Adelante Leadership
Course Description
This program was created in 2011 to meet the needs of Horizon’s first-generation college-bound Latino/Latina students as part of our school’s improvement plan. Designed to prepare students to be successful starting and completing a college degree, it has since evolved to include all students, especially those from underserved populations in our school and/or those who are first-generation to college. The course focuses on understanding the value and costs of higher education, developing self advocacy skills to navigate education and career choices, building group cohesion and community, and financial awareness for life after high school.
Students must have interest in attending college or skilled trade education and enter the class with a 2.0 or higher GPA. The course is split between two semesters: Fall semester is for Seniors and Spring semester is for Juniors. It is a .5 elective credit per semester.
For more information, please contact Mr. Turano at Brad.M.Turano@adams12.org, in room O2503, or stop by in the upstairs staff center.
Junior Year (Spring Semester)
Elective created to serve the needs of first-generation college bound students at Horizon. Course for Juniors is during 2nd semester where we focus on the following skills:
- Self Advocacy (Asking for help, using available resources)
- Personal Accountability and Motivation
- Test taking strategies (SAT, ACT)
- Essay prompts and writing (2)
- Public Speaking
- Resumés and Interviewing
- Seminar and Debate
- Team Building/ Constructive Work in Groups
- Personal Finance (Saving, Earning, Employment, Time/ Money
Relationship)
- Degrees and Courses of Study
- College Exploration (Types of institutions and programs offered)
- Scholarship Research and Application
We also study careers and the education/ experience needed to attain them.
There are two campus visits scheduled, usually to a community college and then a trip to the Auraria Campus in Denver to see the Community College of Denver, Metro State Univ. and UC Denver.
Senior Year (Fall Semester)
During Senior year, students will continue with the skills and activities from the previous semester, but will add the following:
- Weekly academic progress and teacher contacts
-Re-take of Standardized tests (SAT, ACT if desired)
- College Essays and Scholarships (3 essays, 4 Scholarship applications)
- Financial Aid Process and Applications (FAFSA, CAFSA)
- College Applications (4 required)
- Personal Finance Topics- (Savings, Insurance, Loans, Investing, Credit)
- Guest Speakers from various career fields and Adelante alumni
- Maintaining Credit and Protecting your Identity
- College Recruiter Visits
- College Campus Visits (2) and College Fair (1)
- Student Voice in Leadership
- Independent Living Assessment
Students will attend two field trips to college campuses and possibly, a college fair. Seniors are required to apply to four different higher educational institutions and complete at least four scholarship applications, and will register for a PIN with the FAFSA application in order to pass the class.