BUENA PARK, CA – Buena Park School District’s partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park is providing socio-economically disadvantaged students with a safe place to participate in remote learning, allowing them to learn and grow in a fun environment.

Director of Child Welfare and Attendance Dr. Elsie Briseno Simonovski said the partnership was created to provide students who live in motels, shelters, camp sites, cars or share residences with other families, with a daily space to work during distance-learning lessons. Students involved with the free program can use the Boys & Girls Club facilities, its high-speed internet and its staff for homework help.

Simonovski said there are nearly 40 families in the program and the District is in the process of identifying more students for the partnership.

“The Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park provides a nurturing, safe and comfortable place to learn for our students,” Simonovski said. “This partnership was created to give our socio-economically disadvantaged students a positive environment to spread out, play games, learn and excel in their academics and thrive.”

Alma Ramirez, mother of four Buena Park School District students, said the program provides her children with a stable internet connection to do school work, English language assistance and help with their homework.

“My kids are in a safe place at the Boys & Girls Club and they have a lot of supervision,” Ramirez said. “They participate in productive activities with the other children and the staff serve as role models for my children.”

Luz Trout, program director at the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park, said she is in awe of how much students enjoy the program and how excited they are to safely mingle with other children after months of self-isolation due to the stay-at-home order.

“We want every student at Buena Park School District to succeed academically and grow emotionally. This partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park provides some of our most disadvantaged families with that help,” Superintendent Dr. Ramon Miramontes said. “This pandemic has caused many disruptions, but partnerships like this are providing help to students and their families so that they have stability in their lives.”

PHOTO CAPTION:

BUENAPARK_PARTNERSHIP1: Four Buena Park School District students take a break from distance learning lessons to enjoy the facilities at the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park. The District recently formed a partnership with the local Boys & Girls Club to provide socio-economically disadvantaged students with a safe place to participate in remote learning, allowing them to learn and grow in a fun environment.