Big Wins in Olympia as Legislative Session Concludes
Dear Graduate Tacoma Partners, With a flurry of last-minute activity the state legislature has officially closed the 2019 session. We are thrilled to report there was positive action taken on all five of our 2019 Advocacy Priorities. Before going into policy details, the Foundation for Tacoma Students would like to humbly thank the […]
Ready to Rise Program Prepares Students for College
“Ready to Rise is a leadership opportunity for students to join a cohort of high school graduates who will be attending the same college as them. Students transitioning into college are often not prepared to handle the social dynamics of this new environment. Time management, dorm life and encountering new personalities can feel overwhelming. Here, […]
College-Ready, College-Bound
“The Higher Education Readiness Opportunity (HERO) builds college awareness in 9th and 10th grade students at Foss, Wilson and Mt. Tahoma High School. We personally and academically support students to overcome barriers to college readiness while exposing them to career and college opportunities. We help 9th grade scholars understand the importance of grades once you’re […]
Open Doors at Willie Stewart Academy
“Many of us struggle in large comprehensive high schools. Many of us are dealing with personal issues or family tragedies that have impacted our ability to succeed in high school. We understand. Willie Stewart Academy is an open doors program within Tacoma Public Schools for students who have dropped out of high school, lack credits […]
Celebrating Each Other at Oakland’s First Prom
“The theme for Oakland High School’s first prom is Under The Stars. This is a big deal for students because it’s the first out-of-school special event where they get to dress up and have a traditional high school experience. We don’t have sports events, homecoming or pep assemblies at Oakland, which has taken away opportunity […]
Leveling the Playing Field with Enhanced Prep
“Some students get nervous when they know they have a big test coming up, so the more exposure they have to the material, the more comfortable they feel — thus helping alleviate test anxiety and building confidence. Providing opportunities for test prep helps students become more familiar with what to expect on the actual test […]
Spending More Time on Student Success
“In 2011, Lincoln High School earned a state innovation designation for its work piloting Lincoln Center, a “school within a school” providing students with 450 extra instruction hours over the course of their high school career. Due to the proven success of the students who voluntarily participated in Lincoln Center, all of Lincoln High School […]
Mentoring for Success at Big Brothers Big Sisters
“Big Brothers Big Sisters provides stable, caring adult mentors for children and youth living with adversity, starting them on a path to resilience and success. Over time, these relationships balance out the effects of hardship, giving children a way to thrive despite the challenges they face. Last year, Big Brothers Big Sisters served 195 kids […]
Mt. Tahoma Offers Extra Support for Students
“As Dean of Students at Mount Tahoma High School, I work in partnership with our school administration and counseling team to support the needs of students and staff across the building. One effort I have been involved in to provide additional student support is offering monthly Saturday School for our students. On these days we […]
Intro to STEM Careers with RAIN Incubator
“RAIN’s mission is to grow the biotechnology industry in Tacoma. We want to increase accessibility and show kids, no matter what their background, that this is a possible path for them. We had about 50 students from Stewart Middle School visit our facility on DiscoverU Day, a district-wide career exploration event for students of all […]