Project SOAR II Strategies

Major strategies through 2007 include:

• Academic support through tutorial services
• Guidance counseling support in small group and one-to-one sessions
• Take-Home Computer Program
• SOAR 2 College summer programs

         Eighth Grade Leadership Camp
            Math, Science and Technology Three Week Seminar
            Rising 9th Grade Summer Prep
            Academic Outreach and Intervention Summer Sessions

• Field trips to colleges
• City Wide Poetry Contest
• SAT and PSAT Preparation Workshops
• California High School Exit Exam Preparation Workshops.

Our multi-year approach is designed to ensure that our students will graduate from high school prepared to attend college.

Professional Development

Project SOAR II continues to partner with OUSD to offer professional development training for teachers and SOAR staff to enhance the effectiveness of classroom teams, especially in core subjects of math and language arts. All SOAR staff participate in professional development to create a better understanding of the classroom challenges facing the teachers, tutors and students.

College Entry Exams

Project SOAR II has adopted a special focus on preparing students for college entry exams.  Students who participated in the PSAT workshop in the Fall 2005 will also have an opportunity to take the pre-PSSS exam, March 8, 2008.

Students are informed of the basic test content, the importance of being on time to take the exam, the number of times they will be eligible to take this exam and policies regarding passing each section of the exam.

As 10th graders, SOAR students will take the PSAT in the Fall, 2008. The College Board will provide training for SOAR staff and OUSD teachers on how to evaluate PSAT results.  SOAR staff will provide feedback on PSAT results for students and parents.