F E AT U R E S
Happy 40 th Birthday,
Summerbridge!
Teaching Fellows at Summerbridge Celebration 2014. Julia Angeles is third from right, Joshua Kwan is fifth from right.
F
ounded at University High School in 1978, Summerbridge is an award-winning pioneer in preparing ambitious middle school students from under-resourced circumstances to enter and thrive in college preparatory high schools. Dennis Collins, founding head of school at UHS, and two faculty members, Lois Loofbourrow and Mal Singer, envisioned a program that would utilize the resources of UHS to serve the city of San Francisco.
Since its founding, Summerbridge remains committed to providing tuition-free programming for every student and improving educational outcomes for young people. For 40 years, Summerbridge has advanced three primary goals: • preparing ambitious middle school students from under-resourced circumstances to enter and thrive in well-matched high schools, for the purpose
of securing admission to, succeeding in, and graduating from college • providing intensive summer teaching fellowships for high school and college students who are passionate about the power of education, and creating meaningful volunteer experiences throughout the academic year for members of the University High School (UHS) and San Francisco communities and
Summerbridge memories
I
was 11 when I first heard about Summerbridge. ThenAssociate Director Kihana Ross came to talk to my 6th grade class about a tuition-free 6-week summer program for students who loved to learn, and I was immediately interested. My Filipino immigrant parents worked full-time jobs, and as an only child, I often spent my summers marathon-reading. This time, I wanted to do something different. Over my three summers as a student at Summerbridge (SB), I grew in my self-confidence
and learned more about the opportunities that existed for me in the world. As I had come from a Catholic school, it was the first time I had heard about independent schools, and it was the first time I traveled across the city by myself from my home neighborhood, the Excelsior. It was the first time I had called my teachers by their first name, had had teachers who were in high school or college, had heard of schools like Williams and Tufts and UCSD. It was the first time I had felt challenged academically, and
Founding director of Summerbridge Lois Loofbourrow with co-director Tom Malarky ’80 in the late 80s.
• transforming lives through the unique and powerful relationship between the Summerbridge and UHS communities. We thank Julia Angeles ’11 and Joshua Kwan ’13 for sharing their memories of Summerbridge with the University High School community. n
Julia Angeles ’11
more importantly, it was the first time I had truly felt cared for as a student. At my middle school, I had classes that were sometimes up to forty students, and since I was shy, I often did not know what my place was. At SB, I had classes with only ten, and the difference was astounding. My teachers actually knew who I was as a person. I was not just a student in their class, but I was an avid speller, Harry Potter reader, and House fan. I saw myself fitting in somewhere for the first time. This magic, I would learn, was
part of the SB “spirit,” the special mix of joy and togetherness that permeates every aspect of SB. Much of it is because of tradition. Class songs, a handshake, Spirit Day, and my favorite, cheering. Summerbridge has a cheer for everything, from showing class and department pride, to congratulating students on a job well done, to celebrating the program itself. When I was in the seventh grade, my English teachers asked me if I would perform a speech I Continued on page 29
SFUHS.ORG
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THE SUMMER SLIDE
STUDENTS APPLICATIONS in English, 普通话 (Mandarin) and Español (Spanish)
AVAILABLE DECEMBER
Essay
Short-form questions for students and their parents
GPA & standardized test scores
Teacher recommendations
Achievement Test Scores
Why enrichment matters
Middle-class students
Under-resourced students
Regular School Year
Summer Vacation
Regular School Year
Source: deliveringhopeforkids. org/mainpage/bookgraph.png
Statement of income One day weekly Applications Due early spring semester
90 minutes After school Snack
EVALUATION PROCESS
Fall • English
Admission committee includes staff, UHS students, and Summerbridge alumni
6 weeks, Monday through Friday, full day
Interviews
Infographic concept developed by Stacy McCarthy, learningdesignnetwork.com. Icons from Noun Poject.
Decisions mailed mid-spring semester
• Academic (Math, Science, Humanities) • Co-Curricular: Nutrition
OFFER & ACCEPTANCE
• Electives
• Math Spring • English • SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) Prep
Welcome Letter to New Students
Available Daily
New Student Orientation
• Tutoring
Placement testing Student/family contract
SUMMER #1 (Rising 7th)
After School Enrichment (7th grade)
TEACHERS APPLICATION:
OFFER & ACCEPTANCE:
Essay
Video of a mock lesson
Teaching Fellows (Rising Seniors and/or college students)
Letters of recommendation
Interview
Instructional Coaches (Professional teachers)
GPA
20
EVAULATION PROCESS:
UHS JOURNAL | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8
6 weeks, Monday through Friday full day • Academic (Math, Science, Humanities) Weekly
• Co-Curricular: Community & Identity
90 minutes
• Electives
After school 6 weeks, Monday through Friday, full day • Academic (Math, Science, Humanities) • High School Options • Electives
95% ofSummerbridge
students have enrolled in academically rigorous college preparatory high schools.
Snack Fall • High School Options
90%
• SSAT Prep
S. A .T.
Spring
RESULTS
of our students have gone on to
four-year colleges
• English
and have pursued careers in medicine, business, law, art, and education.
• Math Available Daily • Tutoring
72%
TIMELINE
SUMMER #2 (Rising 8th)
Source: Breakthrough Collaborative
SUMMER #3 Rising 9th
After School Enrichment (8th grade)
1978 Summerbridge was launched as a summer enrichment program for youth from under-resourced middle schools at UHS by Dennis Collins, Lois Loofbourrow, and Mal Singer.
of Summerbridge teachers have gone on to work or volunteer in schools or other organizations that
promote educational equity. 2001
Summerbridge National became the Breakthrough Collaborative national office.
1991 Summerbridge National was founded and two more affiliates opened their doors.
1990 Summerbridge New Orleans was founded with support from the directors of Summerbridge San Francisco and the affiliate model was created.
1994 Twenty-six Summerbridge programs in operation across the country.
TODAY
Breakthrough Collaborative has 24 affiliate sites across the country and one in Hong Kong that collectively serve over 5,000 middle school students and over 1,000 teaching fellows each summer. The Breakthrough Collaborative national office is based in Oakland, CA. SFUHS.ORG
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F E AT U R E S
had given in class in front of the entire community at Celebration, the end-of-summer student showcase. I had never given a speech before, but with their help, I got up on that stage and said the speech with confidence in front of over 300 people. From that point on, I felt very comfortable on stage, and in my last summer, I was elected to be one of two class speakers for my SB graduation. Those three summers as a student were only the beginning. Summerbridge gave my family and me a lot of assistance through the high school application process. I had initially planned on applying to the public schools that I knew, but SB introduced me to other types of schools, and I started to see how they might be a better fit for me. When I was accepted to UHS on almost full financial aid, I weighed the fact that I would be the only student from my middle school there, and that it was going to be a very different academic and social environment than what I was used to. However, I felt prepared to push myself. At SB, I had been introduced to many skills I would need at UHS, such as how to write an essay with evidence or participate in seminar-style classes. More importantly, I also gained a growth mindset. Suffice it to say that had I not had SB, the transition between middle school and high school would have been significantly more challenging. Being a UHS student allowed me to keep my connection to Summerbridge. I spent many an afternoon in South Campus in the SB office, hanging out, tutoring in the School-AfterSchool program, and serving on the student admissions committee. In 2010, the summer before my senior year of high school, I was finally old enough to become a teaching fellow, and I was excited to help shape the program for future generations of SB students. That summer,
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UHS JOURNAL | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8
Julia Angeles (left) graduates from Summerbridge at Celebration 2007
I taught beginning French (which I learned for the first time myself at SB) to twenty rising 7th and 8th graders, and it was tough. Just like a normal teacher, I had to be at school from at least 7:30am-4:30pm, design curriculum, write lesson plans, manage a classroom, supervise events, mentor students, participate in faculty meetings, attend professional development… you name it, I did it. I worked 12-hour days for eight weeks, but it was exciting. After that first summer, I gained a new appreciation for my own teachers and all their hard work. I also started thinking that I might want to become a teacher, and each of the three subsequent summers I spent teaching at SB reaffirmed that thought. I loved giving back to the community that had raised me and helping students just like me start to tap into their potential. I wanted to continue making a positive impact in the world. My last two summers I experienced the administration side of education when I served as SB’s Dean of Student Life. In this role, I was no longer the shy, nervous 11-year-old that had walked into SB; I was a confident leader. Every day, I was up on stage in the theater in front of our entire community, facilitating ASM and end-of-day Cheer Time and having a key role in faculty meetings and professional
Top: Joshua in 2015 with his former Summerbridge students, including Aly Hughes ’21, far left. Bottom: Joshua helping a peer in one of their 9th grade classes.
development. I was able to help guide faculty members and offer advice on how to organize assemblies and events. Having this role has been one of the most fulfilling in my life to date. Teaching is absolutely not easy, but thanks to SB, I decided that I wanted to pursue this career. After graduating with my BA from Middlebury College, I received my MA and teaching credential from Stanford University’s Teacher Education Program. I am currently the only French teacher at a public
high school south of San Jose, and I teach over 120 students in French levels 1 to 4. After teaching at Summerbridge for so long, I entered confidently and much more prepared into my first years as a “real” teacher. Summerbridge helped shape my values as an educator—among them, community, kindness, enthusiasm, high expectations, and academic rigor—and helped me believe in my ability to make a difference. n — Julia Angeles ’11
SUMMERBRIDGE IS DYNAMITE! As I walked into the UHS theater filled with jumpy students and spirited teachers chanting this classic All School Meeting (ASM) cheer last summer, I began to smile and feel the contagious energy that is so characteristic of Summerbridge (SB). This community has been a second home to me since I first arrived in 2007 as a shy but curious 7th grader. I now entered this space to help lead a session for College and Career Day, something I couldn’t have imagined doing as that quiet middle Continued on page 30
ALUMNI
ALL CLASSES WELCOME Honoring the classes of:
1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013
Dynamite!
MAY 4-5 FRIDAY, MAY 4
Alumni+Student Symposium: Inventing and Sustaining Your Own Vision of Success
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. followed by hosted lunch See website for detailed schedule UHS Theater, 3150 Washington Street Hear The Hon. Madeleine K. Albright in conversation with Alumni Association President Julayne Virgil ’94. Welcome remarks by Justin McMahan ’93. Featuring 2018 Alumni Honors recipients Dr. Njema Frazier ’88 and George Watsky ’05. Alumni will share stories of their career journeys and the latest news from their professional fields. You may participate as a panelist or audience member. Guests welcome. Free. RSVP at sfuhs.org/reunion Happy [Reunion] Hour
3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Courtyard, 3065 Jackson Street Make a masterpiece with Prudy Kohler (Instructor of Art History, 1975–1995) using her unique photo transfer technique. Book signing featuring alumni and current/past faculty authors. Families welcome. Free. RSVP at sfuhs.org/reunion Class of 1993 — 25th Reunion Party
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Head of School’s Home, 3954 Washington Street
continued from page 19
be duly learned via workbook exercises.
school student. Because of this life changing program, I was able to break out of my shell and blossom into a confident and critical lifelong learner. I was able to attend UHS and Carleton College. I majored in psychology and minored in educational studies and women’s & gender studies, and studied abroad in Prague and in India. I graduated magna cum laude with Phi Beta Kappa honors and honors in my major and my senior thesis.
On that day I helped lead a session about college access, I was also reunited with many of my former SB students, some now volunteers for the program, and some of whom were enrolled at UHS. I saw myself in them and felt so proud to have been a part of their journeys. While I am currently pursuing my lifelong dream to work within feature animation to help make films that touch people’s lives, I know that I will always be connected and involved with SB and education.
I have not known another community that centers on such a powerful and universal love of learning that unites individuals and families across different ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. SB is the place that sparked in me a passion for learning and it is where I received the support that I lacked from my under-resourced middle school. At SB, I was challenged by my civil rights teacher to reenact a mock debate about segregation with my classmates. I conducted hands-on experiments in lab facilities with my chemistry teacher. All subjects were engaging, not something to
Like the cheer, Summerbridge is dynamite—a community that is exploding, a program that sends aftershocks, reverberating along the many amazing paths that its graduates take as they become our future leaders, educators, and scientists. I have no doubt that SB will continue to inspire and lift up many more dynamite youth for the years to come. n — Joshua Kwan ’13 Joshua Kwan is currently working at The Walt Disney Company and actively pursuing a career in feature animation production.
Significant others welcome. Suggested donation $19.93, $199.93, or $1,993.00. RSVP at sfuhs.org/reunion
SATURDAY, MAY 5 Family Tee-Ball 10:00 a.m.
Baseball: Alumni vs. Varsity 10:30 a.m.
UHS Athletic Complex at Paul Goode Field, The Presidio Free. RSVP at sfuhs.org/reunion All-Class Reunion 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Decorator Showcase, 465 Marina Boulevard Everyone’s invited! Raise a toast to the Classes of 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013. Alumni, current faculty and past faculty are invited for mingling, wine, and nibbles. Significant others welcome. Complimentary valet parking. $40 per person. Tickets available on sfuhs.org/reunion Find more details at sfuhs.org/reunion Current/former faculty welcome at all events 15% discount at Laurel Inn with code REUNION18 http://bit.ly/2smCTqA
SAN FRANCISCO UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2017-2018 Katie Albright
Chang-rae Lee
Jay Banfield
William Madison
Ron Cami
Mark Miller
Margaret Charnas ’76
Chris Nooney
Marguerite Clark, Ex Officio
Anne Pedrero
Jill Cowan
Lynn Poole
Julia Russell Eells, Ex Officio
Jane Prior, chair
Matt Farron ’98
Nadir Shaikh
Rocky Fried
Laura Spivy
Louise Greenspan ’86
Clayton Timbrell ’00
Boe Hayward ’96
Julayne Virgil ’94, Ex Officio
Dennis Herrera
Catherine Walcott
Matt Hobart
Kay Yun
Jeff Hord Mike House
Lindsay Mace Joost ’84, Trustee Emerita
Carolyn Langelier
Lynn Wendell, Trustee Emerita
Want to plan a get-together for your class? We can help! Questions? Contact us at UHS.alumni@sfuhs.org or 415-447-3116 SFUHS.ORG
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