GET ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, AND BEYOND.

 

Why join the DreamCatchers community?

  • Join a fun group of other middle school students, tutors, and Classroom Directors who care about your success.

  • Get paired with a high school or college student who will help you rock your classes. We work with you on your homework and English, math, and study skills, to increase your confidence in the classroom.

  • Participate in fun community building activities and extracurricular opportunities such as financial literacy, computer science (robotics, coding and game design), art, yoga, origami, journalism, and book clubs.

  • Parents participate in monthly parent network meetings to learn “insider tips” on how to better support their student(s).

  • Get on the path to success for middle school, high school, and beyond.

Eligibility

DreamCatchers is a free after school tutoring and mentoring program available to PAUSD middle school students. DreamCatchers will take place immediately after the end of the school day for 2.5 hours twice a week. Students/families must meet at least ONE of our eligibility criteria. 

Eligibility criteria:

Student's family is displaced
Student is an English Language Learner
Your family/student qualifies for free and/or reduced lunch program
Student identifies with a historically marginalized ethnicity
Student is a first generation immigrant
Or
Referred to by a counselor and/or SaFE Specialist 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is DreamCatchers?

DreamCatchers is a free, after-school tutoring and mentorship program open to all low-income middle school students in PAUSD.  Students receive support for homework and academics. They build a strong sense of self through community building activities, are motivated and inspired to develop a growth mindset, and take ownership of their education. We strive to match each middle school student with a one-on-one volunteer tutor from Paly, Gunn, Castilleja, or Stanford. These student-tutor pairs work together for the entire year to instill a passion for learning while increasing academic performance and building life skills. We work closely with PAUSD teachers and counselors so that, together with parents, we can collaborate as a team to provide customized support for each student.

DreamCatchers strives to have students become “High School Ready” by the end of eight grade This means being Academically Ready, Task Ready, and Life Ready.

2. How does the DreamCatchers program work?
(note: depends upon PAUSD guidelines)

Student-tutor pairs are grouped into classes of 15-20 pairs that are led by Classroom Directors. Each student attends a minimum of two sessions per week (Mon and Wed OR Tuesday and Thursday ).

Parents participate in monthly parent meetings in which they learn “insider tips” about how to better support their student(s).

The program meets at each middle school site.


3. Does DreamCatchers provide transportation?

No. We can help parents set up carpools to make transportation easier for families if requested.
 

4. How can I get more information?

Speak to your teacher, guidance counselor, Student and Family Engagement Specialist (SaFE), or email us at office@dreamcatchersyouth.org.