Saturday Session Recaps - Breakthrough Twin Cities

Breakthrough Saturday Recap – April 2025 Recap

May 30, 2025

Hello, Breakthrough!

We had a busy April Saturday Session last month, including the pilot of our new guest speaker series. Students at Chaska High School heard from speaker Pete Wong about redefining failure or pain as steps toward self-mastery including positive habits, authentic relationships, and empathy for others. Pete’s speech drew on in his background in boxing, mixed martial arts, yoga, and meditation, as well as acting and filmmaking. The Mounds Park Academy site hosted multiple speakers from the nonprofit BestPrep who spoke on themes of leadership, goal-setting, and overcoming adversity.

High school students applying for the summer Program Intern position went through a formal interview, followed by a task scenario in which they were asked to build a daily schedule of work to maximize productivity and efficiency.

Juniors previewed supplemental essays and summer sessions, and also wrote thank you notes to essay coaches.

Seniors looked at financial aid packages and prepared for their upcoming Senior Celebration graduation ceremony.

Parents and guardians can plug into Saturday session by:

– asking 7th -10th grade students what messages or ideas they took away from the guest speaker

– asking 11th graders about the progress of their college essay drafts

– asking 12th graders what to look for when comparing financial aid packages

Breakthrough Saturday Recap – March 2025 Recap

Apr 24, 2025

Happy spring, Breakthrough!

Last month’s March Saturday Sessions included presentations by the group Street Law, part of the Minnesota Justice Foundation. Lawyers and law students spoke to BTC students about legal rights and interactions with law enforcement and immigration enforcement officers.

High school students applying for the summer Program Intern position received an orientation from Breakthrough staff on the upcoming interview process. 11th graders attended a college essay workshop where they spoke with coaches about their personal story and the messages they want to convey in their applications to college.

BTC parents and guardians can plug into Saturday session by:

– asking your 7th – 10th graders some ways to safely and positively interact with law enforcement
– asking 11th graders what they want their college essay to convey about themsleves
– asking 12th graders if they have RSVPd for senior celebration in May with their advisor.

The next Saturday session is April 26th.

Contact Simon Lee at slee@breakthroughtwincities.org with questions. Thanks!

Breakthrough Saturday Recap – February 2025 Recap

Mar 17, 2025

February 2025 Saturday Recap

Hello Breakthrough Community!

At our February Saturday session, students in 7th-10th grades chose a bill up for debate in the Minnesota legislature this session, learned about the structure of a persuasive letter, and wrote their congressperson in support or opposition to the bill. This type of communication and advocacy can be applied directly to emailing teachers with concerns or requests as well!

Meanwhile, 11th graders took a practice ACT exam in order to familiarize themselves with both the structure of this common college admissions test, as well as strategies to boost their score.

12th graders looked at college financial aid summaries and how to evaluate them, and also heard a presentation about Page Scholarship opportunities.

BTC parents and guardians can plug into Saturday session by:

asking your 7th – 10th grader which bill proposal they chose to write about, and whether they support or oppose the bill.
asking 11th graders if they have accessed the free online ACT prep courses provided by Breakthrough
asking 12th graders how to determine the overall amount being offered in a financial aid summary.

The next Saturday session is March 22nd.

Contact Simon Lee at slee@breakthroughtwincities.org with questions. Thanks!

Breakthrough Saturday Recap – December/January Recap

Feb 21, 2025

Dec 2024/Jan 2025 Saturday Recap

Hello Breakthrough Community!

Thank you to all the students and families who attended December’s Saturday session! We ended the year with holiday crafts and treats, and a presentation to parents/guardians about college credit courses in high school.

This past January, students got the chance to interact with career representatives from a variety of fields at our Saturday Career Fair. The representatives this year included BTC alumni, donors, and family members, representing careers in finance, medicine, robotics, music, technology, law, politics, and more.

BTC parents and guardians can plug into Saturday session by:

asking their students about something specific they learned about any of the careers
asking their students if they crossed any careers off their list of possible future jobs after learning more about it, and why

The next Saturday session is February 22nd.

Contact Simon Lee at slee@breakthroughtwincities.org with questions. Thanks!

Breakthrough Saturday Recap – November 2024

Nov 15, 2024

November Saturday Recap

Happy fall!

We learned more about the path to college this month! Students in 7th – 10th grades played a college role-playing game – they created their own college avatar character and researched universities and scholarships. Students needed to consider several factors as they made decisions about college, including university admissions rates, scholarship requirements, financial aid packages, and how their grades in high school affect admissions and scholarships.

Meanwhile, 11th and 12th graders were invited by Augsburg University in Minneapolis to tour the campus, visit with the admissions department, and have lunch in the dining hall.

BTC parents and guardians can plug into Saturday session by:

7th-10th grade – asking which colleges the student applied to in their Path to College game, and why
11-12th – asking for their favorite and least favorite thing about the visit to Augsburg University

The next Saturday session is December 7th, and families are invited to attend along with their students. Contact Simon Lee at slee@breakthroughtwincities.org with questions. Thanks!

Breakthrough Saturday Recap – October 2024

Oct 14, 2024

October Saturday Recap

We practiced our professional communication skills this month! Students in grades 7-10 learned tips on writing an effective email, analyzed examples of good and bad emails, and then drafted their own. Students could choose to write about an example situation or, if they had a real-life example, they wrote an email to address a concern or make a request to a teacher or school staff (or Breakthrough staff – we also received some constructive feedback!). Students in 11th and 12th grade learned more about financial aid and the college search process in preparation for a trip to Augsburg University next month. After lunch, students had time to socialize in their chosen Yo-Time activity.

BTC parents and guardians can plug into Saturday session by:

7th-10th grade – asking your student to whom they wrote their draft email
10th-12th grade – asking your student if they’re interested in the court shadowing opportunity with the Ramsey County District Attorney’s office this spring
11-12th grade asking your student what they hope to learn about the college process during their trip to Augsburg University November 2nd.

Stay tuned for an upcoming invite to a virtual family night session in November. Have a great week!