What is the sound of helping others?

At Las Américas ASPIRA Academy in Newark, it is heard in the chorus of students working with teachers, administrators and the entire school community to make a better and more inclusive life for everyone, beginning in Delaware and extending to the farthest reaches of the world.

It is heard in the pitch-perfect voices of young people who absorb the vision of the school that sees them as future biliterate influencers and decision makers and use it to realize their potential and create positive impact.

It is heard in the faint whisper and the ultimate roar when career pathways begin to be forged through a diverse curriculum that prepares them for the wider world: in public and community health, as future teachers, as leaders in business and information management and computer science, and as culture makers in the visual and performing arts.

From the time it first opened its doors in August 2011 with just over 300 students in kindergarten through the fifth grade to the nearly 1,400 students it now teaches in its elementary, middle and high schools, Aspira has committed to combining its educational principles with a culture of caring.

“The beginning of ASPIRA dates back 60+years, and it has fundamentally always been about building youth leadership and inspiring them to give back,” said CEO Margie López Waite. “At both campuses, we have different activities and programs that remind the students about giving back to the community. At the East campus, we have Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a culminating unit that is integrated across grade levels and content areas – in math, social studies and English Language Arts.

“For our first-grade students, we support Heifer International, where they raise money to help countries in need to purchase livestock in order to provide sustainable food security. We partner with the Food Bank of Delaware on food drives. We have the Giving Tree, which provides an opportunity for the community to help others in need during the holiday season. Our schools support efforts to fight Down Syndrome and Autism Awareness. Throughout the school year, our teachers are encouraged to find different causes for their students to become involved in.”

The Las Américas ASPIRA Academy Family Resource Center, established in August 2017, created a welcoming and engaging environment for students and their families. It aspires to provide access to relevant and timely information about resources and programs to support the school’s families and in turn ensure the academic success of all students.

“In education, the seeds that you plant don’t immediately allow you to reap the benefits until several years down the road,” López Waite said, “but we are already beginning to see the impact that our schools have had on our Aspirantes (students from ASPIRA schools), and the impact our Aspirantes have already made on the world they live in.”

To learn more about Las Américas ASPIRA Academy, visit www.aspiraacademy.org.