For the past few months, Aim High has been gearing up for a fantastic summer. From recruiting students to hiring energetic teachers, every step is an essential part of the preparation process. The final step is uniting our teachers at All Campus Day to train and inspire our staff before they head off to their respective sites. All Campus Day is a community building, professional development event that occurs the week before students arrive. At All Campus Day sites bond as a team, attend workshops, design curriculum, meet other educators, and get excited for the summer. “All Campus Day is one of the main chances we get to collaborate and share great ideas among the various sites. The energy just feels fantastic,” says Carole Lupi, a humanities teacher at our Ingleside campus, and one of the 400+ teachers working at Aim High this summer.

All Campus Day kicks off the program and is a final opportunity for Site Directors to inspire and unify their team and encourage their teachers to incorporate Aim High core values into their classrooms. This year’s theme for the day was, “The Intersection of Engagement and Rigor,” or in other words, the Aim High classroom. Guest speakers included two former Aim High Site Directors: Eric Guthertz, Principal of Mission High School, and Vince Matthews, Superintendent of San Jose Unified School District. Dr. Matthews reminded the teachers just how important summer is for our students. “From the moment they walk in the door, believe in their potential,” he said. Not only does All Campus Day make for excellent collaborating and professional development, it also provides new teachers with a preview of what to expect during the summer. Veteran teachers also have the opportunity to share what the intersection of engagement and rigor looks like in their classrooms. “All Campus Day is about bringing light to what the Aim High classroom looks like and how it differs from a regular school,” explains Maya Nieto, a former Aim High student and teacher, and current Alumni Engagement Manager. “In an Aim High classroom, kids are learning, but also laughing.”

Flor Serna, a second year Aim High teacher at our East Palo Alto campus understood the importance of the day’s workshops. “I want to make sure I’m teaching effectively while also being fun,” she said. In addition to collaborating with their content area peers (science, math, etc.), teachers also chose one workshop on a broader topic like “Engaging Boys of Color,” or “Self-Care for Teachers: Mindfulness in the Classroom.” Whether a veteran teacher or newcomer, All Campus day sets a positive tone for the summer and prepares our teachers to excel as instructional leaders.

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