Bridge the Gap College Prep programs

The After School Extended Learning Day Program

Up to 40 students participate in the K-8 Extended Learning Day (ELD). Three days per week from 3:30-5:45, four BTGCP teachers, along with volunteer tutors (several teachers from Marin private schools), provide students with homework support, small group instruction, enrichment, consistent exposure to the goal of college graduation and clear examples of why doing well in school is important to life success. Currently, most instruction takes place in small groups at BTGCP’s Learning Center classroom facility in Sausalito. After a healthy snack and journal exercises, the first hour is spent on homework, followed by academic enrichment with specifically tailored teacher-developed curricula focused primarily on literacy and math skills development. Days end with a Success Circle, engaging students with college attendance through research about the lives and accomplishments of famous role models who have gone to college, playing word games with college-related words, and discussions of career and life opportunities.  Take a Peek into the Extended Day center at  http://www.youtube.com/user/BTGCP94965?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/TQ0CuKBCsDM

Evening Tutoring Mentor Program

Over 85 Marin City students attend the Evening Program at the Marin City Church of God (the program is non-religious), assisted by 140 volunteer mentors.  Children generally enter BTGCP through the Evening Program, assigned to a mentor/tutor with whom they work for at least an entire academic year. Tutoring pairs meet for an hour, up to two nights per week. Often the bonds forged in this first year last well into the future with many developing into sustained mentoring relationships. Credentialed teachers train and coach tutors, helping ensure students progress appropriately and that the tutoring pairs work effectively.  K-5th graders spend half their time on homework and the other on literacy skills, while middle and high school students spend their time on homework, given their significantly higher workloads.

Summer Programs

BTGCP offers two summer literacy enrichment programs in conjunction with the Manzanita Rec Center. BTGCP has served approximately 56 children each summer since 2010.  BTGCP’s Learning Center’s space constraint has limited its ability to to serve them in our after school program during the school year.  The goal is to have enough site space so that all of these students can continue in the College Prep After School Program.  Working with them only in the summer is not enough.

Little Readers Summer Literacy Program – Recognizing the need for summer literacy enrichment for Marin City’s youngest students, in 2010 BTGCP launched an hour-long reading program as part of the Manzanita Recreation Center summer camp.  PreK-3rd graders meet three days a week for literacy enrichment with a credentialed teacher and volunteers.

Youth Writers Workshop – Designed for 4th-8th graders, this new initiative launched this summer brings together approximately 25 young people for two hours twice a week to participate in guided writing exercises in a variety of forms – poetry, rap, autobiographical, journal, and playwriting.  The program seeks to help young people develop their voice and writing skills in a supportive environment.

Alumni Support Services

BTGCP is proud to have an active alumni that are still connected to BTGCP. Over its 16 year history, 80% of BTGCP students have completed high school and 60% of the high school graduates are in college . The challenges for Marin City students do not end with high school graduation.  BTGCP alums need support and advice on how to transition to college, navigate inter college transfers and on going financial assistance.  BTGCP’s founder and board member emeritus, Robert Hunter has been at the forefront of an effort to guide, support and connect alums with college transitions, financial assistance and networking for career counseling. Currently, BTGCP supports its alum with a modest but important book scholarship of $250 per college alum.

Transportation and Food

In all programs, tutoring time is preceded by a nutritious snack as many students come from food-insecure households, an additional impediment to academic success.  BTGCP recognizes that if students cannot find their way to the programs, there can be no service provided. Accordingly, BTGCP provides transportation for students to and from all its programs, ensuring that students can overcome the logistical issue of transportation. In essence, BTGCP performs the task of transporting Marin City children to an after school activity; something that their peers in the surrounding affluent Marin County communities rarely have to worry about given the resources within their family