| A New Year At AIMS!
Happy New Years, feliz año nuevo, 新年快樂, سنوات جديده سعيده, መልካም አዲስ ዓመት
It’s the start of another exciting semester with our AIMS family and our New Year’s resolution is to remember the AIMS Credo. Our Family lends support to Our Goal of academic and social excellence. Our Faith
and focus will guide us through Our Journey where we will progress forward together as a community. Please find more information on AIMS K-12 Credo, Values, and Mission on the school website.
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| Bootcamp 2.0
I started the school year with the message, “the top of one mountain is the bottom of the next, so we need to keep climbing for our students.” This semester, I held Boot Camp 2.0, where the theme was “we
may not see the forest for the trees.” The professional development focused on each element of the AIMS Standard to create a better framework for academic success.
AIMS administrators and teachers discussed the importance of accountability and creating a structured learning environment. They reviewed different roles, the flow of communication, and meeting high expectations with
a high level of support. I highlighted the three R’s: building solid relationships between student to teacher, student to text, and student to their environment. The Boot Camps help AIMS K-12 to operate more efficiently
because they encourage open communication and positive staff interactions. We all work together as a team to lay the groundwork for staying AIMSTRONG.
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| CA Distinguished School Award
Congratulations to AIMS Elementary School on winning the prestigious 2023 CA Distinguished School Award.
This award is given to schools that show outstanding academic success and are closing the opportunity gap. AIMS students outperformed Oakland and California assessment averages in both Math and ELA. AIMS focuses on excellent
attendance, benchmark assessment, early academic intervention, character development, and wellness assistance to ensure long-term student success.
AIMS K-12 has a student population of 1,300 where 99% of our students are minorities, 60% are considered low-income, and 75% speak English as a second language. The measurable difference in academic performance comes
from AIMS Standards for accountability, support, and discipline and from our comprehensive instruction. Thank you to Mr. Ahmad and Ms. Golden for their excellent leadership in the Elementary School last year; they have
both moved to positions with an even more significant impact on student success this year.
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| Assessments
AIMS K-12 provides comprehensive and continuous testing throughout the school year. Benchmark Assessments are given outside of the classroom and before end-of-the-year testing. Scholastic Tests are meant to assess ELA and
Math skills. The results can then be utilized at both a classroom and district level to help with placements and instructional decision-making.
Please remind your students about the testing dates for both Benchmark and Scholastic tests.
 Here are
some of our best tips and tricks for test-taking. Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast the day of the exam and show up prepared. Listen to instructions issued by the proctor and read all test instructions carefully. If
you feel stressed out during the exam, relax your muscles and take a few deep breaths. Answer all of the questions even if you don’t know the answer; no answer is always the wrong answer. Trust your instincts because
your first answer is usually correct. Leave some time to review your answers at the end of the exam. Good luck AIMS family, we believe in you!
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| A Word From The Schools
Mrs. Glass - Head of Elementary School
“The Elementary School has just won the CA Distinguished School Award and received recognition from the State of California as well as outside reporters for our innovative practices and focus on wellbeing in the
transition from distance to in-person learning. We couldn't be more proud of our students and staff's hard work.”
Mrs. Akram- Head of Middle School
“Our Middle School is focused on creating young leaders with a voice. The student government has been working with All Tied Up to create a Podcast where students can discuss their experiences and AIM for success.
AIPCS II K-8 has also won the CA Distinguished School Award and received recognition from the State of California for their testing scores and academics.”
Mr. Williams- Head of High School
“Congratulations to the AIMS Golden and Lady Eagles Basketball Teams on their victories over Oakland Public High Schools - Skyline High School and Castlemont High School, respectively.”
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| January Is Poverty Awareness Month
AIMS recognizes that poverty affects nearly a fourth of Americans. Some of the largest contributing factors are age, race, level of education, and housing insecurity. The three main dimensions of poverty include health,
education, and living standards. Those living in poverty have limited access to fundamental resources like food, transportation, health services, and high-quality academic support.
America has enacted some safety measures to provide resources for those experiencing poverty. Some of the main programs include CalFresh, Federal Child Tax Credit, Federal EITC, CalWorks, and CalEITC. Here at AIMS K-12,
many of our students are considered low-income. A compiled list of resources for families is in the resource section of the website. AIMS will help break the cycle of poverty by offering quality education and needed resources.
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MLK Jr. Day
This month AIMS took the time to celebrate Reverand Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Junior (January 15th, 1929- April 4th, 1968) was one of the most notable civil rights activists and ministers of the twentieth century. He fought for equality for Black Americans and all
victims of injustice. His work is far from over, and at AIMS we continue his legacy by attempting to remove the barriers that traditionally have harmed Black students and other students of color. AIMS does this because
we believe like the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Junior that “When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory
note to which every American was to fall heir.” (I Have A Dream, 1963). AIMS work is to help our students cash those checks.
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| Lunar New Years
Lunar New Year started on January 22nd and 2023 will be the year of the water rabbit. Since the rabbit symbolizes peace and prosperity in Chinese culture, this year is forecasted to be a year of hope. During the Lunar New
Year people use red envelopes, red clothes, and fireworks to scare the ancient Nian monster away. It is also a celebration of the lunisolar New Year and the coming Spring.
The Lunar New Year is celebrated for 15 days and during this time people reunite with family, honor their ancestors and chosen deities, chase away the monsters, and feast. At the end of the 15 days, there are dragon dances
and lanterns are flown to bring good luck and auspicious tidings for the new year. 恭賀新禧．兔年吉祥 to our AIMS families who are celebrating.
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| Student Government, Assemblies, and Events
AIMS High and Middle School partnered with All Tied Up, a mentorship
program for underserved youth in Oakland, to produce student-led Podcasts. The students planned theme and content schedules for their Podcasts. All Tied Up mentors guided them through writing, development, sound boarding,
and editing the finished product. The Middle School SGA produced the first AIMS Podcast where they interviewed the VP of Nvidia and discussed Spirit Week. Thank you to All Tied Up and Measure G1 funding for the opportunity!
Check out the Podcasts on our Youtube page.
AIMS K-12 encourages study trips so that students get exposure to people and places they wouldn’t normally have the chance to see. Students from AIMS High and Middle School visited Nvidia, a software company
known for AI and interactive computer graphics. The Middle School took students to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a feature film with a diverse set of superheroes. The Elementary School went to Oakland Public Library
to learn all about checking out books.
Our Middle School musicians performed “On the Road Again,” a studio ensemble composed by Music Teacher, Mr. Levya. The students showed off their fresh violin, piano, guitar, and drum skills and sang a beautiful
rendition of Feliz Navidad that really rang in the New Year.
Congratulations to Coach Sergio Ramos for his second year winning the BACSAC Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year as well as Diego Garcia for winning MVP the second year running. The AIMS Basketball season kicked off
with the MLK Jr. Day Basketball Tournament, where Golden Eagles defeated the Skyline High Titans and the Kipp King Lions. Go Eagles!
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| Kudos and Roses
Thank you to our teachers and staff for designing lessons, holding our students accountable, working with administrators and parents, and supporting one another.
Thank you to our administrators for creating a great school culture and environment, for your professionalism, and for offering check-ins.
Thank you to our partners for offering our students the opportunity to get exposure to new programs and experiences.
Thank you to our Board for advocating for students to make sure they have the best educational experience possible.
Finally, thank you to our cleaning crew and health clerks for making sure all Covid protocols are in place and our students remain safe, happy, and healthy.
As we step into the New Year, we walk with confidence and hope due to all of our efforts to clear the pathway ahead of us.
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Wishing you good health!
Respectfully,
 Maya Woods
Superintendent
AIMS K-12 College Prep Charter District |
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