The Si, Se Puede! Learning Center staff members have been busy developing curriculum and planning field trips for the summer program that begins June 11.
Elise Hasty, the center coordinator, said this year’s program is slightly different than past summer because residents of the Villa Luna Apartments will have to pay $35 per child per week (plus $10 for additional siblings) while past sessions have been free for residents. The centers are funded through the Cesar Chavez Foundation, which this year requested that the 16 centers located throughout the Southwestern states charge a fee to run the summer program. The cost for non-residents is $70 per week (with $20 charged for additional siblings.) The program runs Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through August 3.
“In the past is was free for residents and they could make donations if they liked or bring food or snacks,” Hasty said.
To offset the cost for some families that may not be able to afford the cost increase, Hasty said she and her staff are working on a fundraiser that would support scholarships. They have been calling local organizations to donate money for the scholarship and then they will create a summer program T-shirt, where the names of the organizations and businesses will be listed. The T-shirts will be sold, going back into the fund for scholarships.
“A lot of parents are concerned about the prices and they are not really concrete,” Hasty said, of the hope that the fundraisers will help supplement a discount. “We are still looking for students that want to be in the program.”
The summer session at Si, Se Puede! Learning Center is open to students who live at the Villa Luna Apartments and non-residents as well. While the school year program is focused on academics, with the first hour devoted to homework help, Hasty said the summer program offers more interactive learning experiences. During the summer program, the students spend a lot of time outdoors on physical activities. They also take a field trip most weeks.
Last year’s field trips included trips to an IMAX theater, the Tech Museum in downtown San Jose, a camping trip and more. Hasty said her staff members select fieldtrips that don’t add additional cost to the summer program, either through getting free tickets or selecting places that offer free admission.
“The primary cost is transportation and usually the parents are great about driving or carpooling,” she said.
The center also has an opening for a resident activity leader that would start in June for six months. The position would work through the summer program and the fall semester.
“It’s just as academic, but we are teaching things in a less structured setting,” Hasty said of the summer program. “It’s more active and interactive.”
Center seeks activity leader
The Si, Se Puede Learning Center is seeking a site activity leader to work with kids between the ages of 5 and 13. The applicant must be 18 years of age, a US citizen or legal resident, a college student and able to commit to a six-month term from June to December 2012. Those hired will receive a monthly living allowance that totals $2,590 for the six months and an educational award of $1,175 upon completion of the program.
Make donations
To apply for the resident activity leader position or to make a donation to the scholarship fund, call Elise Hasty at 637-9097 or email [email protected].
