DREAMING BIG DREAMING BIG IN THE CITY OF IN THE CITY OF

ELOYELOYEloy Junior High SchoolEloy Junior High School

Vistas Project 2009Vistas Project 2009

DRIVING QUESTIONDRIVING QUESTION• What are the

challenges facing young people in Eloy that tend to impact the ability to dream bigger about their futures?

• What steps can we take to help students achieve their personal dreams?

WAYS TO INVESTIGATE THE WAYS TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEMPROBLEM

• Identifying the Issues & Understanding the ProblemCareer SurveyStudent SurveyParent Survey

Guest SpeakersVideo: Jacob’s Journey

Student Journal Reflections

• Analyze Research to Develop a SolutionBar Graphs-Career Survey

Excel Charts- Parent/Student Survey

• Create an Action Plan and PresentationDeveloping Personal Goals

Resources for SolutionsStudent Video Presentation

Student Final Project Reflections

IDENTIFYING THE IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES & ISSUES &

UNDERSTANDING UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEMTHE PROBLEM

(Career Survey, Student Survey, (Career Survey, Student Survey, Parent Survey, Guest Speakers, Parent Survey, Guest Speakers,

Video: Jacob’s Journey, and Video: Jacob’s Journey, and Student Journal Reflections)Student Journal Reflections)

CAREER SURVEYCAREER SURVEYTHE CAREER SURVEY WAS GIVEN

TO STUDENTS TO COMPLETE AS AN INTRODUCTORY

ACTIVITY.

• What do you see yourself doing at the age of 25?

• What’s the highest level of education received in your immediate family?

• Where were you and your parents born?

• What do your parents do for a living?• Do you plan on going to college?• What career are you interested in?• How do you feel about the immigration

issues in the United States?• Has the new immigration laws affected

your family in any way?

CREATING GRAPHS USING CREATING GRAPHS USING CAREER SURVEYCAREER SURVEY

• The students created bar graphs for each of the questions from the career survey using the results they received after every 8th grade student completed it.

STUDENT GRAPH EXAMPLESSTUDENT GRAPH EXAMPLES

STUDENT GRAPH EXAMPLESSTUDENT GRAPH EXAMPLES

STUDENT SURVEYSTUDENT SURVEYDirections: Select ten from the list below and rank them from 1-

10 (1 being the main challenge) explaining what you feel the challenges are facing your people in Eloy that tend to impact their ability to dream bigger about their futures.

Scared DrugsNo Money Teen PregnancyStress Family ExpectationsAnger Problems Never really been of EloyFriends LazyPeer Pressure Don’t CareLooks AlcoholGangs Low Self EsteemLow Expectations School Dropouts

Please Select One: Education8th grade and below Some High SchoolHigh School Graduate Some CollegeAssociate Degree Bachelors DegreeMasters Degree

Please Select One or More: EthnicityHispanic Native AmericanAfrican American OtherCaucasian

USING EXCEL TO ANALYZE USING EXCEL TO ANALYZE DATA: STUDENT SURVEYDATA: STUDENT SURVEY

Student survey of challenges facing young people in Eloy

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PARENT SURVEYPARENT SURVEYDirections: Select ten from the list below and rank

them from 1-10 (1 being the main challenge) explaining what you feel the challenges are facing your people in Eloy that tend to impact their ability to dream bigger about their futures.

Scared DrugsNo Money Teen PregnancyStress Family ExpectationsAnger Problems Never really been of EloyFriends LazyPeer Pressure Don’t CareLooks AlcoholGangs Low Self EsteemLow Expectations School Dropouts

Please Select One: Education8th grade and below Some High SchoolHigh School Graduate Some CollegeAssociate Degree Bachelors DegreeMasters Degree

Please Select One or More: EthnicityHispanic Native AmericanAfrican American OtherCaucasian

USING EXCEL TO ANALYZE USING EXCEL TO ANALYZE DATA: PARENT SURVEYDATA: PARENT SURVEY

Parent survey challenges young people in Eloy

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UNDERSTANDING THE UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEMPROBLEM

The results of the parent and student survey identified the following issues as factors affecting the lives of the youth of Eloy:

1. Drugs & Alcohol2. Teen Pregnancy3. Gangs4. Low Self-esteem/ Low

expectations5. School Drop Outs

ADDRESSING ADDRESSING THE ISSUES &THE ISSUES &DEVELOPING A DEVELOPING A

SOLUTIONSOLUTION(Guest Speakers, Video: (Guest Speakers, Video: Jacob’s Journey, Journal Jacob’s Journey, Journal

Reflections)Reflections)

ISSUE #1: DRUGS & ALCOHOL ISSUE #1: DRUGS & ALCOHOL VIDEO:JACOB’S JOURNEYVIDEO:JACOB’S JOURNEY

• STUDENTS WATCHED THE VIDEO AND SAW HOW DRUGS & ALCOHOL AFFECTED THE LIFE OF ONE PINAL COUNTY TEEN.

Student reactions to Video:

• “It really opened my eyes to see what could happen. The choices we make could change our lives tremendously.” Jacqueline Ibarra

• “It made me really think because I never really took drinking and driving seriously and I realize it could happen to me too.” Jaylin Villescaz

ISSUE #2: TEEN PREGNANCYISSUE #2: TEEN PREGNANCYGUEST SPEAKER: SCHOOL NURSEGUEST SPEAKER: SCHOOL NURSE

• School Nurse Diane Wright came into the classroom and taught the importance of abstinence. She also discussed the issue of teen pregnancy and the effects it has on the future of Eloy teens.

ISSUE #3 GANGSISSUE #3 GANGSGUEST SPEAKER: PROBATION OFFICERGUEST SPEAKER: PROBATION OFFICER

• Mr. Frank Acuna came into the class and discussed gang related activity and the effects it has on the lives of young people living in Pinal County.

ISSUE #4: LOW SELF-ESTEEM & ISSUE #4: LOW SELF-ESTEEM & EXPECTATIONSEXPECTATIONS

GUEST SPEAKER:GUIDANCE COUNSELOR GUEST SPEAKER:GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

• Mrs. Shanetta Osei came and discussed self-esteem and ways to avoid negativity.

• She also discussed the importance of setting both long term and short term goals.

ISSUE #5: SCHOOL DROPOUTSISSUE #5: SCHOOL DROPOUTSGUEST SPEAKER: HIGH SCHOOL GUEST SPEAKER: HIGH SCHOOL

GUIDANCE COUNSELORGUIDANCE COUNSELOR• Santa Cruz High

School Guidance Counselor Chris Lathan came into the classroom and discussed ways to avoid becoming a high school drop out and the importance of continuing education to the college level.

JOURNAL REFLECTIONSJOURNAL REFLECTIONS• Students wrote

journal reflections often to reflect on their feelings and reactions they were experiencing during the course of this project.

CREATING AN CREATING AN ACTION PLAN ACTION PLAN AND STUDENT AND STUDENT PRESENTATIONPRESENTATION(Developing Personal Goals, (Developing Personal Goals,

Finding Resources for Solutions, Finding Resources for Solutions, Student Video Presentation, and Student Video Presentation, and

Final Project Reflections)Final Project Reflections)

SETTING PERSONAL GOALS SETTING PERSONAL GOALS

Students had the opportunity to think about their futures and develop their own short term and long term goals they would like to achieve in their lifetime.

STUDENT PRESENTATIONSTUDENT PRESENTATION

RESEARCHING PLACES TO RESEARCHING PLACES TO GO FOR HELPGO FOR HELP

• Park Place Outreach and Counseling9373 W. Battaglia DriveCasa Grande, AZ 85222(520)466-8850

• Helping Associates1901 N. Trekell RoadCasa Grande, AZ 85222

• Arizona Drug, Rehab and Treatment CentersCasa Grande/Apache Junction(888)364-3784

• Horizon210 E. Cottonwood LaneCasa Grande, AZ 85222(520)836-1688

• Corazon900 E. Florence BoulevardCasa Grande, AZ 85222(520)836-4278

LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE: LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE: HOW DO YOU FEEL THE VISTAS PROJECT HOW DO YOU FEEL THE VISTAS PROJECT

WILL HELP YOU IN THE FUTURE?WILL HELP YOU IN THE FUTURE?• “I learned about the dangers and

consequences I could face if I was involved in such activities and how crucial every decision is that I make.” Destiny Vasquez

• “It opened my eyes to see what I can achieve.” Klaryssa Rodriguez

• “It made me think more about how to make my decisions and how there is always a better way to handle things.” Johanna Luna

• “It made me realize that I don’t want to make the mistakes other people made in their lives.” Betty Vasquez

• “It made me realize that my decisions matter and what I do affects everyone around me.” Anette Felix