CommunityCommunityHeritage LanguageHeritage Language

SchoolsSchoolsBoard PresentationBoard Presentation

August 18, 2005August 18, 2005

““Bring us 20Bring us 20students and astudents and a

teacher, and weteacher, and we’’llllhelp with thehelp with the

space andspace andmaterials.materials.””

• Heritage School of Ukrainian Studies• Williamson Elementary

• School of Russian Studies• White Rock Elementary

• Armenian Saturday School• Cordova Meadows Elementary

• Spanish Saturday School• Rancho Cordova Elementary

Overall goalsOverall goals

• Learn to read and write the home language.• Learn about school subjects in home language.• Learn about home culture and history.• Opportunity to learn cultural arts, music, and/or

dance.• Attend 32 Saturdays/year (120 hours)

FundingFunding• Refugee Children’s Assistance Program

– (1999-2005)—curriculum, teacher development,interpreters, total Sat School costs for R/U/A.

• Refugee Educators’ Network (2003-2005)– Parent donations (out-of-district students)

• NCLB Title 3 Immigrant– Infrastructure and coordination

• Minimum cost per class: $3200 per year– Community teacher and materials– $160/std/yr ($5/std/class)

Real advantagesReal advantages• Letter of completion

– high schools can use this to exempt students fromforeign language requirement; some give units.

• Preparation for the New York UniversityExtension Language Proficiency exam– which gives 3-12 college credits.

• Ability to read and write the home language…– The new Ukrainian president has an American-born

wife, who gained Ukrainian literacy and sharpenedher skills in Saturday School programs!

Essential elementsEssential elements• Principal and teachers willing to share their

school.

• Parents who make Saturday School a priority.

• Community members who volunteer a lot of theirown time to make these programs a reality.

• Students who are willing to give up Saturdays tostudy a little more.

How many students in 2004-05?How many students in 2004-05?

– Ukrainian 340– Russian 160– Spanish 110– Armenian 56

Who are the students?Who are the students?

• Data is based on– Students who were on our district’s

Transitional English database.– Students’ English proficiency (CELDT) scores– Students’ STAR scores (those who had both

2004 and 2005 scores).

Which schools did they come from?Which schools did they come from?School Arm Rus Span UkrCG 2 7CHS 6 10CL 1 2 5CM 4 1 5 1CSCV 5 3GONE 1 12 1 45MH 1 6 1 5MLS 14 17 9 15MTC 3 1 5PS 10 7R C 1 4 22 7RV 1TJ 2WM 6 15 17 12WR 20 7 23Total 29 95 80 138

Where were students born?Where were students born?Country Arm Russ Span UkrArmenia 11Belarus 21El Salvador 1Mexico 24Moldova 35Russia 6Ukraine 12 120United States 18 19 55 18Uzbekistan 2Grand Total 29 95 80 138

What is their English proficiencyWhat is their English proficiency??

English proficiency Arm Russ Span UkrInitially fluent 1 4 10 6Limited 15 47 52 97Reclassified fluent 13 44 18 35

29 95 80 138

Calif Calif Standards Test-EnglishStandards Test-English

43.9%Spanish Sat Sch (n=41)

44.3%Ukrainian Sat Sch (n=61)

34.4%Russian Sat Sch (n=64)

37.5%Armenian Sat Sch (n=24)

30.1%Language minority students whodid not attend Sat Sch (n=2116)

% increased1-4 levels

2004-05 Group(Have 2004 and 2005 CST-ELA scores)

Calif Calif Standards TestStandards Test——MathMath

31.7%Spanish Sat Sch (n=41)—included mathvocabulary/concepts in curriculum

25.4%Ukrainian Sat Sch (n=61)

25.0%Russian Sat Sch (n=64)

29.2%Armenian Sat Sch (n=24)

23.9%Language minority students whodid not attend Sat Sch (n=2024)

% increased1-4 levels

2004-05 Group(Have 2004 and 2005 CST-Math scores)

Ukrainian HeritageUkrainian HeritageLanguage SchoolLanguage School

• Started in 1991, at Chinese church• Moved to Williamson in 1993• Received Refugee Grant assistance, 1999• 17 community teachers• 8 levels• Ages 6-14• Out-of-district kids pay $20/month

1993-1994 - we are started at WilliamsonElementary.

The Earth is brightened by a sun,The Earth is brightened by a sun,and a person and a person —— by knowledge. by knowledge.

The first day of school begins with:• Introduction of our staff• Rules, policies, expectations of students,

teachers, parents• Yard duty - parental involvement• Curriculum, lesson plan• Books

levels/grades• Placement of students (level, room number)

Rules and PoliciesRules and Policies• Parents - students rights & responsibilities• Student behavior (same as regular public

school)• Importance of attendance• Report card• Parents visiting• Safety rules• Dress code• Bell schedule

1-st grade - teacher Irina Yarmola, who also works for FCUSD as BIA

The students learn about Ukrainian Pisanka - the ancient Ukrainian art.

Galina Lorchak and Motrya Tomkiv (volunteers) teaching students Ukrainian craft.

Ukrainian famous musician, Vasil Nechepa,was invited by parents to present Ukrainian music and culture to the children.

School Assembly - students are playing bandura.

Saturday school students presenting a play.

A first grader reciting a poem in Ukrainianduring a school assembly.

Saturday school parents—ELLIS learners (at Williamson Elementary)

Saturday school parentshelp the school janitor atWilliamson Elementary(cleaning and planting).

Spring - parents help clean the school territory on Saturday,while students are in the classrooms (the same parents dovolunteer yard duty at recess).

Parents - volunteers playing with the studentsduring recess.

William, Elina, and Arkadiy — high schoolstudents who volunteered for Saturday school.They are also Ukrainian school graduates fromthe 2002-2003 school year.

Irina, a Ukrainian school graduate, displays Ukrainian craft and art.

Ukrainian school 2003-2004 graduates with the guests and teachers.3rd from left - Ukrainian consul (San Francisco Ukrainian Embassy)Dr. Valeriy Grebenyuk, 1st from right - vice consul Taras Kuzmich.

Ukrainian Saturday schoolend of school year assembly.

Ukrainian Saturday School Bandura Ensemble and choir.

Ukrainian Saturday School Bandura Ensemble presentingat the California Language Teachers Associationconference.

Zhanna Marin with her students. She is also working asa sub teacher and bilingual aide for our district.

Students’ presentation - Ukrainian history and culture class. In thisclass students learn history vocabulary words - Ukrainian-English.

Science lesson outside of the classroom. Students in this classlearn 3rd grade science vocabulary -Ukrainian-English.

Ukrainian school students got awards at the endof the school year.

University creditsUniversity credits• New York University Extension• Ukrainian• 12 college credits possible• More than 60 students have taken the

exam.• Most earned 12 credits.• A 2000-01 student called to say UC

Berkeley accepted the credits.

They raised me up with knowledge of my culture

I came to America when I was only three and I am thankful tomy parents for sending me toUkrainian School. There I enriched my knowledge about the history ofmy country. Also, thanks to my teacherOlya Herasymenko, I learned how toplay the bandura, and many otherthings that have made a big impacton my life.

Natalia Kalinyuk - college student2005

My time grooving up in the United States was wonderful;thanks to my parents because they raised me up with knowledge of myculture, language, and most of all their support in everything. I alwayslooked forward to travelingand playing in events. As a child I needed that kind of experience becauseit taught me how to get along with others, be responsible, and to treasuremy background. To me, it was always to keep striving for more becauseyou can’t stop at one place and stay there, you have to keepclimbing the “ladder.” (from school magazine “Native Word”)

Natalya Kalinyuk - UkrainianSaturday school student 1996

Dmytro Markiv.The first day inUkrainian school.September, 1995. Dmytro Markiv -

giving speech on graduation party 2003

Leaving the awesome shore of childhood,let us remember our school with love!”

-We thank the teachers for your almostmaternal relationship to us, for thestrong knowledge you gave us, forteaching us to speak two languagesfreely.-We, all the graduates, your childrenthank you, dear parents, for completingus to learn. These minutes are thetimes when we leave, cast off from ourmost treasured shore – the shore ofchildhood.-Speaking allegorically the shore of ourchildhood has been nourished with theclean clear waters of a wonderful rivercalled the School of Ukrainian Studiesin Sacramento.

Russian Saturday SchoolRussian Saturday School• Began in 1994• Disbanded in 1995• Restarted, under Refugee Grant, in 1999• Located at White Rock• 7 community teachers• 8 levels• Ages 6-14• Out-of-district kids pay $20/month

Russian class, 2000-01

Students reciting poems in Russian. End of the school year presentation.

The letter of completion.

Certificate— after 8 years (1,024 hours) in school.

Second graders presenting in front of the parents and teachers at White Rock Elementary.

Armenian Saturday SchoolArmenian Saturday School• Started in 1993 at Williamson• Moved to Cordova Meadows under

Refugee Grant in 1999.• 4 community teachers• 5 levels• Ages 6-14• Out-of-district kids pay $20/month

Armenian classes, 1999-2000

Armenian community teachers, 2001-02

Armenian school - students’ presentation.

Spanish Saturday SchoolSpanish Saturday School• Started in 2001-02 school year with 2 levels,

piggy-backed on Refugee Grant programs.• Supported by Title 3 Immigrant funds• Started at White Rock Elementary, then moved

to Rancho Cordova when number of classesincreased.

• 6 community teachers• 5 levels (adding one level each year)• Ages 6-14• Out-of-district kids pay $20/month

“No tree growsstrong and uprightwithout good roots.”

Spanish School FocusSpanish School Focus• Improving academic performance by giving them

foundation in Spanish (previewing key conceptsand HM stories they’ll soon read in class).

• Keeping Spanish as an important link to theirbackground and heritage.

• Learning about the achievements of Spanish-speaking people, so students will be proud ofbeing who they are.– Also: Spanish folk and modern dance.

1st level-- they’ll learn how to read Spanish(and practice English high frequency words atthe same time).

Spanish classes,2000-01

Parent volunteer at Spanish Saturday School

Spanish school teachers (they are also bilingualteachers’ aides in our district) on the yard withchildren during the recess.

Spanish Saturday School students wearing traditionaloutfits during the end of the year program.

Spanish dance class

End of yearexam andreport card.

Itzel and Lizbethwere in 1stgradenewcomers’class at R.C.They were theonly Hispanicstudents fromtheir class whoattended theSaturday School,and they werethe top readersin their class.

More examples ofMore examples ofSpanish successSpanish success

• Marianne, RC NC came in 2004, attendedSaturday School consistently; she went frombeginning English fluency to intermediate inone year.

• Edwin, RC NC, came on 1/09/03, attendedSaturday School and jumped from beginninglevel of English to early advanced by 2004-05.

• Maria came on 2/24/03. She went frombeginning to early intermediate then toadvanced. She was reclassified as fluent on3/23/05.

What do parents say?What do parents say? “I want my children to keepSpanish as part of their culturalheritage”

“My newcomer student gets someacademic foundation in herprimary language, so school inUSA is not as hard as it would be”

“If principles of science, languagestructure and general culture areuniversal, learning some of thesein a language they understand,will help them”

Spanish School --parent volunteers.

What do parents say?What do parents say?Parent volunteers: We enjoy ourtime here. We are glad to help ourchildren and teachers during therecess and in the classrooms. Wealso have a great opportunity tolearn the American educationalsystem which is very different fromones in our countries.

Maria Lupekha (single mother who brought her 2 children from Modesto every Saturday for 8 years): It is not easy,but it will be a greatly paid in the future. I am glad, my children have this opportunity .

Ukrainian School

Translated commentsTranslated comments……• “This is a miracle that my child had only 32

days of Ukrainian Saturday School andshe already reads and writes in cursive.This school has very high educationalexpectations.”

MoreMore……• “My child is busy with homework. It keeps

him from outside problems that oftenhappen to immigrants’ families whereparents work all day long and theirchildren who are “home alone” havenothing to do.”

MoreMore……• “This is for the successful future of my

children.”

• “Thankful for FCUSD to let us have ourheritage school. This will have a goodbenefit for both—us and the country.”

• “For me this is the only educational placeto understand the school system.”

Please visit our programsPlease visit our programs• Begin September 17

• Williamson -- Ukrainian• Rancho Cordova -- Spanish and Armenian• White Rock -- Russian

• Call Nadia Kalinyuk for information:– 635-6815