Newcomer Presentation

Karen Devine Counselor, Roosevelt H.S.

Enrollment  VOLAGS (Voluntary Agencies)  Send to OLCE for international transcript evaluation

 International Newcomer Center at Roosevelt H.S.  Questionnaire  IMPACT enrollment for refugee students

 STLS status as long as agency is subsidizing housing (usually for 6 months)

Enrollment, continued Fee waivers Supplies Clothing/uniforms

Programming BLT will administer ACCESS to determine placement…  16010 Internship I  16020 Internship II  18910 Literacy  Art  Music  PE 3  Language or drama  ESL/Bilingual Content Area

Orientation  Video/s  Calendar  Healthy Homework Habits

 Family Backpack  Family Nights  Interpreters

 Tutoring  Mentoring

Table 1.1 Primary Refugee Arrivals by State, Fiscal Year 2007 and 2009  Primary Refugee Arrivals by State Fiscal Year 2007 Primary Refugee Arrivals by State Fiscal year 2009            

California Texas 4,401 MINNESOTA New York Florida Washington Arizona Illinois North Carolina Georgia Virginia Ohio 1,352

6,706 Texas 3,198 2,978 2,691 2,216 1,992 1,872 1,810 1,617 1,475

California

9,480 5,130

Florida New York Arizona Michigan Illinois District of Columbia Washington Indiana

3,723 3,631 3,006 3,298 2,429 2,325 2,254 1,525

MINNESOTA

1,329

How can counselors help refugees and newcomers acculturate into new school setting?             

Acknowledging frustration. Setting achievable tasks Offering praise. Providing a specific quiet area (for avoidance). Giving explanations of what you are doing. Giving clear expectations about goals for achievement. Acknowledging effort. Applying pressure for participation. Giving students as much choice as possible with respect to disclosing personal family information or background history. Allowing time out. Encouraging students with positive reinforcement Not assuming Encourage students to be “experts” or “teachers” of their language, culture, experience

Activities/Groups Art  Flags  Quilt  Handbound journals  Drama Groups  Health Club  Group for Girls

School-wide  Ask agencies to do inservice re groups

resettling  Students present country, culture, and/or language to fellow students  International Night

Post-Secondary Essays Undocumented FAFSA

Resources  OLCE: Office of Language and Culture

553-1936  International Newcomer Center, RHS: Director: Shana Wills, 534-0586  Cultural Orientation Resource Center culturalorientation.net  Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR): icirr.org