It's been tough for refugee students and parents who speak more than a dozen languages to stay connected during the pandemic. One the few U.S. public schools exclusively for refugee and immigrant students turned to technology to fill in the gaps.
Teaching assistant Samuel Lavi helps out with an online class at the Valencia Newcomer School, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Phoenix. Communicating during the coronavirus pandemic has been trying for parents and students at the Phoenix school for refugees who speak a variety of languages and are learning to use technology like iPads and messaging apps.
With remote classes now underway at the K-8 school for refugee children in Phoenix, Lavi helps students connect from home with loaned iPads so they can learn English before transferring to mainstream schools.“If a student has a problem, I will drive to their home and help them log in,” said Lavi, 27, who began working at the school shortly after being resettled in Phoenix four years ago. “I can’t sit if our kids are suffering.
The virus later paused resettlement of refugees who are vetted by the U.S. State Department and other federal agencies and wait for years to arrive. However, a trickle of arrivals has begun again, according to those who work with refugees. If refugee resettlement falls, or even stops, district officials will find other immigrants and U.S. newcomers who can benefit from the school’s specialized English teaching, Hauer said.School officials have shown their ability to adapt. When the campus couldn’t reopen after spring break because of the pandemic, they got creative to stay connected with families.
Lavi now helps a middle school teacher instruct students during online classes and translate when needed and gives families a hand signing up for free lunches and Wi-Fi access.Students and parents rarely come to school unless there’s a problem they can’t resolve online or over the phone. “The kids are happy to be back in school and see their friends in all the little squares,” the principal said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
These School-Themed Zoom Backgrounds Make Online Classes Feel Way More LegitThese school-themed Zoom backgrounds make online classes feel way more legit.
Read more »
16-year-old arrested for hacking Miami Dade school systemPolice arrest Miami high school student for allegedly carrying out a string of crippling cyberattacks targeting Miami-Dade County Public Schools' online learning system as students headed back to school.
Read more »
With Kenyan schools closed, one turns to raising chickensKIRINYAGA, Kenya (AP) — Chickens have replaced students in one Kenyan school as struggling educators make what money they can after the country’s studies were called off until...
Read more »
Land of Free (and Fettered) SpeechEssay: According to a recent poll, 62% of Americans don’t feel comfortable speaking freely about politics. Is there really a free speech crisis in the U.S.?
Read more »
Meet L.A.'s small business cheerleader. She's out to save mom-and-popsAs Kimberly Holman-Maiden's family pub struggled, she set out to help other Los Angeles mom-and-pops survive.
Read more »
In pictures: The price of journalism in KashmirThis series of photographs captures the struggles of detained Kashmiri journalist, Aasif Sultan's family, especially how his wife is raising their two-year-old daughter, while coping with his absence.
Read more »