After a semester off, the Si, Se Puede! Learning Center reopened in January with a revamped curriculum for the afterschool program.
Lizett Rodriguez, the lead teacher this semester, said the program took a hiatus as the curriculum was revamped.
“As soon as I came on board, all the families would come to me and ask, ‘When are you guys going to start? How do I register my student?’” Rodriguez said. “Even the kids were really excited to have it back.”
The program opened four years ago and started out solely as an afterschool program before also expanding to offer a summer camp program. Rodriguez is working with 22 students from kindergarten to fifth grade this year.
She said despite the period when the center was closed, it was easy to get started again.
“Everyone’s really helpful in the apartment complex,” she said, of the residents and staff members at the Villa Luna Apartments where the after school program is held. “Past volunteers stopped by and shared their stories – where things were and how the kids acted and what they liked.”
While the program used to focus on math and science, she said the enrichment part of the session will focus more on health, fitness, music and service learning. Each day also incorporates homework help.
Rodriguez, who graduated from the University of California, Davis, has experience working with children from low-income families. She received a bachelor’s in sociology and Chicano studies. She worked for the school district in Watsonville, her hometown, and also for an afterschool program in Davis that serviced disadvantaged youth, before taking the job in Hollister.
“I love it,” she said of starting at the Si, Se Puede! Learning Center. “The hardest part is planning the lessons. Once (the students) are there and doing it, time flies by. It’s great to see the different age range.”
One of the challenges is making sure each lesson applies to all the age groups with which Rodriguez works. She said the fifth-grade students are confident from their past experiences with leadership or presentation at the center, while the younger children are still building their confidence.
Each month the students focus on one of 10 core values for their service learning project. In February, they discussed sacrifice.
“We talked about how with sacrifice you might give up time to do something good for others or yourself,” she said. “They might love playing videogames, but they have to exercise. So we sacrifice for our health.”
Some of the other core values include non-violence, celebrating community diversity and volunteering.
Rodriguez said the families she’s worked with in Hollister are connected with their students.
“At other programs it was really hard to get in contact with families,” she said, of her previous jobs. “Families were not into student academics. Here, all the families are really involved in student academics and are always there offering their help.”
Rodriguez’s goal for the remainder of the school year is to teach all the students how to be healthy through exercise and good eating habits.
On the academic side, she said the students have done pre-tests on math and reading, with plans for them to take another test at the end of the year that will examine if their reading speed and math knowledge has increased. Middle school students have been volunteering as tutors during the homework portion of the program, while Rodriguez is looking to hire assistant teachers. For now, the SHINE portion of the program that worked with high school students has been discontinued.
“For now it’s just me and I’m still looking for two assistant teachers,” Rodriguez said. “Everything is good so far, and I love it.”
The Si, Se Puede! Learning Center locations in Hollister and Gilroy are hiring teacher aides who will run and manage the after school program. Requirements include:
– At least 18years of age.
– A US Citizen or Legal Resident.
– High school diploma or GED.
– Minimum 1 year experience working with youth.
– Minimum 1 college course in childhood education or equivalent.
– Interested in helping children from a low-income community.
– Bilingual preferred.
– Be able to make a 6 month commitment.
– Pass a thorough criminal history check
For the Hollister position, email a resume and cover letter to Lizett Rodriguez at lr********@ch**************.org or call 831-637-9097 for more information. For the Gilroy position, email a resume and cover letter to Julian Tarula at Ss**********@gm***.com or call 408-847-9162.
