Five year old Angel tells us that the best thing about his ACE school is “learning art and music and playing basketball with my friends during P.E. We even went to a Nuggets game a long time ago.” (That’s Kindergarten-speak for early last season.)
“I used to have a dog named Chulo,” he continues, “but he died and I was very sad.” It seems this five-year-old has endured more than his share of sadness. “He had an older brother who died and there’s never been any mention of his dad,” explains his teacher. Angel’s way of expressing how he copes is that, “My mom puts band-aids on me.”
“Angel had problems with social skills and fear when he arrived” says his principal, “but he has responded very well to the counseling that our staff provides.” It must be helping, because today he lights up as he says, “I like my school ‘cause I have lots of friends here.”
It seems that Angel’s mom has also struggled – with the ACE requirement to match her half of his tuition. But that has only motivated her to, “check with his teachers nearly every day to be sure Angel is doing his work,” says the principal. “And actually, I think it may be that mom feels safe here too.”
We ask Angel what he wants to be when he grows up, to which he confidently replies, “President!” Well, a quality education might prove useful.