Big Brother-Big Sister program at Bright Star Schools helps students stay engaged

Three years ago, the Valor Academy Elementary School and the Valor Academy High School in Arleta matched grade school students with high school students, in hope that the younger students and older students would support one another following the COVID pandemic.

Counselors at the two schools — part of the nine charter public schools overseen by Bright Star Schools — saw the effects of the pandemic on students. Their families already had challenges including food and housing insecurity and fear of immigration officials.

So the Big Brother-Big Sister program was created to teach “students how to be respectful, regulate themselves, and persevere, even when things get hard,” said Talar Samuelian, assistant principal of culture at Valor Academy Elementary School, in a prepared statement.

High school and elementary school students facing challenges play kick ball at Bright Star Schools in Arleta. Students have discovered a new reason to stay engaged in school through the unique Big Brother-Big Sister program. Thursday, Arleta CA. April 3, 2025. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer}

The big brothers and big sisters met their 4th grade mentees in February, and they met again on Thursday, April 3 at Valor Academy Elementary School.

Destiney Barrero, a 10th grader at Valor Academy High School, is big sister to Bella Pacheco, a 4th grader at Valor Academy Elementary School. Destiney said, “I love spending time with (Bella) because she’s one of the sweetest girls ever. We bonded really quick. It’s an amazing opportunity to be with her.”

And Bella says she likes the Big Brother-Big Sister program “because I get to spend time with my big sister and she’s very nice.”

Asked if the Big Brother-Big Sister program had changed her life, Destiney said, “It gets me very excited to know that I’m going to see (Bella) once a month. It’s a great opportunity that I wish many people can have.” And Bella said she had “always wanted a big sister in my life.”

Pablo Morales, a 4th grader at Valor Academy Elementary School, said it’s fun to spend time with his big brother in the program. He has an older brother but he lives in El Salvador and they have never met and they connect only via phone.

Pablo said, “I get to know what it feels like to have a big brother, which I’ve never had.”

Pablo says his big brother in the program gives him advice and helps Pable understand that “while life may be challenging, I must never stop doing what I love. My passion is … I want to be an engineer.”