VOLUME 20, ISSUE 2 | SUMMER 2020
Newsletter of An Achievable Dream Academies NEWPORT NEWS | VIRGINIA BEACH | HENRICO COUNTY
ACHIEVEMENTS
www.achievabledream.org
An Achievable Dream develops independent, productive citizens through a Social, Academic, and Moral Education.
Overcoming Together: AAD’s COVID-19 Response
A
s a result of the
community organization
COVID-19 outbreak, and
grants to support the
the resulting statewide school
COVID-19 relief effort.
closures and unemployment
Teachers transitioned to
increases, An Achievable
teaching completely virtual
Dream (AAD) students and
lessons for all students
their families needed our
and found ways to become
support and wrap-around
innovative, going above and
services more than ever.
beyond to ensure students
Ahead of Governor Northam’s
would succeed from home.
initial order for all Virginia
“We know that providing
schools to close for a
food and supplies during the
minimum of two weeks due
school closure could make
to the Coronavirus outbreak,
all the difference for these
AAD staff and volunteers
families who may not have
purchased, packed, and
the resources to purchase
delivered two-week supply
food during this time,”
bags of food, school supplies,
shared Dr. Lee Vreeland,
and hygiene items to 430 families. This included families
AAD Middle & High School students unload supply bags of food, school supplies, and hygiene items on March 13.
at all five AAD schools
president and CEO of An Achievable Dream. “However, our support goes
(elementary, middle and high schools) as well as families
far beyond tangible items, and we are working hard to also
at Newsome Park Elementary School in Newport News,
provide for our students and families’ social-emotional and
Parkway Elementary School in Virginia Beach, and Fair Oaks
mental health.”
Elementary School in Henrico County. As COVID-19 cases continued to rise, schools in Virginia
As a team, AAD also adapted. Our team transitioned to working remotely to still serve our students and community.
closed for the remainder of the school year, completely
As teams everywhere are, we utilize virtual platforms such
changing how life would operate as “normal” for all of our
as Zoom, to meet and communicate with each other and
students, families, our staff, and our teachers. Our team
foster a sense of connection. As challenges increase, so does
knew that the support we provide to our students and
our resiliency and creativity as a team. Our team has found
families would not only need to continue, but increase during
perhaps more connection during the challenges of the last
the challenging times ahead as well.
several months than ever before.
An Achievable Dream continued to provide food and
During July, all five AAD campuses held a completely virtual
hygiene bags as well as laptops, wireless hotspots as needed,
four-week Summer Intersession. During these four weeks,
and school supplies for students and our alumni college
students at each campus had their own unique theme, and
students thanks to donations from individuals and numerous
students were able to continue their virtual instruction while Continued on page 5