Multilingual Programs Newsletter

Dear Parents and Families,

As winter arrives, families everywhere are adjusting to the season’s routines and celebrations. This might include coordinating after-school activities around shorter days, keeping up with homework during colder evenings, or planning for holiday breaks. Schools, too, are establishing routines that help students stay engaged and successful during this busy time of year.

The winter months are a wonderful opportunity for families and teachers to strengthen connections. Many schools host events such as winter concerts, family nights, or student showcases. Attending these events helps you build a stronger relationship with your child’s teacher. If you cannot attend in person, a quick email or phone call is another great way to connect and share helpful insights about your child.

At the same time, we celebrate the richness of our students’ languages and cultures. Supporting your child’s home language alongside English helps strengthen learning, identity, and family connections. Sharing stories, reading together, or using your home language in daily routines are meaningful ways to support your child’s growth.

When schools and families work together, students thrive academically, socially, and linguistically. We look forward to continuing our partnership with you and wish your family a joyful and successful winter season.

With appreciation,
Your Multilingual Program Team

Emergent Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee

CONNECTING FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY

We invite YOU to join a powerful voice for our multilingual families!

The Emergent Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (EB PAC) connects families of EB students with district leaders. It is a space where your voice can shape programs, share feedback, and celebrate culture.

Why Join?

✅ Represent your school and community

✅ Stay informed about district programs & services

✅ Provide feedback to improve the EB experience

✅ Help organize events and family engagement activities

✅ Help us celebrate, elevate, and empower our EB families

✅ Meets once a month, on a Tuesday, from 6:00–7:00 PM

Nominate Yourself and/or a Parent Friend Today!

Many children find it harder to stay motivated with schoolwork as winter sets in. Shorter days, holiday distractions, and busy schedules can all make learning feel more challenging. Helping your child develop strong study habits now can set them up for a confident and successful start to the new year.

Quick Strategies:

Create a study spot: Set up a quiet, comfortable place where your child can focus without distractions.
Use a simple schedule: Break homework or projects into smaller tasks so they feel more manageable.
Review together: Spend a few minutes checking assignments or going over class topics.
Set goals: Help your child choose one academic goal for the month and track progress together.
Celebrate follow-through: Praise consistency and effort, not just perfect results.

With steady routines and encouraging guidance, children can stay focused and build strong learning habits that carry them confidently into the rest of the school year.

Winter can bring busy schedules, shorter days, and colder weather, which may affect your child’s energy, mood, and focus. Helping your child maintain healthy routines at home supports their learning and overall well-being.

Before School Starts:

• Talk with your child about their schedule and plan together for homework, meals, and bedtime.

• Ask how they are feeling and if they anticipate any challenges during the day.

During the Day:

• Encourage breaks for physical activity or quiet time to help your child stay focused.

• Check in about their experiences at school or during remote learning, if applicable.

After School:

• Talk together on what went well and any challenges they faced.

• Discuss strategies to make routines smoother, like preparing school materials the night before or setting up a consistent homework spot.

Questions to Guide Conversations:

• Are my child’s routines helping them feel balanced and focused?

• What small adjustments can make mornings and evenings easier?

• Are they getting enough sleep, physical activity, and downtime?

• How can we make homework or study time more manageable?

• Are there activities that help them relax and recharge?

Important Reminder:
Consistency and connection matter most. Small, intentional routines and conversations help children feel secure and supported, especially during the winter months.

Gratitude is more than saying “thank you.” It is a way of noticing and appreciating the good things in life. Children learn gratitude by watching the adults around them. Parents, teachers, grandparents, and other role models show children how to be thankful through their actions and words.

Start the Day with Gratitude

How the day begins can set a positive tone. A few simple habits can help children notice the good things around them.

• Greet children with a smile and kind words.

• Talk about one small thing you are happy about today.

• Notice simple blessings like a warm bed, food to eat, or a safe home.

• Make a gratitude board and let everyone add what they are thankful for each day.

• Ask children, “What made you happy this morning?”

Show Kindness to Others

Children learn to be grateful when they see adults being kind. Invite them to take part in simple acts of kindness.

• Let someone go ahead of you in line.

• Hold the door for others.

• Share books, toys, or tools with friends or neighbors.

• Help someone in need or volunteer together.

Give Genuine Praise

Children respond well to praise. Honest words of encouragement teach them to appreciate effort and thoughtfulness.

• Say thank you for acts of kindness.

• Notice creative work, problem-solving, or teamwork.

• Praise children for noticing beauty in nature or using their imagination.

Say “Thank You” Often

Children notice when adults are polite and thankful. Saying thank you regularly helps children learn to do the same.

• Thank family, friends, and helpers for their efforts.

• Encourage children to write notes or say thank you to others.

• Show gratitude in small everyday ways.

When children practice gratitude every day, they learn to appreciate what they have and feel more connected to others.

If you are looking for fun learning opportunities, try exploring free online resources like PBS Kids Games for educational play, Storyline Online for read-aloud stories, National Geographic Kids for animal and nature exploration, and Duolingo for practicing a new language as a family. With a few engaging activities and intentional conversations, your child can enjoy a relaxed break while still boosting learning in meaningful ways.

Winter Break Language-Building Activities

1. Create a Winter Scrapbook
Collect small moments from the break—photos, ticket stubs, drawings, or notes. Work together to arrange them in a scrapbook. Ask your child to label each page, describe what happened, or write a short caption. This builds storytelling, sequencing, and vocabulary in a natural way.

2. Family Conversation Cards
Write fun prompts on slips of paper and place them in a bowl. Each evening, take turns choosing a card. Prompts could be things like “Tell me about a time you solved a problem,” “Describe your dream winter day,” or “What made you laugh today?” This encourages speaking, listening, and reflection.

3. Winter Wonder Word Hunt
Pick a theme—winter, family traditions, holidays, or nature. During the week, look for related words in books, signs, recipes, or songs. Have your child write down the words they find and choose one to draw or use in a sentence. This keeps reading and writing skills active in a playful way.

Join adult ESL classes at convenient locations across Fort Bend ISD! Practice your skills in a supportive, welcoming environment.

Chinese Community Center

• Location: 9800 Town Park Drive, Houston, Texas 77036
• Programs Offered: Offers 6-week course
• Cost: $120
• Contact: English/Chinese 英/中文 thuang@ccchouston.org 713.271.6100, Extension 122 https://ccchouston.org/esl/

Fort Bend County Library – ESL Conversation Circle

• Location: 1003 Golfview Dr., Richmond, TX 77469
• Programs Offered: English-language learners of all levels are invited to practice conversation in a friendly, relaxed environment.
• Schedule: This group meets on the first and third Thursday of each month in Conference Room 2A
• Contact: Visit fortbendlibraries.gov to find the nearest participating location.

Fort Bend Care Center

• Location: 7707 Hwy 6, Missouri City, TX 77459

• Programs Offered: Weekly ESL classes, English Conversation, GED preparation, and U.S. Citizenship classes.

• Schedule: Monday–Wednesday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM.

• Cost: $30/year for ESL classes; $10/year for English Conversation; $10/class for Citizenship.

• Contact: Sue Li at (832) 915-0255

Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) - Offers free virtual and in-person classes. http://www.hcde-texas.org (see Adult Education) For more information call 713.692.6216

Children who learn two languages often develop stronger problem-solving skills.

Children who keep their home language tend to become better English readers.

Bilingual students often show stronger creativity and flexibility.

There are over 7,000 languages spoken in the world today.

Spanish is the world’s second-most spoken native language.

Papua New Guinea alone has over 800 languages — the most of any country.

Babies can recognize different languages before they can talk.

Many languages have words that don’t exist in English — for example:

• “Sobremesa” (Spanish): time spent talking after a meal
• “Komorebi” (Japanese): sunlight filtering through trees
• “Gigil” (Filipino): the irresistible urge to pinch something cute

Children who feel connected to their culture often show higher confidence in school.

Abraham joined Fort Bend ISD in 2012 as a pre-kindergarten student and has grown alongside our district throughout his academic journey. He began in the bilingual program and later transitioned to ESL, where he demonstrated steady progress and determination. In May of this year, Abraham successfully reclassified, marking an important milestone in his educational path.

Abraham is a hardworking student who shows strong problem-solving skills, particularly in mathematics. He approaches challenges with persistence and continues working until he gains understanding. One achievement he is especially proud of is passing the writing TSI on his first attempt, reflecting his growth and confidence as a learner.

Outside of school, Abraham balances academics with work and personal interests. Looking ahead, he plans to join the Army Reserves or National Guard as a way to support his college education while continuing to pursue his future goals in the technology field.

Abraham’s journey reflects growth, commitment, and resilience. He is a valued member of the Fort Bend ISD community, and we look forward to seeing his continued success.

Angela joined Fort Bend ISD this school year after recently moving from China. In the short time she has been at her campus, she has made a positive impression on her teachers.

Her teachers describe her as a pleasure to have in class. She participates in lessons thoughtfully, asks questions when needed, and approaches her work with care and focus.

Starting at a new school in a new community can be challenging, but Angela has shown resilience and a positive attitude. Her presence contributes to a welcoming and supportive classroom environment.

Angela is a valued member of her campus community, and her teachers look forward to seeing all that she will accomplish in the months ahead.

Amy, 2nd grader, dual language program student

Submitted by Mr. Umale, art teacher

Cecelia, 7th grader, former EB student through the ESL program

Submitted by Ms. Smith, art teacher

Submitted by Ms. Allen-Waren, Ronald Thornton Middle School

"One thing that helps me learn English is when my teacher shows examples. Listening to music in English also helps me understand more of what is being said."
– Arely, 8th Grade, RTMS

"One thing that helps me learn English is paying attention so I can learn more and answer questions. My teachers help me every day with my work, and I am learning English little by little."
– Maurico, 7th Grade, RTMS

Submitted by Ms. Aygar, Kempner High School

"My favorite thing about winter at school is soccer training when it starts raining."
– Mohammad, 11th Grade, KHS

"One thing that helps me learn English is watching movies, focusing in my English classes, and practicing English by talking with others."
– Nalan, 10th Grade, KHS

"My favorite thing about winter at school is the decorations."
– Tran, 9th Grade, KHS

"One thing that helps me learn English is reading and writing, especially when my teacher explains something I don’t understand."
– Amina, 9th Grade, KHS

"One thing that helps me learn English is school."
– Eber, 9th Grade, KHS

"A tradition my family celebrates in winter is New Year. We celebrate with relatives at home with lots of food, dancing, friends, and fireworks."
– Gulzhan, 11th Grade, KHS

"My favorite thing about winter at school is when we have holidays."
– Martha, 11th Grade, KHS

Submitted by Ms. Decker, Hightower High School

"A tradition my family celebrates in winter is Las Posadas. Each year, we gather with family for nine days before Christmas. We sing, dance, share special dishes, break piñatas, and enjoy candy together."
– Trujillo, 10th Grade, HHS

"A tradition my family celebrates in winter in El Salvador is preparing tamales and bread with chicken."
– Perez, 10th Grade, HHS

Space available...

Want to expand your business while supporting our community? We are inviting local businesses and organizations to become valued sponsors and join us in making a difference. As a sponsor, your organization will be prominently featured in a future edition of our newsletter, giving you an opportunity to showcase your support and connect with families across the district. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or would like more information, please reach out to cesar.moreira@fortbendisd.gov directly.

Tinou (Angela) Tran, Ed.D.

Director of Multilingual Programs

Joël Johnson

Assistant Director Multilingual Programs

Youngmee Hsu

Multilingual Compliance Officer

Maria Salgueiro-Alessio

District Translator

Joël Johnson

Interim World Language Coordinator

Cesar Moreira

Newcomer Student Support Coordinator

José Barrera

Bilingual Program Coordinator

Raquel Gonzales

Bilingual Program Coordinator

Carolina Álvarez

Immersion Coordinator

Lee Glaesemann

Elementary ESL Coordinator

Cassie Noble

Secondary ESL Coordinator

Georgina Castilleja

Sheltered Instruction Specialist

Priscilla Van

Sheltered Instruction Specialist

Curtis Waczko

Sheltered Instruction Specialist

Amal Shibley

Bilingual Program Specialist