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Sailing to Success - Summer Launch 2013

Posted on June 6, 2013 12:09 PM

By Deirdre Marlowe, Executive Director

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The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity with our Launch Event, a Parents Auxiliary Event, and nine orientations. It has been a joy to meet new students and families, and reconnect with those who are returning.

Life is pretty busy at Bridge even when we are not working with our summer scholars. One of the most exciting changes since last summer is the re-envisioning of Bridge as a consortium of leading independent schools. In a sense, Bridge has been a consortium all along, but we didn't always think of it first and foremost in that way. We currently have two Heads of School on our Board, but as a consortium all site Heads of School will become Board members. We believe the new approach will enhance the schools' ability to contribute their expertise to our continuous program improvement, engage with our summer scholars and their families during the academic year, and collaborate in more ways with our partner public schools.

This year we piloted a Transitions Program for eighth grade Bridge alum and their families (See Vol 10, Issue 1).  I would like to thank Eastside College Prep and Junipero Serra High School for hosting our sessions, TAs Emma Markey and Karina Uppal, and the many "guest" TAs from Serra. When we concluded the program on May 11th, gift certificates for perfect attendance were given to the parents of students who achieved that goal.  Exit surveys indicated that the program fills a need: in fact, students and parents had lots of ideas about things we should add next year.  I am delighted to report that the program is fully funded for 2013-2014 so that all eighth grade alum and their families might benefit.

Between the Summer Launch Event, and getting ready to share the STEM of sail with our summer scholar sailors, we are becoming experts on the America's Cup. Bridge Cup finals will be held at the Sequoia Yacht Club in Redwood City, and hosted in part by the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation.

Personal Note from the ED

Posted on June 6, 2013 11:17 AM

This is a bittersweet moment in my time with Bridge. Summer 2013 will be my third, and last, summer. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served as your Executive Director in a time of growth and change. Please be confident that Alan Austin, with the assistance of the Consortium, will insure that the transition to my successor is smooth. It has been a pleasure getting to know and work with all of Bridge's many constituencies. I look forward to seeing what lies ahead for the middle school youth we serve.

Note from the Board Chair:
As Deirdre noted above, she has decided to leave us after this summer. We are grateful for her work over the past two years, and we will miss her. Deirdre is leaving in a very professional way, with ample notice, and I am confident that we will find a wonderful new Executive Director for Bridge.

Summer Launch 2013

Posted on June 6, 2013 10:25 AM

event_guests2.jpgOver 70 people gathered on May 6th at Sacred Heart to help launch our Summer 2013 program with its Bridge Cup theme. Several TA's passed hors d'oeuvres and chatted with guests about Peninsula Bridge. As guests enjoyed the fare, they were treated to an entertaining and informative presentation on the origins of the America's Cup and upcoming Bay Area events by Tom Ehman, Vice Commodore of the Golden Gate Yacht Club and Director of External Affairs for the America's Cup.

Tom_Ehman.jpg The event is called the America's Cup not because the USA won it, but because America was the name of the boat which won the first contest in 1851. US teams continued their winning streak and kept the Cup for 132 years. A silent auction provided several opportunities to bid on nautical items.


Thank You to all of our wonderful supporters and sponsors for making our first annual Summer Launch Event a success!




                                                                                                          

Board Profile

Posted on June 6, 2013 9:32 AM
Angela Birts, Bridge Alum
Angela_Headshot.jpgAngela Birts joined our Board in March. She is currently Director of Diversity and Outreach Specialist at Menlo School. Angela is a Bridge alum who entered the program as a 13-year-old 6th grade student. She went on to graduate from Menlo School where she also served as a Teacher Assistant, and Master Teacher for the Bridge program. After undergraduate work at Lake Forrest College in Illinois, she earned a Master's Degree in Policy, Education, and Leadership Studies (POLS) from Stanford University Graduate School of Education. Before joining Menlo School, Angela worked at College Track and Citizen Schools.

New Faces at Bridge

Posted on June 6, 2013 9:01 AM
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Rick Boesen will lead the Sacred Heart sites (5th and 7th grade programs). He has taught for more than twenty years in Florida, Hawaii and California. Currently, Rick teaches U.S. and World History at Junipero Serra High School, San Mateo. Rick earned a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, New Orleans, and has been named Teacher of the Year four times.

 


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Tait Wade will lead the Crystal Springs site (7th and 8th grade programs). Tait teaches sixth and seventh grade English at Crystal Springs, and coaches middle school boys and girls soccer. After graduating from Kenyon College, Tait taught in Texas, New York and South Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer, where she worked as a teacher trainer and helped to build literacy programs. She also served as a mentor teacher for Summer Bridge in Philadelphia and San Francisco.


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Krystle Whitney, our summer intern, comes to Bridge from Southern Utah University where she received her BS in communication, public relations, and journalism. She will work with the development team, defining our social media strategy, and supporting our summer events.

 

Welcome Rick, Tait, and Krystle!

Parents Auxiliary (PA)

Posted on June 6, 2013 8:55 AM

Most of the schools in our Consortium are represented in our inaugural PA. The Auxiliary's primary purpose is to increase awareness at their respective schools. This group of energetic and committed parents is excited to spread the word about our program. PA members will:

  • speak about Bridge at "PTA" meetings; 
  • host House Parties to introduce people to Bridge;
  • invite people to the summer open houses at the sites; 
  • host a table at our annual breakfast; and
  • many other opportunities...yet to be determined!
We do have room for additional members from Pinewood, Castilleja and Saint Francis; contact Maureen Garrett maureen@peninsulabridge.org for more information.

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How Do You Measure Success?

Posted on January 29, 2013 11:15 AM

By Deirdre Marlowe, Executive Director

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Be the Torch was the theme of our annual October Breakfast. It continued the summer's Olympic theme, and gave us a framework within which to celebrate students and alumni. A highlight of the program was remarks by Bridge alumna Mar y Sol Alvarado. She began by sharing how she "should have been a statistic," as the child of an immigrant mother of modest means, but that Bridge inspired her to want to go to college, led her to find the college of her dreams, and to her eventual choice to "give back" by leading a nonprofit serving youth in East Palo Alto.

Mar y Sol's journey provides an example of positive outcomes that are difficult to measure or quantify. How do we know that summers of "inspiring the WANT to learn" lead to on time high school graduation, college matriculation and success?  Is it the cognitive skills that we teach? Does the way that students think about themselves as students affect academic outcomes? Last summer we began to increase our efforts in these uncharted waters by having the majority of our summer scholars participate in PERTS. This is a "one-on-one" two-session computer intervention for middle school students derived from the work of Dr. Carol Dweck at Stanford on growth mind-set. People with a fixed mindset believe that their capacity for accomplishment is fixed. Those with a growth mindset "believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work; brains and talent are just the starting point."  The brain, then, IS like a muscle.

Continue reading How Do You Measure Success?...

Transitions Pilot Program

Posted on January 29, 2013 11:05 AM

Further Preparing Bridge Alum for High School

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On October 13, 2012, Bridge launched a Transitions Program pilot: a 10-session course designed to help students and their parents finish crossing the bridge to high school. Half-day sessions are on Saturdays; there are two sections- one at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, the other at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo. Just as in summer, there are TAs - in this case from Pinewood, Sacred Heart Prep and Serra.

The first session was a bi-lingual program for students and parents called "How About High School." It was led by Cathy Shelburne, Upper School Admissions Director for Menlo School with the assistance of Prasant Nukalapati, ED of A Better Chance, Sharifa Wilson of College Track, and Sandy Brook, Associate Director of Admissions at Serra. Paula Calamato, Bridge Program Associate, translated. Cathy talked to parents and students about the importance of choosing the right high school, what to look for in a high school, and the independent school application process. The session also covered how to fill out those long school applications. There will be two more sessions which include parents: considering college, and navigating high school (which is being done in partnership with the Sequoia Union High School District).

Board Member Profile

Posted on January 29, 2013 10:58 AM
Alan Austin, Chairman
Alan Austin.pngAlan Austin became Chair on January 9th after two years on the Peninsula Bridge Board. He has been a Managing Director at Silver Lake Partners since 2003. Before becoming involved in private equity, Alan was a practicing attorney for twenty-five years and served for five years as the Managing Partner of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. After he finished his J.D. at Stanford Law School, Alan clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. Alan's daughters all attended Castilleja School. He served on the Board there for many years including four years as Chair. He initially became familiar with the work of Peninsula Bridge through Castilleja, which is a Bridge summer site. Alan is an SV2 Partner - he renewed his connection to Bridge when we received a grant from them in 2010. He is also on the board of directors of Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY). Alan concentrates his non-profit activities on programs that serve under-resourced youth; he believes strongly in the mission of Bridge and the work that we do.

Sailing into Summer

Posted on January 29, 2013 10:50 AM

Bridge Cup 2013

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Last summer, Peninsula Bridge walked to London for our Olympic Summer. This year, the world is coming to the Bay Area to compete in the 34th America's Cup. It is being contested in the Bay in September by wing-sailed catamarans which must meet exacting specifications - each is approximately 70 feet long, the course is 25 miles. The silver America's Cup is the oldest trophy in sports. It was first awarded in 1851 in England when the New York Yacht Club's America sailed past England's Royal Yacht for the win. The NYYC successfully defended its title for 132 years - the longest championship in sports history.

The STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) of sailing will be front of mind for our summer scholars as they compete in our Bridge Cup. Teams of five or six will make their own boats to exacting specifications: each is approximately 6.5-7 inches long, and the course is 10 feet. Each site will hold its own heat. Winning site teams will compete for the Bridge Cup at a local yacht club. All final participants will get to sail and mind the boom, members of the winning team may even get to trim a sail or tend the tiller.

Thank You!

Posted on January 29, 2013 10:31 AM
2012 Bridge TAs

Thank-youV2.jpgWe would like to express our most heartfelt thanks to the 100+ TAs (teacher assistants) who staffed our 2012 summer programs. These outstanding young people served as enthusiastic role models for our students, and worked with our teachers to provide high touch, individualized instruction.

Thumbnail image for PVSA_logo.jpgCongratulations to the 37 TA's who volunteered their time and talents, and earned the President's Volunteer Service Award! If you are a high school or college student who is interested in working as a TA for the Summer 2013 program, please contact the appropriate site director listed on our website.

Perserverance to Achieve

Posted on August 30, 2012 9:48 AM

By Deirdre Marlowe, Executive Director

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The Summer 2012 program is over. It is quiet now. We miss the excitement of visiting sites and learning that at Bridge Math is just about everybody's favorite subject! How could it not be with questions like: "How many times would you have to fold a piece of paper onto itself to reach the moon?" The emotion of hearing one student say, "Bridge is like a garden, and we are the flowers..." The satisfaction of seeing a student snack on an apple rather than chips after a nutrition class. The "ah ha" when students visit workplaces only seen on tv, and know that with education they are real possibilities. The suspense of how much weight it might take to collapse a popsicle stick bridge students built. The power of having entire classrooms say, I believe in myself.

After my first full summer serving Bridge, I believe in our mission more than ever, and the power of what we do to help motivated middle school students achieve academic and personal success. Every summer our master teachers devote the majority of their time to the core subject areas of Algebra readiness and English language arts. However, other factors contribute to student success, including engagement, self-efficacy and persistence. These are exemplified by something that happened at our fifth-sixth grade site at St. Matthew's Episcopal Day in San Mateo as an outcome of our Walk to London. They started a 15,000 Steps Club for students who walked what is a bit more than seven miles in one day.

Continue reading Perserverance to Achieve...

Walk to London - We Made It!

Posted on August 30, 2012 9:03 AM
PB-Walk-Icon-small.pngThe final steps have been taken, miles recorded, and calculations made... The site that walked the furthest was St. Matthew's with an amazing 3,299 miles, over half the distance to London. Mary E. from St. Matthew's was the top female walker, and Kelvin S., from Crystal Springs, was the top male walker. Each student logged 103 miles! Congratulations to all of our summer scholar athletes for walking a combined 14,072 miles...enough to make it to London, and back, with miles to spare.

Bridging the Gap

Posted on August 30, 2012 8:08 AM
Lucas Brooks, Summer Intern

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Lucas Brooks, Paly Class of 2012, joined us this summer as our video intern. "As a Black student whose parents are both Ph.D.'s, one of the first things that became important to me when I entered high school was that everyone have the same educational opportunities that I do, so I did whatever I could to spread the resources I had been blessed with to my underrepresented peers. In my school district      Lucas Brooks (left), Video Intern
there has historically been a sizable minority achievement gap. In the Class of 2011, roughly a third of Latino students and less than half that percentage of Black students graduated ready to go to a four year college whereas nearly all of the White and Asian students (85-90%) did. Outside school, most of my activities were focused around this issue, and I discovered that the most practical way of approaching it was through engaging the entire community -- students, parents, teachers, administrators and school board members.

Continue reading Bridging the Gap...

Sound Body, Sound Mind

Posted on August 30, 2012 7:38 AM
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Theresa and Students Calculate Portion Size

Theresa Donovan Brown has been part of the Peninsula Bridge community for more than a decade. Her daughter, Julia, was a Teacher Assistant at the SHS Bridge Program for twoyears where she spear-headed an instrumental elective. Last spring, Theresa asked if sites would beinterested in a nutrition class for our summer scholars, especially since somany of them are at risk for Type II diabetes. Six sites were. Theresa comes by her interest in nutrition organically: her mother was a long-time nutrition teacher, and Theresa had been a volunteer teacher of the subject in San Mateo County.

Continue reading Sound Body, Sound Mind...

What Do TAs Do?

Posted on August 30, 2012 6:52 AM

TAs are high school or college students from our host schools, or Bridge alumni. They are a critical link between site directors and master teachers, and the middle school students we support. TAs are assigned to master teachers and assist in daily planning and delivery of lessons, including prepping materials, correcting homework and providing differentiated instruction. TAs also plan and lead enrichment activities. They do a great deal toward engaging our summer scholars in their education. TAs are old enough to be respected, but young enough to be believed. During a site tour, one student told a visitor, "You're really smart... And nice. You should apply to be a TA next year." TAs benefit, too. Results include improved leadership, teaching skills,and cultural competency, increasingly important in this ever-diversifying world.

Here are some of this summer's TA led activities in addition to sports, arts and crafts, and advisory activities: an inquiry-based science curriculum, real-world math, self-defense, gymnastics, computer-based music composition and production, Mandarin Chinese, an inter-site track and field day, geometry, creative writing, guitar, physics, photography, organic gardening, meditation, yoga... And more...

I make a point to send each student onto the bus with a high five or fist pound along with a smile and cheerful goodbye. Every minute of their experience is important to me and I want their last impression of Bridge to be memorable even if they are just entering a yellow school bus. The little things matter."
Rachael Siegman, 2012 Menlo TA

We Are Peninsula Bridge!

Posted on July 16, 2012 4:08 PM
Deirdre_Marlowe_WebV3.jpgIt is finally summer! Peninsula Bridge kicked off its 23rd year by bringing all Peninsula Bridge scholars together for the first time in an Opening Ceremony. Over the next five weeks our summer scholar athletes will learn new skills, make new friends, and maybe even surprise themselves as they master new challenges. I cannot wait to visit all our sites, and hope that you will visit at least one.
The week before our program was a busy one for all of us. In addition to setting things up and working with their teams, on Thursday all teachers and site directors participated in a day of professional development. There were presentations by Apple Distinguished Educator, Dan Meyer, on channeling perplexity to increase learning, Melissa Christie and Ginny Pender from the Santa Clara County Office of Education on the Common Core Standards, and Carissa Romero on the PERTS Growth Mindset Project, in which our summer scholars will participate. There were also opportunities for teachers from different sites to share best practices within their disciplines. On Friday, TAs had a half day of their own professional development, and the opportunity to release their inner middle-schoolers making site banners for the Opening Ceremonies. In addition to the learning, I particularly appreciate any opportunity we have to build community across sites.


Continue reading We Are Peninsula Bridge!...

Olympic Summer Launch

Posted on July 16, 2012 3:03 PM
By Daniel Davis, Summer Intern
danielphoto.jpgHi, my name is Daniel Davis and I'm a marketing intern here at Peninsula Bridge. I am a senior at San Jose State where I am studying advertising and hope to graduate in the fall. My main job is to manage Bridge's Walk to London website, and keep you informed about the happenings at our sites.

A lot happened in just the first week alone: along with our summer scholar athletes, I got to meet three Olympians and be inspired by their words at our Opening Ceremonies. It was inspiring, too, to see the more than 400 summer scholar athletes together. Since then, almost every day has been a whirlwind of site tours and field trips. There is plenty of fun and learning to be had by all at Peninsula Bridge.

Continue reading Olympic Summer Launch...

Supporting the Dream

Posted on July 16, 2012 2:09 PM
Creative Partnerships Build Bridges

NL_BroomBall.jpgIt takes a community to build the kind of bridges we do so that motivated middle school students from under-resourced communities can make a successful crossing from elementary school to the college track in high school.
 
Many thanks to DPR Construction for organizing the first annual BroomBall Tournament. Teams were fielded by DPR, Google, and Redwood City Electric. The trophy was awarded to one of the Google eights who will return to defend their title in 2013. Why not join in the fun next year?

Continue reading Supporting the Dream...

Congratulations Graduates!

Posted on July 16, 2012 11:25 AM
This year's high school class of 2012 included over 100 Peninsula Bridge alumni who completed our program during the summer of 2007.  We wish all of these graduates the best of luck as they move on to college and other new challenges!  Here are a few of our alum and their college destinations.

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          Brian Nguyen, Arizona State
Fatu_Tupou.jpgFatu Tupou (right), University of Utah
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       Douglas Galdamez,
     Notre Dame de Namur

Training to Be the Best!

Posted on April 2, 2012 12:15 PM

By Deirdre Marlowe, Executive Director

Deirdre_Marlowe_WebV3.jpgWhen I first got involved in this kind of work I was passionate about education as an instrument of socialjustice, a tool for achieving the equity that our Founding Fathers wrote about. I still have that passion, but have since learned that sometimes this work is largely about buses and food! Not quite true, although sometimes it feels that way: for example, the cost of transportation is about 80% that of our algebra readiness program.
Peninsula Bridge is best known for its Summer Program, so you might think that winters are quiet. Quite the opposite! Here are some of the things that we've been doing to prepare for Summer 2012:
  • Learning about new approaches to language arts and algebra readiness;
  • Exploring connections with other organizations so that our students will have wrap around support during the school year and when they go on to high school;
  • Developing a transitions program for our eighth graders and their families to improve their success in high school and beyond; and
  • Collaborating with our nine Site Directors to ensure the best possible Summer 2012 program for our students.
In addition to all the activity described above, Bridge Central is in training. This summer
we will be staging our first ever SummerFest. SummerFest 2012 will celebrate the London Olympic Games which begin in July on the last day of the Bridge summer program. Our sites will incorporate many curricular connections to the Games with an emphasis on history, geography and fitness. Students will be exposed to Olympic sports which are new to them. Two sites will hold a track and field event at a local college. Most exciting is that our students will walk to London: they will compete in our own Olympic Bridge-a-thon. Teams will compete within sites and across sites to see who will walk the farthest, and who will get there first - 5,731 miles or 8,645 kilometers! There will be opportunities for a variety of sponsorships. Look to our website soon to find out how you can become part of the Bridge-a-thon to London. Meanwhile, keep training for summer!

Eric Salvatierra

Posted on April 2, 2012 11:25 AM
We note with sorrow the passing of former Board member, Eric Salvatierra. His insight, ideas,
and passion for our mission helped inform he work we do today; he is missed.

New Summer Sites & Leadership in 2012

Posted on April 2, 2012 10:52 AM

St. Matthew's, Pinewood School, Saint Francis

Bridge will be adding two new sites in Summer 2012: Pinewood School in Los Altos Hills, and Saint Francis High School in Mountain View. Peninsula Bridge is also pleased to welcome a new site director to our 5th-6th grade summer program at St. Matthew's Episcopal Day School.
 
B_Traymore_Caption.jpgScott Riches, President of Pinewood, says "Pinewood School is thrilled to be joining the Peninsula Bridge Program and becoming one of three host sites in Santa Clara County. We have been exploring opportunities to provide more public and community outreach, and feel Peninsula Bridge will be the perfect partner in achieving some of these goals."  Dr. Bonnie Traymore will be the Site Director for Pinewood. Bonnie is a high school history teacher; she also leads a team of student volunteers who tutor at Crittenden Middle School. Bridge students and families will also benefit from the fact that Bonnie is a certified college counselor.

S_Ho_Captions.jpgMike Speckman, Director of Admissions at Saint Francis, says that Saint Francis is "eager to continue the pride and traditions Bridge has established. As the Admissions Director at Saint Francis, I have had the pleasure of meeting students and families that were in the Bridge program. They were extremely proud to be in a program that allowed them to continue to develop skills in the summer." Stacey Ho will be the Site Director for Saint Francis. Before joining the Saint Francis community, Stacey, who is a guidance counselor and college advisor, worked in public middle and high schools in the East Bay.

D_Carleton_Caption.jpgDawn Carleton will lead our 5th and 6th grade summer program at St. Matthew's Episcopal Day School.  Dawn currently teaches 5th grade at St. Matthew's, and serves as the social studies curriculum chair.  Before coming to St. Matthew's, Dawn served as director of education at Sylvan Learning Center, and taught 4th grade at the International Christian School.


Welcome aboard Bonnie, Stacey, and Dawn!
 

Lights! Camera! TA in Action!

Posted on April 2, 2012 9:27 AM

TA Nicole Cresci

Nicole_Cressi_photo.jpgNicole is a great example of the power of our teacher assistants (TA's) and the important role they play in our organization. Nicole came to Peninsula Bridge through her 8th grade teacher, Brendan Gummerson who was the site director at St. Matthew's Episcopal Day School. As a sophomore TA, "I had an opportunity to see all of the work and energy that goes into teaching. I had no idea. I have always liked tutoring and working with kids so Peninsula Bridge was a good fit."  

Nicole was not only a TA in our program, but she also volunteered to create a video for the Valparaiso Bowl, an annual football game between Sacred Heart Prep and Menlo School that raises money for the Bridge program. After putting in 2-3 hours of filming, another 4-5 hours of editing, Nicole delivered a polished and effective video that was played at the Valparaiso Bowl kick-off at both Menlo and Sacred Heart Schools and went viral on the internet.

When asked what she likes about Peninsula Bridge, Nicole replies "Bridge is a great program. Seeing how much the kids improve, how motivated they are and how much they appreciate the opportunity to come to Bridge really inspires me". Bridge is a family affair with the Crisci's.  Her mother, Tina, attended a tour at St. Matthew's last summer, and her sister, Amanda, currently tutors Bridge students at St. Matthew's after school. Thank you, Nicole, for sharing your time and talents with Bridge and our students!

By the Numbers: Bridge Class of 2006

Posted on April 2, 2012 8:19 AM
 It is a wonderful thing that after more than two decades of doing this work, we can talk about the success of our Bridge alumni. A study of our Class of 2006, high school class of 2011, reflects that:
  • > 95% of Bridge alumni complete high school on time, as compared with 25% of their same age peers
  • The majority of the graduates go on to post-secondary education
These are numbers of which we can be proud, since many of our students are the first in their family to graduate from high school, not to mention continuing on to college.

New Beginnings

Posted on October 3, 2011 6:19 PM

By Deirdre Marlowe, Executive Director

Deirdre_Marlowe_WebV3.jpgThis continues to be a year of New Beginnings for Peninsula Bridge.  After a five day, nearly three thousand mile drive, I arrived in Palo Alto from Baltimore, MD, to serve Bridge as its fifth Executive Director.  I arrived while our program was in
session, which gave me the opportunity to visit sites, and catch some of each one's closing celebration.  To paraphrase Roman philosopher Seneca, "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."  I believe that participation in our summer program gives our middle school students a good beginning to their next school year.  Now I am beginning to get to know members of the Bridge community.

This year, too, Bridge saw the implementation of several new program initiatives which Chloe Kamprath, Program Director, came out of retirement to complete for us.  Chloe developed a Family Resource Manual and companion-training piece.  She also orchestrated the development of online pre- and post-tests aligned with CA State Standards in the areas of mathematics and language arts.  Finally, she supervised the development and  implementation of a programwide Teacher Assistant training program.  I'd like to thank Chloe for her work with Bridge, and the support she provided in my first days, all of which will prove more than helpful as Bridge prepares for its next two New Beginnings.
Continue reading New Beginnings...

2011 Summer Program Statistics

Posted on October 3, 2011 5:30 PM
  • 356 students served (171 boys, 185 girls)
  • Rising 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
  • 19% more students than in 2010
  • 51,264 program hours
  • 3.5:1 Student/Teacher Ratio

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Collin Cohen - 2011 Board Member

Posted on October 3, 2011 4:34 PM
Collin is one of our newest board members, and is active both in the non-profit sector and as a private investor. In addition to his work with Peninsula Bridge, he is the current president and Board chair of Congregation Kol Emeth in Palo Alto.  He is passionate about youth education, also having worked with Peninsula College Fund. Collin was President and a Board member at NorthStar Systems and an EVP at Advent Software.  Prior to Advent, Collin worked in the private equity business and was a consultant at Bain and Company in San Francisco and Boston. Collin earned a B.A from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.  He and his wife Shoshanah have two children: son Riley, and daughter Meredie.  In his spare time, Collin coaches  basketball and plays piano.  Welcome aboard Collin!

Behind the Scenes

Posted on October 3, 2011 2:44 PM

By Lupe Ortiz, Bridge Summer Intern

Lupe_rev1.jpgI first heard about Peninsula Bridge through a friend who had been a TA for Crystal Springs Uplands. I was familiar with what he did at that specific site, but had no idea there was more than one campus involved in the famed "summer program."  All I knew was that he used to come home tired, happy, and talking about all of "his kids."  I was curious to learn more about why both he and his students loved the program so much.  I am currently a graduate student at the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service in New York. My specialization is policy and non-profit management, so this internship provided an excellent chance to work behind the scenes and understand the inner workings of a non-profit organization.
Continue reading Behind the Scenes...

New Beginnings

Posted on July 20, 2011 4:30 PM

By Grainger Marburg, Executive Director

Photo: Grainger HeadshotWhen I joined Peninsula Bridge in 2005, I had little more than a slim idea of what I was getting myself into and how much the organization would change me.  I wanted to change the lives of middle school students from under-resourced schools and communities.  I wasn't interested in how much I would change.  It wasn't about me.  Now, a little over six years later, I am a changed man.  What I was hoping I could do for our students has happened to me.   It's been a good journey.  The organization supports over 70% more students than we did in 2005.  We have grown to seven program sites from four, and have plans to increase to ten sites in the next two years.  We have a strong brand - something that truly reflects who we are and what we do.  Most importantly, though, is the legacy we are creating for our students and their families.  Over 5,000 students have enrolled in Bridge since our first summer program in 1990, and each year we learn more about the adventures and successes of our alumni and the difference we have made in their lives.  It's an amazing testament to the work of Peninsula Bridge. 
Continue reading New Beginnings...

Jamie Wang

Posted on July 20, 2011 4:25 PM

Peninsula Bridge Board Member

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Jamie Wang is one of our newest Board members.  She and her husband Joe just celebrated their 30-year anniversary!  They have 3 children:  Justin a sophomore at Menlo School, and twins Kerry (daughter) and Alex (son) who graduated from college in 2010 and are both currently working as engineers here in Silicon Valley.  Jamie's non-profit focus is on
education and under-served youth.  She was one of the first members of Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund (SV2) when it began in 1998.  In addition to Bridge's board, Jamie is also on the Board of Downtown College Prep and Kids in Common.   We are very excited to have Jamie on our team!

Congratulations Graduates!

Posted on July 20, 2011 4:20 PM

Alumni Updates - High School Class of 2011

 This year's high school class of 2011 included nearly 80 Peninsula Bridge alumni who completed our program during the summer of 2006.  We wish all of these graduates the best of luck as they move on to new challenges!  Here are a few alumni updates:

            Danny Mendoza                      Diana Carbajal

Danny Mendoza will attend Santa Clara University.  Diana Cabajal, currently working as a Bridge TA, will be attending U.C. Davis.

Continue reading Congratulations Graduates!...

Bridging the Gap

Posted on July 20, 2011 4:10 PM

By Beau Nichols, St. Matthew's TA

Going into Bridge, I thought I wanted to be involved in the program to help young students along the path of their educational careers.  I started by teaching new strategies in mathematics for the soon-to-be-fifth-graders nervous about adding and subtracting fractions.  It wasn't long before I realized that Bridge is about so much more than what happens in the classroom.
Every kid here looks up to every one of his or her TAs.  Whether we're playing a silly game at 8:00 am, disussing the philosophical weight of a novel, illustrating our own short-story creations, or running around capturing flags under the hot afternoon sun- they look at us with open eyes and open hearts.  I expected this to some degree--that's what I thought was so special about the TA position. However, I don't think I could say that I expected to be looking up to these kids in the same way they look up to us.  They participate in every activity with a genuine excitement that inspires me to stretch to new levels of enthusiasm.  

Continue reading Bridging the Gap...

Creative Corporations

Posted on July 20, 2011 3:56 PM

Supporting the Bridge Mission

The Peninsula Bridge Program continues to benefit from creative
corporations who assist us in our mission to provide academic and personal success for motivated middle school students from under-resourced communities.  Here are some examples:
Whole Foods - for 2 months patrons who brought their own bags to Whole Foods could choose to donate their 5 cents credit to  charity.  We received over $500 through this program.
Genentech, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati, DPR Construction, NPR - California Report, and Google hosted our students for Career Day.  Our students got an inside view of each company and learned about jobs which may spark interest in a future career.
Conceptus - once again the Conceptus Giving Board helped us collect supplies for our summer program.  We received over $1,000 worth of supplies.
DPR Construction - DPR employees were back again this year teaching bridge building to our students.  What a fun way to see the connection between math and engineering!

A Cornucopia of Talent

Posted on March 24, 2011 2:40 PM

By Grainger Marburg, Executive Director

Photo: Grainger HeadshotThis issue is dedicated to all the talent involved with the Peninsula Bridge Program.  This talent begins with our students - each of whom has achieved in the classroom and been recommended by a teacher to attend our program - and includes our master teachers, teacher assistants, and office staff.  It also includes our board, advisors, volunteers, and school partners.  While I am not surprised by the range and depth of skills, I am still struck by how fortunate we are to benefit from such a rich tapestry of people who are involved with what we do.  The articles in this issue nicely illustrate this point.  Ken Klieman, who was one vote shy of being the state CLMS Teacher of the Year, has been involved with Peninsula Bridge for more than ten years.  He brings the same passion to us every summer - the same commitment to teaching and learning - that he gives his students throughout the school year.  Similarly, both former Bridge teacher Jhumki Basu and former  Bridge site director Nanci Kauffman (now Head of Castilleja) personify the values and academic excellence we want to instill in every Bridge student and teacher.   Ken, Jhumki and Nanci are just a few examples of the talent that have touched Peninsula Bridge and made it the program it is today.

Honoring Bridge Teacher Ken Klieman - Middle School Educator of the Year

Posted on March 24, 2011 2:30 PM
klieman_photo_lg_edited-1.jpgPeninsula Bridge is proud to have on staff exceptional master teachers who create a dynamic and supportive learning environment for all our students.  One of these teachers is Ken Klieman from Bowditch Middle school in Foster City who in January was named the California League of Middle Schools Educator of the Year for Region IV.  Most recently Ken participated in the State Teacher of the Year competition and came up 1 vote short of winning.  Bowditch Principal Judy Ross commented, "As a teacher and mentor who challenges, inspires, and enables his students to think critically, Mr. Klieman was nominated for this prestigious award. His compassion and empathy exemplifies his outstanding commitment to the world of education."

Continue reading Honoring Bridge Teacher Ken Klieman - Middle School Educator of the Year...

Castilleja Garden Dedication - Making Science Education Accessible to Underserved Students

Posted on March 24, 2011 2:25 PM
Artesia_garden.jpg On November 18th of 2010 Castilleja dedicated the campus garden to Jhumki Basu '94, an alumna, past faculty member of Castilleja and former teacher assistant at Bridge.  Jhumki passed away on December 16, 2008 leaving us with memories of an amazing and inspiring human being.   She was 31 years old and died of breast cancer.  Jhumki  sought to make science education exciting and accessible to students in underserved communities and began the Discovery Science Program at Peninsula Bridge during her summers as a student at Stanford. 
Continue reading Castilleja Garden Dedication - Making Science Education Accessible to Underserved Students...

Nancy Kauffman - Castilleja's New Head of School

Posted on March 24, 2011 2:15 PM
Kauffman_Nanci-crop.jpgFormer Bridge site director Nanci Kauffman was recently installed as Castilleja's sixth Head of School.   The ceremony featured a keynote address by author Catherine Steiner-Adair, author of Full of Ourselves:  A Wellness Program Advancing Girl Power, Health and Leadership,   who told students that they were in "the right place at the right time - Ms. Kauffman is one of the country's most exciting, creative and inspiring educators - unwavering in her commitment to educating girls to lead."  Nanci has been involved with Peninsula Bridge since 2001 when she ran the Teacher Collaboration program and then the Tech Girl's program for 2 years at Castilleja.  Currently Nanci is serving as the School Head  representative on our Board of Directors.  We congratulate Nanci in her new position at Castilleja and look forward to her insight and expertise as we continue to grow our program to include more independent school partners and most importantly more students.


Welcome New Board Members

Posted on March 24, 2011 2:10 PM

Peninsula Bridge is pleased to welcome the following members to our 2011 board:

Alan Austin
Allison Danner
Collin Cohen
Nanci Kauffman
Jamie Wang

Many thanks to Louise Paustenbach who is stepping down from the Board, but will continue to work with Bridge Programs.

Tribute to a Friend

Posted on November 11, 2010 7:53 AM

By Grainger Marburg, Executive Director

R_Hewlett.jpgRosemary Hewlett, a founding board member and staunch advocate of Peninsula Bridge for the past twenty years, passed away on October 29th.  The news saddened me.  Although I didn't know Rosemary well, I experienced her warm hospitality and immense generosity from the moment I joined Bridge in 2005.  She had a rare, playful quality that drew people to her.  Her astute mind was as bright as her heart was big.  Rosemary genuinely cared about the program and was always ready to hear an anecdote about a former student or get an update on how things were going. She exemplified the best attributes of an engaged contributor and friend and taught me a good deal about compassion, integrity, and keeping one's convictions alive.

Continue reading Tribute to a Friend...

Peninsula Bridge Breakfast

Posted on November 11, 2010 7:49 AM
roger_zamora2.jpgOur 7th Annual Bridge Builder's Society Breakfast, "Dream, Believe, Achieve" took place on October 13, 2010.  Thank you to all of our guests and volunteers who gathered  to celebrate our twenty year anniversary, and honor our founders.

Bridge students Erick Sandoval and Fabiola Rivera led our guests in a challenging round of the math game "Krypto".  Roger Zamora, a former Peninsula Bridge TA, was our keynote speaker.  Roger currently works as the director of operations for the Summit Preparatory Charter High School in Redwood City.  The program was closed with the song "If You Dream", performed by alums Ricky Whitfield, Korrine Nickings, and student James Bryant-Smith.  View our 2010 video shown during the breakfast:

Sharing the Dream - Ricky Whitfield, Bridge Alum

Posted on November 8, 2010 2:33 PM
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What can be more uplifting than seeing someone from your community thriving, confident and living their dream while demonstrating to you that anything is possible? 

Ricky Whitfield did that and more for fellow Peninsula Bridge alum Korinne Nickings, current Peninsula Bridge student James Bryant-Smith and our entire audience at our 7th Annual Benefit Breakfast, leading the trio in a professional and inspiring performance.

Continue reading Sharing the Dream - Ricky Whitfield, Bridge Alum...

Contributing to the Future

Posted on November 8, 2010 1:52 PM
by Hadley Greswold, Bridge TA 2008 - 2009
Hadley_and_Katev2.jpgDriving back from our end-of-Bridge field trip last summer (2009), one of my students fell asleep in my lap, and another cried silently into my arm, unwilling to let the program end.  I knew that the contribution I had made to the educational future of these students was important, but I had also helped create a second home for them where they felt safe and loved.  It was with these memories that I pushed myself to run more than ten races to raise money for the Peninsula Bridge program.  I trained 5-6 days a week, running 3-8 miles a night.  The races spanned a time frame of nine months, through the end of 2009 and into the summer of 2010.  The generous contributions of my sponsors reflect their commitment to the future of the Bridge students.  For with one pebble tossed in a puddle, a ripple emanates, and changes the surface of the water.

The running project raised over $10,000 for the Peninsula Bridge program.  Hadley, please accept our heartfelt thanks for your generous support and dedication to our students.

Summer Memories

Posted on September 20, 2010 1:18 PM
By Grainger Marburg, Executive Director
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Now that students are back in their regular classrooms for the new school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the 2010 summer program.  I spent a lot of time visiting our program sites this summer.  I sat in classrooms and observed our master teachers and teacher assistants (TAs), met students, and talked with the site directors about the successes and challenges.  It was an important and meaningful thing for me to do.  It reminded me why I do this work and why Peninsula Bridge is so critical.  Nothing is more compelling for the heart and mind than witnessing a child's face transform from self-doubt to joy as she struggles with a math problem and solves it, seeing the pride on a child's face as he answers a tough question, or observing a TA working 1:1 with a student and seeing how much the student appreciates the personal attention and how much the TA is growing and learning from the student.  These are the moments that inspire me.  They are the moments that nourish the teachers and re-energize the site directors who are devoting a big chunk of their summer to the program. This is what inspires them to work with us; this is the common ground we share.

Continue reading Summer Memories...

Setting the Bar High

Posted on September 20, 2010 1:05 PM
by Edan Freiberger, St. Matthew's Summer Program TA
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From the first day of staff training, I was immediately struck by the enthusiasm, motivation, and passion of my fellow TAs. Our site director, Brendan Gummerson, set the bar high from the moment we walked in the room. However, what has truly separated Peninsula Bridge from other programs and summer camps I have worked for in the past are the kids themselves.  I have never witnessed such impetus to learn at such a young age.  Teaching is frequently said to be a thankless job and people often tell me "Even if the kids don't appreciate it now, you're doing a good thing." However, these students DO appreciate it and appear to cherish every day that they spend here.  I have been asking students what their favorite part of Peninsula Bridge was. I have yet to hear a single student respond by saying, "Recess." Their excitement and motivation makes every day rewarding and extremely fun. Anyone who has the opportunity to be involved in this program will understand my enthusiasm.  Thanks for the great summer, Peninsula Bridge.

Community Effort for Real Change

Posted on September 20, 2010 12:46 PM

by Anna Paustenbach, Summer Intern

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This summer, I was lucky to have the opportunity to be an intern for the Peninsula Bridge program. After three years of being a TA, and then one as the head TA at the Sacred Heart site, I returned to Peninsula Bridge as an intern in the main office.  From this vantage point I began to understand the bigger picture: transitioning from working one-on-one with students in the classroom to understanding the overarching goals and strategies that guide our seven program sites.  This was a great lesson for me in terms of how a community comes together to increase student learning.

Peninsula Bridge is comprised of two communities that are normally separate--the independent school community and the public school families from low-income areas.  It was inspiring to me to see these communities find a way to work together for the betterment of all.  I will never forget what Les DeWitt told me when I interviewed him for a press release I wrote earlier in the summer. He said, "If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes a community to create and sustain the Peninsula Bridge program." That has stuck with me because it reinforces the vision and power of new communities to make lasting change.

Anna is a Senior at Santa Clara University majoring in English and Religious Studies.

Brian O'Kelly - Helping Bridge to Construct our Future

Posted on September 20, 2010 12:29 PM
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We are thrilled to welcome Brian O'Kelly as a new member of the Board of Directors.  He learned of Peninsula Bridge when he was researching youth organizations for DPR Foundation, the philanthropic arm of DPR Construction.  Brian encouraged us to apply, we received funding, and along the way we discovered Brian's passion and commitment to local youth. In short, Brian expressed his interest in getting more involved with Peninsula Bridge, impressed our leadership team and is now a new member of our Board.  Since joining our organization Brian has:

  • Facilitated a Career Day at DPR for our students   
  • Created a curriculum for a "Bridge Building" class and assembled volunteers from DPR Construction to teach it to our rising 8th grade students at two sites
  • Begun planning for a potential follow up field trip for students to view a newly constructed bridge in the Bay Area
Brian holds a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Stanford University and has been in construction for 25 years.  He lives with his wife Christine and their 12 year old son Brian in Belmont.  We welcome his talent and experience which will help move our mission forward in the years ahead.

A Gathering Celebrating 20 Years of Bridge

Posted on July 14, 2010 8:46 AM
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Squeals of excitement and laughter could be heard as our alumni, staff and TA's from years past gathered at the Sacred Heart campus for Peninsula Bridge's second alumni reunion.  Not only was this our second reunion, but it was a celebration of our 20 year anniversary.  The Peninsula Bridge program held it's first summer program 20 years ago at Sacred Heart so it seemed appropriate to have the reunion where everything began.  Before our reunion we had a board-sponsored reception and honorary guests included:

  • Dolly Sacks - Former program officer at Packard Foundation.  Packard gave us one of our first grants.
  • Dr. Charlie Mae Knight - Former Superintendent of the Ravenswood School District who saw the importance of the program for her students.
  • Les DeWitt - Founding member of Peninsula Bridge and current board member
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Continue reading A Gathering Celebrating 20 Years of Bridge...

Christmas in April?

Posted on July 13, 2010 10:14 AM
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Peninsula Bridge was given the opportunity to receive much needed supplies through an innovative giving program conceived by Silicon Valley company, Conceptus.  Peninsula Bridge created 'giving cards' with supplies that were needed for our summer programs, such as binders, gardening tools, pens, paper, t-shirts and composition books. Employees from Conceptus then chose from $15, $20, and $25 cards that listed these supplies and donated them to Peninsula Bridge.  In total, the generous employees of Conceptus donated over $1,200 worth of supplies for our students.  The supplies were distributed to our school program sites, and are already being put to good use.  Thank you, Conceptus!

Rebuilding - Life After the Plane Crash

Posted on July 12, 2010 9:30 AM
By Alum Demetra Jones-Schoby
Demetra_Aaron.jpgFirst, please accept my sincere apology for the belated update. As you can imagine, our lives have been in turmoil since our home was destroyed during the plane crash in East Palo Alto last February.
After a month-long stay in a hotel, we moved into a rental property located in East Palo Alto very close to our original home. My mom has been orchestrating the  project to rebuild our home, and all seems to be going well....so far (gulp!). However, we still do not know just when construction will begin, and how long it will last.  We can only hope that we will be back in our home by year end.
Continue reading Rebuilding - Life After the Plane Crash...

Twentieth Birthday

Posted on July 11, 2010 9:03 AM

by Grainger Marburg, Executive Director

Article ImageAnniversaries and reunions can be powerful events.  They have the potential to engender strong emotions and catapult us to the past.  They are also opportunities to reflect on where we are now and where we hope to be in the future.  Though I have only been with Peninsula Bridge for five years, I have become part of a rich mosaic of individuals that has spanned twenty years.  A lot can change in that time.  Twenty years ago at Peninsula Bridge's inception, Germany became a united country, Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years in prison, and the internet became a global phenomenon.  Peninsula Bridge itself has evolved, expanding to 7 sites and currently serving 300 students this summer. Some things can also stay the same, such as the enduring commitment to our mission that so many folks have demonstrated over the years.  

Continue reading Twentieth Birthday...

Peninsula Bridge Breakfast

Posted on March 4, 2010 4:00 PM

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Our 6th Annual Bridge Builder's Society Breakfast, 'Passport to Success' was a huge triumph! Thank you to all who attended to support Peninsula Bridge. Demetra Jones Schoby, an alumnus of the Peninsula Bridge program, was our keynote speaker. Since graduating from Peninsula Bridge in 1993, Demetra graduated from Spelman College, worked as an equity trader in San Francisco, and was one of the early supporters of For Youth By Youth, a community based organization in East Palo Alto. Demetra's enthusiasm and passion for "giving back" were contagious.

Continue reading Peninsula Bridge Breakfast...

Coming of Age

Posted on March 4, 2010 3:00 PM
Photo: Grainger Headshot

In the summer of 1990, a group of 26 middle school students from East Palo Alto cautiously stepped upon the Sacred Heart Prep campus and participated in the inaugural year of the Peninsula Bridge Program.  Spearheaded by the indefatigably optimistic Les DeWitt and an enthusiastic Sister Brown at Sacred Heart, the Program quickly gained traction and expanded to Woodside Priory the following year.  By 1994, Menlo, Castilleja and Crystal Springs Uplands had also joined the Peninsula Bridge family, and we recently welcomed St. Joseph's and St. Matthew's Episcopal as program sites as well, enabling us to reach almost 270 underserved students from East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Redwood City, and San Mateo.

Continue reading Coming of Age...

Invaluable Volunteers and Interns

Posted on March 4, 2010 2:00 PM

students.jpgOne of the ways Peninsula Bridge has succeeded in expanding and delivering high quality programs is by soliciting the help of talented volunteers and interns. One such volunteer is Angie McPhaul, who is currently a student at Stanford University, majoring in Urban Studies. Angie began her journey with Peninsula Bridge in June of 2009 as a teacher's assistant at the Menlo site and worked after the program was over at our main office helping measure student achievement over the summer.
Continue reading Invaluable Volunteers and Interns...

Bridge Connects with the Walton Family

Posted on March 4, 2010 1:00 PM

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One of the many facets of Bridge is our families with multiple children who are a part of the program. The Waltons, one of these families, have two alumni and one current Bridge student.  Mrs. Emy Walton explained, "the parents' job is to make it possible for the child to get a better education by sacrificing the simplest thing; time".  Time, however, is not the only thing needed to help children succeed in their education.  According to John Walton Sr.,  "Bridge is a way to level the playing field by providing equal academic opportunity.  I say that in our family that mission has been accomplished.  Our kids are definitely well prepared."

Continue reading Bridge Connects with the Walton Family...

Peninsula Bridge Video 2008

Posted on December 29, 2008 12:50 PM