will benefit students and teachers in the state.
Feb 9 | College students share college experiences with LEAP Aspire students
Over 100 LEAP Academy high school students met and spoke with local college students in a special panel hosted by CLC’s ASPIRE program.
Feb 7 | Education group from Puerto Rico visits CLC/LEAP for closer look at charter schools
A group of business and education officials from Puerto Rico visited CLC and LEAP Academy for an in-depth look at how to start and manage a charter school.
Jan 24 | Huffington Post: No Child Left Behind: Not Too Late to Fix
Read LEAP founder and board chair Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago’s latest blog entry on the Huffington Post that discusses the 10th anniversary of “No Child Left Behind” and ways to improve it.
Dec 25 | Courier Post: Head and shoulders above them all
The Courier Post featured an article on LEAP Academy senior Brandi Harvey-Carr, who recently accepted a 4-year scholarship to play basketball for NCAA division-1 school DePaul University.
Dec 19 | US News & World Report publishes opinion piece by Dr. Santiago
International media site US News & World Report published an online opinion article by Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago on the benefits of STEM education in breaking cycles of poverty in urban areas.
6.30.11| LEAP Class of 2011 Graduates High School Click here for photos of the 2011 Commencement Ceremony
6. 28.11 | LEAP's graduates and bound for college -By Kevin Riordan, Inquirer Columnist Click here for story