Breakthrough at Kent Denver News

A HUGE shout-out to one of our Breakthrough scholars, Emily, who was featured on NPR All Things Considered at the beginning of the month.

Given the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, many high school seniors find themselves wondering what the new normal looks like for post secondary education. In the NPR segment linked below, Connor Donevan asks some Breakthrough scholars, who are high school seniors heading to college in the fall, what the college experience is like during a pandemic. In this story, current college students will answer the questions fielded by the seniors.

Click the link below to listen to this 14 minute story! Emily from Breakthrough at Kent Denver is featured around 10:27!

“High School Seniors Ask, 'What Will College Look Like Next Fall?”

For 40 years, the Breakthrough Collaborative has educated students from under-resourced communities, through summer and out-of-school learning experiences in cities across the nation. Breakthrough also addresses the national teacher shortage by implementing a Teacher Training Program for college students interested in education.

This report, the second in a series, shares the Teaching Fellow Training Framework used to prepare young adults to teach Breakthough’s middle and high school students. The report also reveals how Breakthrough successfully translated the training model to a completely virtual environment during the summer of 2020. Click the link below to read the full research brief and learn more.

“Inspiring Students, Developing Teachers: How a Corps of College Students Closes Opportunity Gaps & Diversifies the Teacher Pipeline”

We had the opportunity to gather in-person for our final Saturday School of the year on April 17th. Taking into account CDC safety precautions and Kent Denver School guidelines, the structure of Saturday School was altered to safely convene and deliver much needed in-person programming to our students.

We hosted our 7th and 8th grade students in the morning from 8:00 am - 11:45 am, and our 9th and 10th grade students in the afternoon from 12:45 pm - 4:15 pm. The theme of this Saturday School was “Reflect, Restore, & Rejuvenate.” We created space for students to relax and enjoy being in the community with other Breakthrough students. We played group and individual games and encouraged students to practice self awareness through arts and crafts.

See a few snapshots from our April 17th Saturday School below!

Many of our Breakthrough students have been navigating virtual learning since March 2020. Although the transition from in-person learning has been difficult, our students are continuing to exhibit the Breakthrough spirit by working hard in classes, staying dedicated to current and future goals, and committing to excellence in learning.

We want to highlight a Breakthrough student who continues to persevere and exemplify the values of Breakthrough in the midst of adversity.

Yareli is a current Senior attending KIPP: Denver Collegiate High School. Despite having to navigate the reality of virtual learning, she has stayed on her college bound journey and has recently been accepted to Brown University in Rhode Island! Yareli will graduate in the Spring of 2021, as a Breakthrough graduate, and plans to begin her studies in the Fall.

What does Breakthrough mean to you?

"Being a part of Breakthrough means there is a place where people are as passionate about education as I am. For most students, grades mean everything and narrowly define how they perceive education. I will admit that was me for a long time, however, Breakthrough helped me change that narrative. I genuinely believe that being a part of this community played a major role in learning the value of education as a whole experience, and is something I genuinely take pride in."

In what ways has your Breakthrough experience contributed to your College Bound Journey?

"I believe that Breakthrough gave me an advantage because my school did not provide extended resources. They hosted SAT study sessions to improve my scores, and although I never took the SAT due to Covid-19, the additional help was impactful. Additionally, Breakthrough gave me the resources and opportunities that allowed my college applications to stand out. Most students are unable to say they attended a six-year-long program. I will cherish forever the things I learned and the experiences I had during my time with Breakthrough."

We are thrilled that we are less than 3 months away from our 2021 Summer programming! We are preparing to deliver an in-person Summer Program for our students. There are aspects of our "normal" summer that will have to shift to ensure we are staying safe and protecting our community. However, the full time time team is diligently planning programming that amplifies our Breakthrough culture and addresses learning loss as a result of COVID-19.

If you have any questions or would like to know about any summer opportunities, please contact our Communications and Program Coordinator, Jhasmyne Cooper-Moore, Jcooper@breakthrough.kentdenver.org.

Email: breakthrough@breakthrough.kentdenver.org
Website: breakthroughdenver.org
Location: 4000 East Quincy Avenue,Englewood CO, USA
Phone: 720-225-8997
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakthrough.denver
Twitter: @BreakthroughKD