Garrett Apland MHS teacher

Juntos and its partner groups Together and Papalaxsimisha have proven to be wonderful opportunities for families to get together and connect. It is an amazing experience to talk to families and establish positive routines that assist with bringing their learners a high school diploma and a plan for the future. Meeting regularly in a comfortable environment as a community to support one another in reaching our goals feels fantastic. Questions are answered, policies and requirements are explained, but more than that, families spend time together and together we work towards that which matters the most, the success of our learners.

I have been fortunate enough to be a facilitator for the Together group here at Madras High School. I was immediately taken aback by the potential of truly obtaining family involvement in a positive way that lets everyone work together towards the same goals. It is sometimes hard to ask for family involvement as a teacher because you fear what added work you may need to do to support the involvement of family members. With Juntos, there is a clear plan that everyone gets to participate in working towards. With the facilitator roles, there is no added work for anyone and yet families can be regularly and actively involved in their learner’s education. Families are empowered with exactly how to support their learners and they get to do it collectively for the benefit of all. Having multiple families participate allows us to build on each other’s strengths and share common experiences. Teachers, families, and learners seem to feel more and more like reaching graduation with a plan for the future is not an impossible task, it is something truly attainable that we do together. It is.

Working with Juntos is a great experience that I will continue to support and work towards for learners and their families everywhere.

https://create.osufoundation.org/juntos

Josh Rodrigues (Juntos participant)

I knew 100% that I would not pass high school when I was in middle school. My grades were terrible. I didn’t really know what to do about it. Then I started 9^th grade, and my grades were still bad. College was definitely an uncertainty. That’s when my family heard that Juntos was starting. I remember thinking, “Oh, nice, maybe this will actually give me a chance.” After the first meeting, I felt better. They started talking to us about what steps to take, and I learned that it’s not that hard to improve your high school grades, and get into college if you actually try.

The second semester of my freshman year is when I started pushing myself, telling myself “I can do this. I can do this.” This year I’m getting the best grades of my entire life – right now I have six A’s! I have a lot of plans and goals now. I will graduate high school with either a regular or an advanced diploma. I’d love to be a robotics engineer. I am interested in OSU, Stanford, or the University of Phoenix. OSU has great engineering programs and forestry and a really cool robotics team.

It has been great for my whole family to focus on our education together. The people who run Juntos have become close friends. They communicate with us a lot and help us with our dreams. My dad is even taking classes now – he wants to own his own business. All of us are taking more classes and doing more programs for success. I don’t know what options there would have been for me without this program. I am forever grateful.

https://create.osufoundation.org/juntos

Rosa Ramirez
Community Liaison for Redmond School District
Deschutes County

Kyle Yeager Photography

In my job as school district community liaison, I visit with all these kids. I hear 4^th and 5^th graders excitedly talking about college and jobs. Then I ask a junior or senior at high school what their next step is, and they say, “I don’t know.” I feel that for some of our Latino students who attend school, their only goal is a high school diploma. That just doesn’t have as much value anymore. They have to pursue more. I didn’t have these opportunities in high school, but they do, and they need to go for it. We are starting Juntos soon in our community. This could be an eye-opener for those older students to learn some realistic next steps. It could also be a chance to be role models for their younger siblings.

I think a lot of our parents just don’t know all the possibilities out there for their kids. We need to tell our youth, “You’re good enough to go to college.” We need to plant the seed that “Yes, you can do this. Here’s how.”

Education is how we create the safe communities with good citizens that we all want to live in. I will do whatever I can to help promote that.

https://create.osufoundation.org/juntos

Ana “Juntos Mom” and facilitator

My family started Juntos three years ago when my son was a freshman. We were one of the first families. Before, I had a vague idea that I wanted my son to graduate with good grades just like every other mom, but I didn’t feel confident to go to the school. The classrooms and offices were all  behind closed doors. When I’d go to conferences, I would do my best, but I didn’t know what questions to ask.

Juntos changed all that. We had the chance to meet the principal, the office staff, some teachers. We learned how to deal with different situations. We learned who the right people were to talk to. Part of Juntos is to change the minds of the kids. They feel like you are with them; they are not dealing with school all alone. Even the little brothers and sisters are with you. I think that makes a difference.

Now, my son’s goal is to do the Advanced Diploma at COCC next year. Juntos has helped me too, to get more involved in my community as a facilitator and a volunteer, and given me confidence to work and move things forward. There was Ana before Juntos and Ana after Juntos! To be a facilitator was totally new, and speaking in public, but it changed me. I can transmit my ideas, mis experiencias como madre. I understand what those other families want for their kids. The information comes from people with similar stories, needs, and goals.

https://create.osufoundation.org/juntos

Salma Sanchez (6^th grader, younger sibling of Juntos students)

Photo: Alejandrina Olivas

Salma Sanchez (6^th grader, younger sibling of Juntos students)

I’m in 6^th grade now. My big brother is in college and my big sister is in high school. Since we did Juntos, I have noticed that my whole family is working a lot more lately, like studying in their rooms. We talk a lot more to each other about our future goals. Every day they’re always filling out papers for scholarships or things. Sometimes there’s not enough time to play! Sometimes they get really tired, and whenever I ask questions, they have to finish other things first. But I know I want to be like them.

For me, I want to get a good education. I made some goals: to finish middle school with a 4.0, to graduate high school with a 4.0, to graduate college, and to have a job when I’m out. I really like cooking, so maybe I’ll be a chef? I’ve visited COCC in Bend; it’s nice how they have a whole building for their library, and a whole building for their cooking, and their huge cafeteria! I’ve visited the Beavers in Corvallis. It’s huge! I’ve also been to visit the Ducks at their football place. I don’t think most of my friends have already been to three colleges!

I think Juntos is pretty nice. It has helped a lot. It’s a lot of work, I’ve been noticing. But I have some volunteer hours already from helping play with little kids during the sessions. Someday I’ll go to the sessions too, just like Scott and Ingrid!

https://create.osufoundation.org/juntos

Scott

Juntos student, high school graduate, and actual College Advanced Diploma student

Kyle Yeager Photography

“You have to go to college.” Before doing Juntos, my parents were pretty strict about saying that because they didn’t have that opportunity, and they wanted better for us. But, they didn’t know any specifics beyond “go to college.” Now, it’s no longer a vague idea for someday in the future; we talk about types of programs, options, costs, everything. We have more information.  My parents still push us to strive forward, but they’re also more supportive and easy-going at the same time. The conversation has changed. Juntos did that for us.

I am now doing the Advanced Diploma program. I never would have heard of this without Juntos, so I would say that it has affected my current success in a big and drastic way. I knew some things about what to expect in college, and I didn’t go in half-heartedly. It made the transition easier. I know I can be lazy sometimes, and I used to be pretty stubborn about college in high school; now that my whole family did Juntos, they know everything I need to do (even my youngest sister!), and they motivate me and help me. I’m glad for that family support. I’m starting to look at my next options, maybe through OSU, maybe with Americorps. I’m still figuring it all out, but there are SO many options that I have now. I want to work, and I want to travel. I heard somewhere that “Life is like a book. If you only read one page, you don’t know the full story. So keep reading.” That’s what I hope to do. And I know I’ll be ready.

https://create.osufoundation.org/juntos