Three Cheers for College Day!

Elementary, middle, and high school students all across San José listened to their teachers, volunteers, and local dignitaries as they shared their Educational Journeys.  All schools in San Jose received promotional materials, including posters, stickers, bookmarks, college pennants, pencils, etc.  School classrooms, hallways and doors were decorated with college banners, educational posters and inspirational messages, encouraging students to aspire to go to college.  College fight songs filled school hallways during passing periods.

Here is just a sampling of the College Day activities:

• Thirty-two college graduates volunteered their time to speak at schools, and all spoke at a minimum of one school.  Some speakers gave up their entire day and spoke at up to four schools.
• Olinder Elementary and Willow Glen Elementary welcomed community member, Jamie Wang, as well as students from San Jose State and Foothill College, at school assemblies.  Both schools hosted “College Night for Parents” that evening, and Olinder plans a field trip to SJSU for 4th & 5th graders.
• Willow Glen High School hosted a College Fair, as did Lincoln High the day before.  Representatives from numerous colleges shared their information with students from every grade.  In a tribute to a favorite of college students everywhere, Lincoln students competed in a “Ramen Noodle Eating Contest.”
• First- and second-graders at Sherman Oaks counted the number of years Brett Barley of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group went to college, identified the animal that was his college mascot, and talked about the state his college was located in and the letter it started with.
• Dr. Vincent Matthews, Superintendent of San Jose Unified, shared his Educational Journey with students at two schools.  His first visit was to an 8th grade bilingual class at River Glen K-8.  The eighth graders hosted a panel of college students.  Dr. Matthews also visited Pioneer High students enrolled in Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC). These students are 11th and 12th graders who have struggled with an earlier English class and are able to make up credits and be eligible for college.  All were now college-bound.
• The YMCA sent Board members to their after-school programs to talk about their Education Journeys.
• Sacred Heart Community Services organized activities for its after-school program, and their staff made “Ed Journey” posters.
• Carlos Jimenez and Julie Cates of ALearn presented their educational journeys at Franklin McKinley and Alum Rock School Districts.  Carlos also spoke about College Day San Jose on the Spanish radio station, KCNL, 104.5 FM.  
• San Jose Public Libraries featured maps identifying where staff members went to college.
• Students at four schools got to meet Sammy Spartan, thanks to SJSU Athletics and CommUniverCity.  He and his “handler,” Elizabeth Figueroa, were thrilled to meet so many kids who said they love Math and Science!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN COLLEGE DAY SAN JOSE 2011! 

WE CAN’T WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR!

College Day San José is a regional event supported by the Mayor’s Office, the County Office of Education, San Jose Unified School District, San Jose State University, UC Berkeley – Center for Educational Partnerships, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, UC Santa Cruz – Center for Educational Partnerships, and many other schools and community-based organizations such as Downtown College Prep and Kids in Common.

College Day San José 2011 was made possible by a challenge grant from Applied Materials and by contributions of the following organizations: