- April 19, 2026
Kindness superheroes at Rymfire Elementary School. Courtesy photo
Matanzas Spanish teacher and project leader Christina Gilliam with Rymfire superhero Valentina. Courtesy photo
Rymfire students work on their Honesty project. Courtesy photo
Working toward Gratitude superpowers. Courtesy photo
A Rymfire student's Gratitude rock. Courtesy photo
Rymfire fifth graders with their Acceptance project. Courtesy photo
Matanzas students with Rymfire third graders completing the Kindness project. Courtesy photo
Love project with kindergarten students as part of the Matanzas-Rymfire ESOL literature initiative. Courtesy photo
Members of the Matanzas High School AMIGOS Hispanic Cultural Club and Matanzas ESOL students (English for Speakers of Other Languages) partnered with Rymfire Elementary School to develop a literature initiative with the ESOL elementary students in grades K-5.
On April 15, the high school students visited Rymfire, reading stories in English and Spanish to the elementary students about gaining “superpowers” of honesty, patience, acceptance, love and gratefulness. After the students completed an activity related to the book, they received a superhero cape.
The project is led by Matanzas Spanish teacher Christina Gilliam, who developed the idea to give high school students mentoring opportunities that build emotional intelligence while enhancing reading skills in English and Spanish to develop bilingual skills.
Gilliam partnered with Dawn Emling, Matanzas ESOL reading teacher, and Jessica Gonzalez, elementary ESOL reading teacher.
“We are proud of the students at Matanzas who participated in this reading initiative,” Gilliam said.
