DOME Newsletter

• Ayat Al Sallami- Arabic Language and Culture Coach, Buckman Heights

We are seeking teachers for the following positions:

• 5882 - ENL Long Term Substitute Teacher: Brookside

• 5878 - World Language Teacher - Italian: Arcadia High/Olympia

• 10/28 - Spanish Bilingual ILN
• 10/29 - Arabic Bilingual ILN
• 11/2 - WL ILN
• 11/2 - ENL ILN
• 11/16 - Seal of Biliteracy Advisory Committee
• 11/17 - Arabic Bilingual ILN

Release Days:

• 11/4 - WL Vertical Team

• 12/3 - ENL WIDA Training
• 12/17 - ENL Vertical Team
• 1/13 - Spanish Teacher Curriculum Training
• 1/14 - ASL Teacher Curriculum Training
• 1/20 - Italian Teacher Curriculum Training

• The event is “open house” style and self-guided.
• Flyers attached in Spanish and Ukrainian

As our Vertical Team is meeting on November 4th, we would appreciate any feedback or ideas you can offer on materials utilized or needed for your language. If you already completed this form but have more things to add, you can do it again.

• ASL Materials Feedback Survey
• Italian Materials Feedback Survey
• Spanish Materials Feedback Survey

This packet has information for students and families about dual credit options, including:

What is Dual Enrollment? Dual Enrollment vs. AP; Who to Contact? Common Questions and Answers

• AAPPL School Year 2026-2027 Content - AAPPL content is reviewed and refreshed every year, and on September 15th, ACTFL and LTI announced the release of the AAPPL for the 2026-27 school year. All tests ordered on or after September 15 receive the refreshed test content.
• Easier Access to Reports and Certificates - Clients can now generate large batches of certificates and score reports directly through the Client Site without contacting Support. Batch files are securely delivered and accessible through the Print Certificates module.
• Enhanced Testing Security and Integrity - Protecting the validity of student results remains a top priority. Recent security enhancements include: Updates to the AAPPL Honor Code and proctoring procedures; A new AAPPL Proctoring Integrity Guide that provides clear expectations and best practices for secure test administration; Collection of student testing labels during testing sessions to help prevent unauthorized multiple logins and strengthen test security.

• Scaffolds and Supports across the Modes of Communication - November 17, 2026: Presenters: Dr. Joanne E. O’Toole, Bill Heller, and Dr. Lori Langer de Ramírez
• Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in the World Language Classroom - December 8, 2026: Presenters: Zoey Baird and Joshua Wigle-Harris

• Is What I’m Doing Working? Turning Assessment Data into Instructional Action – Oct 28th at 6pm EST

• Scaling Assessments with Purpose: Leadership Strategies for Successful Implementation – Dec 2nd at 5pm EST (Presented by Shawnna Sweet)
• Beyond the Test: Using AAPPL to Empower Multilingual Learners and Expand Graduation Pathways – Jan 21st, 2027 at 5pm EST
• From AAPPL Data to Classroom Practice: Strengthening Interpersonal Speaking – Feb 4th, 2027 at 5pm EST

Shawnna Sweet presented at the NYS Association of Language Teachers’ Annual Conference in Albany: From Points to Proficiency: Our Journey Transitioning to the AAPPL Exam

• Our NYS districts needed to make sure their students were ready for their regional Checkpoint Exams, which were going to evaluate vocabulary knowledge. One of the areas they needed to support was shopping and clothing vocabulary - so we found a very Garbanzo way of rising to the challenge!
• Our new shopping path, called ¡Vamos de compras!, is a sequence of 12 lessons written for students who have completed Core5 and Core15. Or, for students who are otherwise comfortable with Core5 and Core15 vocabulary!
• Another request was to support students in preparation for the listening portion of the exams. Their students would be asked to listen to an authentic piece of audio and then answer questions about it. Introducing…Authentic-Inspired Audio! This is a new collection of lessons we plan to continue to build, as long as we hear from you that it’s worth it! Our first path of Authentic-Inspired audio focuses on radio ads in the category of shopping!
• Our team chose authentic ads (realia) from Mexican and Colombian radio stations and created Garbanzo-original versions in a similar style. We made 5 versions per ad so that students would truly have a chance to train their ears for the rhythm and patterns of the ads.
• In each lesson, students begin by listening to the ad at full speed (with no visible text to read!). They answer one of four questions and then listen to and read an affirmation with the relevant text.
• Students can practice their listening with: Back-to-school ads (Mexico); Clothing ads (Mexico); Mattress ads (Colombia); Milk ads (Colombia); Pharmacy/Personal Care ads (Colombia); Pharmacy Ads (Mexico); Mall Ads (Mexico)

Spanish Teachers-

The team at Garbanzo wants to know if you have any requests for new content on the platform. Please feel free to email any ideas or needs to: content@garbanzo.io

The bridge is that part of the lesson or unit where the focus is on instructing students in how to transfer what they have learned and stored in one language into the other language. The focus moves from teaching content, to teaching the language of content in both of the students’ languages. It is the part of the lesson or unit that explicitly allows students to meet the bilingualism and biliteracy goals of dual language education.For more info, check out: The Bridge: Making Cross-­‐Linguistic Connections

• Kindergarten: March 1st-March 12th

• Grades 1-5: March 17-18 (Sessions 1-2) and April 1-2 (Sessions 3-4)
• Grades 6-12: March 15-16 (Sessions 1-2) and March 30-31 (Sessions 3-4)

• Makeup Dates: All WIDA Makeups are to be completed prior to the closing on the testing window on April 9th.

• Rationale for Dates President's Week Recess and Spring Recess fall during the state testing window; Sessions 1 and 2 must go first as they inform how the DRC system assigns questions for Sessions 3 and 4; Ramadan, observed by our Muslim students, runs from February 7th to March 9th. As many of our secondary and upper elementary students are fasting until March 9th, we are starting the WIDA administration in mid March; The dates selected will allow for ITT and administrative support in buildings as we implement this new assessment.

• Training: ENL teachers will be required to attend a district WIDA Training on Thursday, December 3rd from 8:00-3:00 at District Office E46A/B/C. Teachers will be assigned to receive training for one grade band assessment on this day. There is a possibility ENL teachers will need to complete additional asynchronous training during their 90 minutes per week of contractual time.

Thank you to all who have shared your schedules with DOME already. If you haven't already, please share with Gregoria Deleon. Additionally, if any ELLs in your school are not meeting minutes, or not being services per CR Part 154, please complete this brief form so we can assist in supporting to meet the needs of all ELLs.

• K-8 Units of Study Chart
• 9-12 Units of Study Chart

• As some of you may know, ENL teachers have an opportunity to provide some extra instruction to students outside of the school day called International Academy. International Academy is funded by Title III funds and can be a great way to target specific skills or support specific groups of students.
• Examples of Title III ELL Allowable Uses: Supplementary educational programs that work to increase English language proficiency and academic achievement of ELLs; Providing effective supplemental language instruction educational programs that meet the needs of ELLs, including early childhood education programs that demonstrate success in increasing (A) English language proficiency; and (B) student academic achievement (ESEA Section 3115(c)(1)); Some examples might be: working with expanding students on writing; preparation for a Regents exam; working with a group to increase their academic vocabulary

• Applications: This year there will be a fall and spring application process. Please know that due to budget constraints we have less hours available this year. There are only 50 hours available for the whole ENL staff for the winter session and 50 for the spring session. If you feel you have an idea to support students that goes beyond what we can support, you might want to ask your building if there are extra funds to support students. Some people have run clubs through the building with a similar focus. Thanks for your understanding of this change. Here is the application if you wish to run a winter session. The winter application is due by November 6th. Jodie will send the spring application in March.

Panorama Updates:

• The grades 3-12 student instruction sheet has been updated to include instructions to translate the webpage. If students need support in translating the survey into another language, please following these steps. The student may need to enter their Student ID first, then right click anywhere on the page and choose Translate with the preferred language.

When emergent multilingual learners enter a new classroom, educators often grapple with a complex question: to translate or not to translate? This all-day workshop based on Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld's co-authored book "Wait, Don't Just Translate" offers a nuanced approach, moving beyond simple translation as a go-to strategy. Addressing the urgent need to foster true belonging, this book provides K-12 educators with a comprehensive, empathetic approach to honoring students' rich linguistic and cultural heritages without overreliance on translation. In this all-day session, we will explore the following questions: What is new for a newcomer? How does translation help throughout the school day, especially in the earliest stages if language development? What strategies other than translation can be used to support students' academic, language, literacy, and social-emotional growth?

• ENL Teachers are encouraged to attend with a co-teacher or content area colleague.
• Click Here to Register

• We noticed on the exit ticket from the department meeting how much people valued being able to collaborate with other ENL teachers that are teaching the same grade level. Additionally, multiple people have been asking questions lately about making text and instruction more accessible for ELLs and I feel it could be a huge time saver if people did the work together and split the work vs everyone doing the same thing but on their own!! We wanted to offer time to collaborate more.
• All buildings have PR (professional responsibility) time on the same days (times might be offset). Here is the district staff meeting calendar so you can see the dates. The GTA Contract indicates: "Professional responsibility time may be used at the discretion of the Unit Member to perform responsibilities associated with their position.."
• I am going to send calendar invites with a Google Meet link to people that work with the corresponding grade level. These are completely optional and there as a resource if people want to attend. This can not replace what your building may be requiring of you at that time-if anything. This time might be used for: Sharing resources; Asking questions about district or department procedures to colleagues; co-planning and scaffolding lessons; getting advice about a student; etc...
• These meetings will be open to all GTA members who want to collaborate and support each other in our work. Please be looking for these invites and we hope this meets the need to collaborate more with other ENL teachers across the district! ~ Jodie

• Just a reminder that Imagine Learning is an instructional resource that all ELLs have access to in the district. It is a program specifically meant for English language development and meets students where they are by providing lessons based on areas of need. Students take a placement test when they first get on the program (and also mid and end of year).
• Imagine Learning can be accessed through Classlink. Simply add the app to the student's Classlink and they can get on. Make sure that once in the app they chose "Language and Literacy". Teachers also have access to look at assessment reports, usage and growth reports for students that are rostered to them by going on the app in their Classlink.
• This program should never replace stand-alone instruction, but can be used supplementally in other times of the day for the students to continue building language and literacy. Perhaps part of WIN, Academic Extension or study hall?
• The icon looks like the image to the right. I hope you find this resource helpful. Let me know if you need any support with this!! ~Jodie

• This is a reminder that all ENL teachers have access to Learning A-Z (Raz-Plus and Foundations A-Z) through Classlink. This is a great resource that can support instruction through leveled text, instructional activities and independent reading for students.
• As we move into the research units in ARC, you may find lower level text/text with audio that students can access to support their research. Here is a short video about it. (you may need to be logged in first for this to work) Here is a Getting Started Guide
• A choice professional learning opportunity will be available on Monday, November 30th from⋅4:00 – 5:00pm (Registration on Frontline soon)
• In the meantime, feel free to look around the website, watch the training videos and email me with questions. We hope you find this resource helpful in supporting your students! ~Jodie

SORA in different languages (for those students that want to work on native language literacy)

• Arabic 228 titles: https://soraapp.com/library/nyreads/generated-1628587/titles
• Nepali 1 title: https://soraapp.com/library/nyreads/generated-1628645/titles
• Spanish Elementary 798 titles: https://soraapp.com/library/nyreads/generated-1773551/titles
• Spanish Secondary 348 titles: https://soraapp.com/library/nyreads/generated-1773552/titles
• Ukrainian 72 titles: https://soraapp.com/library/nyreads/generated-1628654/titles
• Russian 163 titles: https://soraapp.com/library/nyreads/generated-1628651/titles
• Vietnamese 27 titles: https://soraapp.com/library/nyreads/generated-1628656/titles

+ We are developing a list of ARC Core texts-audio version and other languages (In progress).

• Reminder there are district created ENL Scaffolded Assessments on ENL Scaffolds Guide!
• Also note that unit 2 for grades 3-5, the pre-assessment can use the scaffolded version, while the post-assessment is a benchmark and only students that are exempt from the ELA this year can have the scaffolded version. ELL Students can have their NYS test mods for the Benchmark.

The SPANISH Kindergarten Handbook - translated version now available!

Our ENL Family Program will be held once a month on Thursday evenings from 6-7:30pm at Phoenix. Phoenix is located at 200 Alcott Road. Free pizza will be served. Each night includes an information session for parents, with interpreters, while students are in classrooms with teachers and friends doing activities, crafts and homework. Childcare is provided by Kidscare for students who are not school age. Please enter through door 3.

Dates for ENL Program and Topics:

• October 29, 2026- Welcome, Updating Infinite Campus Contacts, Adult English classes with Boces
• November 12, 2026-Deputy Superintendent Mr. Fleming presenting GCSD Optimization
• December 10, 2026 - Topic TBD
• January 14, 2027 - Topic TBD
• March 18, 2027 - Topic TBD
• April 8, 2027 - Topic TBD

• Shane Ricci (he/him), Spanish Teacher, Athena Middle School
• How long have you been working in education and/or in Greece? 24 total years, 18yrs in Greece
• What is something that you like about your job? I like all the "hats" I am able to wear and different levels of impact I have in different environments.
• What do you like to do outside of work? I love traveling with friends and family, cooking, and going to any sports related contest.

• Tell us about your family. I am a single father of a 5yr old girl Avery who is in the Bilingual program at EV. I have 3 sisters and 1 brother. My family and I are really close and get together as much as possible.
• What is one thing about you that others might not know? I was an exchange student in Highschool to Italy
• What is your favorite place or travel or a place you would like to go? My top place of travel is Italy but I would love to take a 3 week trip to Africa for a Safari and work with a school there for 1 week.

Athena Middle School Italian students volunteering at the Rochester Italian Heritage day! They ran the Italian trivia and gesturing table.

Olympia Italian Teacher, Lino Pizzolanti, came up with a fun way to get families to visit the World Language Classrooms during Open House. Lino raffled off some soccer shirts to students and parents who visited. Molto creativo!

• NYS TESOL Award Winner - Salina Antonetty, a first-year ENL teacher at Greece Arcadia Middle School, is the recipient of the NYS TESOL Jillian Branciforte Scholarship Award. Nominated by Ashley Dame-Marino, this scholarship provides registration and hotel fees for the annual conference.

• Established in 2024, this award is given to a promising new K-12 ENL teacher in their first three years of teaching. The award was named in memory of Jillian Branciforte, a dedicated ENL teacher from Olympia. This annual scholarship award honors Jill's legacy as a member of NYS TESOL, reflecting on the incredible impact she had on our community and the countless lives she touched.

• Salina Antonetty built her foundational experience as a child of a long time Olympia teacher, Andrea Antonetty. She was also student teacher, long-term substitute, and summer school educator across several Greece Central schools. Following the sudden passing of Jillian Branciforte, Antonetty stepped up to support the school community by covering Branciforte's newcomer classes at Greece Olympia. Her warmth, dedication to advocating for English Language Learners, and commitment to high-quality instruction truly reflect Jillian Branciforte's lasting legacy.

• The Department of Multilingual Education leaders and Arcadia MS Principal, Brian Lumb, notified Salina of her award in October.