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TRAINER NOTES�GETTING YOURSELF READY

MATERIALS:

Timer
PowerPoint loaded onto computer
Projector
Postcards (1 per student)
Handouts

TECHNOLOGY NEEDS:

Computer
Projector
Screen

ROOM LAYOUT:

Room arrangement that allows for partner and table work and working the crowd

AGENDA W/TIMES

Do Now: 3 min

Breakthrough Norms: 4 min

Objective/Purpose: 2 min

Poem Activity: 6 min

Overview of BT HS program: 15 min

BT Recommitment Form: 7 min

Closure: 3 min

Total Time: ~ 40 min

Updated: December, 2023

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TRAINER NOTES: AP SYMBOLS

Write on whiteboard

Write on handout

Turn and talk

Post-it

Choral read

Fishbowl

Discuss with table

Whipshare

Share out

Choral response

Updated: December, 2023

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INTRO TO BT HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM

HS Recommitment

Updated: December, 2023

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DO NOW

What are your current college and career goals?

Did your future goals change since you signed up for BT in 6^th grade? Why or why not?

What must you do to reach your goals?

Updated: December, 2023

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BREAKTHROUGH NORMS

Be early, prepared, and present.
Take Ownership: This will be what we make it.
Recognize that everyone is both a teacher and a learner.
Understand before evaluating: listen, listen, listen, and process.
Recognize the spirit of modeling.
Speak from the “I” perspective.
Lean into discomfort.
Notice when to step up and step back.
Be crisp, say what’s core.

Updated: December, 2023

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PURPOSE

To understand the importance of the BT four-year high school program as a continuation of your BT commitment with a new focus on college.

Your hard work + BT Support

= YOUR College Goals

Updated: December, 2023

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OBJECTIVE

Today you will develop an understanding of how BT’s four-year high school commitment will help you reach your goals by reviewing the high school program and signing the commitment agreement.

Updated: December, 2023

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COLLEGE BOUND MISSION

Breakthrough provides students guidance and resources to persist through high school and graduate with the skills, knowledge, and mindsets to identify and attend and graduate from a best fit college.

OVERALL BT MISSION

Breakthrough is a selective, multi-year, academic enrichment and college readiness program that provides students guidance and resources to persist through middle and high school. Through near-peer teaching and mentoring in an out-of-school time setting, Breakthrough aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and mindsets they need to identify, attend, and graduate from a best fit college.

Updated: December, 2023

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BREAKTHROUGH’S ROAD TO COLLEGE

Elementary School

Middle School

High School

College

Career

Elementary School

Middle School

High School

College

Super Saturdays

Tutoring

Six-week summer program

College-Bound program

Updated: December, 2023

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BREAKTHROUGH IS INTENTIONAL

Academic Rigor & College Peer Group

Step Outside Comfort Zone

College and Career Exposure

Maintain Good Grades

Students Reach their College Goals

Summer Program

Energizers

Super Saturday

Tutoring

College Mentors

Updated: December, 2023

DIRECTOR NOTE- Edit to reflect your programing

Everything we do at Breakthrough is intentional and designed to prepare students for their college and career goals. Our summer program connects you to a college-going community and provides you with intense academic programming to help you learn and grow over the summer instead of losing information. Our Super Saturday program helps expose you to colleges and careers. The tutoring program gives you access to free tutors to help you maintain your good grades. College mentors help you reach your college goals through the application process. Even our energizers exist to help students and teachers step outside of their comfort zone because we know when we push ourselves to take healthy risks, we are growing to be stronger and more intelligent people.

What do all the things in the right common have in common? They are characteristics of a successful college-going student. All of these things create the social emotional and academic skills that help you persist to to college.

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WHAT ARE YOUR COLLEGE GOALS?

On a postcard, write any of your college or career goals.

Write your name at the top of the card.

Updated: December, 2023

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HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The BT High School Program ensures all students who complete Breakthrough’s two-year commitment in middle school remain on the path to college. Breakthrough is fully committed to the goal of college attendance for all of its students; in exchange we expect students to be committed to their success and the program.

Your hard work + BT Support

= YOUR College Goals

Updated: December, 2023

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THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE

Did you hear about the rose that grew

from a crack in the concrete?

Proving nature’s law is wrong it

learned to walk without having feet.

Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,

It learned to breathe fresh air.

Long live the rose that grew from concrete

When no one else ever cared.

- Tupac Shakur

Updated: December, 2023

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THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE

What message do you think the author is trying to tell us?
How might this relate to your Breakthrough academic experience?

Updated: December, 2023

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9^TH AND 10^TH GRADE OVERVIEW

3-Week Summer Program: All 9^th and 10^th grade students will take part in a 3-week summer program. In lieu of electives, students will participate in a college-bound academy focusing on the transition from middle school to high school.

Super Saturday Program: As a continuation of the middle school Super Saturday program, 9^th and 10^th grade students take part in college and career readiness workshops on five Saturdays throughout the year.

Updated: December, 2023

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BRAINSTORM

What will be your biggest obstacles during HS?
What might you someday want help with?
What are some graduation requirements from your school?
What feels most daunting about 11th-12th grade?

Updated: December, 2023

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11^TH AND 12^TH GRADE

Standardized Test Preparation: Some colleges require students to take standardized tests (SAT/ACT)
College-Bound Program: Starting in 11^th grade, BT’s College-Bound Program provides personalized, one-on-one support with areas such as:

Building a college list and researching schools
Writing the college essay
Completing the necessary application forms
Setting up college visits

Scholarship and Financial Aid Support: BT staff offer workshops and provide support for families.

Updated: December, 2023

Adjust these bullet points to reflect your site’s programming:

Standardized Test Preparation: Some colleges require students to take a standardized test (either the SAT or ACT) when applying for college. BT offers a test preparation course for juniors in the spring of 11^th grade. (Adjust this bullet point to reflect your state-specific SAT/ACT considerations)

College-Bound Program: Starting in 11^th grade, BT’s College-Bound Program provides personalized, one-on-one support throughout the entire college application process to ensure that students put forth the strongest possible college application. BT supports students with areas such as:

building a college list and researching schools

writing the college essay

completing the necessary application forms

setting up college visits

Scholarship and Financial Aid Support: BT staff offer workshops and provide support for families when filling out required financial aid forms. Each student will receive help in identifying and applying for scholarships to help them pay for college. Additionally, Breakthrough will help students and families evaluate their financial aid offers, compare college costs, and appeal for additional financial aid if necessary.

Turn and talk: how do these BT programs help you reach your college and career goals?

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THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL

Academic Support: All students are eligible for tutoring through BT’s tutoring program. If grades fall below a B, students must sign up for BT’s tutoring program.

Career Exploration Opportunities: To help students learn more about different career options, BT will host workshops, panels, and activities throughout the summer and school year.

Course Selection Advice: All students are encouraged to attend workshops and/or have course selection meetings with BT staff to go over their current transcript

Updated: December, 2023

Adjust these bullet points to reflect your site’s programming:

Academic Support: For any student experiencing challenges in one or more of their classes, BT will provide an academic mentor or will help the student access the academic support services at their school. Any student who is at risk of receiving below a B will be asked to enter into an Academic Support Contract to improve their grades.

Career Exploration Opportunities: To help students learn more about different career options, Breakthrough staff will set up career exploration opportunities such as career day visits and guest speakers throughout the school year and summer. All Breakthrough high school students are eligible to participate.

Course Selection Advice: All students are encouraged to attend workshops and/or have course selection meetings with BT staff to go over their current transcript and receive advice about selecting the courses that will best prepare them for college. BT staff work with each student’s guidance counselor to ensure that students create a challenging but manageable schedule.

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THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL (CONT.)

Letters of Recommendation: Breakthrough staff are happy to write recommendations for students.

Summer Exploration and Opportunities Program: High school students will meet with BT staff to research and apply for extracurricular activities and summer opportunities. BT staff will help you find programs that match your interests and help you with the application process (i.e. help with interviews, completing applications, and creating a resume).

Volunteering and Working at BT: All students meeting BT’s academic standards are encouraged to apply for opportunities within the program.

Updated: December, 2023

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STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintain at least a “B” average: contact Breakthrough if any grade is a C or below to identify the best next steps.

Attend all BT Programs: If you cannot attend, contact the BT Office and ask how you can make up the work.

Remain committed to the goal of attending a 4-year college or university even though this will require a lot of hard work.

Updated: December, 2023

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PARENT/GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITIES

Help your student when things get tough. And they will. Encourage them to get on the bus in the morning,help them get rides to events, and check homework every night.

Sign and return an annual academic records release form each year to allow BT to continue to track your student’s grades.

Contact BT proactively when contact information changes, or when you have other updates, questions, or concerns about your student.

Updated: December, 2023

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BREAKTHROUGH RECOMMITMENT FORM

Read the BT High School Recommitment Form
Sign the student section
Take home to your parent and bring back tomorrow

Updated: December, 2023

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CLOSURE

What is the easiest part of this contract for you to agree to? Why?

What is the hardest part of this contract for you to agree to? Why?

Updated: December, 2023