Below are some recent updates from AFIA. As a school community we strive to help our students grow – academically, socially and emotionally. Our school model focuses on developing the whole child, thus in this update we want to share updates related to academics as well as other areas.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP UPDATES

We appreciate our amazing partners. Here is a snapshot of a few of our partners who help our students grow academically, socially and emotionally.

Superhero Yoga

Each week our students are able to have a yoga class with a trained yoga teacher. This is our 4th year of this partnership.

Superhero Yoga Class

Base Academy of Music

Many of our students take music lessons from BAM musicians. Some of our students recently performed at the MO Charter Public School Association Annual Conference.

Literacy Lab

Through the generous donation from a local foundation, AFIA is able to host two Literacy Lab tutors. Identified students in 1st – 3rd grade benefit from the one-on-one sessions with a trained literacy tutor.

Lead to Read

Our Lead to Read volunteers had a strong start to this year with about 50 readers partnering with students in our two 2nd grade classrooms. Many students were able to read with the same person as last year. We have another 19 volunteers reading with our first graders.

Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey

Each week our 2nd and 3rd graders are able to experience a dance class with a KCFAA teaching artist. This collaboration is made possible through the generous contribution from a local donor.

Swope Health

Through our partnership with Swope, identified students are able to work with a Community Support Specialist. Students are provided with extra layers of support through this robust partnership.

Start at Zero

SAZ is one of our newest partners! Through SAZ, families with children between 0 – 5 can participate in weekly play groups as well as engage in home visits.

UMKC School of Education and Institute for Urban Education

Each week preservice teachers are working and learning at AFIA. Our students specifically benefit from the increased number of skilled adults in classrooms. We also host UMKC student teachers, which allows us the opportunity to help grow and recruit quality teachers.

Lean Lab

Andrea Davis, Pre-K/ Kindergarten teacher was selected to pilot Maker’s Empire’s innovative program AFIA was selected by Lean Lab as a pilot school for the 2019-2020 cohort. Maker’s Empire’s visio is to empower every child “to become a creator, innovator and problem solver so they can adapt and thrive in their future.”

Camp Wildwood

Every year our sixth graders attend a camping trip at Camp Wildwood as a way to build community and perseverance. Our current 6th graders attended Camp Wildwood in September. They participated in archery, canoeing, rock climbing and fishing. They had a great time!

STUDENT ACTIVITIES & HONORS

Two of our students placed in the Marlborough Community Coalition (MCC) Annual Art Show.

• Christopher McCoy – 3rd place in 6th – 8th grade category

• Gabrielle Pritchett, 1st place in the K – 5th grade category

• Gabrielle Pritchett was also chosen by representatives from Kansas City Art Institute for the outstanding piece award.

UMKC/Rockhurst FaCET Conference

On October 9th, AFIA’s 5th graders along with Mrs. Cobbins and Dr. DeGraff presented at the conference in collaboration with Dr. Wood and Dr. Christ, two UMKC professors. The presentation title was: Reflecting on the Troost Divide: The Collaborative Research Project of AFIA and UMKC.

Celebration of Learning

Every November and May, AFIA students share their learning with the community during our Celebration of Learning. Last May, student work and presentations included collage portraits, stop motion films highlighting animals that students researched, a student created music video (lyrics written by AFIA 1st graders) and student created songs.

Field Experiences

We appreciate the many local organizations in Kansas City that provide opportunities for students to attend high quality field trips and performances for free or a low cost. These organizations include the Nelson Atkins Art Museum, Carlsen Center at the Johnson County Community College, Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, Stone Lion Puppets, and Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. Field trips are important of our students’ educational experience and we are so grateful for these amazing resources in our city.

TEACHERS AWARDS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Erica Stevens was selected as a Missouri Outstanding Beginning Teacher last spring. Every two years, the Missouri Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (MACTE) and DESE honor excellent new teachers. Erica was one of two teachers selected for this award from UMKC.

Keyonia Cobbins was awarded the 2019 Kansas City Charter Schools Excellence in Education Award in the category of Elementary Teacher. These awards are sponsored by School Smart KC and the Missouri Charter Public School Association.

Haley Hurst was awarded a Teach For America (TFA) Green Fellowship for the 2019 cohort. From Chris Rosson, TFA’s Executive Director: “Haley emerged from a highly competitive candidate pool made up of local TFA alumni teachers as an outstanding leader with drive, acuity, and vision for her impact in education at your school. As a part of the TFA Green Fellowship program, Haley will receive access to a leadership development program that will expose her to leaders in all sectors as well as other outstanding educators of similar caliber from across the city.”

AFIA principal, Karren Colbert recently completed the two-year KC PLUS program designed for transformational school leaders. She was chosen for the inaugural cohort of this competitive program. Our Dean of Students, Asha Moore, is currently in her 2nd year of the KC PLUS program.