The high school teachers brought the freshman to tears. And the
freshman could not have appreciated it more.
Gilroy – The high school teachers brought the freshman to tears. And the freshman could not have appreciated it more.
About 100 new Gilroy High School students took part in Challenge Day, which aimed to bring at-risk freshmen closer together and prevent the formation of cliques. The high school paid $3,000 for the full-day program, which is operated by Challenge Day, a nonprofit based in Concord. The nonprofit ran games and activities in the high school gym that prompted students to open up and be honest about their past and their feelings. Judging by the amounts of hugs and crying, the Aug. 31 event was a success, teachers, parents and students said.
“It’s very self-therapeutic,” high school academic coordinator Jackie Valdez said. “The students leave very positive, feeling very accepted.”
The high school offered the program to all students, though it was specifically targeted at first-year students who belong to groups that have a higher percentage of dropouts, such as Latinos or poor students. The vast majority of participants were freshmen fitting these criteria, said Valdez, who was one of about 30 staff facilitating the event.
The day allowed students a chance to connect with peers and teachers, she said. The students’ sense that somebody at the school cares about them will carry them through their entire high school career, Valdez said.
“We know that their first year is their most important year and will set the tone for all four years,” she said.
Students started with simple introduction games and then built up trust in small group work, students said. For many, the most difficult and meaningful part of the day occurred just before lunch, when students gave a short history of their life to a four-person group. Many students cried during this session because of the difficult memories it dredged up and the sense of community they felt, students said.
“People opened up by seeing other people open up,” 14-year-old freshman Stephanie Alatorre said.
Another activity at the end of the day, Crossing the Line, expanded upon this sense of community by asking students to take a step forward if they had experienced certain events, such as racism, abuse or death of a loved one. The activity brought more tears, hugs of comfort and a sense of belonging, Alatorre said.
“We found out that some people that you don’t even know, (experienced) the same things as you,” she said.
The activity not only made students feel included, but inspired them to treat their peers with respect and sympathy, said 15-year-old freshman Melissa Mireles.
“The downfall of the program is we can only do it for 100 students,” Valdez said.
As the program is capped at 100 students, the high school would have to pay for seven classes to accommodate the entire freshman class. High school principal James Maxwell said he would support the program next year, but the price prevented its expansion. Gilroy Unified School District trustee Denise Apuzzo, whose freshman daughter participated in the program this year, hoped grant money could fuel program expansion.
If not, the money was still well spent, she said.
“Everybody at the end realized that they all had so much common ground,” she said. “Everybody gets made fun of for one thing or another, everybody has some problems in their family, but we’re all alike in some respects. We’re all mustangs and we’re all the class of 2011.”
Christopher Quirk covers education for the Dispatch. Contact him at 847-7240 or
cq****@gi************.com
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