Educating young people is a partnership among administrators, teachers, students, families, and the community, and all of us can make a difference, whoever or wherever we may be, according to the National Education Association.
That community-style support is at the heart of Juntos, one of many college and career resources in Newberg-Dundee Public Schools. Juntos, which means “together” in Spanish, teaches Spanish-speaking students and their families how to enroll in a post-secondary educational institution. It offers information such as how to apply for FAFSA, find scholarships, or waive college application fees. The final presentation for Newberg-Dundee’s Juntos program was held on Nov. 16 at Newberg High School, during which participants received certificates for completing the six workshops. A second series of Juntos workshops is tentatively scheduled for this spring.
Students’ Views of Juntos
“Juntos was very informative, knowing all the scholarships, having the help since I plan to graduate and get a higher education,” said Catalyst senior Jaysha Torres-Garibay, who plans to become a special education teacher. “It’s good to know what’s out there. There’s more. Money doesn’t always have to be a problem.”
She attended with her mom and younger brother, Janzel, a ninth-grader at Catalyst. Being able to have her mom attend was a big deal since her mom has always wanted her children to obtain a college education. Having sessions in Spanish allows her mom to know what she can do to help make college possible.
“She’s the one around us who always knows what to do and pushes us to get a higher education when she couldn’t,” Torres-Garibay said.
Arturo García, an 11th-grader at NHS who plans to be a psychologist, also said that he learned a great deal at Juntos and it will help him succeed.
“It’s amazing,” García said. “Usually, you wouldn’t see a school that’s very small have a program like this.”
Staff’s Views on Juntos
How did Newberg-Dundee get so lucky to offer this option to students? Juntos came to Newberg in 2022. There are at least three reasons why it’s been thriving here: the three key leaders for the local Juntos program. They are: NHS Assistant Principal Ben Patterson and Program Co-Coordinators Claudia Morales-Velazquez and Sandra Tinoco.
“For me, it is very important to help families, all families,” said Tinoco, also the Secretary for the Assistant Principal.
Morales-Velazquez agreed.
“Families need to know that there is help; there are opportunities for their children; there are things that they can do to better their children’s future … Their children’s success is important to them and to us," Morales-Velazquez said, also the NHS Bilingual Academic Support and Communications Specialist.
Patterson said that, if you assist some families, you help the wider community.
“This program benefits the entire community, no matter what your goal is for your school,” said Patterson, who oversees world languages at NHS. “If you’re someone who is data-based and you want to increase your graduation numbers, this will help do that. If you’re community-based and you want to see your community growing and including all the people here, this is another way to do that. If you’re a fan of higher education, this will also promote that. It also brings a great sense of community. Community is what helps us form our identity, whether we’re a first-generation American or our families have been here for centuries.”
Juntos Details
Three leaders ensure Juntos succeeds locally, but where did it start? The program, which is based in North Carolina, kicked off there in 2007. Juntos launched in Oregon in 2012 and then in Yamhill County three years later.