Clawson Public

Schools
ELL Family Night
Elisabeth Barrow and Jenny Stanton
March 18, 2017
Clawson Public Schools
Small district...serves
approximately 1,700
students
Preschool, 2 Elementary
Schools, 1 MS, 1 HS
Clawson Pride runs
deep...many families grew up
in Clawson
75% white, 11% are
African American, 6%
are Hispanic, 6% are
two or more races, and
2% are Asian
30% Schools of Choice
35.6% are economically
disadvantaged
Steadily growing ELL
population, now 14%
Where are our students from?

Clawson, MI.
Languages Spoken at Home:
More About our ELL Families:
23 different languages

American born, Immigrants, Refugees,

Adoptees, Exchange Students

Range of English proficiency levels

Different educational backgrounds

Diverse socioeconomic levels

Family engagement varies but mostly

sparse participation in school events
Rationale:
Clawson Public Schools has experienced an influx of ELL
students in the past 5 years. As we get to know our students,
we are finding that most of our students are from
El Salvador and many are refugees.

With the addition of these students, we, as a teaching

community, have become aware that their social norms and
culture drastically different from ours.

In order to encourage the importance of school we would like to

host a night so we can welcome these new families so they feel
a part of our school community.
School leaders are in a unique position to
engage the families of ELLs, even if
previous attempts at family outreach have
been unsuccessful. Engaged ELL parents
bring invaluable dedication and wisdom
regarding their children to the school
community and can be crucial partners in
supporting their children's success.
~www.colorincolorado.org
Event schedule:
Greeting and staff introductions
Student testimonies
Guided tour of technology available
Website
How to access MiStar Parent Portal
Use of Google Translate
Event schedule (cont.):
Stations and resources
The U.S. school system (AFTs bilingual Pathways to
Success brochure)
Standardized testing (Access for ELL, MStep, SAT)
Getting involved - PTO
Benefits of Reading at home
Literacy station/book table with donated books
Special education services
OTECH/CASA
Blair Library
Parks and Recreation programs/Hunter Community Center
College Application Process
Resource Examples
http://www.readingrockets.org/s
ites/default/files/pathwaystosuc
cess0204.pdf
http://www.colorincolorado.o
http://www.colorincolorado.org/
rg/sites/default/files/Confere
reading-tip-sheets-parents
nces_English_FINAL.pdf
Greeting and staff introductions

Clawsons Administrative Team

Keri Guevara Najwa Bournias, Cammie Dudek, Elisabeth Barrow

ESL Coordinator ELL Support
Administered by: Relative cost factors:
Instructional Coaches: Flyers
Elisabeth Barrow Materials for quilt
Jennifer Stanton Translators
Barbara Kienman

ESL Team:
Keri Guevara
Logistics:
Najwa Bournias Clawson Middle School
Cammie Dudek Media Center and
Jessica Hauser-Brydon Computer Lab
6-8pm
 Cultural
Connection:
How do we make ALL our families feel
welcome and like they belong?
Community Quilt:

Families will also have an

opportunity to create
squares for a quilts that
will be displayed at each
building to represent the
different countries and
cultures our families are a
part of our community.
How will you evaluate the success?
Success will be evaluated in two ways; participation numbers as well
as a brief family survey provided at the end of the event. Questions
include:

What brought you to this event?

Was the day and time convenient for you and your family?
Did the event meet your expectations?
Would you attend this event again?
How do you think we could get more families to attend this event in the
future?

What suggestions do you have to make this event better?

Would you be willing to sit in on a committee to plan next years event?
Take lots of pictures and share them!

White Gray Black