Dist. 200 students win ESL writing contest

Community Unit School District 200 is proud to announce that two middle school students enrolled in the district's English Language Learner program placed in the annual Illinois Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages – BE (TESOL-BE) Student Writing Contest.

Kishore Thapa, a sixth-grader in Ms. Ruscitti's class at Edison Middle School, won first place in the grades 6-8 competition. Elza Demiri, an eighth-grader in Mrs. Fridley's class at Hubble Middle School, won second place in the grades 6-8 competition. Both students, along with their parents and teachers, are invited to a reception on Feb. 11 where they will receive a certificate and a monetary prize of $150 to Kishore and $100 to Elza.

Kishore came to the United States and Wheaton from Nepal in June 2009 and Elza came to the United States and Wheaton from Kosova just before the start of this school year. In their essays, both students wrote about the differences between their schools in their home country and their new school in Wheaton. Elza writes about short classes from her home country in which “we didn't have time to learn anything.” Kishore writes about how his previous school didn't have a cafeteria and students walked home for lunch.

Of their new community, Kishore says he doesn't miss the jungle being right behind his house and says he “loves going to the City and seeing Lake Michigan.” Elza, on the other hand, is having a blast making new friends and is getting used to American holidays like Thanksgiving.

While both students miss their friends most of all, they are happy and excited about opportunity and love their schools and teachers in CUSD 200. Elza dreams of being a designer or pianist one day while Kishore wants to be a professional soccer player or a teacher.

English Language Learners are students who through a screening and pre-assessment have been determined to need instructional support to increase their English proficiency. As of December 2010, we have 1,037 students representing over 68 languages who are directly served through ELL programming. The top four languages represented in CUSD 200 are Spanish, Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese being the top four languages represented. According to Margo Sorrick, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services, “the diversity we enjoy because of our ELL students helps prepare all of our students with a 21st-century global perspective.”

On Nov. 12, Madison Elementary celebrated their annual Multi-Cultural Day. Each classroom was completely transformed to allow students to feel as though they were in a different country. While some students were painting a Michelangelo ceiling, others were learning taekwondo skills. Madison Elementary is not the only school in our district that regularly embraces their schools' diversity - in fact, all of our schools are embracing diversity in their own way.

Johnson Elementary offers an English class for parents. In partnership with the People's Resource Center of Wheaton. English classes are offered on Mondays from 6:30 to 8 pm. The classes, hosted by Johnson School, are taught by four volunteer teachers, including two CUSD 200 teachers Mary Beth Lang and Gail Lobue. Text books and materials for the classes are provided by the People's Resource Center and babysitting is provided by the student Key Club from Wheaton Warrenville South High School.

Each Monday, at least 50 parents are present for the class which is geared to teach Spanish-speaking parents English. According to Derick Edwards, Principal of Johnson Elementary, “We have tried to find a way to assist and engage our community of which 60% of our families are learning English as their second language. Many of these families didn't feel a part of our school culture. We are educating them about importance of being a part of the American education system.”

Kari Keith, K-8 Bilingual Facilitator, facilitates a Parent Advisory Council of parents with students who are English Language Learners. According to Mrs. Keith, “the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is a group of ELL parents, teachers, community members, and counselors who meet regularity to participate in the planning, operation, and evaluation of the program.”

In fact, CUSD 200 will host a Spanish Parent University from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21 at Johnson Elementary in Warrenville. For more information on the Spanish Parent University, visit www.cusd200.org.