Last week, 91st Street's annual summer H.E.A.R.T. Program started its sixth year, adding an option for older students for the first time: H.E.A.R.T. Prep!
Run by 91st Street alumna, the regular H.E.A.R.T. (Health, Education, And Responsible Tools) Program helps children in grades 4 – 6 from under-resourced neighborhoods develop lifelong habits and routines to foster wellness, health, self-esteem and academic achievement. Students begin the day with physical activities at 406 and then attend classes such as computer programing, music and public speaking.
The H.E.A.R.T. Prep Program is designed for students who have aged out of the regular H.E.A.R.T. program and focuses on helping students prepare for high school entrance exams. The 12 students participating this year receive one-on-one tutoring in areas such as English and Math. Each week, they take tours of high schools all over New York City.
Last Friday, the H.E.A.R.T. Program took a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and completed a scavenger hunt while the H.E.A.R.T. Prep students took a tour of Cristo Rey High School.
This year, over 50 students are participating in the program, and there are 28 volunteers, 20 of whom are from Sacred Heart.