Puente at PHS
Tucked away in H201 lies a gem of a community: Puente. Currently led by English teacher Mr. Raya and counselor Mr. Perez, the Puente program at PHS has been around since 1993. Puente strives to increase the number of traditionally underrepresented students who attend four-year universities—by educating students in writing and providing counseling. The program is designed for incoming freshmen; students take Mr. Raya’s Puente English class for their first two years and have Mr. Perez as their counselor.
However, Puente remains obscure throughout PHS, overshadowed by the three big academies—LPS, APP, and CAMAD. But Mr. Perez and Mr. Raya are planning to change that. “We’re attaching a flyer sheet to the incoming eighth graders,” said Mr. Perez. “Eventually, [students] have to write an essay about their goals to become part of the program.”
Puente students also have the opportunity to attend field trips—namely college visitations and Chicano-style cultural events. “We’ve been to Cal State Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona, Dodger Stadium, the Latino Heritage Parade...” said Mr. Raya. “And we have other plans. But it has been historically difficult for us to access funds.”
In the classroom, the Puente curriculum focuses on writing and independent reading, entailing portfolio-based work, such as autobiographical narratives, essays, and community-based writing. “We supplement the core literature with Latino literature,” said Mr. Raya. “And we’ve also expanded this to include Black/Afro-Latino subject content and content that addresses LGBTQ, ableism, gender equality, and linguistic justice.”
As counselor, Mr. Perez provides support for Puente students academically, socially, and emotionally. “I follow up with everyone’s transcripts, let them know their options after college, and provide extra support,” he said.
Most Puente students never truly leave the program—even after they’ve completed their second and final year of Puente English. They continue involving themselves in the Puente club, by participating in fundraisers and connecting with new students.
“One important thing is that we take pride in our classroom,” said Sharon Saenz-Godinez, a senior in the Puente club. “We put up flags [of Latin-American countries]... and papel picado. It’s very colorful.”
“We’re all connected in some way,” said another student. “Whenever I come to Raya’s room, I feel safe here.”
Earlier this month, the Puente club hosted a rally for its students and parents to share their opinions on what they believe the club to be lacking. Historically, the organization has always lacked funding from the district and school. The unfortunate issue is that this leaves students a part of the club with a lack of resources and experiences. Puente has always wanted to build a foundation for young individuals to thrive towards a better future, A majority of the members of the group are lower-income and are merely provided with a few clubs that encourage greater education.
Luckily, Lily had the opportunity to interview students such as representative Melissa Arteaga. When speaking to Melissa Arteaga, a 9th grade representative of Puente, she had mentioned the need to continue the program and to issue stronger funding for members of the organization. Young Puentistas such as Melissa plan to create a mission for the future of the club by continuing the traditions of the organization and encouraging students to join as they explore options after high school at PHS.
The Puente organization is more than a simple club. Puente has largely been recognized as an establishment that extends beyond high school campuses and can be found within colleges where it continues to encourage first generation students to higher mobility. It is a club that alumni, faculty, and students need to move forward in their journey within education and one that embraces cultures. Students deserve to receive opportunities to reach higher education in a space where they can feel recognized and supported. Whether it is through funding or experiences such as field trips, workshops, or alumni conferences.
Puente stands to create doors for students and provide resources that will not only allow minorities to pursue college but encourages a generation to continue moving forward.