CONNECT after-school program is back at RHS

When Bulldogs CONNECT first arrived at Ramona High School last January, it was met with a smaller, passionate following of students and willing teachers. Now, with the word of its success and the seal of approval from students, it’s back and more popular than ever.

CONNECT, which stands for Connecting Ourselves: Navigating, Networking, Experiencing, Challenging for Tomorrow, is an after-school enrichment program that aims at filling the critical hours after school with fun classes that appeal to a diverse range of students. It also offers opportunities for advancement like the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) prep course and California High School Exit Exam (CAHEE) prep course, to name a few.

The program is funded through the Department of Education’s ASSETs (After-School Safety and Enrichment for Teens) grant of $250,000, which is renewable for up to five years. Thirty other schools in the county were awarded the funds. Students have an opportunity to spend their after-school time trying out new hobbies and sports while meeting new people in a pressure-free environment.

CONNECT is set up to run in eight-week sessions throughout the year. The first session started Monday and will run until Nov. 6. Students can sign up for as many classes as they can work into their schedule. Among enrichment courses offered are ceramics, book club, auto skills, core conditioning, drama, soccer, cooking and even a video game club.

Also offered this session is tutoring on a daily basis in the library and E2020 online courses, which give students the opportunity to re-take courses that they may have previously failed in core subjects. CONNECT also offers driver’s education on a limited basis.

Along with the classes, CONNECT offers free busing home at 4:10 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to students in the program.

For complete class descriptions and schedules, photos, and bus routes, check out the RHS CONNECT website at www.ramonausd.net and click the CONNECT tab. You may also contact facilitator Erin O’Connor via email at eoconnor@ramonausd.net or by phone at 760-787-4093.