When asked what keeps them coming back to Aim High, Peter and Lexus agree that Aim High’s warm, fun atmosphere is one of the program’s biggest draws. They will be entering ninth grade in the fall, and they are already talking about coming back to volunteer at AIM High’s San Francisco Community School (SFCS) campus on Excelsior Avenue. This summer is Peter’s fourth as a student, and it is Lexus’ third. “The teachers make you feel welcome,” Peter says, “And they make you enjoy learning. They treat us like family.”
But beyond their teachers’ infectious enthusiasm and caring support, can they point to a specific program that will contribute to their academic success?
“In College Claro, they tell us that even if your parents don’t have the resources or information to help you go to college, you can still do it. They explain to us the whole college admission process and show us that you can find the financial aid,” Peter explains.
“Mariah, who goes to Occidental College, was a high school senior last year, and she showed us the whole process,” adds Lexus. “She showed us how much effort it takes to apply to college, but she also showed us that we can do it too.”
Navigating the college admissions process can be nightmarish, especially if you are tackling it without much help. For many students in crowded public schools, where guidance counselors sometimes have a thousand students or more on their caseloads , the research and paperwork can appear too intimidating to tackle alone. And although most parents and guardians want their kids to go to college, often adults are unsure about how to offer the assistance that they desperately want to provide.
That conundrum is especially common in families or recent immigrants. A recent survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that “While most public school parents express at least some confidence that they have the resources and information to help their children achieve their educational goals, the number saying very confident has been declining (from 52% in 2005 to 41% today). White parents are far more likely than Latino parents (50% to 29%) to say they are very confident.”
College Claro provides students with the sound advice and clear information that they might not be able to get otherwise. Site directors Stacy Thomas and Gaela Peters emphasize the idea that college is an option for every student by embedding it into their program; at every Monday and Friday assembly, there’s a College Claro presentation. Since Aim High has such a diverse staff, students hear a variety stories. They can each personally identify with at least one of the tales. Usually, the instructors use slideshows to display photos of themselves at different points in their schooling. They talk about their own high school curriculum, their own challenges as students, and their strategies in selecting and applying to college. In relating their own educational experiences, the Aim High staff not only demystifies the college admission process, but also instills confidence in young students. Their message is simple: “You can do it too.”
To Peter and Lexus, there is no question that they are headed to college after high school, and they are ready for the work that it takes to get there. “At Aim High,” grins Lexus, “They always give us something to look forward to.”
This summer, writer and longtime educator Kenny Logan visited Aim High’s site at SF Community School. College? ¡Claro! is the first of Kenny’s 3-part series exploring Aim High’s impact on kids, graduates and educators through the eyes of the SF Community family.
When asked what keeps them coming back to Aim High, Peter and Lexus agree that Aim High’s warm, fun atmosphere is one of the program’s biggest draws. They will be entering ninth grade in the fall, and they are already talking about coming back to volunteer at AIM High’s San Francisco Community School (SFCS) campus on Excelsior Avenue. This summer is Peter’s fourth as a student, and it is Lexus’ third. “The teachers make you feel welcome,” Peter says, “And they make you enjoy learning. They treat us like family.”
But beyond their teachers’ infectious enthusiasm and caring support, can they point to a specific program that will contribute to their academic success?
“In College Claro, they tell us that even if your parents don’t have the resources or information to help you go to college, you can still do it. They explain to us the whole college admission process and show us that you can find the financial aid,” Peter explains.
“Mariah, who goes to Occidental College, was a high school senior last year, and she showed us the whole process,” adds Lexus. “She showed us how much effort it takes to apply to college, but she also showed us that we can do it too.”
Navigating the college admissions process can be nightmarish, especially if you are tackling it without much help. For many students in crowded public schools, where guidance counselors sometimes have a thousand students or more on their caseloads , the research and paperwork can appear too intimidating to tackle alone. And although most parents and guardians want their kids to go to college, often adults are unsure about how to offer the assistance that they desperately want to provide.
That conundrum is especially common in families or recent immigrants. A recent survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that “While most public school parents express at least some confidence that they have the resources and information to help their children achieve their educational goals, the number saying very confident has been declining (from 52% in 2005 to 41% today). White parents are far more likely than Latino parents (50% to 29%) to say they are very confident.”
College Claro provides students with the sound advice and clear information that they might not be able to get otherwise. Site directors Stacy Thomas and Gaela Peters emphasize the idea that college is an option for every student by embedding it into their program; at every Monday and Friday assembly, there’s a College Claro presentation. Since Aim High has such a diverse staff, students hear a variety stories. They can each personally identify with at least one of the tales. Usually, the instructors use slideshows to display photos of themselves at different points in their schooling. They talk about their own high school curriculum, their own challenges as students, and their strategies in selecting and applying to college. In relating their own educational experiences, the Aim High staff not only demystifies the college admission process, but also instills confidence in young students. Their message is simple: “You can do it too.”
To Peter and Lexus, there is no question that they are headed to college after high school, and they are ready for the work that it takes to get there. “At Aim High,” grins Lexus, “They always give us something to look forward to.”
When asked what keeps them coming back to Aim High, Peter and Lexus agree that Aim High’s warm, fun atmosphere is one of the program’s biggest draws. They will be entering ninth grade in the fall, and they are already talking about coming back to volunteer at AIM High’s San Francisco Community School (SFCS) campus on Excelsior Avenue. This summer is Peter’s fourth as a student, and it is Lexus’ third. “The teachers make you feel welcome,” Peter says, “And they make you enjoy learning. They treat us like family.”
But beyond their teachers’ infectious enthusiasm and caring support, can they point to a specific program that will contribute to their academic success?
“In College Claro, they tell us that even if your parents don’t have the resources or information to help you go to college, you can still do it. They explain to us the whole college admission process and show us that you can find the financial aid,” Peter explains.
“Mariah, who goes to Occidental College, was a high school senior last year, and she showed us the whole process,” adds Lexus. “She showed us how much effort it takes to apply to college, but she also showed us that we can do it too.”
Navigating the college admissions process can be nightmarish, especially if you are tackling it without much help. For many students in crowded public schools, where guidance counselors sometimes have a thousand students or more on their caseloads , the research and paperwork can appear too intimidating to tackle alone. And although most parents and guardians want their kids to go to college, often adults are unsure about how to offer the assistance that they desperately want to provide.
That conundrum is especially common in families or recent immigrants. A recent survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that “While most public school parents express at least some confidence that they have the resources and information to help their children achieve their educational goals, the number saying very confident has been declining (from 52% in 2005 to 41% today). White parents are far more likely than Latino parents (50% to 29%) to say they are very confident.”
College Claro provides students with the sound advice and clear information that they might not be able to get otherwise. Site directors Stacy Thomas and Gaela Peters emphasize the idea that college is an option for every student by embedding it into their program; at every Monday and Friday assembly, there’s a College Claro presentation. Since Aim High has such a diverse staff, students hear a variety stories. They can each personally identify with at least one of the tales. Usually, the instructors use slideshows to display photos of themselves at different points in their schooling. They talk about their own high school curriculum, their own challenges as students, and their strategies in selecting and applying to college. In relating their own educational experiences, the Aim High staff not only demystifies the college admission process, but also instills confidence in young students. Their message is simple: “You can do it too.”
To Peter and Lexus, there is no question that they are headed to college after high school, and they are ready for the work that it takes to get there. “At Aim High,” grins Lexus, “They always give us something to look forward to.”
