The Soaring Eagle (March 09, 2026)
Week 2
In the weeks leading up to Spring Break, we will begin introducing and teaching our EAGLE Essentials to scholars. These essentials clearly outline the behaviors we expect to see every day at Roberts and are grounded in our core values: Equity & Empathy, Academic Achievement, Growth Mindset, Leadership, Excellence, and Self-Reliance.
At Roberts, we believe something simple but important: we must teach what we want to see. Just like we teach reading and math, we also teach the habits, respect, responsibility, and leadership that help scholars succeed in school and beyond.
Through Advisory lessons, grade-level assemblies, and daily reinforcement from staff, scholars will learn what it means to move like an EAGLE—in the classroom, in the hallways, and in how they represent themselves and our community.
This work is also connected to our deeper commitment to protecting the brilliance of the Black and Brown scholars we serve by creating a school culture where they can learn, lead, and thrive with pride.
Our goal is to make expectations clear so that every scholar understands how we show up, how we treat each other, and how we represent Roberts with pride.
Thank you to all of our amazing families who stopped by our Morning Coffee Drive-Through on Friday! It was a small way for us to show appreciation for the parents and guardians who support our scholars each and every day.
We truly value our partnership with our families, and we hope you enjoyed your morning cup of coffee as a token of our gratitude. Moments like these remind us that when schools and families work together, our scholars thrive.
We look forward to more opportunities to connect with you throughout the year!
Ms. Brittani Hamilton, our Parent Engagement Specialist is dedicated to supporting families and ensuring you have access to the tools and resources needed for your scholar’s success.
📧 Bhamilton@laalliance.org
Together, when families rise — our Eagles soar. 🦅
From Student to Congresswoman: A Story of Leadership and Opportunity
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we recognize women who have made an impact through leadership, perseverance, and service to their communities. One such leader is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, often known as AOC, who became one of the youngest women ever elected to the United States Congress.
Born in the Bronx, New York, Ocasio-Cortez was raised in a working-class family that valued education and opportunity. She attended Boston University, where she studied economics and international relations. While in college, she worked hard to support her family and later helped care for them after the loss of her father. These experiences shaped her commitment to advocating for students, families, and underserved communities.
In 2018, at just 29 years old, Ocasio-Cortez was elected to represent New York’s 14th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. Her election inspired many young people—especially young women—to believe that leadership and civic engagement are within their reach.
Why Her Story Matters for Students
Ocasio-Cortez’s journey highlights several important lessons for students:
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Education opens doors. Her college experience helped shape her understanding of economics, government, and public policy.
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Your voice matters. She began her career by organizing and advocating for issues affecting her community.
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Young leaders can make a difference. Her historic election shows that leadership is not limited by age.
A Lasting Impact
Throughout her time in Congress, Ocasio-Cortez has focused on issues affecting working families, students, and access to education. She has supported efforts to make college more affordable and has spoken frequently about the importance of investing in public education and opportunities for young people.
Her story reminds us that students today can become the leaders of tomorrow. Through education, dedication, and a desire to serve others, young people have the power to shape the future of their communities.
This week we are proud to recognize Grace Maldonado, a 7th grade scholar, as our Eagle Student of the Week!
Grace consistently goes above and beyond what is required in her academic work. Her assignments demonstrate a level of analysis and thinking that reflects college-level engagement, showing her strong dedication to learning and intellectual growth.
In classroom discussions, Grace stands out for her intrinsic curiosity. She asks thoughtful questions that deepen conversations and frequently makes insightful connections between ideas, helping elevate the learning experience for her classmates.
Grace is also an exceptional writer, consistently incorporating strong academic vocabulary into her work and demonstrating the ability to make thoughtful inferences when analyzing texts and concepts.
Most importantly, Grace exemplifies what it means to be an Eagle. She consistently demonstrates our Eagle Core Values of Self-Reliance, Academic Achievement, and Excellence in both her work and her attitude toward learning.
🦅 Congratulations, Grace! Your dedication and commitment to excellence make our school community proud. Keep soaring, Eagle!
We are proud to recognize Ms. Jeanette Tello as our Staff Member of the Week!
Ms. Tello has proudly served the Alliance Virgil Roberts Leadership Academy community for 11 years as a 6th-grade history teacher. Her commitment, consistency, and diligence in supporting our scholars does not go unnoticed. We truly appreciate the impact she makes each day as she enriches the lives of our students here at Virgil Roberts.
Ms. Tello shares that one of the most rewarding parts of being part of the AVRLA community is the opportunity to teach multiple generations within the same family. She values building meaningful relationships with students and families and enjoys watching scholars grow throughout the school year.
Teaching history is especially meaningful to her because it allows scholars to explore places, cultures, and people beyond the Hyde Park community. Through history, students learn how people around the world have lived, struggled, and thrived, helping them understand how the past connects to the world they live in today.
Ms. Tello says working with middle school scholars is a joy because of their natural curiosity and eagerness to ask questions, which helps bring history to life in the classroom. Outside of school, Ms. Tello enjoys hiking, gardening, trying new foods, and traveling to new places.
Thank you, Ms. Tello, for the passion and dedication you bring to our school community every day!
This week we’re launching our Eagle Culture Scavenger Hunt!
Somewhere in this newsletter are clues that connect to our EAGLES Core Values and important information about our school community. Your mission is to read the newsletter carefully and find the answers to each clue.
The first "6" scholars (two from each grade) to correctly complete the scavenger hunt and submit their answers HERE will win a special Eagle Prize! (Submissions will be accepted through the end of ADVISORY on Wednesday morning).
🔍 Scavenger Hunt Clues
1️⃣ One of our Eagle Core Values stands for treating others with kindness and understanding.
What is that core value?
2️⃣ Which Eagle Core Value reminds us to keep trying, even when learning is challenging?
3️⃣ In this week’s newsletter, which school program helps scholars before and after school with homework and tutoring support?
4️⃣ What is the goal percentage for school attendance mentioned in the newsletter?
5️⃣ What section of the newsletter celebrates a member of our staff community this week?
