PACHS Scores 100% on CPS and School Works Audit!
On Tuesday, November 8th Chicago Public Schools and School Works (an educational consultant contracted by CPS) conducted an audit on our school. Focusing mainly on the area of “teaching and learning”, CPS and School Works left our school stating, “I would send my child here!”

The protocol that the visitors utilized had about 10 key areas each with their own set of indicators – for example the area of “Curriculum and Instruction” had 32 indicators. Other examples of “areas” included “School Leadership”, “Collaborative Culture and Professional Development”, “School Operations”, “Learning Community”, etc. From their visit to our school, they reported that each area of the audit protocol was not only “met”, as they described in the debrief at the end of the long day, but “met resoundingly well.” In fact, the visitors shared that if they were to consider adjusting their audit protocol, they would use Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School as a model.

The visitors spent the entire day, from 7am to 7pm visiting classrooms, meeting with teachers, mentors, administrators, parents, students and alumni. Some comments that they shared were that they were “impressed”, they were “blown away”, they were “able to see the high level of academic rigor”, they heard students talking about “the importance of social emotional learning in their lives”, and that “what is happening in this school is a beautiful thing.”

Students, staff, family and community are extremely proud and look forward to future growth and development of our wonderful school.

Albizu Campos Supports Paseo Boricua Business District
By: Matthew Rodríguez, Principal

What is a school for? Of course, many would reply describing the improvement of test scores, safe zones and skills building, which are all true. Others would add, casting arguments supporting a school’s role in building strong democracy, in helping students think critically and challenging students to act socially to make the world a better place, all still true. Can a school also play a role in stabilizing a community? I would emphatically argue, yes!

A community is comprised of people, families, homes, streets, institutions, organizations, businesses and more. How those components look, behave, interact and see the world, are distinctly different depending on a community’s location physically, ethnically and socioeconomically. What can a school do to help build and stabilize a community outside of helping grow the next generation of people that understand their role in society? A school can truly recognize the community that it is in and find ways to support the community in one or more of its component parts.

Historically, Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School (PACHS) has had an initiative to support the Paseo Boricua Business District. This initiative has several components including: curricular connections of urban agriculture to eradicate the reality of a food desert, where students are growing produce to sell in the local “Cosecha” market; ongoing beautification of the neighborhood with community clean-ups and planting of aesthetically beautiful plants that are indigenous to the area; after school programming that helps students and families understand what is happening in the community; cultural promotion through participation in major events and activities that take place throughout the year; and identifying local businesses and restaurants to provide healthy snacks and a nutritious lunch for our students.

The last element mentioned, regarding the school lunch, is the latest addition to our work to support the Paseo Boricua Business District. After listening to our students and families, it became clear for us that the catering companies that have historically provided food for students were not helping our students stay healthy. Eating lunch at PACHS, a crucial part of building health and a stronger ‘sense of community’, has been transformed this school year. Whereas in the past, our lunch period was a dreaded part of our school day, because the lunch food was not desirable, now our lunch is one of the most anticipated parts of our school day.

After much hard work, completing the bidding process and all the paperwork for the Illinois State Board of Education, our school was able to successfully contract with a the local Puerto Rican restaurant called “La Bruquena”. Each day now, students’ lunch has been unique. The menu has included everything from “chicharón de pollo con arroz blanco y habichuelas”, “lechón con arroz con gandules y ensalada”, “albondigas con arroz blanco y vegetales”, to “sopa de vegetales con tostones y pan”, and more.

Students now line up for the food. They enjoy the food and look for seconds and thirds. There is hardly a crumb left after lunch, and students are able to finish the day with full stomachs, healthy bodies and strong minds. Our effort to engage our local businesses is with the same intent – that they will be able to stay strong to withstand the ongoing push for gentrification, and finish each day knowing that they are supported.

Albizu Campos Supports Paseo Boricua Business District

Download PACHS Student Handbook HERE

Thank you for your attention to the letter you will find after clicking on the above title and to the accompanying documents; all of which are to fully inform you of next steps to begin the school year on the right foot. Please keep in mind that our school year begins on Monday, August 29th – Breakfast will be served at 7:30am, classes begin sharply at 8:30am, students will need to come to our main building, 2739 W. Division to be informed of where to go.

Accompanying Documents
Letter to the Parents
2011-2012 Calendar
Fee Agreement Letter
School Supply List

Click on Image

Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School (PACHS) hosts the 1st Invitational co-ed Softball Tournament. On May 13, 2011, six teams gathered in Humboldt Park to compete. Two teams from Latino Youth, two from Aspira and two from La Escuelita. This tournament was organized by the staff of PACHS (Math teacher Juan Rodriguez, Spanish teacher Zoraida Tanon and Mentor Rodolfo Gonzalez) in an effort to encourage healthy physical activty as well as productive cross-school commeraderie. With the financial support of YCCS, this activity was a success! Aspira team took the championship in Little Cub’s field. We look forward to next year!

This community clean-up is organized annually for seniors to take one small step toward positive change in the school’s community. Our hope is that students do not stop with just one clean-up, but find other community building events and activities that they can connect with in order to make more positive social changes. When our students are in college, we want them to think about all the skills that they acquire and how they can use them to make other, more impactful changes in the community that they come from.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PURSUING A HEALTH CAREER?
IF SO, THE PIPELINES TO HEALTH CAREERS PROGRAM IS FOR YOU!

The goal of the program is to prepare youth from local schools to enter college
and pursue a health career by offering the youth academic, community, and professional experience in health during 2011.

Academic component
• Science, math, reading and writing enrichment
• ACT Prep
• Secure paid internships or employment with
• Workshops on health issues most common in
our community
• Workshops on preparing a competitive college
application package, identifying scholarship
opportunities, financial aid planning, and
career exploration

Career exploration component

• Interact with students and administrators at UIC and Wright College
• Secure paid internships or employment with local healthcare and community organizations

Download  Here 2011 Application-PHC.doc

o Gift-wrapping will begin Monday, December 27 and go through Thursday December 30 (9:30am-3:00pm)
o If you are interested please email: mattr@pedroalbizucamposhs.org
o Community PARADE and gift giving, Thursday January 6

Parade begins at Campbell and Division all the way to the Field House where gifts are given to children between ages 0-12.