By John Straubel, tutor and Program Committee member, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula has grown to serve 2,500 K-12 students at three clubhouses and nine school campuses in eastern Menlo Park, Redwood City, and East Palo Alto.
Now the organization is adding more individualized resources to help students graduate from high school with a plan for college or a career.
“We increased the personalization of our programs so that we can meet our students where they are,” said BGCP Executive Director Peter Fortenbaugh. “More than 80 percent of our members are English language learners, 40 percent are homeless or in foster care, 70 percent are reading below their grade level.”
Research has revealed specific criteria that are likely to determine school and post-secondary success. For elementary students, reading at grade level proficiency by the end of third grade is a reliable indicator of future school success. For middle school students, socio-emotional skills levels can be either a protective factor or a barrier to overall academic success.
Students benefit from BGCP’s new Intensive Services that provide two- or three-year “boosters” at critical points to get students on track for high school graduation. The intervention is built into BGCP’s program for all students and consists of personalized blended learning in math and/or reading, homework help, and small-group, targeted skill building.
That’s followed by hands-on activities like arts, science and coding, complemented with socio-emotional learning workshops.
BGCP provides members with more than 700 extra learning hours each year — a 60 percent increase over the school day.
Another recent move offers more specialized services for older students. BGCP last year launched a clubhouse dedicated solely to high school students in Redwood City. At the now-popular Forest High School Center, older students participate in college success programs, enrichment, community leadership projects, tutoring, and hands-on career exposure. The teens eat a hot meal together every evening prepared by BGCP’s culinary arts students.
Brigette Ochoa, a current sophomore and first-generation college student at San Jose State, joined BGCP when she was 11 years old.
This past summer she participated in the club’s apprenticeship program, where she worked at YouTube analyzing help center articles and attended a luncheon with YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki.
The program aims to open students’ eyes to professional pathways. Says Brigitte: “I never thought that I could be a person who could work at a big professional company like this. This experience was amazing and opened doors to new opportunities for me.”
Gifts to the Almanac’s Holiday Fund benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. Donate now:
https://www.siliconvalleycf.org/almanac-holiday-fund
Go to bgcp.org for more information.
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