News

Join Us At High School Options Night!

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Attention all eighth grade students and parents: we invite you to explore schools for next year at our annual Breakthrough high school options night at 6:30pm next Wednesday, February 17th at Santa Fe Prep. This event will cover everything from what a college-prep course load looks like to the opportunities available at each of Santa Fe’s high schools. Come learn about private, charter, public and parochial schools and how to be successful high school students wherever you choose to attend! Congratulations on this exciting next step towards college.

Seniors Visit Colorado Colleges

Friday, October 30, 2009

In early October, five Breakthrough seniors, Dakota Benavidez, Monique Trujillo, Eduardo Flores, Justin Hilderbrandt, and Zach Baca, embarked on a tour of colleges and universities in Colorado with the goal of learning about student life and college admissions.  The group toured Colorado College in Colorado Springs, The University of Denver, and The University of Colorado at Boulder--three very different schools with unique offerings and campus cultures.

The goal of the trip was for students to experience college life and explore what types of schools would fit them best. The group ate in dining halls, visited dorm rooms, met with admissions officers, and talked with a number of current students. Kent Denver School, the host school of Breakthrough Denver, hosted the group and generously let the Breakthrough Santa Fe students and staff camp out in a common room. In the future, the Colorado college tour will happen for all interested Juniors during late April or early May.

Folk Art Market Comes to Breakthrough

Monday, July 13, 2009

Breakthrough students had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the artists from Santa Fe’s Folk Art Market last week while the artists were on Prep’s campus for a full day of sales and marketing training.

To prepare for the visit, Breakthrough students spent several days studying the various countries represented by the Market artists and made country flags and other items to welcome the artists.  Breakthrough teachers worked as volunteers at the Market on Sunday.

Year Six for Breakthrough Santa Fe

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Breakthrough Santa Fe got underway for its sixth summer at Santa Fe Prep yesterday as 56 rising 7th and 8th-grade students arrived on campus for a six-week intensive program designed to start them on a track to college.

The Breakthrough students, who are from public schools around Santa Fe, will spend their time studying literature, math, science and history in small learning communities taught by talented high school and college students.  Academics are supplemented by electives and special events, including career day, a camping trip and an end-of-summer celebration.  One of the special events, Visitors Day, is open to the public and is slated for Wednesday, July 1st.

Student Orientation This Saturday

Thursday, May 07, 2009

All new and returning Breakthrough 7th and 8th grade students are invited to join us at the 2009 student orientation this Saturday, May 9th. Students and their parents should arrive at Santa Fe Preparatory School by 12:00PM. The program will last until 3:00PM.

We will discuss the nuts and bolts of the summer and school-year programs, as well as get to know each other and have some fun! Light refreshments will be provided. Please bring your questions and enthusiasm as we get ready for the summer.

Welcome 2009 Teachers

Amy Henning - Grinnell
Ari Morris - Santa Fe High
Ben Slater - Brown
Boris Atanassov - Reed
Danielle Andolina - St. John Fisher College
Kathleen Maynard - Colby
Kevin Andrus - St. John’s
Lauren Oberlin - St. John’s
Leah Martinez - Northwestern
Lucia Donatelli - Brown
Luis Burrola - Capital High
Marcos Barela -Capital High
Natalie Dunn - SF Prep
Olga Pagan - Yale
Sam Ritter - Carleton College
Will Lambeth - UNC

Sixteen talented high-school and college students have been selected to serve as Breakthrough’s 2009 summer faculty. They hail from schools ranging from Capital High School in Santa Fe to The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Each brings exciting and unique skills, interests, experiences and energy to share with our students and families. Welcome to our new teachers and welcome back to our many familiar faces!

Apply Now for Breakthrough 2009

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Breakthrough Santa Fe is looking for motivated sixth-grade students interested in spending six weeks this summer learning more about math and science, hearing about career opportunities and finding out what it takes to get into college.  Approximately 25 students will be chosen for the six-year program, which is designed to help Santa Fe students get on track for college.

Students in the summer program will take classes in English, history, science and math from high school and college students not much older than themselves.  There are also some great electives to choose from, and special activity days like a camping trip, Art Day, Career Day and Breakthrough Olympics.  During the school year, our Breakthrough students receive weekly tutoring after school.  Our high school students get one-on-one help from our college coordinator with selecting appropriate classes that will prepare them for college, identifying colleges and universities that are a good fit for each student, and help with the entire college application process.

Over the next few weeks, Breakthrough staff members will be visiting local schools to meet with prospective parents and students and answer questions about the program.

Applications for the summer 2009 program are due Friday, March 13, 2009.  Forms in both English and Spanish are available in the student section of the website.

A Visit from the Mayor

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Santa Fe’s mayor, David Coss, paid a visit to Breakthrough Santa Fe students on Monday, providing a snapshot of the workings of our local government. His visit was part of a government elective class designed by Breakthrough teacher Paul Yen, a junior at Duke University.

In addition to their core classes in reading, writing, math, science and history, Breakthrough students also take electives created by their high school and college-age teachers.  This summer’s government class introduces students to our democratic republic.  Yen and six of the Breakthrough students wrote to state and local politicians, asking them to visit Breakthrough and speak about their roles in government and answer student questions.  City counselor Ron Trujillo also accepted the invitation, and spent time last week with the students, sharing anecdotes about serving his constituents.

Fun Fun Fun

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Breakthrough Santa Fe is in full swing! Students, interns. teachers, mentors and staff are having another fun-filled summer. Spirit Week and Art Day bubbled with enthusiastic cheering, ear-to-ear smiles, infectious laughter, and inspirational creativity.  At Breakthrough Santa Fe we demonstrate high expectations in everything we do. From academic and elective classes to morning and All School Meetings we expect to give 100%. Go BT Santa Fe!

Breakthrough Santa Fe Gears Up for 5th Summer Program

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

This year marks Breakthrough Santa Fe’s 5th summer in operation.  The program started on Prep’s campus in 2004 with 23 students, 8 teachers and 2 mentor teachers. Five years later, we will welcome 56 students, 16 teachers, 4 mentor teachers and 16 Breakthrough high school student interns to the summer program.

Rising 7th and 8th grade students from Santa Fe schools will spend six-weeks studying Literature, Math, Science and History in small learning communities. Their academics will be supplemented by a host of electives and special events, such as Career Day, a camping trip and the end of the summer Celebration. The goal is to prepare them for the rigors of middle school and to launch them on a college prep track.

One of the program’s greatest strengths is the model of Students Teaching Students. High school and college students from local and national schools teach during the six-week summer program. This summer, 4 Breakthrough high school students will return to teach during the session.

Breakthrough Collaborative is celebrating their 30th anniversary in supporting under-served public school students around the country. The Santa Fe site is funded by a host of generous foundations, corporations and individuals. Santa Fe Prep hosts the program and offers both in-kind and financial support while the Santa Fe Public Schools provides summer transportation and snack foods.