Department of Multilingual Learners

In BSD's diverse classrooms, multilingual learners face unique challenges as they navigate language barriers, cultural differences, and daily hurdles. These students display incredible resilience, resourcefulness, and perseverance. This year, let’s take a note from these amazing students. They demonstrate an unwavering commitment to their education despite adversity.

At a time where we all might feel pressure and challenges coming from new leadership and executive orders, let's come together as a community—collaborating, sharing resources, offering compassion, and lean into one another—to ensure all staff, students, and families have the support they need to feel successful and safe.

In this month's newsletter, we highlight some bright spots in the Department of Multilingual Learners as well as offer up some District-level and State-level resources and guidance. Thanks for coming together and for all you do!

Although January marks the start of a new calendar year, for those of us in the education field, we also consider each school year to be a new start. For me personally, this new year has been an inspiring shift in my role at the Sustainability Academy. After 17 years of teaching first grade, I am now embracing my new position as an EL teacher collaborating with grades 1, 3, and 5. Much like setting intentions or a resolution in the new year, I found myself entering this new role with the same mindset. I knew that although my place in the SA system was shifting, I needed to take with me the same values and lean into collaborating with new learning teams in a different way. Another intention I set was to begin learning Spanish. It has been exciting and rewarding to be learning a new language and share the feeling of vulnerability with students. Luckily, some parts of the day have felt natural, like teaching first grade reading groups or guiding a team of students on research during literacy. Other parts have been a learning curve, especially fifth grade content. All in all, it has been a gift to learn from my amazing colleagues, students, and community members at SA through a new lens and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity.

Wishing you all a happy New Year!

Meg Lenti

As a follow-up to the collaboration in the December newsletter, Anna Viets, EMS EL teacher, visited BHS Rachel Wilkes’s reading class to allow the middle schoolers to share their personal flags. They did an outstanding job presenting, and afterward, they had the opportunity to ask questions about life in high school. It was a wonderful opportunity for community connection and shared learning!

Pictured below, both classes come together for a group photo after a successful presentation.

Parenting Group for Swahili Speakers

This past fall, Parent University partnered with The Howard Center to host a parenting group specifically for Swahili-speaking families. The participants were newly arrived in Burlington and had numerous questions, concerns, and unmet needs. With the invaluable support of facilitator Aline Kwizera, we were able to address their challenges and extend the number of sessions to better support these families.

The Howard Center also arranged for a representative from Champlain Housing to assist families with incomplete housing applications. Additionally, Hemant Ghising from VSAC joined the group to discuss grant opportunities that could help parents cover the costs of driver education classes. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Aline Kwizera and Alicia Araje-Van Dyk, participants successfully completed their applications.

Math Class with Son Do
Our weekly math class with Son continues to be a remarkable success! Parents and children gather at Flynn Elementary School Library every Monday, working with dedicated volunteers to improve their math skills. The enthusiasm and commitment of these eager learners are truly inspiring.

Winter Series: English Conversation Classes
Parent University has recently launched a winter series of remote English conversation classes. The first session took place last Wednesday, bringing together learners with varying levels of English proficiency. Participants receive multilingual support from Aline Kwizera (French, Kirundi, and Swahili) and Yasmin Mohamed (Somali and Maay Maay). To better cater to their needs, we may divide the class into different levels. Additionally, we have scheduled guest speakers from community organizations to share valuable resources and insights.

Computer Class at The Family Room
The Parent University computer class at The Family Room continues to attract a large and diverse group of participants. These individuals, who speak many different languages, seek technical support and guidance in using computers and smartphones. Our team frequently assists with online forms and applications, addressing practical needs. With funding from Microsoft TechSpark, Technology for Tomorrow is offering an additional eight classes this term. These sessions will cover smartphone usage, translation apps, and internet safety. To celebrate the progress and dedication of our participants, we are hosting a small dinner party on February 6th.

On January 16th, the Equity Team in collaboration with several liaisons hosted a work retreat for the ML department centered on building resilience and team bonding—essential skills for navigating both personal and professional challenges. The day was filled with hands-on workshops, group discussions, and mindfulness exercises designed to strengthen mental and emotional resilience in an open, collaborative environment. Participants shared personal stories, exchanged coping strategies, and deepened connections while addressing compassion fatigue and learning how to maintain personal well-being while supporting others.

Interactive games such as 7 and 7, Follow the Leader, and Human Bingo added a playful element to team-building, and activities like Co-Care and personal Name Stories fostered meaningful ways to support one another. The retreat also included a session focused on defining the mission and establishing team agreements for the ML office. The day concluded with a cultural exchange activity, “Hello Around the World,” allowing team members to greet each other in various languages. Throughout the retreat, resilience-led sessions emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, fostering social support systems, and practicing self-care.

A key takeaway was the realization that setbacks are opportunities for growth, providing valuable lessons for both individuals and teams. By the end of the retreat, everyone walked away with practical tools to stay grounded, focused, and better equipped to support each other in the workplace and beyond.

WIDA testing is off to a strong start at many schools! Most of the yellow boxes have been delivered, and new materials are on the way for those who need them—everything is moving smoothly.

A huge thank you for all your hard work—whether it was coordinating accommodations, setting up schedules, or supporting students to feel comfortable during this important test. We truly appreciate everything you do!

• If you are not sure, PLEASE ASK. There are BSD personnel who are committed to gathering (and, when appropriate, disseminating) ACCURATE information to guide educators, inform and advise families, and ensure the safety of students. Please contact your principal FIRST to check out the validity of anything you hear. If that doesn’t satisfy you, please call Miriam directly at (585) 749-8258.

• Please be circumspect and professional with regard to what you say and where you say it. Students see and hear what we do, and our own opinions and feelings impact them greatly. Our principal job is to encourage students to come to school, focus on their learning, and know that we want them to be successful here with us in BSD. Rumors can cause great harm!

• BSD has created clear procedures for every school and office to follow with regard to interaction with non-local law enforcement. These have been vetted for legal accuracy, explained thoroughly, and are being posted in school offices. Most teachers WILL NOT NEED to act on any of those procedures, but may be interested in knowing they are there, and that school leaders are knowledgeable about them.

• We are not in this alone! BSD/DML folks are in constant contact with local, state, and national agencies who are addressing the same issues. We are always on the lookout for new mandates as well as new possibilities for action as a school District.

Here are various resources:

• BSD Procedure for Encounters with Law Enforcement
• Fugee Family Home Page
• Fugee Family Resources
• Executive Orders and Implications: A Letter from the Vermont State Refugee Office
• Guidance for School Districts Related to Immigration Action - VT Agency of Education
• Vermont Language Justice Project
• National Newcomer Network - The Century Foundation
• The Asylum Process — Vermont Asylum Assistance Project
• Dear Colleague Letter: Resources for Ensuring Equal Access to Education for Immigrant Students | U.S. Department of Education
• Dear Colleague Letter: Resources for Ensuring Equal Access to Education for Immigrant Students (En Español) | U.S. Department of Education

• BSD procedures were developed in consultation with attorneys and many other school districts.
• Calls have been made to all multilingual families in BSD to offer reassurance and support.
• Students and families most likely to feel the impact of new federal action have been recommended to view videos from the Vermont Language Justice Program (CLICK HERE for "Know your Rights" videos in various languages) and carry reminders of their rights in the form of "Red Cards" (CLICK HERE to find templates of red cards), as well as any pertinent documents. Some To Dos and some Things to Avoid have also been shared directly.
• The same students and families have been provided with referrals to places and individuals for more information and support.

We see and feel our students, and they see and feel us every day. This is indeed a challenging time for many, but our constant support and accurate communication will help us do the right thing.

If you have any questions at all, please reach out to the following people in the district:

Miriam Ehtesham-Cating: mcating@bsdvt.org

Victor Prussack: vprussac@bsdvt.org

Russ Elek: relek@bsdvt.org

Please contact us with comments, questions, resources, and your stories.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Email: Miriam Ehtesham-Cating (mcating@bsdvt.org) & Emily Kayoi (ekayoi@bsdvt.org)

Website: BSDVT