Acceleration East High School
Community Brief
 Monday, January 21, 2019 
   
Today may be a holiday, but I think it's important to reflect on where we are as a school and as a society as we reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The fulfillment of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream Speech" falls squarely on the shoulders of the institution of Education, namely public education. When I was an undergraduate, it was clear many of my classmates had aspirations to make as much money as possible, as fast as possible. Very few aspired to public service, as it was not where the money was. Sadly, it's still not where the money is. So, as a society, we aspire to fulfill Dr. King's vision for equality and equity, yet the primary institution responsible for providing avenues, pathways and opportunities for equality still suffers as a scapegoat for society's ills, not the reason why we are making progress. And sadly the compensation is not nearly enough to attract and to keep folks in the field. But, rather than be a political punchline, educators are making a difference in the lives of students. Many kids that never saw clarity in their future now see it coming into focus. And that's because our teachers are instilling the Dream in our students!

Don't get me wrong. Other institutions are also transformational in providing opportunities for our young people. But Dr. King's call to action is why I was drawn to public education; to help create opportunities for kids to be anything they want to be, rather than dwell in a cycle of hopelessness. I'm heartened by the number of Acceleration East seniors that aspire to enter the world of public service after graduation. I hope they never lose that sense of social responsibility.

You may never become "rich" working in the field of public education, but we are "enriched" by the amazing adults our kids end up becoming.
 
Enjoy the rest of your Dr. MLK, Jr. holiday and please, take a moment to reflect on what Dr. King achieved to help so many Americans.   
 
With Phoenix Pride,   
 
Mr. Doug Loftus
Principal   

Pictured at the very top: Street signs mark the intersection of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan. In December 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, and King began leading the bus boycott in the Alabama capital.



Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born 90 years ago and was Time magazine's 1963 "Man of the Year." The following year he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of thirty-five; the youngest to have been given the award. He was slain four years later. Established in 1983, MLK Jr. Day was first celebrated in 1986. There was no school today in recognition of this federal holiday. 

Classroom Spotlight: World Languages
Portuguese with Mrs. Vieira this past week . . .

Just above and directly below: Mrs Vieira's Portuguese class speaking to each other about their favorite foods . . . in Portuguese! 



Mrs. Vieira and Andrea Machado conversing with each other in Portuguese
Vital Signs


Credit: Ms. Vicky Jenkins, School Receptionist
Annual Parent Survey Now Open
The online Annual Parent Survey was released this past week. Results from the survey will help inform our school and district about our current environment and feedback on how to improve. The survey consists of demographic questions, followed by a number of questions that require a rating, concluding with an opportunity to respond to open ended questions. The survey is available in Arabic, English, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish.

We value your opinion and ask that you take few minutes complete this survey. All responses to this survey are anonymous. Our goal is to ensure that at least 20% of our Acceleration East parents complete this survey. The survey link will be available through Friday, March 15, 2019.
 
If this applies to your household, thank you very much for your help. 
 
 
Yearbooks on Sale
The 2019 AEHS Yearbook is on sale now!!! Join us on a journey through the school year and important moments in our lives.  Pricing is as follows:

Hard Cover - $40
Soft Cover - $30
Digital - $5

All sales will be online.  Visit aehs.picaboo.com to order your copy today!

If you have any questions, please call the Yearbook Adviser, Mr. Barry Hall at 407-992-0917 x6322225 or email him at [email protected]
Food for Thought on this MLK, Jr. Holiday . . .



 
 
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Copyright Notice
Reproduction of this material, either written or electronically, including the general layout, graphics, analyses, and content topics without the express approval of Target Performance Systems, Inc., a Florida corporation, and OCPS - Acceleration East High School is forbidden without written consent.  Thank you for your support of the Orange County Public Schools and especially Acceleration East High School. Please contact [email protected] (principal) with any questions or for further information.