Letters to Dominican young women from two Boston students

Two of my Harbor Middle School students, Ylondah and Milan, were very excited to see the Mariposa Project blog. They asked to write something for this blog, and I suggested that they write letters to the Dominican students. I plan to translate these for and share them with our Dominican students. Thank you, Milan and Ylondah, for all the kind words!

Mrs. Dines loves her great students: Milan and Ylondah!

Dear Dominican Students:
Hi! This is one of Mrs. Dines’s 6th grade students. My name is Milan. I want to tell you how great Mrs. Dines is for the DR students. She is a really cool teacher. She loves to speak Spanish.
I think it’s important that all people should know Spanish at all times because it helps other people who don't know how to speak the language. For example, people who do know how to speak Spanish can teach people who don’t. In our school, there are several Spanish-speaking students that like to talk in Spanish. Some of them teach other kids how to say Spanish words to help them learn. I wish I could be Spanish because I like the way Spanish people talk.
I’m so glad that she is working for all of you. I hope you all have fun with her being there with you. I will miss her so much.
Sincerely,
Milan



Dear Dominican Students:
Hello! My name is Ylondah. I have been a student with Mrs Dines this year. Mrs. Dines is a great friend, but, to us, she is also a teacher, and we will miss her so much as she continues her teaching skills in a different country. Mrs. Dines will make the young women in Cabarete, D.R.’s hearts smile because she has the happiness, potential, and courage inside of her body. D.R. young women will be extremely excited to see her, and she will love to teach these nice young women.
Here at the Harbor Middle School in Boston, in my class, there are about 5 or 6 kids that are from a Spanish country, and the rest are either African-American or from a different country. It’s important for Boston Public Schools teachers to know Spanish because as you can see some kids in Boston were born in the Spanish countries and came to America to learn fluent English. So as the kids go to school to learn English from a bilingual teacher, they won't feel like they have no confidence. Mrs. Dines’s ability to speak Spanish is very good because other kids would probably love to learn Spanish, too.
To close out this letter, I want to say that we will miss Mrs. Dines, but we want her to have a great time with you all!
Best wishes and Happy Summer,
Ylondah

8th Grade Volunteers Assemble Leveled Reading Library

A group of 8th grade students from the Harbor School generously volunteered their time to assemble a collection of 120 printable books. These books, printed from readinga-z.com, will allow for leveled reading instruction during our literacy classes in the Mariposa Young Women's Summer Leadership Program. Special thanks to this dedicated group of international volunteers: Tai-najah Lundy, Antonio Banrey, Kassandra Ramirez, Caroline Depina, Patrick S. Lilley, Danielson Correia, Yarielis Ortiz, and Josh Owens. Also, thank you to their wonderful teachers Ms. Marina Mutz and Ms. Kelly Donoghue for allowing their classroom to serve as a book assembly center!

Below: Mariposa Foundation Academic Director and Harbor School 6th Grade Teacher Jennifer Dines is all smiles when she sees this dedicated group of volunteers!