Inspiration

the tenth sister

a new PEAK rises in San Luis Obispo

BY DEMITRIA CASTANON

There are nine major peaks in San Luis Obispo County, hence the name “The Nine Sisters.” However, there is one peak that may one day stand taller than all of them put together: Pacheco Elementary School’s PEAK program, which is an acronym that stands for “Promoting Extracurricular Activities for Kids.” The program is designed to allow children to participate in activities outside of school by assisting with costs, transportation and equipment. Louise Kraemer, a bilingual Kindergarten Aide at Pacheco Elementary School had an “aha moment” last year while watching students play soccer at lunch time. She observed some phenomenal players on the school field, but realized she had never seen some of them play in an AYSO game. One sixth grade girl in particular displayed an amazing talent and really stood out from the crowd. In a moment of clarity, Kraemer had a defining idea that may have changed the six grader’s life forever. She offered transportation for the young girl and her family to attend AYSO soccer sign-ups and also paid the fees for her to join the league. When the season ended, the young standout could be found proudly wearing her well-deserved AYSO All-Stars jacket to school nearly every day of the week.

Kraemer then met with two of her good friends, Melanie Mills and Susan Westwood, who are parents of students at Pacheco and active community volunteers, to share this rewarding experience. Inspired, by Kraemer’s success, the trio conceived of the PEAK program, where today thirty-one students are actively enrolled. PEAK’s mission is to enable all Pacheco Elementary students to participate in extracurricular activities. It is a volunteer organization, and all of its proceeds are used to pay tuition and operating expenses. Currently, it operates under the auspices of the Pacheco Elementary PTA, so all donations are tax deductible.

THE FOuNDERS OF PEAK (left to right) Susan Westwood, Louise Kraemer, and Melanie Mills

Westwood explains, “It’s amazing how so little can give a child so much.” For example, forty dollars can carry a child through one year of soccer, and fifteen dollars can offer one child a year of Cub Scouts. The thinking behind PEAK is that it’s rewarding for a child to excel in a non-academic arena and exciting to see how that success can improve self-esteem, andteach valuable skills, which may lead to lifetime interests or possibly eventual careers.

Recently, the trio was invited to a San Luis Coastal School District Board Meeting to discuss the success of the PEAK program. As a result of the meeting, the program will also be offered at C.L. Smith Elementary School starting next year. “Our goal is to transfer the program to every school in the San Luis Coastal School District,” states Mills. “As long as there is the community aspect behind you, any school can do this,” Westwood adds. PEAK scholarships are awarded twice per year to students attending Pacheco Elementary School who are earning satisfactory grades in all core classes. And the students know that if they want to keep their scholarship in PEAK, they have to maintain their academics at the standards that have been set by the program. Kraemer, Mills, and Westwood also maintain regular communication with all of the coaches and teachers to help ensure success of the scholarship recipients.

Connie Reynoso, a second grade teacher at Pacheco, who has recommended students to PEAK said, “The program is like a doorway for them to succeed in life, and I am so thankful that it’s open for them.” And, Pacheco Elementary School principal, Rick Mayfield, eagerly concurs, “It helps them believe in themselves and believe that they can do whatever they set their minds to. When kids feel successful, like they belong, and like they can do it, then that translates directly to success at school.”