Jadon is enrolled in academic summer camp

Five-year old Jadon is one of the youngest Achievers at Friends of the Children NY.  He was assessed this past year in his kindergarten classroom at one of our five partnership schools in Harlem.  Like all of the children invited to enroll, he was at the bottom of his class according to a number of indicators: he had low academic performance, poor socialization skills, and no positive male role models.

As a new addition to our program, Jadon has been paired with a full-time paid Youth Advocate (or “Friend”).  The role of the Friend is to provide Jadon with stability in addition to modeling positive socialization skills. The Friend will see Jadon one to two times every week both in and out of the classroom.  He will have this support system for the next 12 years, until he graduates high school.

Friends of the Children NY will also be enrolling Jadon in a number of afterschool and summer programs. He is currently enrolled in our own academic summer camp with the objective of progressing his basic literacy and math skills.  (Studies indicate that children who are not reading at grade level by the time they reach the third grade will be perpetually behind during the middle and high school years.)  In addition to the emotional and social support that the Friend offers, it is essential that Jason maintain a grade-appropriate reading level.

Thank you for your generosity!  Because of your support, Jadon will spend six-weeks of the summer focusing on reading, writing, and math skills. We are excited to have Jadon enrolled in our program and can’t wait to watch him grow and graduate from high school with a plan for the future.