Mystery Readers Help Build Community in CV Starr’s Bilingual Program Written by Jennifer Garry
“Let’s take a look at this page upside down,” said Superintendent Dr. Laurie Bandlow to students in Erica Godinho’s class at CV Starr Intermediate School. Students giggled as they looked at the bats in Brian Lies’s
Bats on the Beach from a different perspective.
After reading the story, Dr. Bandlow told students that the author is very interested in bats and conservation and has written multiple books about them. Godinho translated the fun fact into Spanish for her students, who are part of CV Starr’s first bilingual program. Started this fall for grades three and four, students are learning in both English and Spanish and communicating in both languages while doing grade-level work.
Brewster CSD’s Parent University Supports the Community’s Bilingual Families Written by Jennifer Garry
“This is my favorite night of the week,” said Alicia Manguso, Brewster Schools K-12 English as a New Language (ENL) Specialist.
She was not talking about pizza night or a night for favorite TV. Instead, Manguso was referring to the weekly Parent University meeting she runs via Zoom with Brewster High School Assistant Principal Carlos Rodriguez. The meetings, which are in Spanish, are part of a K-12 initiative that works to engage bilingual parents in Brewster Central School District. To date, they have been well attended and an excellent vehicle for community building.