Kaethlyne was new to Whetstone Elementary and spoke no English when she joined Identity’s academic and social-emotional enrichment program. At first too shy to speak and socialize, her natural curiosity led the way, and soon Kaethlyne was boldly asking questions and making friends.
At the same time, she was quiet about her family, until one day she told her Identity facilitator that they were sleeping and eating on bare mattresses on the floor, in an unfurnished basement apartment shared with strangers. Identity staff moved quickly to get simple furniture, food, clothing and other essentials for her parents and 3 year old brother.
With her living conditions more stable, Kaethlyne really blossomed. The more she worked on understanding and reading English, the more confident she became – and the more she inspired and encouraged her friends to work on their own English. Kaethlyne was especially amazed by field trips designed to enrich their studies, like a play at the Kennedy Center and a visit to the Baltimore Aquarium. After every field trip, she thanked Identity staff for taking her to a place she never thought she would see. By the end of the program, she was advanced and assured enough to read out loud in English –a major accomplishment for Kaethlyne that inspired her friends to keep trying themselves.
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