Multilingual Learner News

Hello multilingual families,

It was so wonderful to see everyone who came to open house last night. It was a joy to see our building filled with families and children who couldn't wait to show their caregivers around! As next week is a short week, there will not be an ML Newsletter. Don't forget that there is no school on Wednesday, 11/22. Thursday, 11/23, and Friday, 11/24.

Read on for information about:

• Book Fair: Thank you Lake Bluff PTO!
• US Department of Education: "Being Bilingual is a Superpower!"
• Family Toolkits for language learners
• Happy Diwali: Enjoy a community Diwali celebration right here in Shorewood!
• Lunch
• The school calendar

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Happy learning!

Jennifer Conigliaro

Multilingual Learner (ML) Teacher

This month's Scholastic Book Fair had some amazing selections. Thanks to the generosity of the Lake Bluff PTO, these are all titles that are now available to students through the ML classroom library. I am most excited about We Are Grateful, a picture book about gratitude that includes the Cherokee language. Thank you to all families for supporting the book fair and to our amazing Lake Bluff PTO.

The U.S. Department of Education released information about its new initiative to promote and grow multilingual programs and encourage and support a multilingual educator workforce.

This is partially in response to data showing that only 20 percent of the U.S. population speaks more than one language. This initiative is intended to increase bilingual education opportunities and encourage multilingual instruction in all grades. Also as part of this agenda, grants are intended to support programs that preserve multiple native U.S. languages, including Hawaiian, Alaskan, and some Native American languages.

You can read the release by clicking here.

“Make no mistake: multilingualism is a superpower. Knowing more than one language, acquiring a new language through school, or learning new languages later in life can provide tangible academic, cognitive, economic and sociocultural advantages,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “As our nation continues to grow more diverse, and as our global economy becomes more interconnected, we cannot seize our nation's full potential to compete and lead the world unless we Raise the Bar and provide all students with opportunities to become multilingual.”

Through the above news release, you can access a complete family toolkit from NCLEA, the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition. This toolkit includes parent rights, questions you can ask at school, and how you can support your children as language learners at school. Click below to access:

• English Family Toolkit
• Arabic Family Toolkit
• Chinese Family Toolkit
• Spanish Family Toolkit

To all those who celebrate, Happy Diwali! Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights and is celebrated around the world by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. It is the biggest holiday of the year in India. The holiday began Sunday, November 12, and symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

For the first time ever, there will be a community-wide Diwali celebration right here in Shorewood on Sunday, November 19, and all are welcome! ElevAsian, the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP), and the Milwaukee Bucks are hosting this celebration at the Atrium, on Capitol Drive across from Atwater School. There will be dance, crafts, and food. You can buy tickets and learn more using this link. Children are $10 and adults are $30.

If your family would like to share photos or stories of your celebrations of Diwali, please email them to me at jconigliaro@shorewood.k12.wi.us. Lake Bluff students enjoy sharing and learning about each other's traditions and celebrations.

Students will have multiple choices each day for lunch. They will tell their teacher their choice when they arrive at school in the morning.

Pork is never served at Lake Bluff. Foods such as bacon, sausage, or hot dogs are made from turkey or beef.

Students may also bring their own lunch to school if you prefer.

You can click on this link to see the full school calendar. Each event is labeled as follows:

• LB = Lake Bluff Elementary School
• ATW = Atwater Elementary School
• SIS = Shorewood Intermediate School
• SHS = Shorewood High School
• ALL SCHOOLS = applies to all 4 schools in the district

Look for events labeled LB or ALL SCHOOLS for your child.

There is NO SCHOOL on the following days:

• Wednesday, 22 November
• Thursday, 23 November
• Friday, 24 November

Email: jconigliaro@shorewood.k12.wi.us
Website: lakebluffml.com
Location: 1600 East Lake Bluff Boulevard, Shorewood, WI, USA
Phone: (414)963-6971

Equity, Growth, & Excellence For All

The Shorewood School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, creed, ancestry, pregnancy, marital or parental status, gender identity or expression, veteran status, physical, mental, emotional or learning disability, or any other legally protected status in its educational programs, activities, or employment with the District. The District also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following designee handles inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Human Resources, Title IX Coordinator and Compliance Officer, 1701 E. Capitol Drive, Shorewood, WI 53211, 414-961-2854, humanresources@shorewood.k12.wi.us.