Photo: Steven Millard Science Class

By: Steven Millard

We have been working hard for the last two years to make high gains with our students on our rigorous tests that will ultimately indicate future success not only in our school, but also in their future education and life. It has not been easy and I’ve wondered sometimes if it is possible.

Today Ryan Lyerla and I gave the evolution exam to our students, composed of 20 New York Regents Exam evolution questions. These test questions are known for being very rigorous. Approximately 35 of our students not only passed the exam, but scored above an 80% on their first try, without notes, no funny business. I was a bit shocked myself and watched very careful for any cheating. I didn’t see any.

This stands as a real mile marker for us, and is the culmination of our recent positive school changes and continually implementing new strategies in the classroom. It proves that our students are “smart” and can attain high academic achievement.

As promised, those students who scored an 80% or above on the exam and have a passing grade attended a field trip to the Field Museum to see the evolution exhibit. We had to find transportation quickly, and when no bus companies were available, we turned to the Miguel A. Barretos Boys and Girls Club. They came through, providing two fifteen-passenger vans to take us and pick us up at the end of the day. Thanks to the leadership of Hector Perez at the Club, this trip was a success!

This is a proud time for the school and our classes. Please congratulate the students and encourage the ones who did not score above an 80% on the exam. This is a success we can all share in. Your support and love on the students are enabling them to do great things! The best part about this process was watching how shocked and excited they were when they realized they can be highly successful.

This is just the start. Lets continue this growth! Here are the students’ names:

Alex V, Shevelle W, Jessica R, Michelle P, Booboo N, Jose L, Michael A, Crystal M, Hector R, Kiole B, Tania C, Emmanuel H, Onely O, Lizzette O, Octavian P, Natalie O, Jesus Garcia, Reynado R, Ruben C, Destiny A, Lionel B, Amaris K, Grace R, Bianca J, Ashley S, Samuel C, Alecia H, Ashley C, Jose T, Sara W, Stephanie D, Lorena D, Vicky B, Lisabel R, Diamond D, Gabrella C, Gabriel V.

Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos History
1912: Awarded a scholarship to study engineering at the University of Vermont.

1913: Transfers from the University of Vermont to Harvard

1917: World War I. Served in an African-American unit. Volunteer to General Frank McIntyre, was trained by French Military mission, organized NCO school and Home Guard in Puerto Rico. Discharged as First Lieutenant, US Infantry.

1919: Returns to Harvard where he got his law degree as well as degrees in Literature, Philosophy, Chemical Engineering and Military Sciences. Fluent in English, Spanish French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Latin and Greek. The Puerto Rican Mulatto was elected president of Harvard’s Cosmopolitan Club. He dealt with foreign students and lecturers, like Sudas Ghandra Gose (Indian Nationalist leader with Ghandi) and the Hindu poet Rabindranath Tagore. Became interested in the cause of Indian independence, helped to found several centers in Boston for Irish Independence. He would meet Eamon de Valera and later be consulted in the drafting of the constitution of the Irish Free State.
Upon graduating from Harvard, he received job offers as Hispanic repres entative for a protestant church, as a legal aide to the U.S. Supreme Court, and in the U.S. State Department’s diplomatic corps in Mexico. He opted to return to Puerto Rico.

1972 – Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School is founded to answer the call of high school drop outs in Chicago’s Puerto Rican community

2010 – Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School is invited to speak at the annual Harvard Alumni of Color Conference, to speak on a panel about Social Justice schools. The Schools introduced themselves, and then were asked to speak about how Social Justice looks in their school.

The video is what Principal Matthew Rodríguez had to say about Social Justice at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School (The full hour and thirty minutes video will be available through our school’s technology department).

Students that received “Perfect Attendance” awards for the month of January.

Benito Diaz
Jasmin Rivera
Luz M. Rivera
Jonathan Rodriguez
Alberto Oceguera
Caprinda Grant
Lissette Cruz
Bianca Johnson
Alejandra Lugo
Ruben Mercado
Jorge Montañez
Christopher Williams
Aurora Alvarez
Jesus Garcia

72 Block Humboldt Park Diabetes Initiative
Diabetes in Humboldt Park has been growing in alarming rates. Twenty percent of the community has been diagnosed with diabetes.  Therefore a new program named 72 Blocks, a “block by block” initiative, has taken affect to educate the people about diabetes and how to live healthy. A group of agencies have gotten together to promote the project.

In 2008 it was recorded that 24 million Americans were living with diabetes. Of those 24 million, 11.8% are African Americans 10.4% are Latinos, while 6.5 million people age 20 and older remain undiagnosed.

Block by block project steering committee is comprised of the project ‘s co-principals investigators (Steve K. Rotshchild and Jose Lopez), the executive directors’ of pueblo sin fronteras, (Emma Lozano) and the Greater Humbolt Park Community of Wellness (Juana Ballesteros), the director of the Sinai Urban Health institute (Steve Whiteman) and the Block-by-block project director Jaime Delgado.

This campaign targeted to educate and promote awareness of diabetes in our community.  The program is geared to improve the quality and quantity of life by motivating our community to develop healthy eating habits, as well to become more physically fit.

The campaign will establish a community diabetes empowerment center which is going to be located at La Estansia building on the corner of Division and California. At this location, there will be events, Information, services, and activities.

Come and take action! There is only one life to live and let’s live it healthy!

Megan Garcia and Marisol Roman, graduates of Pedro Albizu Campos High School, participated in a training program where they learned about how to educate people about diabetes prevention and treatment. Those studies took place at Norwegian hospital.

Megan Garcia said, “My experience was educational, I learned that diabetes is not only hurting the community but it runs in her family. My grandfather has past away because of diabetes and my aunt was diagnosed with the chronic disease. Now I know how to take care of myself and my family and because of this I feel closer to the community.”

Marisol Roman stated.  “My experience with the 72 block by block program has been a very important experience as well. I came into this project not knowing much about diabetes, and while working with Dr. Steve Rothschild and Jaime Delgado I have learned life-changing skills to better my health as well as the health of other people from the community whether if you have diabetes or if you know someone with diabetes.  Now that I took this training I’m  comfortable and confident in talking to people about diabetes and that being part of this training, has been both beneficial and honorable.”

I myself, a current parent of one of the students at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School, felt that the experience was very educational and I learned a lot about diabetes. I now know how to eat healthier and how to be involved in the community to help others that have diabetes or are at high risk in getting diabetes and how to prevent it.  It was a wonderful experience!

What is diabetes? Any of several metabolic disorders marked by excessive discharge of urine and persistent thirst , esp. diabetes melliitis: a chronic disease of pancreatic origin marked by insulin deficiency that results in excess sugar in the blood and urine. This definition is from The American Heritage dictionary.

These students achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher in their Second Quarter report cards. Their reward is a special lunch with the Principal.

Aurora Álvarez 4.0
Julian Bustos
Christina DeJesús
Benito Díaz
D’Angelo Luciano
Rubén Mercado 4.0
Lidia Núñez
Lionel Booker
Ricardo Cagnetta
Ashley Cartagena
Samuel Claudio
Edward Colón
Lissette Cruz
Rubén Cuadra
Jesús García
Caprinda Grant
Xiomara Grimaldo
Alejandra Lugo
Elisa Martínez
Lourdes Matute
Octavian Pagán
Adam Rivera
Jasmin Rivera
Luz Marie Rivera
Ashley Rodríguez
Janet Salgado
Teneisha Smith
José Toledo
Christopher Williams
Christina Zenon

Instructional Team Positions Details Download.

PACHS Staff Applications Download.

Daley hangs help wanted sign on
the Internet

Published : Thursday, 18 Feb 2010, 8:52 AM CST  Tera Williams, FOX Chicago News
Want to make $110,000 a year and have the power to make big decisions for the City of Chicago? Mayor Daley is looking for two new Aldermen and for the first time ever he has posted the job vacancies online and opened the application process to everyone.
The job ad was posted on the city’s homepage .

Jimmy Wilson may only be a senior in high school, but the 19-year-old was at City Hall on Thursday filling out an application to be Chicago’s next 29th Ward Alderman. “I used to work for Alderman Ed Smith and I took notes so I believe I can handle it,” Wilson said. Daley said he posted the openings on the city’s website to get as many applicants as possible for the two aldermanic vacancies. Manny Flores left the 1st Ward to become the new Illinois Commerce Commission Chairman and Ike Carothers recently resigned from the 29th ward after being convicted of taking bribes. When faced with vacancies in the past, Daley received recommendations and appointed someone to the open position.
Daley’s office would not tell us how many applications have been submitted so far. Alderman Ed Smith, 28th ward, said he backs the Mayor on this decision but hopes the people applying are truly qualified. “It was kind of surprising because that was a process that has been enforced for years and years and to go outside that process is different,” said Smith. Jimmy Wilson is excited about the new application process. It is his dream to be a Chicago Alderman and eventually mayor. “I believe that if you have the desire and the fire to do it, why not go for it,” he said.
If you want to apply, you don’t have a lot of time. Applications must include a cover letter, a resume and three letters of recommendation. They are due at City Hall by the end of business on Friday. You must be a registered voter and a resident of the 1st or 29th Wards in order to apply for the open positions.

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/city-hiring-aldemen

Youth Hearing: Education, Jobs & Justice
By Edward Colón

On Tuesday, January 26th 2010, I was at a hearing for Summer Jobs Program. It seemed like a success, because everyone who spoke had good evidence and strong opinions on why we should continue to have these summer programs. I personally enjoyed being there because I was in one of the programs in the summer of ’09. I feel that if you want something you have to fight for it verbally. I tried my best and I’m glad I had the opportunity to represent the school, for me, my peers, and for all the youth fighting for this as well.

Colón is a sophomore at our school, and an upcoming student leader. He was one of 120 students that were employed in the summer of ’09, participating in a community-based business endeavor in or around Paseo Boricua. Mr. Colón also made the Principal’s list for his grade point average in the first quarter and hopes to move on from High School studying in the area of Forensic Science. Keep up the hard work Mr. Edward Colón!