Breakthrough Silicon Valley Summer Magazine 2012

Students Teaching StudentsHow six weeks of learning and

laughter transforms lives

SUMMER MAGAZINE

2012

Silicon Valley

STUDENT CONTRIBUTORS:Angelica LeuluaiEugene VoKiara CardonaMinh-Chau DoanSayra Hipolito Garcia

PHOTO CREDITS: Arlan MendiolaGiselle Ozuna

COVER DESIGN BY:Jia Liu

FROM THE EDITORSWe’ve got spir i t , yes we do! We’ve got spir i t , how about you?

This summer, we celebrated 10 years of Breakthrough Silicon Valley. While it has definitely grown, our program still has a unique culture that can only be called the “Breakthrough spirit.” What does that mean exactly? Ask our students. They took classes all summer which pushed them to tackle challenging problems, write essays and stretch out of their comfort zones. Or, ask the teachers. Though still students themselves, they worked tirelessly to plan lessons, lead activities and build relationships with every student. If you’re a Breakthrough student or teacher, we know that the memories captured in this magazine will bring back the joy and laughter that we felt all summer. Whether it was that crazy skit you performed in front of 100 people, or that class you couldn’t

wait to go to every day, we know that you left the summer with many priceless memories. If you’ve never seen a Breakthrough summer before, we hope this magazine will give you a glimpse into the magic that happens in six weeks. Many of the students shown have never been challenged to give a speech, plan a project or write a full-length persuasive essay. Most of the teachers have never taught a class before. Yet, in six weeks, we accomplish a tremendous amount because everyone at Breakthrough knows that you can do whatever you set your mind to. We do hope you enjoy this magazine and, whether a student, teacher or community supporter, you will join us again to celebrate future summers at Breakthrough Silicon Valley.

SUMMER MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY Breakthrough Silicon Valley1635 Park AvenueSan Jose, CA 95126(408) [email protected]

SUMMER MAGAZINE COMMITTEE: Jia LiuRohan PrakashAnimesh AgrawalLuis TorresMelissa CanelaRahul Singireddy

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TESTIMONIAl: DISCOVER YOUR PASSION

In this transcript of her Celebration speech, 8th grade student Angelica leuluai shares the importance of being yourself and finding your passion in pursuing your dreams.

Course Catalog All School Meetings Career Events

13 14 15 17 18 19

Spirit Week 8th Grade Field Trip

7th Grade Field Trip

Women’s luncheon

Olympics Celebration Night

21 22 24 26 30 33

Finding Family

7th Grade Photos

8th Grade Photos

Crew Photos Teacher Photos

Staff Photos

TABlE OF CONTENTS

3C O N T E N T S

Discover Your PassionTESTIMONIAL by ANGELICA LEULUAI

Everyone has a passion, some can dance, others are artistic, and a select few are academically focused. How do we discover such passion? Do we get them from television or our parents? Is it from teams or clubs? I found my passion through my environment. I believe that being in a positive atmosphere helps encourage students to show their real personality and potential. Students have a time in their lives, when they are chosen for something by their passion. Sometimes, students do not accept that amazing offer because they doubt themselves and they are negatively pressured. These students want to fit in with popular people; so they let their inspiring, wonderful, and unique passion go to waste. As author and poet Dr. Seuss says, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” There are a few people who know that if you stay true to yourself, accept who you are as a person, then you will be able to show your uniqueness and confidence in who you are. Everyone has those defining moments when you are fearful to show your true colors. I was once that person, but I was accepted into a challenging program called Breakthrough. Breakthrough students are academically motivated and possess a determination to succeed. When I was accepted, I was unsure of who I really was and who I wanted to become. I would, in my case, “dumb” myself down. I would pretend I did not know certain topics because my friends did not and I would change my whole personality, thinking that it would benefit me. When I was near my “friends” they would constantly discuss how irritating certain subjects were. Sometimes they were talking about

my favorite subjects. Just hearing them talk about it, made me realize that we had nothing in common. Needless to say, my reaction after being accepted into Breakthrough, was not good. I was not happy or joyful, I was actually mad. I said, “No! I don’t want to go! It’s stupid!” to which my mother replied, “Just go through with it, you might like it. You have a gift and that is something to be proud of. You should not be afraid to show it. My family and I grew up in poverty, barely making it through the day. We had to work in the field in the blazing sun for countless hours. We did not have a choice about going to a great school. You should be grateful because you are getting an opportunity that most do not get.” I thought long and hard about what my mom said. I knew she was right, but I normally do not admit these things. Eventually, I learned that being a part of something bigger, took me one step closer to accomplishing my dreams and would help me become a better person, by challenging me and helping me set achievable goals. My dreams and aspirations surfaced when I learned that I had a special passion and that being unique was a treasure to cherish. I wanted to be a person who positively impacted this world, to be a person that was known for making a positive difference in some way, such as helping to prevent animal abuse, starvation, or bullying. I once saw a man who was yelling at his dog and mistreating him. I observed the fear this mistreated dog displayed as he crouched down towards the ground with his tail tucked under. Watching this poor animal suffer made me notice that many animals as well as people suffer every day.

C O N T E N T S4 T E S T I M O N I A l S

It made me want to make a difference, to change our human society. It is my obligation to pursue my dreams. If it were not for Breakthrough, I would not have envisioned such dreams. On my first day of Breakthrough, I was nervous because I did not know what to expect. I had “butterflies” in my stomach. I did not know what kind of personality that my peers were going to have. I asked myself, “What is it that I have to do that will help enable people to see me as someone of importance or value?” It was not long before I realized that people liked me for who I was, not for what they wanted me to be. When I was at Breakthrough I noticed that everybody there had a talent and passion like me. I felt as though I was not alone. The fact that people were not afraid to show who they were, made me feel confident. I learned I had nothing to hide. I learned that Breakthrough was an academic program that advances me at a grade above my level. Breakthrough helps me to notice my own strengths and capabilities. I learned that I am an excellent writer. I was surprised by the rigor of Breakthrough. I am not used to the concept of doing an immense amount of homework. Through those six weeks I learned that everything in life is not just handed to you; you need to convince yourself that you are worthy of what you want and desire most. I convinced myself that I do not need to change who I am. Breakthrough helps you with challenges or skills,

like public speaking. In All School Meetings, Career Explorations Day, and my daily classes, my peers and I have to project our voices through a crowd. I was never confident to speak publicly. At first, when I had to speak in front of a crowd, I got nervous not knowing how people would react to what I had to say. Going through that experience helped me because, once I am finished onstage, I feel excited for the next time. Breakthrough is going to support me through high school and eventually help me get accepted into a rigorous four year college. Breakthrough will ensure that whatever I do will help benefit me. With the aid of Breakthrough, I will make sure that my grades are excellent. Breakthrough has helped me believe that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. Without a doubt, Breakthrough has shaped who I am as a person and has helped me notice that there are so many things to pursue; such as my passion for sports, or an environmental career. It has challenged me to be an intelligent person by constantly teaching me. Breakthrough saw what academics I was struggling in, and constantly worked with me to make sure I understood what I was doing. I feel like I belong to Breakthrough, as if they knew what I wanted and were determined to help me get there. Furthermore, for that I am grateful because I would have never discovered who I am and what I was capable of.

“ The teachers here are awesome and when you learn, they a lways t r y to

make i t fun. You can make so many new fr iends. I k now I def in i te ly did.

I love BSV!”

- 7th grader lydia Do

5C O N T E N T ST E S T I M O N I A l S

literatureOur literature classes cultivated students’ critical thinking and discussion skills by tackling challenging texts. Emphasis was placed on active reading to improve reading comprehension. Seventh graders read “The Giver,” 8th graders read “Lord of the Flies,” and 9th graders read “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

WritingOne of the main goals of our writing classes was to prepare students to excel as writers in high school and beyond. To this end, students reviewed the organization, mechanics and style of expository writing. All students crafted a five paragraph response-to-literature essay. Rising 7th graders focused on persuasive writing, while 8th graders focused on writing personal

statements in preparation for the high school application process.

scienceIn our science classes, students focused both on learning science concepts, as well as lab skills. All students learned to apply the scientific method through lab activities and to communicate their ideas through speaking and writing. Our science courses included biology for rising 7th graders, as well as chemistry and physics for rising 8th graders.

MathThe math department offered classes at a range of skill levels. Students are placed into a specific math course based on school coursework and a placement exam given prior to the summer. Courses included pre-algebra, algebra, geometry and algebra 2 honors and focused on problem-solving and mastery of concepts.

CORE SUBJECTS

Ever y student takes one of the fol lowing core c lasses. Breakthrough c lasses are r igorous and chal lenging, with essays, projec ts and tests that stretch our students’ learning. They a re a l s o s m a l l a n d t a u g ht by o l d e r s t u d e nt s w h o a re p a s s i o n ate a b o u t t h e i r s u b j e c t .

C l A S S E S6

COURSE CATAlOG

art historYHave you ever wondered where Leonardo Da Vinci’s inspiration came from? These questions will be explored and answered as we journey through the history of art while adding our own twists to it!

frenchBonjour! In this class, we still study the basics of the French language, including reading and speaking, along with French culture.

historY of ancient greeceEpic battles! Colossal heroes! Elephants climbing across snow-covered mountaintops! If this sounds too good to be true, we dare you to join this class. In this class, students will explore the exciting history of the Mediterranean.

journalisMThere has been a report of a new class in the Breakthrough community! Our reporter on

the scene reports, “I have been investigating a new class in which students will learn how to write and communicate like a news reporter.Stay tuned from Breakthrough TV News!”

leaDershiPGreat leaders aren’t born – they’re made. In this class, we’ll learn about the qualities of great leadership, develop your leadership skills, and work on several exciting projects to do so. Whether you’re planning on being the next great U.S. President, or just the next great Breakthrough summer student, this class will help you develop the confidence and skills to inspire others.

literarY MagazineJoin us as we celebrate the written and artistic work of Breakthrough students! We will produce a magazine by the end of the summer filled with Breakthrough students’ art, poetry, short stories and more. Interested in poetry, writing, art,

design, or journalism? You’ll get a chance to review and showcase others’ work, as well as submit at least two pieces of work yourself!

MaD scientists anD MatheMaticiansDo you like to make rockets and eat ice cream? Ever wondered how to use your shadow to measure the height of a tree? This summer we will use math and science to answer questions around campus, figure out how different machines and chemical reactions work, and of course, make things go bang!

MulticulturalisMWelcome to the melting pot! Come explore the rich histories of the many people who make up the American experience. Projects will include interviewing people, researching cultural histories, and writing your own cultural biography. Come join us as we explore what it means to be American!

ElECTIVE ClASSES

S t u d e n t s s e l e c t b o t h a n a c a d e m i c e l e c t i v e , w h i c h fo c u s e s t e a c h i n g a c a d e m i c s k i l l s t h ro u g h a n i nte re s t i n g to p i c , a s we l l a s a n o n - a c a d e m i c e l e c t i ve fo r e n r i c h m e nt a n d fun. The c lasses are designed by our teachers and cover a wide range of topics and sk i l ls .

7C l A S S E S

ANGELICA LEULUAI

ElECTIVE ClASSES (continued)

PhilosoPhYWhat? How? Why?!? If you’ve asked these questions to yourself, you’ve shown the philosopher’s spark! Throughout the summer, we will learn about different philosophies and study their impact on who we are today. You will express your own philosophical views through writing, speaking, and other exciting projects. Come see how your views may change!

PoetrYEver wanted to express yourself in a new way? Then sign up for this sweet poetry class today! So that your writing will make

people exclaim, “c’est magnifique!”So if you love reading and writing my friend,Then join me in class and we’ll have fun till the end!

sPanishBienvenidos! Already know the basics but want to learn more? In this class, we’ll improve our reading and writing so that you’re prepared to take higher level courses in high school and beyond!

sPeech anD DebateArguments aren’t just for lawyers! If you are thinking of being a professional or a leader, you’ll need to sharpen your speaking and

reasoning skills. In this class, you’ll learn how to explain, persuade, and argue your way to success. Whether you’re loud and proud, or quiet and shy, this class is will help you step into the spotlight with confidence.

u.s. historY: MoDern WarsYou’ve seen the movies and heard the stories, but what really happened in the battles our troops fought? As a class, we’ll learn about how and why modern wars, like the Vietnam War and Cold War, happened. Join us and discover our national triumphs and tragedies through the eyes of leaders, soldiers, and ordinary citizens.

C l A S S E S8

bhangra DanceNever heard of bhangra? Don’t worry! Bhangra is a form of Indian dance famous for its upbeat, energetic music and powerful choreography. This class will teach you how to dance bhangra as it is performed at an international competitive level. Learn some seriously sick moves and show off to your friends!

basketballDo you want to ball it up with your friends? Whether you want to be the next LeBron or just have fun, join us on the court as we beef up our b-ball skills! We’ll train you with a solid foundation in the fundamentals and then compete for fun. So come out and let the baller inside of you shine!

Designing WebsitesEver surf a website and want to know more about how they’re made? In this class, you’ll become knowledgeable about the fundamentals on making a visually pleasing and effective website. You’ll learn how to critique websites and specifically point out what’s effective and what’s not and ultimately make your own!

Mock trialObjection, your honor! When a person makes a controversial choice they may end up in court. In Mock Trial, you’ll learn how the legal system and court procedures like amendments and objections actually work. You will become the lawyers, bailiffs, witnesses, judge and jury. In this class, you will have to learn how to think quickly on your feet, ask and answer the right questions and argue your case effectively.

Music theorYDo you have a background in music? Do you want to understand how music works? This elective is for people like you! We’ll start with scales, intervals, and chords, and then move on to studying how classical and pop music works! The final project will consist of analyzing a song of your choice and presenting it to the class.

PhotograPhYHave you ever been the photographer during family trips or wanted to get better photos by avoiding red eye and blurry photos? Then this is the class for you! Learn advanced photo techniques and

learn how to edit photos with cool effects to enhance them! By the end of the summer, you’ll be taking pictures like a pro photo-shooter!

soccerIn soccer, there’s nothing better than hearing the sound of the ball hitting the back of the net after you kick it! Practice and learn tips and tricks for ball control, teamwork, and other key soccer elements to help you become a soccer star.

track anD fielDWant to run fast, jump high, throw far and win medals? You will get the chance to try a wide variety the events of track and field including the hurdles, long jump, high jump, sprints and distance running! Take your marks, get set, go!

theaterLights! Curtains up! Drama! Ever wanted to learn how to hold an audience’s attention or how to understand relationships between people or even just learn how to gain a little more confidence? Acting is a great way to help you start! Be ready to jump into the spotlight!

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All SCHOOl MEETINGS SHOWCASES THE BEST OF BREAKTHROUGHSTUDENTS AND TEACHERS CElEBRATE COMMUNITY

“Spirit check!” Throughout the summer, this cry was heard throughout the Hillbrook campus as the Breakthrough community rallied in front of the amphitheater. If you walked by an All School Meeting (ASM), chances are you probably saw some odd costumes, heard a lot of laughter and learned a few new academic words along the way. Though students spend most of their time in classes, ASMs give students a time and place to showcase their talents and break out of their comfort zones. During the summer, students and teachers share the stage

to perform an academic skit, share a word of the day and lead the group in activities. Whether it was math teacher luis Torres donning the crown of King Midas, or 8th grader Katherine Cole jamming out on her saxophone, every person in Breakthrough has a turn in the spotlight. ASMs are primarily a chance for students to build confidence and public speaking skills. With so few getting a chance to develop these during the school year, Breakthrough students work over-time to build leadership skills and, by summer’s end, everyone had been a performer.

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C R E W S R E P R E S E N T D U R I N G S P I R I T W E E K

Spirit week was a chance for crews to build bonds and show off their unique talents. With students from 11 different schools, Breakthrough’s crews are a family through which students can make new friends and get to know their teachers personally. Students and teachers showed off their finest duds. 7th grader Dominique Wall (pictured right) grabbed her spray can and helped her crewmates don the trademark green of her crew, The Super Tree Friends. Other crews came up with their own unique outfits, ranging from the shadowy Nine Ninjas to the pinstriped

Zesty Zebras. While each crew had its own creative theme, all of them marched onto stage ready to present their cheers. The winner of the spirit award went to the Soopa loompas, whose carefully choreographed song and dance would have made Willy Wonka proud. Students and teachers also themes like World Wednesday. Students and teachers donned outfits representing their family’s heritage, including a multihued traditional Mexican dress and Indian sharvani outfit. In all, the week was a high-energy kickoff to the summer.

STUDENTS SHOW OFF CREW SPIRIT AND CHEER

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STUDENTS EXPlORE SAN FRANCISCO AND UC BERKElEY CAMPUS

While Breakthrough’s rising 7th graders took off for San Francisco, the rising 8th graders began their field trip across the bay on the sprawling campus of UC Berkeley. Standing in Sproul Plaza, program director Tina Briceno passed out packets with the day’s challenges amidst hushed anticipation. As each one opened their secret file, groups sprinted off to different corners of the campus to tackle their series of challenges. One group chose to try and obtain a valuable object by offering to trade with a stranger. The catch? They would start with a rock. Another

group would have to make a class announcement in one of Berkeley’s cavernous lecture halls by getting it approved through a professor. While each group picked different challenges, all of them challenged students to get out of their comfort zones and take positive risks. The day concluded with groups compiling booklets that showed proof of what they had accomplished. Teams piled into Sproul Plaza with markers, scissors and tape to assemble their final product. Though exhausted on the bus ride home, every student had stepped up to the day’s challenges.

8TH GRADERS IN UC BERKElEY

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7TH GRADERS IN SAN FRANCISCO

On July 13, 2012, the rising 7th graders of Breakthrough Silicon Valley went on a trip that has been a tradition at Breakthrough. Our goal was to learn new things and meet new people. Everyone explored many places and had a great time. On the way to San Francisco each person in the bus was singing and playing games, including telephone where someone says something and all of the players are supposed to send it to the rest of the students. Everyone got really excited and liked the game and all of them started to sing songs . When the bus arrived to San Francisco, every team got presented a list of challenges that they could

choose from. The challenges were pretend scenarios that were supposed to stretch our minds and get us to meet new people. Some of the challenges included planning and designing a sculture project by talking to local people. Another was to plan a visit from Breakthroguh Houston by talking to hotels and businesses. Each challenge involved going to different places. Afterward, all of the teams had to create a presentation of their work. A lot of us used our public speaking skills to find what we were looking for. We had to ask people for directions and questions that involved our challenge. To show

our work, all of the teams returned and made a portfolio containing everything we did. It was filled with pictures, brochures and descriptions of our projects. When every team was done, we all returned home. Overall, every student did their best to complete the challenges. Also we knew that there was supposed to be a winner, and the winner was the J.IM.F.’s crew for their great project work. Afterward, on the way back a lot of people were tired and slept in the bus. The teachers also got to experience new things and had as much fun as the kids. Everyone was glad to have fun and we enjoyed the trip.

bY stuDent Writer saYra hiPolito

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Albert Beltran Jr, Business DevelopmentAntonia Charles, Pediatrician, Valley Medical CenterBrendan Harrington, President, lexus of Stevens CreekChad Deupser, Strategist, GoogleDavid Shamszad, President, Shamszad GroupJennifer Barry, Police Officer, Santa Clara Countylaura Futrell, Forensic Coordinator, Santa Clara Policy Departmentlola Kashyap, Pharmacist, Washington Hospital Healthcare SystemsRobert Harvey, Treasury Analyst, Cisco SystemsStephanie lin, Product Marketing, ngmoco

Assembly Woman Nora CamposCisco SystemsDeloitteEbayGoogleJabil

UbisoftSanta Clara County Crime laboratory of CriminstalisticsSan Jose Mayor’s OfficeSan Jose WaterTechnology Credit Union

T H A N K S T O O U R H O S T S A N D S P E A K E R S

For three years, students in Breakthrough have had Career Speakers and Exploration Days. On Career Speakers Day, successful people come to Breakthrough’s Hillbrook campus and talk about their jobs. For Exploration Day, students go to various companies to understand and, sometimes, experience what happens at the company. On Career Speakers Day, my group learned about changing careers from Albert Beltran Jr. and forensics work from laura Futrell. Mr. Beltran talked about changing careers and

B R E A K T H R O U G H’S F U T U R E P R O F E S S I O N A l SSTUDENTS VISIT WORKPlACES AND lEARN FROM CAREER SPEAKERS

bY stuDent Writer Minh-chau Doan

how it was important to learn about the process of picking a career and switching to it. Ms. Futrell’s crime lab presentation was a crash course into the field of using science to solve crime. Both topics were interesting. Career Exploration Day was even more action-packed. Our Deloitte group did activities at the accounting firm, including an activity where we got to ask employees questions, a presentation on succeeding in school, and a video conference with “Penny from Stark Industries” where we pretended

to sell Deloitte’s services. All of the students, not only those at Deloitte, enjoyed lunch and the souvenirs distributed by the companies. The students had fun during these two days and met interesting folks. They learned about their career options, making the days a success.

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Guest Speakers:

Caroline SchultheisDeneil loGuidiceGeri ActorJenny ChenKate GreenKellie BrownellKeren PaveseMisty DaviesPreethy PadmanabhanShahrzad Mazloom

W O M E N O F S C I E N C E A N D T E C H N O lO G Y lU N C H E O N

On August 2, 2012, Breakthrough hosted a Women’s luncheon with successful women from different science and technology-related fields. Women have 49.83% of the nation’s jobs, while men hold 50.17%. Even though women’s leadership has grown men are still often promoted above women, especially in certain fields. The goal was to inspire the rising 7th and 8th grade girls and show them that they can do anything they want with their future careers. The girls were separated into seven groups with women from a lot different organizations, including

Jabil, EMC and NASA. The girls started off by introducing themselves to the women at their table. Then, they asked the women questions that are relevant to their job. The students really got to ask lots of questions and learn about the different fields in science and technology. One of the most popular questions was, “Why did you choose your job?” Most of the woman said it was because they enjoyed it. At the end of the lunch the students reflected on what they learned or were inspired by. Breakthrough really tries to vary

GIRlS MEET WITH SUCCESSFUl WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOlOGYthe students’ options in jobs. The girls walked out of that gym feeling confident and proud of being a woman and looked forward to being our future presidents and leaders. In my opinion, the women’s luncheon at Breakthrough was inspiring, helpful, and motivating for the rising 7th and 8th grade women. It showed me that we are powerful and can go as far as we want if we try hard. It also showed that there are successful women and if we work hard we can become one.

bY stuDent Writer kiara carDona

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O lY M P I C S : B R E A K T H R O U G HS T Y l E

Forget london. On July 20th, San Jose was the place to be as the Olympics came to Breakthrough! With a 9th grade program generously hosted by Valley Christian, our older students planned the games, starting with a welcome ceremony in the amphitheater. The crews were to join on the field of battle, capturing the flag, performing charades and even throwing together group dance performances on the spot. Most importantly though, crews exemplified great teamwork and sportsmanship. Though the rivalries were fierce, no one was left on the bench and crews cheered each other on, no matter what the outcome. In the last leg of the games, all 11 crews piled onto the sprawling football field and competed in a relay race that was truly epic. Tied legs sprinted across the field. Puzzles were solved with blazing speed. Towering human pyramids were built, casting a long shadow over those built by Egyptian pharaohs With the games concluded, everyone applauded the work that the 9th grade students and teachers had put into creating the games and

celebrated with a round of ice cream popsicles. It was truly an Olympic spectacle for the ages.

9TH GRADE PROGRAM AT VAllEY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOl HOSTS SUMMER GAMES

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A C E l E B R AT I O N TO R E M E M B E R

Hosted by Santa Clara University, students walked into a conference hall lined with 94 stars, each with a picture of a Breakthrough student. Mark Walker, managing director for Global Community Affirs at Applied Materials, praised the students for their commitment to education and recognized the Breakthrough staff for their hard work. With student hosts Fabian Ortiz and Helen Dang as emcees, the night featured an all-star line-up of

FAMIlIES AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS COME TOGETHER TO CElEBRATE STUDENTS’ ACCOMPlISHMENTS

Breakthrough talent. Student speakers Eugene Vo and Angelica leuluai spoke earnestly about how Breakthrough had helped them grow. The Breakavengers crew traveled through time to save Breakthrough in a skit that was met with laughter and applause. led by teacher Nimish Pratha, the Bhangra dance class set fire to the stage with their dance moves. Students sang to a rewritten version of One Direction’s hit single, letting the audience know what made them succesful. As their final farewell to

our students, the teachers donned their freshest threads and performed a song and dance routine to the popular song “Hey Ya.” Though the night ended with more than a few tearful goodbyes, students, families and teachers walked away knowing that they would always be a part of the Breakthrough family.

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finding family at breakthroughTESTIMONIAL BY 7TH GRADER EUGENE VO

Breakthrough has prepared me for my future by challenging me to work as hard as college students or high school students. Breakthrough pushes me to my limit. It has shaped my world by showing me how to do work and have fun at the same time. Breakthrough has equipped me for my future in many different ways. Breakthrough focuses on preparing us for difficult work in college and high school — work that’s more difficult than the work we would get at our regular schools. Breakthrough provides us with educational field trips like going to UC Berkeley or going to Cisco on Career Exploration Day. On Career Speakers day, I was inspired by the visitors that came to Breakthrough.  I liked how they cooperate with other people to do their work. On Career Exploration Day, we visited cool companies. These field trips helped prepare us for when we’re older — now I know how to dress for an interview, how to be professional, and most importantly, how to do a good handshake.

We take challenging academic electives, like Public Speaking, Journalism, Spanish, and Multiculturalism. In Public Speaking, we did activities where I learned how to be a part of a team and help out my classmates. In this elective class, we got to work together with our classmates on fun, academic activities that taught us how to be good leaders. My academic elective has helped me feel confident about my public speaking. Breakthrough makes me feel like I’m part of a family. The teachers have helped me through my family problems. I feel like a part of the Breakthrough family in many ways. In one way, the staff has supported me through the hard times I have had at home. They encourage me and support me academically and personally. As supportive as they are, Breakthrough teachers are also really strict; they give out homework assignments that take two hours each night! They’re also really fun. I love all the teachers that are at Breakthrough because they have very positive attitudes. I am very inspired by the teachers because they’re creative. They also challenge me, and they respect us students and our learning. All of the teachers in Breakthrough are my favorite teachers because they are hard workers. Teachers in Breakthrough encourage me to go to college. They understand where I come from and who I am. Breakthrough has shaped my world by pushing me to my limit and supporting me so I can graduate from high school and college. My world has changed because now I am a more motivated learner. I have to say thanks to my fellow classmates and my fellow teachers that help me succeed at Breakthrough and support my goal of going to college.

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SE VENTH GRADE STUDENTS

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MarcellaAceves

Ariana Amaya

TrentAspiras

FaizonBannister

HenryBlackwell

JessicaCarrasco

MichelleCruz

lydiaDo

Minh-TamDoan

AnilaEbrahimi

ArmandoFlores

JoanaFrias

AbrilGarcia-Madrigal

AmberGonzalez

TommyHeng

EmilyHidalgo

SayraHipolito Garcia

SimranjotHunjan

Adrianluera

AnthonyMagana

SalvadorMartin

JorgeMartinez Alba

MonserrathMendieta

AmairaniMorales

DianaOlivares

SE VENTH GRADE STUDENTS

21S T U D E N T S

DungPhung

EsmeraldaRamirez

JenaRefuerzo

DaraRivas

NoahRobles

HugoSalazar

AndreaSalinas

KalystaSchwartz

OdessaSmith

EduardoSoria-Herrera

MinettTran

IsabellaTrejo

HannahValdez

JuanVarela

AlejandraVargas

KimberlyVela

ThaoVo

EugeneVo

PeterVu

DominiqueWall

FranciscoZamora

AdalZeratsion

EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS

22 S T U D E N T S

MinervaAceves

DaisyAdin-Hernandez

JasonArzate

AndrewBenyshek

NatashaBrown

DesireeCadena

IvanCamberos

KiaraCardona

MadisenCastaneda

SamanthaCastillo

JosephChattaway

JessicaCheng

KathrynCole

JazmineCruz

HelyaDada

HelenDang

Minh-ChauDoan

TinDu

DanielDuran

RachelleEsteban Rodriguez

MeladFaizi

CaitlinFlores

lizbethFlores

AlyssaGreenhalgh

SarahGreenhalgh

EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS

23S T U D E N T S

liliannaGrijalva

laurenKopiej

Angelicaleuluai

Victorlu

MartinMarcias

BarkotMoges

FabiolaMonje Alvarez

SarahNguyen

MaritzaOchoa

FabianOrtiz-Hernandez

DanielaOzuna

MichaelReis

ArturoRodriguez

SharleyRubio

KarlaSepulveda

IsabelSumano

AlexanderTehada

AnnyTran

MarisolVasquez

Q U A K E R Z 8 . 0

CREW lEADERS: Alejandro Serranolaura Segre

STUDENTS:Martin MaciasMarisol VasquezOdessa SmithAnny Tranlydia DoEsmeralda RamirezAdrian lueraEduardo Soria-Herrera

O R G A N I Z A T I O N O N E

CREW lEADERS: Rahul SingireddyDaniela Espinosa

STUDENTS:liliana GrijalvaRachelle Esteban-RodriguezDaniel DuranFaizon BannisterAlejandra VargasDesiree CadenaEugene VoKimberly VelaAnila Ebrahimi

N I N E N I N J A S

CREW lEADERS: Alexandria leeNataliKenneth Koltermann

STUDENTS:Kathryn ColeAngelica leuluaiAmairani MoralesJazmine CruzMinett TranHugo SalazarNoah RoblesPeter VuKiara Cardona

24 C R E W S

S U P A H l O O M P A S

I R O N W O l V E S

E . I . G . H . T .

CREW lEADERS:William CorbitGuadalupe Esquivel

STUDENTS:Fabiola Monje-AlvarezHannah ValdezMelad FaiziSimranjot HunjanMichael ReisSayra Hipolito-GarciaMadisen CastenadaAdal ZeratsionMarcella Aceves

CREW lEADERS: Animesh AgrawalJoanne Santomauro

STUDENTS:Tin DuAbril Garcia-MadrigalAmber GonzalezCaitlin FloresArmando FloresMonserrath MendietaJoseph Chattawaylauren Kopeij

CREW lEADERS: Nimish PrathaRoshana Smith

STUDENTS:Samantha CastilloTrent AspirasMichelle CruzAlyssa GreenhalghArturo RodriguezTommy HengJessica Cheng

25C R E W S

S U P E R T R E E F R I E N D S

CREW lEADERS:luis TorresTrisha Huynh

STUDENTS:Helen DangAndrea SalinasAndrew BenyshekJoana FriasJason ArzateDominique WallMinerva AcevesKalysta SchwartzAnthony Magana

B R E A K A V E N G E R S

CREW lEADERS: Rohan PrakashYanelly De la Rosa

STUDENTS:Natasha BrownAlexander TehadaFrancisco ZamoraMaritza OchoaIsabella TrejoThao VoJena RefuerzoKarla Sepulveda

J . I . M . F . S

CREW lEADERS: Jennie WernerMayra Miranda

STUDENTS:Janisayra HernandezFabian Ortiz-HernandezSarah NguyenJessica CarrascoIsabel SumanoMinh-Tam DoanJorge Martinez-AlbaSharley Rubio

26 C R E W S

Z E S T Y Z E B R A S

S U P E R N O V A S

CREW lEADERS: Melissa CanelaUrvashi Reddy

STUDENTS:Barkot MogesDara RivasDaniela OzunaJuan VarelaIvan CamberosDiana OlivaresMinh-Chau DoanVictor lu

CREW lEADERS: Brian linMelissa Newbery

STUDENTS:Sara GreenhalghDaisy Adin-HernandezEmily HildagoHelya DadaHenry Blackwelllizbeth FloresSalvador Martin IIIIDung PhungAriana Amaya

27C R E W S

A l E X A N D R I A l E E N A T A l I A N I M E S H A G R A W A l

C O R Y Q U I N N G U A D A l U P E E S Q U I V E l

l A U R A S E G R E l U I S T O R R E S

M A Y R A M I R A N D A R O H A N P R A K A S H

U R V A S H I R E D D Y

Subject: AlgebraElective: Speech and DebateSchool: Santa Clara UniversityMajor: Psychology, Law and Social Justice

Subject: Pre-algebraElective: BasketballSchool: Bellarmine College Prep

Subject: Algebra, Geometry, Algebra IISchool: University of San DiegoMajor: Economics

Subject: AlgebraElective: FrenchSchool: Lincoln High School, CSU Montery Bay

Subject: AlgebraSchool: Stanford UniversityMajor: Economics

Subject: Pre-algebra, GeometryElective: PhotographySchool: Lincoln High School, UC Berkeley

Subject: Pre-algebraSchool: UC BerkeleyMajor: Ethnic Studies, Education

Subject: Pre-algebraElective: Mock TrialSchool: Monta Vista High School

Subject: GeometrySchool: Santa Clara UniversityMajor: Web Design Engineering

28 M A T H T E A C H E R S

A l E J A N D R O S E R R A N O

Subject: WritingElective: PhilosophySchool: Bellarmine College Prep

J A S M I N E M A R K

Subject: 9th Grade EnglishSchool: UC BerkeleyMajor: English, Psychology

J O A N N E S A N T O M A U R O

Subject: LiteratureElective: LeadershipSchool: Santa Clara UniversityMajor: English

M E l I S S A C A N E l A

M E l I S S A N E W B E R Y R A H U l S I N G I R E D D Y

R O S H A N A S M I T H W I l l I A M C O R B I T

Y A N E l l Y D E l A R O S A T R U N G N G U Y E N

Subject: LiteratureElective: JournalismSchool: San Jose High Academy, University of San Francisco

Subject: WritingElective: Track and FieldSchool: Princeton UniversityMajor: Psychology

Subject: WritingElective: SoccerSchool: Bellarmine College Prep

Subject: LiteratureElective: PoetrySchool: Mt. Holyoke CollegeMajor: Psychology and Education, Spanish

Subject: WritingElective: Ancient Greek HistorySchool: University of PennsylvaniaMajor: Science, Technology and Society

Subject: LiteratureElective: TheaterSchool: Cal Poly San Luis ObispoMajor: Theater and English

Subject: High School PrepSchool: UCLAMajor: Ethnic Studies

29E N G l I S H T E A C H E R S

B R I A N l I N

Subject: BiologyElective: Music TheorySchool: Northwestern UniversityMajor: Biological Sciences

D A N I E l A E S P I N O S A

Subject: ChemistryElective: SpanishSchool: UC BerkeleyMajor: Spanish, Pre-Med

J E N N I E W E R N E R

Subject: ChemistryElective: Mad Scientists and MathemeticiansSchool: Saratoga High School

K E N N E T H K O l T E R M A N N

Subject: PhysicsElective: U.S. History Modern WarfareSchool: Archbishop Mitty, UC San Diego

N I M I S H P R A T H A

Subject: BiologyElective: Bhangra DanceSchool: UC San DiegoMajor: Neuroscience, Linguistics

T R I S H A H U Y N H

Subject: BiologyElective: Art HistorySchool: Cal Poly San Luis ObispoMajor: Liberal Studies

V A R U N G U P T A

“As a former student I understand how hard i t i s to have this bubble

where students can be themselves. For teachers, i t ’s inspir ing to see

when students work so hard to do amazing things.”

- Ale jandro S errano, Wr it ing Teacher

Subject: BiologySchool: Bellarmine College Prep, Stanford University

30 C O N T E N T SS C I E N C E T E A C H E R S

31S T A F F

M E l I S S A J O H N S T I N A B R I C E N O J I A l I U

C H R I S T I N A C A S T R O A R l A N M E N D I O l A J E S S I C A W E N Z E l

A R I E l M O R R I S C H R I S T A F l O R E S D A V I D T A R U l A C H A V E Z

K A T I E M E S S I N A M A T H E W E S P I N O S A

Executive Director Program Director Dean of Faculty

Program Coordinator Program Associate High School Coordinator

literature Mentor Teacher Science Mentor Teacher Math Mentor Teacher

Writing Mentor Teacher 9th Grade Mentor Teacher

Berkeley High School The Hillbrook School McFarland High School

leadership Public Schools River Glen School

B R E A K T H R O U G H S U M M E R 2 0 1 2

CONTACT INFORMATION

Breakthrough Silicon Valley

1635 Park avenue

San Jose CA 95126

(408) 429-5891

[email protected]