Mission and Vision

Overview

Academia Antonia Alonso is a public dual language charter school that nurtures bilingual, biliterate and multicultural children in Wilmington, Delaware. Founded in 2014 with a vision for innovative child-centered and family-oriented education, La Academia has grown into a thriving community that provides English and Spanish immersion from Kindergarten to 5th grade. At the heart of La Academia is the mission to cultivate joy in learning.

La Academia’s community is diverse. Each of our 600+ students bring unique strengths and needs that an integrated Student Support Team works to meet each day. Communication and collaboration between staff and families allow La Academia to consider the whole child and foster academic success through a foundation of emotional and social wellbeing. La Academia is a place where children and families feel they truly belong.

Differentiated instruction in our classrooms means that students are challenged and supported according to their needs. With teaching models and tools like Responsive Classrooms and mindfulness, La Academia creates an environment where students feel safe and confident. This environment encourages students to express their curiosity and creativity, to explore, and to take risks in learning, all of which are key to academic achievement.

The culture in our classrooms is reflected in all areas of our school. Students succeed when their teachers thrive and teachers thrive when they have the resources to be prepared, inspired, and supported. Our students and families recognize the hard work, care, and excellence that La Academia’s staff provide.

Mission

To inspire children to become joyful, confident, creative, bilingual learners.  

Vision

UNIDOS in a more just, inclusive and kind world. 

Core Philosophy

Academia Antonia Alonso’s core philosophy is to create a school where students investigate who they are and what role they play in a diverse society. Our students will be encouraged to become strong community leaders, as well as advocates on local, national, and global stages. Our academic program will provide students with a sense of community and global awareness, as well as 21st century skills. The academic program combines a Two-Way Dual Language Immersion model and Project Based Learning (PBL) methodology. The integration of these two learning approaches support students’ instructional and language acquisition needs.

​Wrap-around services offered through the Latin American Community Center will complement the academic program and provide optional before- and after-school support and language acquisition programs for families whose children attend Academia Antonia Alonso.

Our Program

At Academia Antonia Alonso, we believe that how children learn is just as important as what they learn.

Our curriculum is framed around the unifying themes of biliteracy and active learning.  Project Based Learning and a Two Way Dual Immersion Program are the collective forces behind our curriculum.

Project Based Learning provides opportunities for student to learn through interactive, hands-on projects that spark curiosity, promote active learning, encourage teamwork, build character, and capitalize on children’s desire to explore.  Students engage in real-world issues, learn to make connections, understand diverse perspectives, develop conclusions, and generalize to big ideas.

All Academia Antonia Alonso students learn to speak, read and write in English and Spanish. Our dual language program starts in kindergarten, at an age when children learn languages easily, and continues through 5th grade.

Students spend half their time learning in English and half in Spanish. Reading and writing in both languages is integrated into all our expeditions and across all subject matters.  Students do not need prior knowledge of Spanish or English to enroll.

The first weeks of each school year are dedicated to the evaluation of students’ language and academic levels to ensure differentiated and learner-centered instruction. Students receive intensive vocabulary development in English and Spanish.  During this time, students also begin exploring the world through Project Based Learning to ensure that they start off the school year understanding the focus and goals of the school.

Leadership Message

Dear Parents/Guardians of La Academia:

Academia Antonia Alonso Charter School (“La Academia”) opened its doors to the children and families of the state of Delaware seven years ago. The founding board members of La Academia believed that we needed to create an educational setting and experience for the children of Delaware that was to be innovative, child-centered and family oriented, where children experienced the joys of learning. I can tell you first hand, I witness this each and every day that I visit the school and speak to our parents, children, teachers and staff.

As a founding board member, I have had the opportunity to work side by side with board members that are visionaries and champions of excellence in education. They believe in the importance of second language acquisition and in distilling the most innovative and effective ways to raise the bar in education for our children at La Academia. I am surrounded by families that believe in the value of acquiring a second language and who clearly have openness to diversity and multiculturalism. I witness teachers and staff, working feverishly to deliver the best lessons for your children daily and loving the wonders that your children bring to their lives each day. It is music to my ears when I hear from parents, “La Academia is different. I feel like children and family are valued and your doors are always open to listening to what we have to say.” Yes, your voices mean the world to us and they are a part of what makes up our compass or that, which gives us direction to improve and to grow as an organization of teaching and learning.

To bring dreams into the realm of reality, it takes vision, courage, determination, hard work and as Walt Disney reminded us, it takes people. I believe today we have a village of visionaries, dreamers and doers. I cannot wait to see what our school community will author next in the history of La Academia. Thank you for your support, care and commitment to Academia Antonia Alonso Charter School. I know from heaven, my mother is smiling. We are making her proud and living out her dream for the children of Delaware, UNIDOS!

In Peace and Love,

Dr. Maria Alonso

Board President

 

“The more stones I find on my path, the bigger I shall build my castle”

School Philosophy

1% Better Everyday

At La Academia, that is what we strive for- whether you are a student, teacher, staff, parent or board member, 1% better every day is the goal.  We look for small things we can improve on every day, in our personal, professional or educational lives, instead of focusing on major things to change. 

Mindfulness Matters

Mindfulness is the practice of cultivating focused awareness. Not only being aware of one’s sensations, but accepting what is.

Responsive Classrooms

The Responsive Classroom approach consists of a set of practices and strategies that build academic and social-emotional competencies.

UNIDOS

Our community works to develop a culture of respect and collaboration based on our UNIDOS character traits (Unity-Never give up-Integrity-Discovery-Ownership-Success).

Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice is a holistic approach to behavior that focuses on repairing harm through inclusive processes that engage all stakeholders.

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