We Are Glad You Are Here!
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An EL Parent Handbook for Understanding Our Schools and Community We are glad you are here! Norwalk Public Schools 2019-2020 We hope that this Parent Handbook will provide you with information that will help your family’s transition to our community. We welcome you and hope that your family will soon feel a part of your school neighborhood and the city of Norwalk. The Gift of Two Languages Knowing two languages is a gift you can give your child. Many children lose the ability to speak and read in their home language when growing up in the United States. With encouragement from you, though, your child can become fluent in not just one language, but two! (From: Colorín Colorado 2007) Thank you to the School District of Clayton, Missouri – we based this Parent Handbook on your ideas! 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS General School District Information 3 Classroom Life 4 Norwalk Public Schools English Learner Program 5 State and District-wide Assessments 8 Developing Friendships 8 Special Days for Children at School 8 Your Child at Home 9 Wisdom from Other International Families 10 Appendix: Local Resources 12 Assessment Calendars 14 Dictionary of Common Terms 17 EL Education Department Contact Information 19 2 GENERAL SCHOOL DISTRICT INFORMATION It is important that parents be involved in their child’s school life. You, as a parent, are considered a “partner” with the teacher so that your child will learn successfully. It is important to read and save school and community information including handbooks, online newsletters, brochures, and the school website. Always check your child’s backpack for important school and community information. Your child’s school website includes information about: the school calendar and school hours; policies on attendance, illness, late arrivals (called “tardy”); Food Service information (lunch fees and menus); school philosophy; schools bus schedule; announcements on upcoming events and homework expectations. Norwalk Public Schools district website has updated information about events, curriculum and other useful information. Links will lead you to individual schools or topics. Additionally it provides information about “snow days” when schools are closed or have a delayed opening or early dismissal due to inclement weather. www.norwalkps.org DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS! The school secretary, can answer questions about school procedures, schedules and registration. When you call the school, a secretary will answer the phone. Please let the secretary know if your child is not coming to school because of illness, a family trip or a doctor’s appointment. The secretary will inform the teacher. If you need an interpreter to assist you, please ask the school secretary: “Do you or anyone there speak _____?” If no one is available to assist, please call the EL Welcome Center at 203-854-4093. We will be happy to assist you or find someone who can. There is a school nurse at every school. She checks immunization records. She takes care of children who become ill in school or have injured themselves. She will notify you to tell you if it necessary for your child to go home. If a child vomits or has a temperature of about 100.4º F (~37.7º C), the child must go home and someone must come to the school to pick him/her up as soon as possible. Children may visit the nurse for an ice pack, a temperature check, a bandage, or clean clothes after a bathroom “accident,” or a fall in the mud on the playground. Some children visit the nurse when they just feel lonely or sad – and they say they are feeling a little sick. The nurse comforts them and sends them back to class. If your child needs medication or treatment to be administered in school, we must have a written order from the physician on file in the school nurse’s office (authorization form available from the school nurse). The principal is the director of the school who manages the daily schedule, and is in charge of the building, students, and staff. The school social worker works with small groups of children and individuals. They have experience and training in helping a child who needs special help in his social life and shares helpful ideas for the child’s teachers and parents. All children and families can talk to the school Social Worker. Many, many American families talk to Social Workers or therapists about their worries and concerns. Your child’s teacher is interested in your questions and comments about your child’s experiences and activities. If you would like to schedule a special time to talk with the teacher, you may send a note, email or leave a message on the teacher’s voice mail. You will receive a list of those phone numbers early in the year or just telephone the school office. 3 The English learner (EL) teacher, is available to answer questions and to help you as well as your child. Please feel free to contact the EL teacher by calling the school office or by email (see list of teachers included at the end of this Handbook). Parents in the school are happy to answer questions. Perhaps you will meet parents if you drop off your child in the morning or pick him/her up in the afternoon. CLASSROOM LIFE When school begins, children have many questions. “What will I learn?” “Who will be my friend?” “How will I understand?” These questions are common to all. The new English language learner also wonders about how to learn when he does not yet understand English. American schools and culture may be very different from what you and your child have experienced in your home country. Don’t worry! Students learn English as they learn information and skills and as they make friends and manage their days in a new culture and in a new language. Classmates and teachers support the children. Learning happens as students ask questions, discuss books, do research, and present what they have learned. Your child learns with the help of books, technology, collaborative student groups, and especially the teacher’s guiding hand. The EL teacher is your child’s guide and advocate as well as a language teacher. Parent-Teacher Connections You will receive information about your child’s progress in written form three times per school year. Parents must sign and return the first and second progress reports. You will keep the final copy of the report. In the elementary grades, formal parent-teacher conferences are scheduled in the winter and spring for every family. You will make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss your child’s work and progress. Our teachers believe in helping the “whole child” to develop cognitively, emotionally and socially. You will hear about your child’s work habits, friendships, manners, and emotional development as well as academic progress. If you need an interpreter at the meeting, be sure to inform the teacher beforehand (or you are welcomed to bring your own adult interpreter). It is a good time to discuss your hopes and your concerns. The teacher expects you to ask questions, too. We suggest that your write your questions and bring them to the conference. Written words often help in communicating. Parents and teachers work together to strengthen and educate the child. Conferences give the “team” a formal opportunity to exchange information and to share plans for the student’s success. If at any time that you would like to talk to your child’s teachers(s) you are welcomed to call the school and make an appointment. You can also talk to your child’s teachers by phone or send an email if that is more convenient. 4 NORWALK PUBLIC SCHOOLS ENGLISH LEARNER PROGRAM What is an EL? The acronym “EL” refers to English Learners. An EL student is defined as a child whose home language is not English and who is still in the process of becoming proficient in English. The EL Education Department is responsible for providing English language instruction to EL students. The current laws in the United States (and in Connecticut) require that EL students receive special English instruction until they are proficient in English. How do we identify children who can benefit from the EL program? Children come from many different language, cultural and schooling backgrounds when they come to the Norwalk Public Schools. School districts are required by law to identify children who can benefit from EL services. Families go to the EL Welcome Center at Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Avenue, so that we can screen students for EL services and interview parents about the student’s educational background. These procedures help us determine the best educational program for your child. The assessments that we administer examine the child’s English proficiency in four areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Your child will receive a score of Level 1 through Level 5 in each of these areas and an overall score. Here is a brief description of what the Levels mean: Level 1: Beginning has minimal comprehension may produce one- or two-word responses nods "yes" and "no" draws and points Level 2 Early Intermediate has limited comprehension produces short phrases uses present tense verbs Level 3 Intermediate has good comprehension can produce simple sentences makes grammatical and pronunciation errors frequently misunderstands jokes and idioms Level 4 Proficient has very good comprehension (listening and reading) makes few grammatical errors Level 5 Above Proficient may have a near-native level of proficiency Depending on the assessment results, and with parent approval, your child may be enrolled in the EL program.