LETTER TO THE EDITOR: English Learners Are an Opportunity, Not a Burden

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a letter to the editor from Andy Brosche, Director of Operations for the Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area in response to the Patch article Parents Protest the 'Burden' of English-Learners on Capo Schools.

No child should ever be called a “Burden.”

We consider children as opportunities. Opportunities to build great futures.

Regardless of their vocabulary, each child possesses the potential to be great and are entitled to a great future. The Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area is committed to becoming part of the solution and is partnering with schools, like Marblehead Elementary in achieving educational success.

Each day, after school, our Club is fortunate to have over 30 of the English Learner students from Marblehead bused over.  Along with these Marblehead students over 50 Las Palmas students, 25 Lobo Elementary students and 10 students from Palisades are bused to our Club.  Add another 50 students that get dropped off at our Club from parents or carpools.

The first hour kids arrive at our Boys & Girls Club, they all participate in Power Hour.  Power Hour provides Club members homework help and tutoring programs that encourages Club members at every age to become self-directed learners.  Thanks to our staff and the many volunteers at our Club, each child receives help in getting their homework complete. 

Recently we debuted our new Great Futures Tech Center (made possible by Ingram Micro, Microsoft, Woodcrafters International, Inc., and the Jeff Peter Memorial Gift), which is equipped with 18 state-of-the-art work stations, 10 tablet computers and two digital screens. 

As part of this opening we also introduced SuccessMaker. Designed to provide customized learning for each and every student, SuccessMaker is a powerful online software solution for our members' educational needs. This program differentiates and personalizes K-8 reading and math instruction.

Every asset of SuccessMaker is singularly focused on a child’s individual needs and desires. This program is offered daily to our Club’s members; each school has designated days and times in our Tech Center using SuccessMaker.

Our children’s future is the responsibility of parents and our community.  We are just one organization, among many in San Clemente, helping to bridge the learning gap for ALL kids. We can only do this through the help of our great community, of which we are so fortunate to have such tremendous support.