Special thanks to Terry Ross, counselor at Hoover Middle School in Merced, CA. Students show off their school pride and college going spirit with T-shirts and participating in a college dreams bulletin board on prominent display in the school. Students are working on a plan to make being a ‘school girl’ and ‘school boy’ cool by advertising their willingness to do well in school. Hoover is one of three California GEAR UP schools in Merced, CA.

Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School celebrated National GEAR UP Day on Friday, September 18, 2009.  During the week students filled out “Our GEAR UP Dreams” cards which included the college from which they want to graduate and the degree they wish to achieve. Thursday, Sandy Carpenter-Stevenson, the GEAR UP Regional Coordinator, spoke with the Harris staff about California GEAR UP. On Friday, the GEAR UP Dreams Wall with all the future college graduate’s dreams was unveiled in the multipurpose room and teachers celebrated the occasion by wearing college t-shirts. Keep up the great work!

A million thanks to Chistopher Wong at Valley High School in Sacramento for this great video of our amazing event on September 18, 2009. If you are having trouble viewing the video, please follow the link.

Valley Video Link

Valley High School in Elk Grove Unified School District in Sacramento hosted a press conference and a wide array of activities for honored guests on September 18, 2009 in celebration of 10 years of California GEAR UP. Highlights of the day included visits to the GEAR UP Parent Center, a panel of GEAR UP Leadership Skills Initiative Students, and a press conference featuring State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, a student speaker from the Leadership Skills Initiative (LSI), and a parent volunteer. An amazing turnout of education professionals, state political figures, and national and international education organizations.

Guest list included: Valley High School Staff; EGUSD Superintendent Dr. Steven M. Ladd; Shelley Davis, Director of California GEAR UP; Penny Edgert Coordinator California Education Round Table (ICC); Assembly Member Alyson Huber; EGUSD Board Members Chet Madison, Sr. and Jeanette Amavisca; R.E. Graswich, Special Assistant to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson; Peter Stephens, Executive Vice-President of National Council for Community and Education Partnerships – GEAR UP DC;  Diana Fuentes-Michel, Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission; Penni Hansen, California Department of Education; Whitney Yamamura, Vice-President of Instruction and Student Learning; Bill DelBonta Principal, Jackman MS; Ernest Black, College Board; Deborah Muramoto, California Capital SBDC; Michelle Dyke; Victoria Harris, Field Rep for Senator Darrell Steinberg; UC Davis; Zeny Agullana, Scholarshare; Karen Humphrey, California Postsecondary Education Commission.

Students at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Vallejo, CA pose in front of their GEAR UP bulletin board. Teachers at Franklin are preparing to implement GEAR UP services at their school by changing all teacher team names on campus to that of community college and UC colleges. They are also sending oversize thank you letters to their US Senators and Representatives to show their gratitude in supporting America’s future leaders….the students of Franklin Middle School.

Davidson Middle School in San Rafael, CA celebrates National GEAR UP Day. Staff is wearing their college colors and sharing college experiences with students in their classrooms. Great way to kick off the year, Davidson.

Robertson Intermediate in Daly City, CA celebrates National GEAR UP Day with a dreams posters made by each class. Great pictures from a great school. Thanks Robertson!!

Edendale Middle School in San Lorenzo, CA Celebrates National GEAR UP Day by having students participate in a ‘Dreamsand Goals Wall’. Go Edendale!!

Photos from our amazing event at Everett Middle School on Sept 17, 2009 celebrating National GEAR UP Day.

UNITY UNIVERSITY

Sponsored by California GEAR UP

EVERETT MIDDLE SCHOOL

September 17, 2009

1-pm-2pm       Horace Mann Students Arrive at Everett Middle School

• Video viewing: “GEAR UP 10 Years” and NCCEP: 16 Summers
  
•  Welcome Address from School Principals 
  
•  Keynote Speaker: Rod Santos, San Francisco City College
  
•  Mayor Gavin Newsom staff: Presentation to GEAR UP programs 
• ACT-Explore student announcement 

2pm – 3pm      The College Experience: Student workshops

• SF State student panelists
  
• SF Ed Fund (translation)
  
• Student QandA
  
• *Raffle for Prizes and Gifts*
  

Ice Cream Social: Sponsored by California GEAR UP

THANK  YOU

San Francisco Unified School District GEAR UP
Everett and Horace Mann Middle School
San Francisco Promise
San Francisco City College
San Francisco State University
San Francisco Ed. Fund
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom