Sam Niu ’15, Thomas Woodville ’17: Episcopal has added ACLAMO, “an organization in Norristown that helps [members of the] the surrounding Latino community integrate themselves into the [American] system,” to its Wellness service partners, said Andrew Shimrock, member of the Upper School World Language Department.
Shimrock said that ACLAMO runs “adult literacy classes and help the kids with their homework after school. They also have programs for moms who want to support each other living in the US. It’s run by a few women that are from Mexico and there are a few who are from the US that are in it as well.” Episcopal students, however, primarily help the elementary and middle school students with their homework, read with them, and play with them.
The Wellness option in fitness sends students to ACLAMO, as well as to the Cook-Wissahickon elementary school. However, “[our volunteers] essentially do the same things [at both], which is help the kids with their homework, then…play with them. One difference is that at ACLAMO, the kids struggle a bit more with their homework, and they’re also very big into reading with the kids. I would say the kids are struggling because of the language barrier, but at least they’re enthusiastic to learn,” noted Shimrock.
Photo Courtesy of Jenna Cooley ’16
At ACLAMO, the younger kids generally are bilingual, speaking Spanish as well as English, while the older kids, namely the middle school students, might only speak Spanish. Despite the potential language barrier, Shimrock says, “You don’t have to be [a Spanish student], but if you took Spanish and had some knowledge of Spanish, you would be able to help a wider range of kids.” Nevertheless, our students who do not take Spanish are still able to make connections with the kids. Stephana Lim ’17, a volunteer, said, “I really like children and I want to do something in the future where I can work with kids, so I really enjoy going to ACLAMO.”
Students who are in the Wellness program go in groups to ACLAMO on Mondays and Wednesdays during sports block. Shimrock described how EA found this program, recalling that “Someone was at an event last year and [he or she] met the guy who runs [ACLAMO], and it became something of interest. I wouldn’t say there was a reason we chose it, but I’m a Spanish teacher and I do community service so I was all for it. I don’t know if there was such a big reason for it other than our enthusiasm to help.”
This program has so far been well received by the faculty and students who volunteer there. Phillip Humann ’16, another Wellness volunteer, told Scholium, “It’s a really rewarding experience to go help the kids and play with them.” Despite not speaking Spanish, he indicated that he has been able to have great relationships with the kids, adding “One of the kids said he didn’t have a dad, so he wanted me to become his dad and one of them said he loved me and wanted me to come back next year. All the kids are really cute, and they all give me hugs when I come in.”