Bridges of Hope: A Proposal to Support Newcomer Students

 Watch the video to learn how we can build a more inclusive school community

Hello, I’m Dorian Hernández, an ELD and SLA teacher at Montbello Middle School in northeast Denver. I created this short video to share a program proposal that’s very close to my heart: Bridges of Hope.

This initiative is designed for newcomer students with interrupted formal education, students who have recently arrived in the U.S., often without speaking English and after months or even years without access to school. Many carry painful migration stories and face academic, social, and emotional challenges.

Bridges of Hope centers on:

1. Bilingual peer mentorship
2. Saturday academic support in literacy and math
3. Cultural celebrations and community events
4. A year-long structure to build trust, skills, and belonging

We know that when students feel seen, supported, and safe, everything changes. This program is about creating that space for them.

Watch the video below to learn more about the vision, structure, and impact of Bridges of Hope.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wimMZ4gcisnaND-iDw8-oqmGn3DuYTVs/view?usp=drive_link  

Thank you for taking the time to listen. Let’s build bridges, not barriers, for our students.