LEAP Students Excel in County Arts Competition

LEAP Academy students earned recognition in the 33rd Annual Camden County Cultural & Heritage Commission’s Arts 4 Teens Festival in April.  The Arts 4 Teens program seeks to provide opportunities for Camden County students aged 13-19 to individually express themselves artistically in a supportive and nurturing environment. 

Hundreds of students competed in several disciplines—visual, instrumental, vocal, creative writing, film, video, theatre, and dance—and LEAP Academy had a finalist in each category.  Six LEAP students were recognized as “Best of County 2008” or “Honorable Mention 2008 – Emerging Artist”. 

Michael Jones and Shanice Anderson won Best in County in the Contemporary Dance, Solo/Duo category.  Meanwhile, Jeremiah Council and Nijee Roberts-Williams both earned an Honorable mention in the Creative Writing/Poetry category.  Kervin Chambers III earned an Honorable Mention in the Visual Arts category, while Josual Fuentes’ piano solo earned two Honorable Mentions in both the Instrumental and Vocal music categories. 

_____________________________________________________
LEAP Science Fair opens students up to science
LEAP Academy Elementary school hosted its first ever student Science Fair on Friday, May 9th and nearly 200 students from Kindergarten through third grade submitted entries.  Projects ranged from magnets, model solar systems, and live carnivorous plants, to seasons and weather, tornadoes, and rocks, with the most popular entry being live volcanoes. 

LEAP first grade teacher Nicole Maenner created and supervised the Science Fair event with help from fellow LEAP teachers Stephanie Aspenburg and Amanda Cherico.  Nicole said the fair was a long time in the making.  “I’ve taught here for seven years and I’ve always wanted to have a Science Fair,” she said.  She added that it was important to host the event because it will help expose students to science.  “It gives them hands-on experience at a younger age.  And hopefully they find an interest in science.”

The general grading criteria were based on the clarity of the topic, the display’s style and presentation, having clear and accurate facts, and having sound writing mechanics (spelling/grammar).  All parents and teachers who attended the fair were asked to choose the top three projects from each grade, and the votes were then tallied to come up with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers.
K
1st place - Jose Ramos
2nd place - Nathaniel Torres
3rd place - Giovonnie Irizarry
1st grade
1st - Wady Rivera III
2nd - Malachi Townsend
3rd - Ashley Pettying
2nd grade
1st - Melanie Lopez
2nd - Juan Rivera
3rd - Malcolm Council
3rd grade
1st - Aaron Drennon
2nd - Khliah Best
3rd - Sujeily Casiano

_____________________________________________________
LEAP Academy Baseball Team Plays at Campbell's Field The game between LEAP and Salem High School, LEAP won the Game.


LEAP Academy Baseball Team

LEAP Catcher Xavier Rodriguez

LEAP Pitcher Ruddy Rodriguez
_____________________________________________________

The Rutgers/LEAP Office of Pre College Programs has released its first issue of the Rutgers/LEAP Pre College Journal, a biannual publication that reports on the work and achievement of LEAP Academy students preparing for college. 

Under the umbrella of the Center for Strategic Urban Community Leadership the Pre College Office, works closely with colleges, corporations, and community organizations to establish opportunities for LEAP students and to get them prepared for their college careers. 

In this issue, LEAP students traveled across the country to participate in leadership conferences like the National Hispanic Institute and Princeton Model Congress, school activities like 21st Century after school programs and writing contests provided students with fun and exciting opportunities, and over 20 LEAP seniors became the first (but not the last) in their class to be accepted to 4-year college programs. 

Please click on the link below to read more
about the great work being done in the
Rutgers/LEAP Office of Pre College Programs.

_____________________________________________________
LEAP Newsletter 2008 _____________________________________________________

To support the ongoing work of the Rutgers/LEAP Centers of Excellence, Susquehanna bank donated $ 14,000 dollars for the LEAP Academy Library. In the photo  Justin C. Dunn Vice, President & Marketing Services Manager,  Susquehanna Bank  presents  the check to the Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago,  Ms. Gloria Hancock  and LEAP Academy students and parents at the Riversharks game. _____________________________________________________

Pictures of the 2007 Graduating Class and Scholarship Reception
(click here)
_____________________________________________________
An Update from the Chief School Administrator, Gloria Hancock
(click here to read more)
_____________________________________________________
This years's senior class traveled to Mexico.
(click here to see photos journal of their experience).
_____________________________________________________
From Camden to College LEAP Academy prepares kids for life
by Terri Akman Article feature on the SJ Magazine
____________________________________________________________
LEAP Academy Delegation Participated in the Philadelphia Model UN Conference By Tatiana Poladko(click here)
It was the second time that a group of LEAP Academy high school students were delegated to represent their school at the second annual Philadelphia Model UN conference that took place on February 22-25, 2007. The conference organized by the Institute for Domestic and International Affairs selected Africa as a regional theme. Issues ranging from human trafficking, access to education, ethnic conflicts to economic development and debt relief constituted students’ agenda for this 4-day long meeting. Students working in the committees chaired by experiences Rutgers students simulated proceedings of the UN bodies following diplomatic protocol and speaking on behalf of the countries they were assigned to represent.
____________________________________________________________
Former Governor Florio visits LEAP Academy University Charter School
February 8, 2007, former Governor Jim Florio stopped by LEAP Academy University Charter School to discuss politics and law with a social studies class. He talked to students about his life experience, first as a child from a low-income family, then as a governor and educator in New Jersey. He described the essential role of a good education in his own life and in general. He also discussed issues of personal interest to him as a politician and New Jersey resident: law and environmental issues.
His presentation was enthusiastically received by the students, who participated with questions of their own. They asked why inequalities exist among educational experiences in New Jersey regions—why do some children attend well-funded schools, while others cannot. And, following that theme, how can a state as rich as New Jersey allow poor areas, such as Camden, to exist.