July 23, 2019 - Moving to a new country and learning a new language isn't easy. Just ask Anne-Victory Veillard, a Haitian immigrant who has only been in the United States since February.
"When I (came) to Florida, I was so scared," recalls the Englewood High School senior.
Despite her initial fears, Veillard quickly found support among her Team Duval teachers and peers. And thanks to the district's ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Summer Maintenance Program, she joins hundreds of students in a 6-week program designed to improve their speaking, reading, writing and listening skills ahead of the new school year.
By spending their days engaging in both classroom instruction and enriching activities, district leaders say students are growing quickly - not only in their understanding of the English language, but also in their confidence.
"It's helped me with my vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension," says Veillard. "They help me understand. They help me learn new words in English."
The ESOL Summer Maintenace Program consists of both an elementary and a secondary component, serving students grades K-12. To learn more about the district's ESOL department, visit dcps.duvalschools.org/esol
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