Community Corner
Hermanitas Graduation at Valley Middle School
The program is an after-school enrichment program for Latina teens who have the potential to attend college, but whose parents are not college graduates.
By Corie De Anda
On Thursday afternoon May 30, the library at Valley Middle School was filled with family members, teachers and other guests who came to encourage the girls in the Hermanitas Program and witness their successful completion of the program.
The program is an after-school enrichment program for Latina teens who have the potential to attend college, but whose parents are not college graduates. The girls learn how to plan for college and a career, as well as develop good character and leadership skills.
The girls at VMS met with their mentor teachers once a week during lunch and then once every other week they attended after-school seminars after on Thursdays on the topics included in the curriculum; the theme for the year was "success through integrity." To complete the program, the girls needed to attend the required sessions, maintain at least a 2.0 GPA (all received at least a 3.5 GPA and four received a 4.0 GPA), complete 8 hours of community service and do a written research report about an accomplished Latina and also present it orally to the group.
The girls maintained a notebook of cultural and academic resources to use as they enter high school and prepare to apply for college. This group went on three field trips this year: to UCSD; CSUSM and MiraCosta College.
The program is sponsored by MANA de North County San Diego and it is staffed all by volunteers. The organization is in search of more mentors, so please contact Corie De Anda at cdeanda7@gmail.com for more information.
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