Lunchtime and afterschool gatherings have always played a key part in bringing the school community together for John Muir High School’s Puente Club. As a club, Puente is a national college preparatory program that supports educationally underrepresented students in California through academic counseling and community mentoring rooted in the Mexican/Latino experience. Renee Cruz, the advisor for Muir’s Puente club, encourages her students to focus on the aspect of community mentoring through various Puente booth events throughout the year. To improve these Puente boothing events, Cruz and her Puente students used their teacher grant to purchase a new PA system for the club to use during lunchtime and after school events.
During events like club rushes and school fairs, the new speaker and microphone has become an exciting tool to draw students and community members towards the Puente booths. Puente club members love using the speaker to play music during events. Having music playing brings up the energy and excitement surrounding the booth during events, drawing students in. For presentations, the microphone lets the Puente students share club information and their testimonials on how Puente has helped them.
Now with their new PA system, the Puente Club’s table has grown, creating even more opportunities to form student community connections.
