ESL/bilingual program makes connections

The district's English as a Second Language (ESL)/bilingual program began the new school year with an event to bring Sauk Trail families into the school for an evening of games and dinner.

Sauk Trail ESL/bilingual students invited their parents and siblings to a recent gathering where parents could meet other parents over board games and pizza slices in an effort to make new friends and build stronger ties within the school community.  

“The purpose of game night is to have families feel a sense of community and feel connected with one another inside and outside of the schools,” district ESL/bilingual program administrator Mandi Maurice said. “They can interact with each other, learn some new things, and develop more connections.”

Other schools have different events to facilitate the same purpose of community development while also educating parents, Maurice said. Beginning this month, ESL/bilingual staff are partnering with the Latino Academy of Workforce Development to host an eight-week session of computer classes taught in Spanish. The classes are held at the high school and are open to parents throughout the district.

“ESL/Bilingual staff are also planning to host other opportunities for parents to learn more about our schools, our services, and other topics of interest,” Maurice said.

“One of our goals is to integrate ESL/bilingual teachers more within our students' parent community to learn from parents and to describe and show them what their children are experiencing as English language learners. We can support our students best when our families and staff partner together.”

-- By Tom Kobinsky