Onward 2 High School: Summer Institute Newsletter Week 2 Highlights

The premier middle school to high school bridge program

Summer Institute Week 2 Highlights

July 17, 2026

A Message from Nancy Portillo, Executive Director:

O2HS More than Rockets and Science

As we prepare for our final week of Summer Institute 2026, I am reminded that while our students are learning science, engineering, and financial literacy, something even more meaningful is taking place.

On the first day of Summer Institute, as parents dropped off their middle school students, many for the first time on a high school campus, I noticed a young man standing quietly by himself. He did not know anyone and admitted he was nervous. We spent a few minutes talking about soccer, school, and his summer plans.

Fast forward to this week's field trip.

I almost did not recognize him.

There he was laughing with a group of friends. He spotted me across the grass, waved enthusiastically, and flashed the biggest smile. Later, he told me how much fun he was having and how many new friends he had made.

That moment nearly brought tears to my eyes. Because that transformation is what Onward 2 High School is all about.

Summer Institute serves as a bridge between middle school and high school, helping students build confidence, form friendships, discover new interests, and see themselves as capable learners. Through hands-on challenges, field trips, and shared experiences, students learn to ask questions, take risks, learn from mistakes, and grow.

In many ways, our parents are experiencing a similar journey. During the first days of Summer Institute, many lingered at drop-off, asking questions and learning about the experience ahead. Over the past two weeks, I have watched those same parents confidently say goodbye each morning, knowing their children are in a place where they are supported, challenged, and encouraged.

Across our partner schools, I have had the privilege of meeting remarkable students and families. I have met homeschooled students discovering the joy of friendship and community, returning Summer Institute students reconnecting with friends from previous years, and families exploring what the next chapter of their educational journey might look like.

These moments remind us that education is about more than academics. It is about confidence, connection, and community. It is about helping young people discover possibilities for themselves that they may not have seen before.

🚀 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1: Blast Off!

Laughter, cheers, gasps, and plenty of "oohs" and "ahhs" echoed across our Onward 2 High School Summer Institute sites this week as students built, tested, failed, learned, improved, and tried again.

This week, students became aerospace engineers as they designed and launched bottle rockets while exploring the forces of lift, thrust, drag, and gravity. As young engineers, they asked important questions such as: What design will make our rocket travel farther? How will changes impact thrust and drag? Through our destination deep space activities, students also designed landing systems, tested prototypes, analyzed results, and refined their designs. Along the way, they learned that creativity, teamwork, and perseverance are essential to solving challenges and driving innovation.

Click to watch students' bottle rocket projects lift off! 🚀

🌊💰 Learning Beyond the Classroom

Learning also extended beyond the classroom. During our field trip to Harbor Breeze Cruises, students explored buoyancy, balance, and engineering in action while seeing real-world STEM concepts come to life. As they toured the Long Beach Harbor, they were able to observe marine wildlife while learning how science and technology shaped transportation!

Our students also learned about responsible artificial intelligence (AI) usage from Onward 2 High School Chief Operating Officer, Alexis Cons. Students learned how to use AI safely and effectively. They explored how AI can support their learning and future projects when practicing skills such as checking for accuracy, protecting privacy, and maintaining academic integrity.

Students also participated in a financial literacy workshop led by SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, where they engaged in activities focused on budgeting, income versus expenses, saving, and investing. These lessons supported the mission economics challenge, where students worked collaboratively to make financial decisions, manage resources, assess risk, and justify investments.

🎓 A Visit from Educational Leader: Dr. Carl Cohn

We were also honored to welcome Dr. Carl Cohn this week, an over 50-year educational leader, serving as Superintendent of Long Beach and San Diego Unified and Professor Emeritus and Senior Researcher at Claremont Graduate University.

As he visited classrooms and observed students building and launching rockets, he was energized by the curiosity, joy, and engagement he witnessed. Reflecting on his own journey, Dr. Cohn shared:"All I have accomplished in my career was because of my Catholic education."

His words serve as a powerful reminder of the lasting impact that educational opportunities can have on a young person's future.

⭐ A Community Effort

A special thank you to our parent volunteers, partner school chaperones, and O2HS Directors who helped make this week's field trips a success. These experiences would not be possible without the dedicated adults who invest their time and energy in supporting our students.

The field trip also created opportunities for families to connect with school leaders, O2HS staff, and the Onward Scholars Program team, sparking meaningful conversations about student growth, aspirations, and the high school journey ahead.

We also celebrate our Summer Institute students at St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy, who participated in an inaugural and exclusive extended-day leadership camp led by President De Larkin and Ms. Figueroa. Through interactive activities, discussions, and reflection, students explored their leadership strengths, strengthened their communication skills, and learned how they can make a positive impact in their communities. Great things are ahead for these future leaders!

🚢 Coming Next Week

Next week, students will:

Design and test boats
Explore how buoyancy affects floating and sinking
Learn about sea survival, including food preservation

We cannot wait to see what they discover next!

Onward Scholars Program (OSP): The High School Journey Ahead

The Onward Scholars team will offer presentations for both students and parents, providing information and guidance as families begin considering the exciting high school opportunities that lie ahead. OSP gives students the scholarship, mentorship, college access to dream big.

End of the Program Celebration and Capstone Day: July 24th

All families are invited to join us for End of the Program Celebration and Capstone Day on July 24 with details to come from site Directors. This special event will showcase the creativity, innovation, and hard work of our students as they present the projects, discoveries, and solutions they have developed throughout the Summer Institute.

Students will also receive their certificates and we look forward to celebrating their accomplishments together.

Thank you for being part of the Onward 2 High School community.

ONWARD! 🚀🌊✨

Partner Schools

Thank You to Our Partner Schools

Thank you to our incredible host partner schools for helping make Summer Institute possible:

Bishop Mora Salesian High School*

Cathedral High School

Sacred Heart High School*

St. Anthony High School

St. Pius X–St. Matthias Academy

St. Mary's Academy

*Summer Institute programs will launch at Bishop Mora Salesian High School and Sacred Heart High School in 2027 following exciting campus renovations.