Multilingual Programs Newsletter

Dear Parents and Families,

The school year is off to a great start! Our students have spent the month of August getting used to their new routines, meeting teachers and classmates, and beginning new learning. We are thankful for your support as your child starts another school year.

As we move into September, remember that learning can happen anywhere. You can support your child by reading together, talking about their school day, practicing English, exploring your community, cooking together, and asking questions. These simple activities can help your child learn and grow.

We are excited to continue working with you throughout the school year. Families and schools are partners in helping students succeed. Your support, encouragement, and involvement are very important.

We also appreciate the many languages, cultures, and traditions that our families bring to our schools. Your home language and culture are important, and they help make our school community stronger.

Thank you for being an important part of your child’s education. We look forward to a wonderful school year together!

With appreciation,
Your Multilingual Programs Team

Your Partnership is Essential!

Please consider partnering with the Fort Bend ISD Multilingual department to learn more about our bilingual and ESL programs. We want to assist you in ensuring that your child receives the appropriate support they deserve to thrive linguistically and academically in FBISD. Acquiring another language is an enriching experience that requires a strong team to be successful. You have a unique opportunity to collaborate with teachers and administrators from across the district to recommend decisions that impact thousands of FBISD students! Parents of emergent bilingual (EB) students are needed to serve on the Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC).

How can this opportunity help my family? By learning how the LPAC functions and develops its recommendations you will be better equipped to advocate for your child(ren) as they navigate through the Texas public education system.

What is the time commitment? We acknowledge that your time is precious, and everyone is asking for it. LPAC meetings generally last no more than 2 hours and you decide how much you can support.

What type of training is needed? The state of Texas has developed a FREE training that FBISD will review with you.

We look forward to partnering with your family as we support all emergent bilingual students in Fort Bend ISD!

Kind regards,

The FBISD Multilingual Team

If you are interested in serving as an LPAC member or you have other questions, please let us know by completing the Microsoft form below. You can direct any questions to curtis.waczko@fortbendisd.gov

Emergent Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (EB PAC)

Are you a parent or guardian of an Emergent Bilingual (EB) student? We invite you to join the EB Parent Advisory Committee (EB PAC) and help strengthen programs and services for EB students and families.

EB PAC representatives will:

• Represent the voice of families at their school
• Share feedback, ideas, and family needs with the district
• Help improve programs and services for EB students
• Connect with other multilingual families and district leaders

Who can participate?
Parents or guardians of EB students are encouraged to participate. Each school will have the opportunity to have a parent representative.

Ready to make your voice count?
Nominate yourself or a parent from your school today!

In-person and virtual participation options will be available.

You can direct any questions to cesar.moreira@fortbendisd.gov

Our Parent Academy offers EB families practical information, resources, and guidance to help you navigate school and support your child’s success from elementary school through graduation and beyond.

Sessions may cover topics such as using technology and digital tools to support your child, understanding grades and academic programs, linguistic accommodations, preparing for high school, graduation requirements, college and career planning, scholarships and financial aid, postsecondary education and training opportunities, navigating the U.S. school system, family health and wellness, and other resources available to EB families.

Join our GroupMe to receive everything you need directly in one place, including session information, dates and times, reminders, links, resources, and important updates.

Join the GroupMe and stay connected with Parent Academy!

Language can influence how we describe time.
Different languages organize time in different ways. Some cultures describe the future as being in front of us, while others describe it as behind us.

Some languages do not use the same grammatical categories as English.
Languages can organize nouns by gender, shape, size, or whether something is living or nonliving.

There are languages that whistle.
Whistled languages have developed in several parts of the world and can allow people to communicate across long distances.

Some languages have no word for a specific color.
Languages differ in how they divide the color spectrum, meaning that two languages may use different numbers of basic color terms.

Some languages have different ways of speaking to show respect.
Languages may use special vocabulary, verb forms, or sentence structures depending on a person's age, social position, or relationship with the speaker.

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

We would love to celebrate YOUR CHILD in our Multilingual Newsletter! Share their achievements in areas such as academics, sports, the arts, and more.

📧 Contact cesar.moreira@fortbendisd.gov to nominate your child for a spotlight.

Mishka, 9th grader, Former EB student through the ESL program

Submitted by Ms. Smith, art teacher

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

Francisco Barocio-Ramirez

World Language Coordinator

Cesar Moreira

Newcomer Student Support Coordinator

José Barrera

Bilingual Program Coordinator

Raquel Gonzales

Bilingual Program Coordinator

Carolina Álvarez

Immersion Coordinator

Amal Shibley, Ed.D.

Bilingual Program Specialist

Grissel Baylon

Bilingual Program Specialist

Lee Glaesemann

Elementary ESL Program Coordinator

Priscilla Van

Sheltered Instruction Specialist

Curtis Waczko

Sheltered Instruction Specialist

Georgina Castilleja, Ed.D.

Secondary ESL Program Coordinator

Stormie Alston

Sheltered Instruction Specialist

Ashlei Evans, Ed.D.

Sheltered Instruction Specialist