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THE PROGRAM
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"[Aspire] made me rethink myself and my
future..."
–Aspire student from
East Cleveland, Class of 2006
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Aspire includes a commitment to 3 sessions held
in the summers after the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades.
In the summers, Aspire runs Monday through Friday from 8:45
am to 3:15 pm. Each session is 5 weeks long, beginning in
mid-June, ending in July. Aspire also offers enrichment workshops
and special events held periodically over the course of the
school year. Thirty-six students are accepted from public
schools each year; however, candidates may only apply
as fifth graders. Aspire is especially designed for
middle school girls who may be limited in opportunity because
of low family income or lack of exposure to higher education.
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Academic Classes
Workshops
Leadership Seminar
Activity Periods
Meetings/Special Events
Conference Period
Field Trips
Year Round Events
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Academic
Classes at Aspire
Academic classes at Aspire consist of only ten to
twelve students. Throughout the summer, the girls study reading,
writing, math, science, and social studies. Classes develop
essential skills while engaging students with dynamic teaching
styles and classroom materials. Girls regularly are
given assignments that encourage independent learning. The
teachers expect excellence from the students and encourage
them to identify strategies that help them learn the material
effectively. Each class is taught by a college student. Click
here for sample class descriptions.
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Workshops
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In addition to their regular academic classes, the students
of Aspire also attend daily workshops. The workshops are designed
to offer the girls a chance to explore interests not often
presented in middle schools. Girls can choose to study topics
in the areas of performing or visual arts, journalism, public
speaking, technology, and athletics. Example workshops include
Mock Trial, Radio Journalism, Drama, Cooking, and Art. Click
here for sample workshop descriptions.
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Leadership
Seminar
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The goal of Aspire's Leadership Seminar is to make lessons
about leadership transparent and accessible.
We believe that leadership can be taught and
cultivated in a setting that offers exposure to powerful
examples of exemplary leaders and allows students to explore
and identify their own leadership styles.
During this seminar, girls work in groups to
participate in role plays and simulations that call for
smart decision making and problem solving.
Additionally, students gain insights from current
college students about the admissions process and college
life. Prominent
women from several different fields participate in a career
panel that gives Aspire girls the opportunity to learn what
it is like to be a modern working professional.
Activity Periods
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Every day, the Junior Teachers divide the Aspire students
into small groups for mini-classes in a wide variety of subjects.
These options change often and include art projects, sports,
music, adventure learning, drama, or community building events.
Meetings and Special
Events | back
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The meetings and events at Aspire are designed to encourage
partnerships among and between students, teachers and families.
Stories, quotations and news events inside and outside of
our community are shared in morning meetings. Orientation,
Parent Night, Open House, Closing Ceremony and Year-Round
gatherings bring the greater-Aspire community together. A
strong emphasis is placed on public speaking, and Aspire students
speak regularly at meetings and events.
Conference
Period | back
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In order to give our students the opportunity to explore new
topics and make decisions, we have implemented a daily
conference period. Each
day students select from a number of mini-classes that are
designed and run by either students and/or teachers.
Sample offerings include yoga, soccer, strategy games, jump
roping, nature walks, and book discussions.
Field Trips | back
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Field trips for the entire Aspire community are scheduled
regularly. They are designed to increase the girls’ exposure
and to help them feel more connected to the greater-Cleveland
area. Past field trips have included visits to the Botanical
Gardens and the Plain Dealer press. In their third year,
students travel on an overnight trip to Michigan.
Year Round | back
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The Year Round Program offers enrichment workshops and special
events over the course of the school year. Examples include
a tour of ethnic markets on Lolley the Trolley,
ice skating, and shows at Playhouse Square. |
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