Strengths

The CARES Program at Ygnacio Valley High School is a newly funded program with strong support from our community partners as well as from our school site and administration. We offer a rich variety of before and after school programming everyday that school is in session as well as a variety of special events and a summer program. Financially we are supported by grants from both federal, state, city initiatives, and foundations. We pride ourselves not only in our strong academic and enrichment programs, but also in our many activities open to families, the school, and the community.

Challenges

In order to maintain high quality services being offered to our students and families, additional funding sources are continually being pursued. There is an ongoing need to maintain high quality training and mentorship for CARES staff as well as to recruit qualified teachers to serve our students. Additionally, we continue to search for new ways to engage students and their families with a variety of educational and social services.

Programs for Youth and Families

Homework Center, Warrior Design, Anime, Debate, Link Crew, Capoeira, Polynesian Dance, Garden, Knitting Club, Leadership, Drama, Airbrushing, Intermural Sports, CASHEE Preparation Class, SAT Prep, Service Learning, Improvisation, Yoga and Salsa dance, Ceramics, and Warrior Power Lift

Daily nutritional snack provided in partnership with Food Services Department and the USDA.

• School day teachers instruct the certain classes for CARES and staff the Homework Center.
• Informal and formal means of communication in place to facilitate discussion between CARES staff, school day teachers, principal and school support services

• Homework Center/Teacher Tutoring: Available Monday-Friday from the end of school to 6pm.
• Peer Tutoring program: Peer tutors on staff available to tutor in the Homework Center.

• California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) Preparation: skills preparation with a Credentialed teacher in English/Language Arts and Mathematics.
• SAT Preparation: Students are prepared to take their SAT test in a six week long program.
• CAHSEE Prep: Students who have not passed either or both parts of the California High School Exit Exam are invited to attend this preparation course. It runs all year long and the length can depend on the need of the student, the program runs at their speed.

• Reclamation Classes: Spring of 2010 students had the opportunity to take Geometry and Algebra 2 for 7th period and those who passed with a D or higher received credit.
• Service Learning: 12th graders from Ygnacio Valley High School performed 50 to 100 hours of volunteer work with elementary students in order to complete elective credits. In 2009-10, 7 Seniors were able to earn credits to graduate on time. In addition, several students were hired on to become Recreation Staff in the Summer and Fall 2010.

• Athletic Study Hall: All athletes and teams are able to collaborate with our program to offer teachers and tutorials as a resource for students struggling or maintain grades.
• Leadership: Students interested in participating in leadership and don’t have the ability to take the class during the school day have the opportunity to join the leadership club/activity committee to plan and execute events put on after school. Students have the opportunity to collaborate with staff and learn about structure and logistics that is required to make an event successful.
• Capoeira: Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art taught here at Ygnacio Valley. All participants’ have the opportunity to be Capoeira trained which includes self defense, acrobatics and learning about the Brazilian culture. Capoeira group will have the opportunity to perform at Y.V.H.S Fall Rally and the Multi-cultural Assembly in the spring. Although there are no female members of the group yet, the group is working hard to expand and recruit as many members as possible male and female.
• Debate: Starting this year students at Ygnacio Valley Highs School they can participate in Forensics. Forensics or competitive speech and debate allow students to compete at various tournaments in the local area and travel to other places in the state. There are 12 different speech events and five different styles of debate.
  Students not only gain confidence and self-esteem from participating, they do better in class as well. A survey conducted by Yale University shows that participation in speech and debate activities increases standardized test scores. Additionally, some of the many positive outcomes for students who successfully complete this program include: overcoming fear and apprehension in public speaking, improving research-retrieval and organization skills, improving critical listening and critical thinking skills.
• CARES Gardens: The CARES After School Garden hosts daily classes in the garden serving CARES After School Program participants and integrating nutrition, youth development and community development.

• After School Program Volunteers: High School students are placed at elementary school after school program sites around the district for volunteer hour completion. Student help with homework and tutoring, enrichment activities, as well as family nights, socials, and field trips
• Teen Garden Project: 15 students participated in a gardening focused youth development program in the Summer of 2010. Working at the Glenbrook Middle School Garden, these 15 students learned nutrition, organic gardening techniques as well as participated in job development classes such as resume writing and professionalism. Students earned a $500 stipend at the end of the 6 week program.
• Link Crew^©: Is a high school transition program that welcomes ninth graders and makes them feel more comfortable their first year. The objective is to have students help other students succeed. By using upper classman, Juniors and Seniors are both trained before school starts in the fall. As co-coordinator of this program it is my goal to follow a structured framework and focus on the needs of the freshman class of Ygnacio Valley High School. By utilizing students as mentors the program is much more empowering by having students provide both academic and social follow ups. We only hope that this increases participation attendance, school attendance, decrease in discipline and improve student academic performance to all the students which we serve.

Who We Serve

Number of Students served: 220
Free & Reduced Lunch: 58%
English Learner: 43%
Special Education: 12%
Male: 49%
Female: 51%

Demographics
Latino: 34 %
African American: 30 %
Asian/Pacific Islander: 12 %
Other White: 21 %
Other Non-White: 3 %

How We Serve
Staff to student ratio: 1:20
Number of credentialed staff:11
Number of volunteers:2
Number of CARES staff: 3
Number of subcontractors: 7
Number of Community Partners: 7

Community Partners

• City of Concord Parks and Recreation
• MDUSD
• Monument Community Partnership
• Concord Police Department
• ROCCO’s Restaurante
• Peet’s Coffee
• Safeway
• Trader Joe’s