Strengths

The Ygnacio Valley Elementary School CARES is a well established program with strong support from our community partners as well as from our school site and administration. This support stems from a history of excellent programming, coordination, and strong program leadership. Financially we are supported by grants from both state and city initiatives, as well as grassroots fundraising. We pride ourselves in threading academic learning opportunities throughout the program day and have gained support and respect from the regular school day teachers. Additionally, collaborative building has enabled us to bring unique enrichment opportunities to our youth.

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 to ensure qualified staff are serving our students. Opportunities for culturally diverse and enriching opportunities prepare students with life experiences.

Programs for Students and Families

Homework Help, Academic Intervention Program, ASPIRE Supplemental Educational Services, My Skills Tutor, Nutrition Education and Cooking, Arts & Crafts, Visual and Performing Arts, Gardening, Science, SPARKS Cooperative Games, Youth Leadership Group, Girl's Talk and Family Dinners.

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

• School day teachers instruct the Intervention portion of CARES.
• Representative of CARES attends faculty, Leadership, and grade level meetings.
• Informal and formal means of communication in place to facilitate discussion between CARES staff, school day teachers, principal and school support services (occupational therapist, school psychologist)
• A CARES representative is present at PTA meetings.
• CARES staff complete and share Bi-monthly Student Progress reports with classroom teachers.

• Homework Help: 1 hour of homework assistance, including 15 minutes of sustained silent reading or read aloud.
• Intervention Program: 3 hours per week of academic Intervention with a Credentialed teacher in either English Language Arts or Mathematics. Student to teacher ratio is 12:1. This program has eligibility requirements, inquire within.
• ASPIRE Supplemental Education Services Program: 1 hours of Academic Intervention with a Credentialed teacher in either English Language Arts and/or Mathematic. Student to teacher ratio is 6:1. This program has eligibility requirements.
• Computer Lab: Students explore and gain practice in computer skills and education. Students have access to MySkills Tutor Mathematics Intervention software.
• Science: Students participate in lecture, hypothesis, experiments and the District Science Fair.
• Academic Enrichment Activities: Disguised learning engaging students in academic games and activities: turbo twist, card games, journaling and interactive recreation.

• Enrichment opportunities: 1 1/2 hours structured enrichment or recreation. Enrichment programming includes arts and crafts, athletics, leadership, drama, dance, science, and team building activities. Programming focuses on the youth development model.
• Nutrition Education: 7 hours a week of nutrition education and physical activity promotion. Students participate in nutrition lessons, fitness, cooking classes and field trips to the Bay Point Garden. SPARKS (Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids) is a large component of the fitness period.
• CARES Gardens: Our two After School Gardens host daily classes in the garden serving all 14 CARES After School programs integrating nutrition, youth development and community development. Students learn the food process of seed to plate. We also have our own Regular day and CARES Garden on Site. Students attend the garden 1 hour per week.
• After School Drama Club: Students learn a script through reading and rehearsal. They are also given the opportunity to perform at a family function.

• Teen Volunteers: Local high school teens volunteer weekly in academic and enrichment activities.
• Girl's Talk: 5th grade girls meet weekly to learn about goals, each other, and work on community outreach.
• Youth Advisory Committee: 5th graders meet weekly to learn how to be Student Leaders and they are also Conflict Manager. The Youth Advisory Students are Conflict Managers during After School Program as well as regular school day.
• Service Learning Club: 3rd and 4th graders are in charge of setting up community events. They also are in charge of campus clean-ups and will be putting on skits for the regular school day on Life Skills.
• Life Skills Program: Students learn Life Skills such as Respect, Responsibility, Cooperation, Problem Solving and learn how to integrate these skills into their lives.
• Talent Show: Multiple CARES sites coordinate and host an annual Talent Show highlighting their performing skills in dance and vocals.

• Family Nights: We host 2 Family Nights that integrate enrichment, nutrition and academics resources and services for families.
• Garden Events: We invite families and the community to participate in enrichment, nutrition and academic activities and experiences at the garden.
• Food Bank: We receive fresh fruits and vegetable every Friday. We bag it and give it to our CARES Families as well to our community.

Who We Serve

Number of Students served: 130
Male: 50%
Female: 50%
Free & Reduced Lunch: 69%
English Learner: 76%
Special Education: 1%

Demographics
Chinese: 2.1%
Latino: 62.5%
African American: 7.6%
Asian Pacific Islander: 9.8%
Other White: 15.3%
Other Non-White: 2.8 %

How We Serve
Staff to student ratio: 1:20
Number of credentialed staff: 1-5
Number of volunteers: 6-15
Number of CARES staff: 11
Number of subcontractors: 2-8
Number of Community Partners: 12

Community Partners

• City of Concord Parks and Recreation
• MDUSD
• CC After School 4 All Collaborative
• Monument Community Partnership
• Concord Police Department
• Newspaper in Education
• Junior Achievement
• Mocha
• CC Health Services Department
• CalSAC
• CNYD
• Food Bank