Middle School and High School Programs
STUDENT VOICES
"Many of my classmates and teachers believed that I had the potential to be successful, but it was not until I joined Puente that I actually started believing it."
— Jocelyn Ramirez
Magnolia High School
UC Berkeley
WHY PUENTE?
Puente classes function as families, or familias, with students acquiring competency in various genres including autobiography, reflection, research, persuasion, literary analysis, expressive, and community-based writing. Students are taught techniques for collaborative peer review and create portfolios of polished assignments. Puente’s writing program not only builds language-arts skills, but also teamwork, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, all of which are key to enabling enrollment at a public or private university.
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The Puente counselor works hand-in-hand with the Puente teacher to function as an interdisciplinary team. The team meets regularly, and as needed, with Puente students both inside the classroom and out. The Puente counselor also works closely with parents, providing regular parent workshops throughout the school year.
The Puente team of teacher, counselor, and parent all work together and become empowered advocates for students’ educations.
Once a Puentista, always a Puentista
The Puente Secondary Program is designed to help students graduate, become college eligible, and enroll in college through the efforts and support provided by a
Puente-trained team.
ENGLISH
The English Component includes rigorous writing practice through a two-year English class sequence taught by the Puente teacher to all Puente students. These classes provide a supportive environment and student centered curriculum which integrates Latinx and multicultural literature and themes of identity within the framework of college preparatory English classes. Puente English is a UC recognized a-g course and should be added to your course catalog upon implementation.
COUNSELING
The Counseling Component includes a comprehensive guidance curriculum implemented by the Puente counselor to all Puente students during the duration of their enrollment. The Puente counselor works closely with Puente students to support their academic, college & career, and social/emotional development.
LEADERSHIP
The Community Leadership Component is a vital link between the local community and the school program. The community leadership program encourages students to pursue professional and leadership goals that amplify Community Cultural Wealth.