“ I was in elementary school when my younger brother and I enrolled at School-Connection in Walnut back in 2002. School-Connection filled my days with fun and productive learning. I am now 26 years old in Physician Assistant Graduate Program across the country and could not have made it to where I am without the support SC provided me.
School-Connection is not only a place for learning. It is also a place for fun and laughter. School Connection is where I developed my closest friendships and I still keep in touch with them after 15+ years! My fondest childhood memories of spending time with the front desk ladies and bonding with my classmates during break were at School-Connection. I became close to the staff, teachers, and my peers. It never felt like an after-school of only homework, tests, and studying. School Connection planned out the daily, weekly, and monthly schedules so well for the kids so that we had a balance of work and fun!
School-Connection not only helped me to excel academically but also provided a fun learning environment. Looking back, I noticed that my learning experience at SC was different from that at school. At school, with so many other students, I was shy to engage in class. But, at SC I developed a closer relationship with my all SC teachers and was not afraid to ask questions because the SC teachers always encouraged me to ask questions. Even as I got into high school and when my homework was more advanced, School Connection never failed to find me a tutor when I was struggling with my Biology and Calculus. They put my studies first and always made sure I had what I needed to succeed. I developed strong study habits with the help of School-Connection's supplemental learning assignments on top of regular school homework. I learned to Juggle two sets of homework and followed a schedule to finish all on time. With the SC's scheduling of homework time and break times, it made me prioritize finishing homework before playing. SC's reward/discipline system instilled in me to not only work hard but also be kind to others. I would not be here today studying in the country's #1 PA program if it wasn't for SC's dedication to my learning experience and education as a child. Thank you School Connection!
I LOVE SCHOOL CONNECTION! "
“Hi, my name is Brittany and I spent my after-school time at School-Connection in elementary and middle school. I graduated from the Johns Hopkins University and am currently a medical student at their School of Medicine.
SC provided me an effective place to study and work, and its curriculum helped prepare me for my English and math classes at school. I appreciated the emphasis on learning and understanding math concepts that were important for building a solid foundation. I also learned new vocabulary each week that helped me advance my reading level. I have always loved reading, so it was fun to read and discuss classics including Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. My favorite discussion was of Lois Lowry’s Gathering Blue, and I remember it was timed perfectly after having just finished reading The Giver, the prequel which was a 6th grade requirement.
Ms. Denny and her staff very much cared about the students and their progress. My learning at SC enriched my studying at school so that I always felt prepared. The small classroom environment allowed for ample supervision, and the teachers were knowledgeable, attentive, and caring. I could always get the help I needed. And throughout my time, I made great friends with whom I am still in touch with today!”
“My name is Allison D., and I am currently 24 years old. I was at School-Connection from 2005-2010 as a student (3rd to 9th grade) and intermittently from 2014-2019 as an employee. I finished my undergraduate studies at USC in 2018, graduating with a BA in Theatre and a BS in Biological Sciences. I am currently pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from USC School of Pharmacy and am on the track to graduate in 2023. I also currently work at a hospital in the pharmacy department.
School-Connection has been a huge part of my life. As a student, School-Connection helped me learn discipline, encouraged me to be a driven and active learner, and taught me the importance of believing in myself and my capabilities. As an employee, School-Connection fueled my passion for education as well as taught me the importance of collaboration and good communication.
School-Connection has really trained me to be organized and disciplined. I really noticed this when I got to college and was juggling a heavy course load. With the tools I learned during my formative years at School-Connection, I found it really easy to manage my time, to study efficiently and effectively, and to handle all of my responsibilities with confidence. The academic transition from the K-12 system to my four year college was quite smooth, and I attribute a huge portion of this successful transition to the life skills I developed at School-Connection.
School-Connection has fostered a supportive and caring environment for me, as a student and as an employee. I consider the staff at School-Connection to be my second family, and they have, over the years, pushed me to grow and encouraged me to pursue my passions. They have given me opportunities to learn about different career paths and really helped me develop my individuality.
Perhaps when students are having a bad day, regardless of the student's age, employees can take the time to empathize with them and hear them out if that is what the student desires. Perhaps how to approach situations like these can be integrated into staff training days.
I know when I was a student and had bad days, employees pulled me aside to make sure I was okay and were eager to listen and help. I really, really felt heard and cared for during this time, and it encouraged me to put more effort into my responsibilities as a student.
As a student, I found building those bonds with teachers to be really valuable. I looked to the teachers as mentors. As an employee who taught students, I found the flipside to be true as well. It was really wonderful to bond with students and see them engage with what I was teaching them. Also, for the summer program, the field trips were always fun and provided wonderful balance for students and teachers alike."
“I attended School-Connection during the summers from 6th grade to 8th grade. I am currently 24 years old, and I graduated from UC Irvine in 2018 with a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Minor in Public Health Sciences. I am currently a Pharm.D. candidate at USC School of Pharmacy and working as a pharmacy intern at CVS Pharmacy!
I attended School-Connection during a very formative time as I was entering into my teenage years, and I remember how all the teachers and staff were very attentive to our needs, making sure that we were following along with the curriculum, and offering lots of help when we were struggling with a particular subject. Even though it has been over a decade since I attended School-Connection, I still remember the specific ways the teachers were extremely patient and adaptable to a classroom of middle schoolers of all different attention spans. I remember being a very rambunctious and easily distracted teenager while at School-Connection; however, my teacher always did a good job controlling the situation and tried their best to still ensure that I was learning the material in a way that is curated to my learning style. The teachers I had at School-Connection also did a wonderful job making it a FUN learning environment!
Back then, I never would have imagined that I would have made it this far academically, and I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for my teachers at School-Connection contributing to my growth as a student and cementing good study habits in me starting at an early age. I am by default a procrastinator and I, like many other students I know, occasionally have the urge to slack off, but my summers spent at School-Connection really instilled good study habits and time management in me because of all the different subjects and workbooks they offered. Their curriculum, while, not being too difficult or unrealistic to handle, was set in a way that really challenged me to stay on top of my studies and not slack off even if I wanted to. In addition, School Connection was a place where I interacted with many classmates and further developed social etiquette that later became very helpful in my ability to relate to people and build friendships!
My goal has always been to pursue a degree and career that allows me help people in a healthcare setting, and I think that School-Connection has done more than I could have ever asked for to help me achieve this goal. My summers at School-Connection were very productive, and while I was a difficult middle schooler that gave some of my teachers a hard time, they really tried their best to help me focus and make the class sessions more fun. As a result, my passion for learning began to grow starting from my time at School-Connection, and it continues even till this day while I am in graduate school!
The teachers I had at School-Connections also did a wonderful job making it a FUN learning environment! I remember one of my teachers, Mr. Kenny, always cracking jokes throughout class to keep us engaged and attentive. My classmates and I also did some very interesting things during our breaks, such as set up fake shops on our tables and pretend to sell our belongings (just your typical middle school shenanigans), and Mr. Kenny would play along and entertain us for a bit. Those times really elevated our learning experience and actually made class something that I looked forward to!"
“I went to School-Connection from 6th to 8th grade. I am currently 24 years old, and I am working while going to school. Since graduating with a biochemistry degree back in May, I've started working in a laboratory performing COVID testing and going to school at Cal State LA to receive a certificate in biotechnology.
School-Connection provided me with a perfect balance of work and school while I was there. At first, I was a little hesitant working there with such young students, but all my peers and coworkers were always available to help me out whenever a problem occurred. It has taught me how to work as a productive team member and to have patience with others. It also taught me to be detail-oriented and to think three steps ahead about what I may be asked. My communication skills have also broadened and improved professionally. Communicating with kindergarteners to teenagers to adults, I have learned how important one's choice of words can have an impact on others.
School-Connection helped me to manage my time more efficiently and to know when to ask for help, especially throughout college. I've built a habit of making sure to set a few hours aside to have work completed, whether it be homework or errands to be completed. By setting time aside, it also helps with time management and to gain a better understanding of how long tasks will take to meet deadlines for school and work. Since transitioning from a student to a teacher at School-Connection, I've also learned how important it is to ask questions as a student and to also check in with students as a teacher. As a student, I was often too shy to ask questions in class out of fear of seeming less intelligent. As a teacher, I've learned that often times, multiple students will have the same question and that it's important to speak up and to also check in with others individually to ensure everyone can continue to work cohesively.
School Connection has helped me get a foot into the workforce. When I started working for School-Connection, I didn't have much work experience, but they were willing to train me and eventually help give me a leadership position in the school. Working there has provided me with all the professional skills I needed to enter the workforce.
I think there should be a different reward system in place for the middle school students since I've noticed a majority of them don't have an interest in the prizes earned through the stamp system. I also think teachers should help teach the students together for about an hour on the practice state exams and have them do the rest on their own. When the students have to do the practice tests on their own from start to finish, they tend to not put in much effort because they know the teachers will go over the test questions with them. This often leads to me having to spend more time with each student individually and them not having time to finish the practice tests. This can also be beneficial for the students that have similar questions about a section as well as to use the time to teach the students how to structure their sentences and remind them to write in complete sentences.”
“I attended School-Connection from 3rd grade to 8th grade (2003-2008). I am currently 26 years old and in my last year of optometry school!
SC prepared me academically by providing lesson plans in a small classroom setting, private tutoring, and additional help on homework. Our homework was always double-checked by tutors to ensure that concepts were fully understood. Now that I have attended graduate school, I realized that a good amount of learning is made when we realize our mistakes.
Looking back, SC shaped a lot of my current study habits. Academically, it helped me manage my time better, prioritize what needed to be done, and helped me establish a routine.
On a social aspect, I met a few of my closest friends at SC. These girls continue to motivate me to do better to this day. It also made attending SC enjoyable since I was able to hang out with my friends after school.
SC provided relatable lesson plans and additional practice problems that were ahead of the school's curriculum. I was always one step ahead of my fellow classmates in school, which gave me the opportunity to be in the honors classes. The curriculum at SC was well-balanced.
I remember attending a few other after school programs before my mom enrolled me in SC. SC stood out among the rest because it offered an environment where I was able to learn while enjoying it at the same time. The tutors and teachers were all really friendly and supportive. A big reason why I found SC enjoyable was also because of the group of friends that I made there. We still keep in touch to this day, and it's exciting to hear what everyone has been up to, whether it be about careers or personal life. I remember "graduating" from SC to be very bittersweet. SC played a huge part in my childhood, and it still impacts me to this day.”
“I attended School-Connection from the summer before 1st grade (2008) to 8th grade (2016). I just graduated from Walnut High School and will be attending UCR this fall.
They provided amazing teachers and staff to make sure that the students were doing well.
School-Connection helped me a lot with my time management skills and also provided ways for me to study. I wasn't really too interested in studying, but they gave me the tools (such as TAs or weekly quizzes) to make sure that I was understanding the material that I was learning. After attending School-Connection, I was able to carry these skills on to my high school days. School-Connection also helped me socially as I was extremely shy, and they helped me become more social, especially during the summer program because of the activities that they had in the afternoon. Most of those activities made the students interact with one another and work together to do something fun, and it helped me meet people who I don't think I would have talked to without School-Connection.
While going to School-Connection, I didn’t realize it at the time, but I honestly think that they helped keep my grades high. I feel like a lot of students, especially when they get to middle school, feel really down when they still have to go to School-Connection. Some students just end up not wanting to be there, and although I think I was an odd one out who loved SC, I think maybe providing more lively activities instead of daily packets at 5pm would be more beneficial. Nowadays, anyone can look up a grammar lesson online and just do packets on them, but if teachers made it more engaging, like teaching it through a game or giving rewards for those who did well, then I think it would make it more enjoyable for the kids, and they would want to be there. I think a lot of the teachers really only do that when the students are younger, but I remember some of the teachers I had were really creative and did a great job at keeping the class fun.
I met my best friend here, and we've been friends for more than 10 years now. We honestly reminisce about School-Connection a lot since we spent most of our childhood there. Personally, I remember really influential teachers that I had that unfortunately no longer teach at School-Connection, but I remember my experiences with them and the life lessons that they taught me. There was one teacher in particular that still motivates me to help others in life and do the best I can, and even though I have no contact with her now, I still keep her message close to my heart. Some other events that I remember were when we had to act out a play and Tanaka Farm field trips.”
“During my seven years in School-Connection, the staff there has helped me improve in many ways. Due to my procrastination, I've always had trouble staying on task, completing my school work, and studying for my tests. However, while in School-Connection, the teachers and staff made sure that this wouldn't happen, and overtime taught me to work hard and to manage my time better. Learning these skills has helped me so much, especially being an AP student at Walnut High, where it is crucial to have them.
Since coming to School-Connection, I've grown into a hard-working student driven to do my best in my studies. Not only have my grades improved, but also my behavior in school. Instead of talking in class and distracting my peers, School-Connection taught me to listen and learn the concepts given to me. I've also been able to make life-long friendships through a friendly and welcoming environment created by the staff at School-Connection.
Being a high school student, many of the goals I've set for myself haven't been accomplished yet as they are too far into the future. However, many of the skills I've learned in School-Connection, such as being hard-working, has helped me get closer to completing them. Through my gained motivation and determination that has helped me through many obstacles in life, I've been able to work towards my goals.
One thing I feel that could be improved is the packets the students do after homework. Although they are helpful with learning concepts needed in school, many students don't do them or wing it because of the lack of interest they have in it. By making them more fun or adding things to the packets, like projects they have in school, the students would be able to learn the concepts while also having fun doing it. At least in my experience with school projects, it always made it more fun by building something or drawing a model.”
“Hi, my name is Summer A., and I went to School-Connection in 2009, and I was heading into 3rd grade. I graduated from Walnut High School in 2019 and was on their dance team. I am currently 19 years old and in my sophomore year of college. My major is Communications, and I'm very excited to see where life takes me! 🙂
While I was at SC, they helped me a lot with my academics and homework skills, social skills, and discipline.
Since being a student at SC, my academics and social skills have improved and helped me all throughout elementary, middle, and high school. I learned that asking for help on homework or anything else is never a bad thing and that someone is always there to guide you. When I first got to SC, I had just switched schools, and they introduced me to many kids there that I would be attending school with. As of now, I still have quite a few friends from SC and have gained even more friends from them.
SC helped achieve my goals through their teachers and tutors. Everyone there wants to see their students succeed and are always patient with each person. I was never afraid to ask for assistance because I knew that they would lend a helping hand.
It has been a long time since I left School-Connection, so I do not know what has changed, but an improvement I would suggest is making homework time longer. Since I struggled a lot with math growing up, it took me longer to finish math work before we had to switch to SC work that the teachers would teach. I was always behind on SC work and felt that I wouldn't be able to catch up with the class. Though communicating with my teachers, all of them were understanding and let me finish whatever work I needed to get done. It's different for every student and teacher, but that is something I remembered that I struggled with.
My personal story in regards to School-Connection is that this place gave me a fun, caring, and loving environment. I made so many friends and connections with teachers that I could never forget. For as long as I was there, my fondest memories were in the classrooms and at the front desk. Even after leaving, I still tried to visit as much as possible. I know as a kid after-school programs can be annoying, but School Connection gave me the best after-school experience that I never dreaded going to.”
“I attended SC from 2007-2015, so kinder- 8th grade. I am currently 19 years old and a sophomore at Cal Poly Pomona. I am majoring in Philosophy, minoring in Criminology. I have had a job at Home Depot since November 7th, 2019.
School-Connection did many things to help me during my time there. The staff has definitely pushed me close to my full potential academically. I felt comfortable in subjects at school because I have already mastered many skills at School-Connection. This made school much more stress-free because the material they gave me was not foreign. Another thing School-Connection helped me during my time there was staying on top of my homework assignments (because I often forgot what I had to do).
Academically, I found learning new material more understandable because of the extra help I was getting from the staff. I have definitely gotten better at time management and setting my priorities/ responsibilities. School-Connection helped me improve socially because I found a community of friends within the other School-Connection students that I wouldn't have found without School-Connection, and also friendships with School-Connection staff. Even if I had a bad day at school, coming to School-Connection afterward boosted my mood because I had such great memories/ energies there.
School-Connection has helped me achieve my goals by having such amazing staff that believed and supported me in whatever I wanted to do. They also helped me gain a polished set of skills that I use to this day, whether it be academic or not.
The Walnut School-Connection facility has held many memories, may they be lessons I've learned or fun/ funny moments I've had with my friends and staff. I'm really thankful to the staff for always being a friend at the end of the day. The summer camp program was really fun and was a great creative outlet with its activities. It's interesting to see all the different paths my School-Connection classmates took and to see everyone grow differently.”
“SC gave me a choice to make my own decisions on what I needed for me; they catered to a 12-year-old boy who needed to learn from his mistakes. What they catered to, though, was that I needed space from other children. I was too social, I didn't know when to stop, and my academia suffered for it (which was fine by me because my satisfaction now is pretty high).
I was also a swimmer at BREA, a club swimming team in the Walnut area. I would start going to practice at 4:00 PM, and then end up back by 6:00, giving me almost 30 min. of actual learning time to catch up. Staff had ended up staying longer than they needed to, basically for one child.
For academics, SC actually helped me advance quicker than others. For someone like me who really hates homework (Like most students do), they engaged me in learning. However unsuccessful they were on that day, they would try the next day and the next. At some point during high school, having been gone from SC, I engaged in learning myself.
For behavior, I was punished.. A LOT. I actually have a debt of sentences racked up to about 500+, which doesn't seem a lot to many people till they figure out these sentences are actually paragraphs. But truly, it just made me realize that I can't get away with everything I ever wanted to.
• It must be said that at this point, this is where I had to distance myself from other children because I couldn’t control myself.
Socially, I had never been really bad at talking to others, and SC didn’t really help much besides putting me on the sidelines for my own sake.
I didn't have many goals; not a lot of children will have foresight about what they want in their life. SC does teach practical skills that may carry forward into long term goals that children might think about when getting older.
You might want to distance more kids off like me; I became super unnaturally productive during that time. Maybe kids need more alone time; some need more social time. Hands-on learning instead of lectures, maybe have kids try to teach others.
As a person now, I can see that SC was trying to help. Hopefully, as a future parent, I'd send my child to SC as well. As a child, though, it may seem like parents just want to jail us in, to keep us away from all the fun. That's why I still visit SC today, and if I know I'm going to visit, I’ll bring food. Most staff have known me for at least 2+ years, and I know that looking back now that it was all good for me. I’m still not good at academics, I’m also incredibly lazy, but they try their hardest to mold kids to be better than me.”
“Hi! My name is Terrence. I attended School-Connection from first grade until eighth grade. I graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and am currently a medical student at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
SC helped me strengthen and build an academic foundation that allowed me to succeed. The English packets taught me vocabulary beyond what I was learning in school, and I got extra practice with reading comprehension. The math packets often not only reinforced material that I learned in school but also taught me concepts in advance. I felt prepared when I went to my day school and comfortable with the homework assigned to me. In addition, doing standardized testing on Fridays helped me familiarize myself with test-taking skills and built my confidence. Furthermore, having dedicated homework time after school prevented me from procrastinating, for the SC teachers always tracked what homework assignments I had and my progress. They encouraged me to focus and get my work done early. Going to SC helped me feel ahead of my class.
SC also enabled me to meet classmates at my day school that I would not have otherwise met. Being with my peers made SC more fun, and spending time doing homework and learning together in a small classroom setting helped us become friends. I still keep in touch with these friends today and remember making many memories here.
I'm grateful for the time I spent in SC. While at the time, going to after-school may not have been my first choice as an elementary or middle schooler, the knowledge base SC prepared me in advance for the rigorous high school program and helped me transition to the college curriculum successfully. The results are well worth the journey.”
