Summer Bridge 2024

What an amazing first week of Hamilton High Summer Bridge! This exciting program was designed to help students transition smoothly into high school. During the program's first week, participants engaged in team-building activities that helped them form strong bonds with their new classmates. Our student panel provided valuable insights and tips from current high schoolers, giving attendees a head start on what to expect. Additionally, students had the opportunity to explore the school with a guided tour, ensuring they were familiar with all the important spots before the first day of classes. A special speaker discussed attendance expectations and graduation requirements, providing crucial information for academic success. The highlight of the program was a trip to the California Science Center, where students experienced hands-on learning and discovery. The program helped students make new friends, gain confidence, and start their high school journey on the right foot!

Week 2 of the Summer Bridge Program will be packed with excitement and opportunities for growth! Students will kick off the week with a campus scavenger hunt, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the school grounds while having fun. Creativity was in full swing during the mural-making activity, as students collaborated to create a beautiful piece of art that will leave a lasting mark on the school. Midweek, students enjoyed two fantastic field trips: a visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) for a dose of culture and inspiration, and an exhilarating outing to a Dodger game, where they enjoyed America's favorite pastime. The week culminated in a college panel, where students heard from current college students about their experiences and gained valuable insights into higher education. Week 2 was a perfect blend of education, creativity, and fun, further preparing students for their high school journey!

Vanessa Lopez-Morales| Site Director

Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA)

California Science Center Field Trip

UCLA After School is excited to announce that the first week of our 2024 EL Summer Bridge program was a success! Students enthusiastically participated in a variety of activities ranging from practicing their English skills through written and oral activities implemented by EL instructor Mr. Villalta, to engaging in group games with emphasis on social-emotional and team development. Many students began developing positive bonds amongst each other as they worked together to help one another express statements in English. Participating in projects developed by the UCLA team, such as creating “vision boards” with images depicting their future aspirations, amongst outdoor group games which emphasized sharing about their heritage, ultimately helped foster a sense of understanding and appreciation amongst our students. Through exposure to PowerPoints students also learned essential information such as staff to know on Hamilton’s campus to guarantee academic success, as well as information regarding college and other educational opportunities to pursue after high school. By ending each day with a reflection prompt in their assigned journals, UCLA staff has been able to directly see the positive impact of such activities on students’ skill development, as expressed through their own writing. Having fostered a positive and inclusive learning environment, we are excited to see our students continue to bond and develop through the rest of summer programming!

During week 2 of programming the UCLA team and Mr. Villalta look forward to continuing to implement various games, activities, and educational material with the purpose of helping our EL students continue to develop necessary language skills and comfortability here on campus. This week’s activities will emphasize mental and physical wellness, as well as activities which allow students to practice speaking complete phrases in English. We will also be doing a number of outdoor activities which will require students to work together by communicating in as much English as possible. Additionally, Mr. Seislove who oversees the EL department at Hamilton will give an essential presentation regarding reclassification. All together, we look forward to continuing to watch our students develop and thrive as a result of our intentional programming and essential resources shared throughout the week!

Jolly Tadros - UCLA Youth Coordinator

Instagram: @uclaafterschoolhami

For Emergencies/

Questions
during Summer Bridge
Call/Text: 323-380-1150