A D A M A R Y S
Sparking a Love of Learning
Since joining UCC’s Bruce-Guadalupe Community School in third grade, Adamarys has been supported by a team of dedicated teachers and a well-rounded academic environment. Over the years, she’s had access to various learning techniques, programs, and resources aimed at helping her thrive. In eighth grade, everything truly came together for her. With the guidance of her teachers and the school’s commitment to fostering a love of learning, Adamarys became more motivated, actively participated in class, and developed a newfound confidence in her academic abilities.
What made the difference? For one, UCC’s After-School Achievement Program (ASAP) provided her with an avenue to engage deeply with her studies in a structured, supportive setting outside the classroom. ASAP includes a two-prong approach – an academic portion to reinforce learning from the school day, and an enrichment portion where students choose from activities such as science clubs, chess, music lessons, sports, and visual arts workshops.
UCC’s partnerships have also played a pivotal role in Adamarys’s growth. Through a unique collaboration with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, she explored literature in a way she had never experienced before, studying Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This was just one of the many opportunities at UCC that helped her discover a passion for reading. She also loved the books she read in summer school, including The Outsiders, and this year she’s been deeply engaged with To Kill a Mockingbird.
Her transformation is reflected in her eighth-grade academic progress. She improved her Reading MAP score by 22 points—an almost 11% jump—moving from well below grade level to surpassing the eighth-grade nationwide norm. In Science, she gained 11 points, again outperforming expectations.
Her success isn’t just about test scores—it’s about discovering a love for learning. With the encouragement of her teachers and the many opportunities available at UCC, Adamarys has taken ownership of her learning and grown in confidence. As she looks to high school, she carries with her the strong foundation she’s built at UCC, where she has learned not just how to succeed in school, but how to enjoy the process of learning.