This fall we opened our doors as Adam J Lewis Academy and we welcomed another PreK class and our first ever Kindergarten as we begin our expansion to become an independent elementary school. Our entire community of children, families and teachers are thrilled to begin this journey together. And as we grow, we ask ourselves, what does this change from PRESCHOOL to ACADEMY mean for us?

We believe in the academic benefits of holding onto our students for longer. These extra years will ensure a deeper mastery of skills and help our students become proficient, life-long readers, which is essential to future success. As a preschool, we worried about where these children would go next. As an Academy, we have the opportunity to keep them for 8 enriching and inspiring years!

As well as uplifting our students, the Academy continues to strive to empower our families. We firmly believe that students are most successful when a powerful, effective, consistent partnership has been created between home and school.

We all understand that Bridgeport faces deep-seated challenges, but we hope that the expansion of AJLA will give our families a reason to stay in our community. We believe that this academy will plant a seed which will grow to make a difference, not only for our children and their families, but for the City of Bridgeport as a whole.

Hope IS rising at our new location - 500 State Street in the heart of downtown Bridgeport! 2018-2019 will prove to be a transformational year for AJL Academy. Now more than ever we need your support.

Thank you!

Patty Lewis Julie MombelloFounder & Head of School Co-Founder & Director

We opened a Kindergarten!

We expanded our music lessons 2 times a week: traditional and African drumming.

We added PE 2 times a week: skills and drills with coach Steve.

We developed an art curriculum 2 times a week.

We hired a learning specialist 3 mornings a week for 1 on 1 tutoring.

We enhanced our after school program “AJL After the Bell” provides additional enrichment for kindergarten students and includes the following activities:

* Yoga* STEM* Lego* Sports* Music and drama

We are very excited to welcome our first Kindergarten class and the fantastic educators who joined us this year

* Carla Patrona – our head teacher has taught for the last 13 years at Pear Tree Point School where she had the opportunity to teach grades from PreK to 2nd grade, but her love is Kindergarten! We are lucky to have a teacher with her level of experience and passion joining us.

* Widlaine Lamb – our assistant teacher has been a private preK teacher for the past 10 years. Although she is new to our teaching staff, she is not new to our AJLA family. Her son Harry is an AJLP alum, and her youngest son JC is currently in our preK, so we say welcome BACK!

Our mission and philosophy continues to be providing a strong mastery of skills through an enriched, well-rounded experience with an emphasis on social and emotional learning.

Our robust curriculum provides:* a strong foundation in literacy* a love of books and reading* an interest in science and math through STEM activities* an introduction to our community and the world around us with the goal of creating “global citizens”* the development and growth of character skills such as perseverance and compassion

At Adam J. Lewis Academy, we believe that our parent partnership is critical to the success of our students and our program. We foster parent involvement through mandatory monthy workshops. Our newly formed Parent Association run by parent volunteers is a way for parents to engage in the life at AJLA by helping to plan extracurricular events or supporting our fundraising efforts. The PA is also a place where parents can forge meaningful friendships, provide support for one another and reaffirm their commitment to their childrens’ education. When parents commit to being actively involved at AJLA, they are making a direct investment in their child’s future.

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2 Pre Ks + K + 1st + 2nd + 3rd + 4th + 5th

2 Pre Ks + K + 1st + 2nd + 3rd + 4th

2 Pre Ks + K + 1st + 2nd + 3rd

2 Pre Ks + K + 1st + 2nd

2 Pre Ks + K + 1st

Pre K + K

Pre K

Pre K

Pre K

Pre K

Pre K12 students

13 students

16 students

18 students

18 students

33 students

75 students

94 students

112 students

130 students

148 students

4% Tuition

60% Foundations 36% Individuals &Local Businesses

Tour the School:We would love to show you our program in action. Please email info@ajlacademy.org or call: 203-333-2211to arrange a visit.

Read Aloud:On Wednesday afternoons throughout the year, we welcome friends like you to be a Respected Reader. Please let us know if you would like to share a story with our students.

Fuel the Conversation:Engage with us online. Help spread the word.Instagram | Facebook | Twitter @ajlacademy

Join the Party:Save the date to come celebrate with fellow supporters of AJLA at our annual Spring fundraising event on May 11th, 2019. This fun-filled evening raises critical funds for the academy.

Give Generously:To support our students and our mission, please make your check payable to: Adam J. Lewis Academy and use the enclosed donation envelope, or send directly to: AJLA, 246 Lenox Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605. You may also give online at: https://ajlacademy.org/giving/make-a-gift

Abbey Tent + Party Rentals Mark + Susanne Addessi Jonathan Alexander + Julie Horowitz Bill + Beth Andrews Clay + Kate Andrews Anonymous x3Apple Pickers Foundation Billy + Maureen Auer Katie Augustyn Henry + Tara Backe Frannie Baldwin Tyler + Ellen Baldwin Robert Banzer Kevin + Ellen Barlow Bruce + Kraemer Becker Doug + Sharon Becker Bedford Family Social Responsibility Fund Belliza Knight Jewelry Benjamin B. Lewis Trust Andrew Bentley + Fiona Garland Chuck + Casey Berg Brad + Robin Berggren Matt Bernard Jim + MJ Berrien Brad Blesie + Teresa Turvey The Boathouse Foundation Duane + Lee Bollert Bond Insurance Group LLC Nancy Bonvini Diana Bowes Bob + Lisa Bowman

David + Nancy Braun Doug + Patti Brown Iain + Linda Bruce John + Kris BurbankBuscher Foundation Stephen Buscher Clem + Kitty Butt Gerry + Susan Callahan Robert + Mary Campbell Jennifer CarelloMark + Lisa Castillo Norma Castro The Center For Family Justice Jackie Chamandy Jon + Agnes Chapski The Children’s School John Cissel Brandon + Brooke ClarkJames Cleaver Geoff + Carrie Cochrane Lizzy Cochrane Gary + Carolyn Cohen CT Association for the GiftedJim + Roberta Conroy Bob + Kathy Coppola Kevin Cotter + Susan HanifinCrane Fund for Widows + ChildrenRicardo Cruz + Olivia Rojas Susan Cugliari Rich + Sally Cummings Peggy Dau

Elwood + Catherine Davis Alberto de Brito Frank Denton William + Bridget DeRiso Peter + Bridgett DiBonaventura Brian + Marissa Donnelly Paul + Lisa Doocy Susan Doran John Duffy Megan DuncanJohn + Denise Dunne Joyce DunneMichael + Chieko Dunne Renee Dunne Bob Dzurenda EBC Security, LLC Rich + Joyce EldhRobert FairbairnThomas + Brigid Faranda Christopher Faresich + Elizabeth PalaisCris + Justine Fellows Peter + Christine Ferrara Dino Ferrare Yvonne Ferris Chris + Hilary FerroneDavid + Judy Fisher Molly Fitzgerald Marty Fleischmann Charlotte FordMark + Carla FosterWesley + Elizabeth Fox

Framemakers Jack + Ann Franzen Edward + Lisa Friedland William + Amy FrischlingBrian FurbishRenee Galloway Richard + Lorraine Garland Jerrett + Shelly Garner Girl Scouts of CT Troop #50739 Chris + Lisa Godsick The Goergen Foundation Harris + Becca Goldblat Melvin + Gail Goldblat Brian + Sarah Goodman Chuck + Linda Googe Ben Gott The William + Diana Romney Gray Family Foundation Chris + Dyan Griffin Bill + Marie Gross Jim + Bailey Haas Kent + Lisa Haines Jon + Deirdre Halper Jim + Anne Hardy Gale Hartch Bob + Robbi Hartt John + Janet Hartwell David + Letty Helgans Clayton + Heather Hennessy Paul + Patti Hiller The Hintsa Family

Deb HodesRon + Kathy HodgeTom + Karen HodgmanAndy Hoffman + Anick Pleven Terry + Mary-Jane Hogan Rick + Sally Holzinger Hap + Anne HooverRichard + Janet Hoyt Bill Humphrey + Nancy Saipe Chris + Erica Hunt Jim + Carole Hunt David + Joan Huntington Inner-City Foundation for Charity + EducationRichard + Francoise JaffeJerry Joseph + Sharon Lauer JoyRide Cycle Studio The K Foundation Harold + Peggy Kamins John Karrel + Susan Lloyd Michael + Kristen Keden James Kelly Marc Kemeny + Clare Cosslett Susan Kietzman Shenton King + Kelcey Kirik-King The Knobloch Fund at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation Bob + Jill Kolbe Preston + Mary Jean Koster Kreitler Foundation Tom + Dawn Kreitler

Adam + Phyllis Kurzer Trevor Lally Karen LeganTom + Susan Lenci Rick + Amy Leonard Christopher LettaThe Levinson FamilyPatty Lewis + family Jurgen + Barbara LinkRobert + Catherine Lowe Meghan LowneyAndrea Topper LukensThe Macauley Foundation Anne Mandeville-Long Paul + Ann McCarthyDavid + Molly McGrathJohn + Elly McKennaThe Stewart B. McKinney FoundationTom + Emily Michaud The Midvale Foundation Gary Mombello Karen Mombello Mac Mombello Michael + Julie Mombello Susan Mooallem Max + Kathi Moran Frank Mori John + Elizabeth Munro Devin + Jennie Murphy Maureen MurphyTom + Joanne Murphy

Tom + Sophie MurphyNear + Far Aid Association Inc. Victor + Deni Nesi Amer + Kristen Nimr Larry + Melissa Norton Frances O’Neill Jim + April Obermeyer OH Eta Pi Beta Phi Jose Oromi + Claudine Widmer Chip Perkins Petit Family Foundation Inc Michael + Saba Pina Katherine Prokop Quidditch Foundation, Inc. Abby Quinn John + Kate Ragan Jim + Carol Randel Daniel + Evelyn Rappaport Diane Reardon Pat Riemersma Tim + Jenny Robson Mark + Celia Rodrigues Mary Kate Romano Deanna Rosson John + Lauren Roth Stephen + Frances Rowland Martha Russell Mark + Dawn Ryan Corinne Samon Stephen Sander Ted + Nancy Schwartz

The Shack-Sackler FoundationSusan Seath Andrew + Cathy SeborLisa ShanahanPatrick + Finley ShawLarry + Marcy Shinbaum Harold + Carla SiegelPolly SimpkinsSouthport Congregational Church Andrew St. Jacques Robert + Bonnie Stapleton Russ + Tracey Stidolph Bill + Bonnie Strittmatter Meno StroemerSuper Duper Weenie LLCSusan Beth Salo FoundationStephen Swett + Margaret Cissel Roger + Bevo TarikaThomas TelderScott Tanguay Stuart + Polly Tilghman Morris + Jennifer Tooker Stephen + Ellen TowerThe Unquowa School Association Alex + Sally Uhle Alex + Judy UrquhartUX INXS LLCVianda Williams FoundationKimberly Walin Walker Family TrustJean + David Wallace

John WarburgHilary Ward + Todd Thibodeaux Webster BankMarie Weigl Stephan Weinberger + Linda Frazer Ethan Weinberger Westport Sunrise Rotary Westport Womans Club Paul + Laura Whitmore The Whittaker FamilyDavid + Barbara WiederechtMark + Vickie Wilchinsky

Respected ReadersFrannie Baldwin + Susan Kietzman Lisa Castillo Sheila Clancy Lizzy Cochrane Talli Connell Bridgett DiBonaventura Bill Finch Liz Flavin + Maggie Smith Marty Fleischmann + Chasey AllenLorraine Garland Jane Green Will Haskell Laura Hoglund Julie Horowitz Michele Litt Liz Matthews

Lindsey Miesmer Asmara + Desta PinaSherry RagoLizzy RockwellElaine Rankowitz Kate SchallauTrasey Stidolph Steve Swett + Margaret Cissel Kevin Thompson Astrid Weismann Laura Whitmore Barbara Wiederecht

In-Kind DonorsElinor BiggsCompare FoodsCarolyn CohenJoyce EldhFederation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield CountySilvana GrantDawn KreitlerPlum Class at Great Beginnings Montessori SchoolAlex + Carmen RamosSouthport Congregational ChurchSusan Shack SacklerPolly SimpkinsEnrique + Michelle Torres,Harborview Market

Kimberly WalinAstrid Weismann

Our volunteers:Dr. Peter FerraraAnne HooverSamantha KaneMartha RussellMarcy ShinbaumStephen SwettCecily Zerega

Our Junior Board:Christina Whittaker, Chair Sarah BontiMargaret CisselAmelia GarlandBrendhan HaasTrevor LallyReilly LewisMac MombelloStephen Swett

And, our Board of Directors:John G. Duffy, Board Chair Lee BollertBrandon Clark Chris GriffinDawn KreitlerPatty Lewis (ex officio)David McGrathJulie Mombello (ex officio)John Munro Jennifer TookerKim WalinChristina Whittaker

Photography by Joyce EldhGraphic design by Andrew Bentley

A special THANK YOU to RICHARD GARLAND #15 who ran a marathon in Antartica to raise money for AJLA. 189 people contributed to his tremendous effort. Richard matched every donation received and raised nearly $60,000!