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SmartStart Elementary
Program Mission: SmartStart provides elementary students with the FUNdamental building blocks necessary for academic advancement and personal growth.
Each year, HOLA’s SmartStart program serves 60 boys and girls, ages 6-11. SmartStart provides academic and tutoring support, helping youth to develop solid reading, writing, math and study skills. In addition, SmartStart staff further supports the students and families by attending parent conferences, individualized education program (IEP) meetings and student success team (SST) referral meetings. Attending these meetings allows SmartStart staff to create learning centers that address each student’s needs.
SmartStart offers a creative environment in which learning is fun and where students begin to see learning as an inherently rewarding, lifelong process. SmartStart is deeply committed to supporting the development of young children as caring, good human beings, as well as scholars. SmartStart’s staff believes that children work harder, achieve more and treat each other with a higher level of dignity when their efforts are visibly and consistently encouraged and valued. SmartStart provides meaningful lessons that address California State Standards and a nurturing community designed to promote the best in our students.
Program Goals:
- Improved academic performance
- Increased confidence in self-expression
- Ability to work well on a team
Accomplishments:
- Supports students with an IEP who have accomplished or met their educational goals.
- In the past academic years, 77% of students were performing at or above grade level in Reading, Writing, Math and Homework Skills.
- 95% of students maintained or improved their “Effort” grades and 94% maintained or improve their “Achievement” grades in Reading, Writing and Math skills.
NEWS
USC School of Pharmacy Students Share Their Wisdom
On three separate afternoons, students from USC’s School of Pharmacy visited HOLA to provide workshops for our elementary, middle and high school students. The first presentation engaged the elementary school kids in an interactive lesson in hand hygiene, emphasizing the importance of washing your hands. The kids were all very surprised at what it takes [...]
SmartStart Students Celebrate Easter a Little Early
More than 20 SmartStart students were treated to a wonderful afternoon of fun and games at the home of long-time HOLA friend, Barbera Thornhill. The kids were treated to activities that included arts & crafts, a tug-of-war, and an egg toss. The day ended with an egg hunt and a few lucky hunters found golden [...]
SmartStart Introduces Environmental Education Program
SmartStart 4th and 5th grade students have been exploring simple solutions to environmental problems through the adaption of a curriculum developed for the Pan African Conservation Education Project (PACE), run in partnership by Tusk Trust and Siren Conservation Education. Late last summer, a team of HOLA educators was convened to review the PACE curriculum to [...]
SmartStart Reads Across America
During the last week of February, the students in the SmartStart Elementary Program participated in the National Education Association’s Read Across America. Read Across America is a reading motivation and awareness program that is held each year on Dr. Seuss’ birthday. SmartStart staff have expanded the program from a one-day event to a week-long celebration [...]
Winter Session Off to a Great Start
Our kids are back at school and back to exciting things at HOLA. The staff is rested and refreshed after a much needed break at the end of the year. There are so many new classes being offered and the halls are buzzing with happy kids. Here’s just a glimpse of some the wonderful things [...]
SmartStart Summer Adventures 2011
On July 5th, we started our SmartStart Summer Adventures Camp. This year we are serving a total of 50 students within our community. Our groups are divided by grade level into the following camp names: Hummingbirds (2nd grade), Eagles (3rd grade), Hawks (4th grade) and Roadrunners (5th grade). This year our camp runs for a [...]
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Leah Johnson: This is an Awesome Accomplishment!!! You are truly dedicated and remarkable and ...
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Tony Brown: What an amazing experience for the kids Matt, thanks so much!!! Way to go HOLA...
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Charlotte Schmidt: Matt, You are the best Sailor, and the finest instructor I have ever had the ple...
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Schulz49: How dare not to give to others, that only we can give. Matt Schuz...
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Info: It is a privilege to serve and is a duty to act upon it ...