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Non-English speakers getting help; Schools adjust to growing number of families that don't communicate in English

Maryland Gazette - 9/29/2018

A back-to-school night this past Tuesday at Belvedere Elementary School - one of five elementary schools on the Broadneck Peninsula - featured all the usual elements of such an event: parents eager to meet their child's principal, informational packets about school resources and pizza to appease hungry students.

But there were also seven interpreters to help Spanish-, Chinese-, Vietnamese-, Arabic-, Russian-, Korean- and Urdu-speaking families navigate the evening.

School officials say the interpreters are part of an effort to meet the needs of a growing population of non-native-English-speaking families in Anne Arundel County, and specifically on the Broadneck Peninsula.

"We need to help every child and every family. It's important not to leave one family out," said Tammy Perunovich, assistant principal at Belvedere. "All parents want a relationship with their student's teachers."

The number of non-native-English-speaking families is growing in the Broadneck Peninsula, home to five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. The number of students enrolled in English for Speakers of Other Languages, or ESOL, classes has jumped nearly 10 percent district-wide since last school year.

Patricia Gallardo, a 34-year-old mother of three, said the Spanish translators are especially helpful for events such as back-to-school night and parent-teacher conferences.

Gallardo said she uses one of the district's 22 bilingual facilitators when she needs to speak with school staff.

"She helps me a lot," Gallardo said with the help of a translator. "Without her, it would be very complicated for me."

Bilingual facilitators help families access community resources, communicate with teachers and assist with tasks like calling the school office when a child is absent.

"I'm the bridge between the school and the families," said Carolina Jacobo, a Spanish-speaking bilingual facilitator for the district.

Gallardo's 12- and 7-year-old children go to Magothy River Middle and Broadneck Elementary schools. They are two of about 180 students on the peninsula receiving ESOL services, according to Gaston Gamez, English Language Learner Family and Community Outreach Program Manager for the county's public schools.

Perunovich said that two years ago, Belvedere Elementary hosted back-to-school night with the help of a Spanish translator, but this year she wanted to expand by including more interpreters and inviting families from all the schools on the peninsula.

Yasir Abed, 34, works for Coca-Cola. He said he was happy there was an Arabic translator at back-to-school night.

"I am really appreciative to have people to help my kids be successful in the future," Abed said. "When the kids have conferences or I need to fill out a form that I don't understand, [the interpreters] help me to understand what's going on."

Nearly 11,400 families in the county's school district need some type of language support, Gamez said. Almost 5,400 students district-wide receive ESOL services.

In addition to the bilingual facilitators, the school district employs 165 interpreters who can speak 20 languages. Anne Arundel County Public Schools spent the last 18 months compiling a database of back-to-school letters, report card templates and other school communication that's been translated into dozens of languages.

The district also offers 40 programs at no cost to parents, such as English classes and parent support groups.

But Gamez concedes it's not enough. "The number-one support is bilingual facilitators. We don't have enough staff," Gamez said.

The school system has hired 22 interpreters. The district hires people for these positions biannually, said Gamez.

Language barriers continue to be the biggest challenge students and families face. Monica Hewett, the district's family involvement specialist, said bilingual facilitators and interpreters are often called in to do difficult jobs, like disciplining students.

After English, the most commonly spoken language in the school district is Spanish, followed by Vietnamese, Chinese, Urdu and Arabic. Gamez said schools are working to be more "culturally sensitive" by using bilingual signage.

However, the school district has been criticized for allegedly ignoring incidents of racism. Racist graffiti was found in two locations at Cheasapeake High School in the spring and black students claimed to endure daily abuses.

"We continue to do this on a daily basis," Gamez said. "All students, families, employees and community members should feel welcome. Diversity is invited, nurtured and celebrated."

At the event Tuesday, Superintendent George Arlotto gave remarks and reminded families of the county's strategic plan.

"Each one of our children, regardless of their background, should feel comfortable in our school because, with that comfort and those relationships, comes success," Arlotto said. "This evening embodies what the Broadneck Peninsula is working toward - all means all."

llumpkin@capgaznews.com

Credit: By Lauren Lumpkin - Baltimore sun Media Group - llumpkin@capgaznews.com