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Classifieds

Publication Date: Friday, February 16, 2001

Students in the case management program at Alta Vista High School go over their transcripts with counselors.

Hinda Weber, the program director, discussed the future with Dominique Sims.

@vcredit:Glenn Fuentes

Alta Vista High, Girls' Middle School get boost from grants

The Junior League of Palo Alto/Mid-Peninsula granted more than $7,000 to two student programs at Mountain View schools last month.

Girls' Middle School, located on Rengstorff Avenue, received $2,500 toward its scholarship fund, which provides tuition assistance for high-achieving, low-income students.

Kathleen Bennett, founder and head of school, said that many girls on financial aid were the top students in their class at their former schools, but did not receive the attention they needed to thrive.

"By high school, they are not able to compete successfully in college prep classes," Bennett said. "By high school it's very hard to catch up. The level of work for Advanced Placement and Advanced Standing classes is pretty tough."

Bennett said that the school strives not only to deliver an in-depth education, but to promote diversity as well.

"The goal is to prepare (the students) for Advanced Standing and Advanced Placement classes in high school and ultimately have them go to college and become leaders in the community," Bennett said. "There's no other school in the area that has as profound a commitment to diversity."

Tuition at the school was $12,500 this year. According to Bennett, 30 percent of students at the school receive financial aid each year; of that number, 25 percent receive full or nearly full financial aid, while 5 percent receive assistance that pays half of their tuition.

Services for students on nearly full financial aid include transportation, tutoring when needed, and miscellaneous expenses.

"We're very grateful that the Junior League sees our program of trying to create leaders, especially among low-income students or students of color, as a worthwhile goal for them to support," she said.

The school also set up the Henry Page Memorial Financial Aid Endowment, the school's first permanent scholarship fund, on Jan. 26. Page was an administrator in Palo Alto for 29 years, most recently as principal of the Palo Alto Unified School District Adult School, and served as a member of the Girls' Middle School diversity committee. The $375,000 endowment honors Page's commitment to diversity and education. The monies will fund one high-achieving, low-income student of color each year in perpetuity.

The endowment fund began in spring 2000 when Page died; 52 parents, staff, community members, and friends of Page donated money to reach the $375,000 mark.

Counseling program at Alta Vista High School funded

Alta Vista High School, a continuation school for students who have not been successful in a traditional high school setting, received $5,000 from the Junior League for its case management program, which addresses student and family needs.

According to Hinda Weber, the school-based case management director, the program deals with students' health, psychological, emotional, family, and legal issues. It also finds after-school activities for students to join.

"We assist with anything that might help the students come to school more ready to learn," she explained.

Treating each case individually, the case managers provide many types of assistance. According to Weber, managers have helped students buy clothes for their first job; helped their families pay hospital bills; attended court with a student; enrolled students in vision, dental, and health care programs; and connected families needing food with the Community Services Agency.

The program also has a discretionary fund to assist with one-time emergencies, such as paying for electric bills, groceries, or a portion of the rent. One student did not have a bed; case managers took money out of the discretionary fund and bought him one. "We want kids to come to school. If they're out on the street, they're not going to come," Weber explained.

The case management program has been operating for about five years. During that time, Weber estimates that more than 1,500 families and students have been assisted in one way or another.

"We treat students with respect, and they really appreciate that. We also respect different cultures' traditions and differences as well," Weber said.

The program is in the beginning stages of expanding to other area high schools. Weber said that she currently receive referrals from Gunn and Palo Alto high schools, and the program directors are evaluating the needs of freshman at Los Altos High School. They also hope to expand to Mountain View High School, she said.

The biggest obstacles the case management program faces are a lack of funding and staff. The Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District provides a $190,000 "skeletal" budget, while the program receives funding from Foothill Covenant Church in Los Altos and from private donors.

For more information about Girls' Middle School, call 968-8838. For more information about Alta Vista High School's case management program, contact Hilda Weber at 691-2430.