Solidifying Skills: The Senior Program
In our Saturday Sessions, each class has their own specific curriculum curated to teach essential skills and enrich each student’s life. For all classes, Saturday is divided into two parts: morning academic tutoring, and afternoon 1:1 mentoring and individual skill development. The latter is focused into 4 main skill blocks: communication, applications, personal growth, and college & career readiness.
A core component of all three classes’ academic sessions is SAT preparation, which involves tutorials in math, writing, logic and critical thinking. Students follow a dedicated, class-based curriculum that is intended to help them face the SAT examination with confidence and raise their scores.
Academics: Class of 2026
The Senior Class focuses on SAT preparation in the fall and a combination of writing, critical thinking, research, and presentation skills that culminate in a community-based Senior Capstone project for the remainder of the year.
The Capstone project requires students to identify a topic, issue, or question of interest from one of four proposed broad topics, which include: Mental Health Awareness in Schools, Enhancing Minds Matter Houston, Art and Social Change, and Upward Mobility For Low Income Communities. Students then conduct research, interviews, or fieldwork to explore the topic in depth, and develop a tangible product or deliverable that demonstrates their findings and solutions. Finally, they present their project in a 5-7 minute multi-media format to an audience of peers, mentors, program staff, and community members in May.
This project gives students the opportunity to explore a topic of interest in-depth, and allows them to apply their skills, knowledge, and passions to a real-world project. They work independently, but always have the option to seek specific help and advice from their mentors!
Mentorship: Class of 2026
The Senior mentorship experience is primarily focused on application skills, personal & professional growth, and college & career readiness - as communication skills (interviews and presentations) are covered with the Senior Capstone project. With their mentors, students cover practical and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) topics within these three skill blocks to help them complete college applications and holistically prepare for the college experience:
Application Skills: Internships, Finalizing Resumes and Cover Letters, and Financial Literacy
Personal & Professional Growth: Stress Management, Health, College Resources, and Decision Making
College & Career Readiness: College Admissions and Financial Aid, Career Panel Discussions, and College Practical Skills
The transition to college is difficult, and senior mentors are focused on providing students with tools to build their resiliency and real-world practical skills. We want students to feel prepared to successfully navigate their 4-year education and graduate with knowledge they can use to help their families and strengthen their communities.
