The path to education in Abaco has been anything but easy in recent years. Many families and students endured a “one-two punch” of challenges, first from Hurricane Dorian and then from the COVID-19 pandemic. These events forced students out of school and into hybrid learning with a majority of that time being virtual work, leading many to fall two or more grade levels behind their peers. In this landscape, the Academic Recovery for Kids (ARK) program emerged as a vital beacon of hope.

Our mission is to meet students where they are and provide the focused, research-based instruction they need to succeed. Located at Central Abaco Primary School (CAPS), the ARK program specifically targets students who are testing 2–3 years below grade level. Our ARK teacher, Ms. Celekah Mills (who is also the CAPS school librarian), and Many Hands staff member Carrie Veenstra, who assists with individual sessions and in the library, provide a nurturing environment that addresses these critical learning gaps. They use engaging methods like manipulatives to make learning tangible and fun, transforming abstract concepts into hands-on discoveries.

This program changes lives, one student at a time. Take Deangelo, for instance, a bright elementary-aged student who had fallen behind. On his first math pretest for the “Comparing and Ordering Numbers” unit, he scored 41%. It was a clear indicator of the challenges he faced. But with focused instruction from Ms. Celekah and Carrie, a new chapter began for Deangelo. When he took the retest for the same unit, his score soared to 94%.

Deangelo’s story isn’t unique. In our Basic Reading Class, which was created for students with almost no reading skills, the journey began with a significant hurdle: 100% of the students couldn’t identify their letter names or sounds at the start of the program. But with dedicated lessons, that number dramatically shifted. By the end of the school year, 85% of those students could confidently identify all the letters of the alphabet and their sounds. They even began to sound out and “tap” basic words, a small but powerful step toward a lifetime of reading.

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The success of the program is rooted in its ability to adapt and put the needs of the students first. At the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, classes were a single 90-minute block each week, but students were missing classes due to a high number of school functions. The ARK team adjusted the schedule to two 40-minute sessions per week that November to ensure more consistent learning. This adaptability, combined with one-on-one sessions in the library, has not only closed academic gaps but has also sparked a love for learning. Students who once struggled to read are now eagerly picking out books in the library. In fact, more than 400 students checked out a book this school year.

Carrie Veenstra, who works with students daily in the ARK program and the library, shares the profound joy of this impact:

“Seeing the faces of joy when the students connect with a book, whether in the ARK program or the library, is a powerful reminder that the access to literacy and a better education is a tremendous gift we can provide every child.”

These numbers aren’t just statistics; they are proof of renewed confidence and a brighter future for these students. We’re laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning and helping students overcome the past.

Your support is the key that unlocks new chapters for children in Abaco. By giving to the ARK program, you are directly investing in a child’s educational journey and helping them write a story of success.

Academic Recovery for Kids: A Quick Look

• What It Is: The ARK program provides research-based reading and math instruction to Abaco students who fell behind due to Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Where It Is: The program is located at Central Abaco Primary School (CAPS).
• How It Helps: ARK uses a targeted approach with small class sizes to help students catch up and gain confidence. In the last school year, some math students saw their test scores on key concepts increase from a starting point as low as 41% to as high as 94% on retests.
• The Goal: We aim to raise funds to expand the program and ensure more students have access to this vital support.

About Many Hands:

Many Hands is an Iowa-based nonprofit dedicated to transforming together, to be in action, in a broken world. We desire to walk alongside the community and empower individuals and families by focusing on education, agriculture, leadership, safe structures, youth programs, and early childhood development. Together, we can rebuild lives and restore hope, one person, one family, one community, at a time.

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