What an Incredible Summer!

DTS Summer 2022 was an incredible success! We ran 13 distinct programs and sent high school students to residential programs at Loyola Marymount University, Santa Clara University, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Smith College. And our college students interned for companies in a variety of fields including technology, finance and education.  

In the photo above, high school seniors Bryan, Diego, and Andres help Tony brainstorm essay topics forhis UC personal statements. After spending the past four years together as a DTS Class, they are well equipped to engage Tony in thinking about which parts of his life he might want to share with an admissions committee.  The boys’ friendships have developed within a college going community that fosters emotional well being and belonging. They are part of a peer group in which everyone is college bound and that connectivity increases their rate for successful outcomes in postsecondary education.  

Thank you for your continued support!  Your generosity allows us to create and deliver comprehensive programming that engages students all summer long.  Below we have highlighted what our 9th and 10th graders have been up to.  

Bridge to High School

During our three week Bridge to High School, rising 9th graders participated in academic advancement in math and writing, executive functioning skill development, an introduction to our college-going culture, and a health and wellness curriculum focused on fitness, meditation, and nutrition. Students’ feelings of readiness for high school – socially, academically, and in terms of their motivation to achieve- increased dramatically. The group will begin their four years at Hamilton High School already bonded with their DTS classmates and the staff.  

Below, the 9th graders pose for a photo with Seng from the Plus Me Project after sharing their powerful personal narratives with each other.

Wellness Intensive

For two weeks, rising 10th graders worked with Carmen, our Wellness Counselor, to better understand the mind-body connection and how their own health and wellness serves as the foundation for personal happiness and success.  Through the lens of self-care, they engaged in activities and discussed topics including exercise, sleep, communication, stress management and nutrition.

Each day began with a morning meditation (photo above) and a journal writing session before delving into poignant conversations about healthy relationships, substance abuse, sexuality, and body image.  One student shared “I learned about healthy coping mechanisms” and another noted “I learned about what stress can do like cause inflammation which leads to many diseases.  I also got to practice ways to reduce my own stress.”