FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6th, 2012CONTACT:
Christina Coles, Marketing Manager christina@smbgc.org 310.361.8500BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SANTA MONICA TO HOLD GRAND-OPENING & RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY FOR NEW CLUB BRANCH AT OLYMPIC HIGH SCHOOL
New Club Site Will Give Olympic High School Students the Boost They Need to BE GREAT
SANTA MONICA, Calif., August 24, 2012 – On Thursday, August 30th at 3:00pm, the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica will hold a grand-opening & ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Club’s new branch at Olympic High School. The new site will be situated in classroom 17 within the school’s campus, which is located at 721 Ocean Park Blvd in Santa Monica. As the only continuation high school within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, Olympic High School has been providing effective, alternative education to students for more than 40 years. With nearly 140 students enrolled, the school offers individualized educational programs with a strong emphasis on project-based learning. These programs are combined with intensive guidance & individual counseling for students who are behind on academic credits and thrive in a smaller learning environment.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica will enthuse Olympic High School students about learning by bringing in the tools & resources needed to enhance their interest & involvement in their hands-on learning environment. The Club will also offer extra-curricular activities such as community service and leadership-focused clubs and programs. “We are very excited to be serving this population, helping students to make-up credits while providing them with skills to use in their post-high school educations and future employment. We are eager to introduce College Bound, a Club program which helps students to achieve their academic and life goals,” says Aaron Young, President and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Monica. Every aspect, from the colors of the walls to the computer applications available to them, was personalized to fit the needs & wishes of this specific group of students.
All students enrolled in Olympic High School will also be members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica and will have access to all the educational resources and programs it offers, free of charge. Focus groups were held by the Club prior to the opening of this branch in order to determine exactly what the students feel would help them to learn efficiently and productively. The programs offered at this site will be continually tailored to fit the student’s needs and interests and keep them enthusiastic about their education. Music composition, graphic design, web design, service learning projects and more will be accessible to students, while all programs will remain loyal to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica’s core focus on character & leadership, education & career, health & life skills, sports & fitness and the arts. Unlike the other branches, this site will be open during lunch hours to provide a fun and safe outdoor area to socialize within a supervised setting, and will then re-open for normal after-school hours.
About The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica
Founded in 1944, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica currently serves approximately 7,000 youth through memberships and community outreach. They come from all over Los Angeles County, largely from Santa Monica, Venice, Culver City, West Los Angeles and Inglewood. Members pay a $20 annual fee for access to all Club amenities and programs that span across education, leadership, recreation and more. The Club operates with the objective of serving young people from all backgrounds, regardless of economic circumstances – ensuring that youth ages 6 to 18 have a safe and nurturing environment to develop socially, succeed in school, stay physically active and prepare for positive futures. To learn more, support or get involved, visit us at www.begreatsantamonica.org, or follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/smbgcfan) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/SMBGC).