District High Scores & SMART Goals: A December to Remember at Mark Twain
- Feb 11
- 2 min read
Month in Review: Wrapping Up with a Win
December at Mark Twain Jr. High was a balance of celebration and preparation. We took the time to kick back and enjoy the brotherhood we’ve built, but we also made sure we were academically and mentally prepared for the challenges of the new year.
End-of-Year Party: Superheroes & Cider
For our end-of-year celebration, we kicked back with board games and apple cider to toast a semester of hard work. The highlight? Kayden made sure we captured his "super cool superhero pose" in 4K—and he definitely delivered! It was a moment of pure joy and brotherhood.
Academic Achievement: District-Wide Excellence
We are thrilled to announce a major academic victory! Atreyu Mendiola earned Academic Achievement for having the highest 7th-grade math benchmark score in the district! He is super proud, and so is IYT. Atreyu’s long-term goal is to go on and play professional football. If he applies the same discipline to the field that he applies to his math work, we have no doubt he’ll make it. We are cheering him on every step of the way!
Life Skills: The "Goal Sprint" (SMART Goals)
Before winter break, we led a workshop called Goal Sprint to help Brothers set goals they can actually follow through on. We taught students how to create SMART goals—goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. Brothers wrote down one goal they wanted to work on during the break and talked through exactly what it would take to reach it. The best part was seeing Brothers take their future seriously. They were honest, locked in, and left with a clear plan, not just a goal in their head.
Brother of the Month
Brother Braian
7th Grade
Braian is always coming into the IYT space with high, positive energy. He is a natural recruiter, constantly bringing in new Brothers and actively participating in every session. Braian demonstrated one of IYT’s core values this month: Teamwork. He enjoys our outside activities and programming days, serving as a great example of IYT leadership—supportive, eager, and always ready to contribute.
Program Directory & Schedules
Program Manager: Sha'Lena Evans
Phone: 916-595-4381
Mark Twain Jr. High School
Programming & Study Hall: Mondays & Wednesdays