Alder Students Explore The College Possibilities at “College Day” at The Nation’s First Dreamer School
College Day - Six local colleges/universities engage with 500 Dreamer students to plant the seed of “college” as an expectation. In many low-income families, the expectation of college attendance isn’t reinforced at home. Events such as “College Day” are part of the Dreamer School’s effort to reinforce post-secondary education as an expectation for every student.
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2015 8:30a.m. – 1p.m.
- 8:30 – 9:30am: Kinder – 2nd grade kick-off assembly
- 10 - 11am: 3rd – 5th grade kick-off assembly
WHERE: Alder Elementary School, 17200 SE Alder St, Portland 97233
WHO: K-5th grade students meet professors and ambassadors from Concordia University, Linfield College, Mt. Hood Community College, Reed College, Portland State University, and Portland Community College to discuss with students what college is like and what it will take to get there.
BACKGROUND:
“College Day,” organized by "I Have a Dream" Oregon, continues the Dreamer School’s commitment to create a college-bound culture. Through proven social and academic support services and mentoring, the Dreamer School’s goal is to improve high school graduation rates to 100% for Alder’s more than 500 students, with 80 percent earning a college degree or post-high school certificate. The students’ progress will be tracked for more than a decade as they commence from elementary school.
"College Day helps to inspire Dreamers to think about college in elementary school, many of the college ambassadors reflect our student body, which helps Dreamers believe that college is attainable," said Shyvonne Williams, Dreamer School Program Manager, "I Have a Dream" Oregon.
“College Day” will kick off for each grade level with an assembly in the school’s gymnasium – beginning with customized cheers for each grade and its graduation year from a 4-your college: “Kinder, Kinder, what’s your number 20…. 20…. 2033! Alder, Alder, where are you going?! College, college, college, college, college!"
College students, professors and ambassadors from will fill classrooms following the assembly and discuss with students what college is like and what it will take to get there, Dreamers can ask about test scores, supplies, even what college food is like. Every Dreamer will take home his/her own college t-shirt.
Alder Elementary School became the first Dreamer School in the nation in 2010. There are more than 30 languages spoken at the school. 96% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch prices, making it the second highest poverty school in the Portland-Metro area. Most of these Dreamers will be the first in their families to attend college.
