English Learner

Parent Advisory Council

General Meeting

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

7:00-8:15

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Public Schools of Brookline • Office of English Language Education

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Welcome to the 2nd ELPAC* meeting of the year!

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*ELPAC = English Learner Parent Advisory Council

Interpretation Services

• We will use language specific audio channels for interpretation �services available through Zoom.
• Click on the interpretation feature at the bottom of your screen
• Select your preferred language
• You will now be able to hear the meeting in your preferred language
• If you would like to reply or ask questions during the meeting, you �may do so in your preferred language. The interpreter will either return to the main meeting to translate or type into the chat.

One interpreter was requested for this evening:

Mandarin Chinese: Yudi W.�

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Agenda

Introductions and Contact Information

Mindy Paulo, ELE Director�mindy_paulo@psbma.org

Betsy Davis, ELE Family and Community Engagement Coordinator�betsy_davis@psbma.org

Dr. Natalia Linos, ELPAC Liaison to the Brookline School Committee

natalia_linos@psbma.org

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Qiaoqing (Wendy) Zhong, ELPAC Co-Chairperson

wendyzhongqiaoqing@gmail.com

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796

There are 796 English learners in grades PK-12 in the Public Schools of Brookline.

(As of January 10, 2024)

11%

English learners make up 11% of the district’s PK-12 student enrollment.

(As of January 10, 2024)

Did you know….

Important Announcements

• ACCESS for ELLs

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• A required exam
• Measures the English progress of our English learners
• Students take the test between now and February vacation
• Taken during the school day
• Results will be sent home in the late spring by mail
• There will be a parent information session to understand results in the spring
• All ELs and opt-outs must take this test

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Important Announcements

• Reading Scholars - for 1st-5th grade English learners

Session 2 - Fridays, beginning January 19th

(Class placements and schedules will be sent out this week)

• EFP - English classes for English learner parents/caregivers

Session 2 - Mondays and Fridays, beginning Friday, January 12th

(You should have received your class confirmation by email)

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Please plan to attend all meetings of these programs or let the instructor know about any absence.

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Supporting our Students:

Student Mental Health

and Engagement

Guest Speaker: Dr. Matt DuBois

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Brookline’s Senior Director of Clinical Services and Social-Emotional Learning

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Social and Emotional Learning

Child and Teen Mental Health

• Prior to the pandemic, about 1 in 5 children met criteria for a mental health diagnosis.
• The majority of children with mental health diagnoses do not access treatment.
• Majority (70%) of children primarily access mental health services at school.

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Mental Health

• Being mentally healthy DOES NOT mean feeling good all of the time.

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• Being mentally healthy means that you:
• Experience all emotions.
• Have feelings that match the situations you’re in.
• When you experience unpleasant emotions, you can handle them so that you can meet your goals.

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Mental Health

Every emotion is important.

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• The goal is to develop skills to influence our emotions, not to eliminate them.
• Pleasant emotions communicate that something is safe, desirable, and/or preferred.
• Sadness communicates that you have lost something that is important to you.
• Worry/fear communicates that a threat might be present.

Mental Health

• Culture influences our emotional experiences, the way we express emotions, and the way we regulate emotions.

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• For example, there is a continuum of how people express emotions that is heavily influenced by culture.

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• In schools, we want to make sure that kids can express and regulate emotions in culturally-affirming ways.

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Emotions Impact Learning

SEL Goals (the why)

The PSB SEL programming is meant to:

1. Support development of SEL competencies/skills (e.g., emotional regulation, self-awareness, social awareness),
2. Enhance access to protective factors (e.g., school belonging, self-efficacy, supportive relationships), and
3. Support academic engagement (e.g., attendance, time on-task).

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Our SEL program is designed to be preventative and responsive.

This work is meant to promote wellness AND engagement in school.

Protective Factors

Protective Factors

All Students

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Transitions are Stressful!

• Most people experience transitions (e.g., moving, starting a new job, starting a new school) as stressful.

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• Adjusting to new cultures, a new language, a new country, a new community, and a new school can feel:
• Exciting, hopeful, sad, worrisome, and frustrating (all at the same time).

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Supporting Your Child

• We want kids to form healthy relationships with their feelings.
• Feelings are not bad. Feelings are information.

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• It is normal for kids to be sad, tearful, worried, anxious, stressed in the weeks following a transition.
• Validate these feelings in yourself and your child(ren).
• Talk about ways to honor unpleasant feelings (e.g., feeling sad) AND ways to feel hopeful about current experience.

When to get help?

• If you see significant changes in your child’s mood or behavior that lasts for several weeks.
• Statements that indicate a desire to harm oneself or others
• Difficulties attending (or staying) at school
• Regularly having difficulty controlling worry (without a clear stressor).
• Changes in eating habits
• Withdrawing from friends and family
• Engagement in unhealthy coping skills (e.g., substance use, self-injury)
• If you are concerned about your child, email your child’s counselor or teacher(s).

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If you have concerns regarding safety:

• 988
• Contact the BEST team: 800-981-4357
• Consider accessing Emergency Department

Questions?

Let’s hear from you!

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BREAKOUT ROOMS

Facilitated by

Betsy Davis, Katy Ouellette, Mindy Paulo

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To share your thoughts, we’ll be using

this “Jamboard”

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Discussion questions - ELPAC January 10, 2024

Breakout Room Discussion Question #1

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What does your child do after school? �

Is your child involved in any activities outside �of the classroom? �

If yes, which activities?

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Breakout Room Discussion Question #2

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What kinds of activities might interest your child?

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What activities could the Brookline Schools �offer to engage your child?

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Breakout Room Discussion Question #3

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What sometimes prevents your child from participating in activities outside of the classroom? �

How can we help your child participate?

Opportunities for involvement

Please see this document for a listing of activities offered at each K-8 school.

Click on these sites/ check the What’s New?? newsletter to learn about programs for children (K-12) and adults:

The Brookline Recreation Department (financial assistance is available)

Ex: high school basketball begins next week! $120 January 13th-March 9th Saturdays 5-8 PM

The Brookline Library

The Brookline Adult and Community Education Program

The Brookline Music School

The Brookline Booksmith - event tomorrow night! Meet the authors

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Event at the Booksmith tomorrow evening

Click here for information and tickets

The Brookline Teen Center (BTC)

WHERE: 40 Aspinwall Avenue, Brookline

WHAT: Clubs, music, games, sports, tutoring, special events and more!

HOW: Parents must sign their children up, using the form on the website. A $50 fee is requested. Free memberships are available to families who would benefit.

WHEN: Middle school: Mondays and Fridays from 2:00-6:00 PM for 6th, 7th, 8th graders

High school: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays from 3:00-8:00 PM

Watch the WHAT’S NEW?? Newsletter for information about planned events at the BTC.

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Opportunities for Engagement at �Brookline High School

Guest Speaker: Katy Frost Ouellette, BHS International Student Advisor

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Contact Information:��Katy_Ouellette@psbma.org

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Please email me with any follow-up questions!

Words of Advice from our English Learners

• “Be patient. Making new friends takes time, but it’s not impossible.”
• “Be brave. Set a challenge for yourself to do something uncomfortable.”
• “Sometimes your new friends don’t look or act like old friends, but they can still become good friends. Be open.”

What has been the most successful way to engage in school life at BHS?

BHS Athletic Opportunities

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After-school Intramurals: Fitness Center, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-4:30 in the Tappan Gym.

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Brookline Recreation Basketball: The registration for the High School Basketball League has just been posted and you can find it here: BREC High School Bball. This year the season is going to be played on Saturdays between the hours of 5:00-8:00pm.

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Spring Sports Teams: Spring sports registration will take place in early March. Take a look at this page for more information.

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BHS Club Opportunities

Student-Led Clubs: Most meet weekly during X Block (typically Wednesdays) for 35 minutes; some meet after-school. Link to full list of clubs.

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Clubs are usually organized around common identity or common interests!

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It’s not too late to join!

Examples of Popular Identity Based Clubs

APAC:Affinity and planning space for AAPI students at BHS. This includes LNY, Holi, Diwali etc.

LatinX and Allies Club: This is an identity group in which we try to nurture and embrace the multiplicity of cultures and belongings that exist in the Hispanic world.

Jewish Student Union: To explore Judaism and connect with our amazing community through food, activities, and fun.

Russian Club: Watch movies, discuss culture (all in Russian).

SWANA: The purpose is to create a safe space for people of Southwest Asian and North African people of descent and educate allies.

Japanese Club: A space to celebrate and discuss Japanese culture

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Examples of Popular Interest-Based Clubs

ACG Club: This is a place for people who like anime, animated Japanese movies, manga and other ACG related subjects to hang out, share interests and watch anime or read manga together.

Badminton: Play Badminton at the Tappan Gym!

Quiz Bowl: (After-school) Compete in Academic Competitions!

BHS Science Olympiad: BHS Science Olympiad Club is a great resource for students to learn about specific areas of science and compete against other high schools in said subject(s).

K-Pop: High-energy, choreographed dance group!

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BHS Social Events

Our English learner/ international community holds social events periodically where we come together to have some fun!

Here are some upcoming events that we hope to offer in Semester 2: New!!! Wednesdays: X Block Socials for International Community! (food, friends, fun for and with international students!)

This Winter/Spring…

• Brookline Teen Center Orientation/Social - TBD (February)
• After-School Movie or Game Night - TBD (March)
• Spring Field Trip into Boston - Scavenger Hunt/Amazing Race! (May)

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Do you have any ideas/suggestions?

Please send Katy an email with any questions related to these opportunities and/or ideas for additional opportunities!

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(See the last slide for all contact information)

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Important Announcements

• 2024 STAR Academy

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• Program Dates: Monday, July 29 - Friday, August 16, 2024
• Location: Lawrence School
• Applications Available: Wednesday, February 14, 2024

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ELPAC Meeting Dates this Year

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Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

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All meetings are on Zoom from 7:00-8:15.

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Zoom links and interpretation request forms can be found prior to each meeting in the What’s New?? newsletter.

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Next Meeting: �Wednesday, March 13, 2024

7:00-8:15 PM On Zoom

Tentative agenda topic:

Summer Opportunities for English Learners

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See you there!

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Thank you!

Contact Information

Mindy Paulo, ELE Director�mindy_paulo@psbma.org

Betsy Davis, ELE Family and Community Engagement Coordinator�betsy_davis@psbma.org

Qiaoqing (Wendy) Zhong, ELPAC Co-Chairperson

wendyzhongqiaoqing@gmail.com

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Katy Frost Ouellette, BHS International Student Advisor

katy_ouellette@psbma.org

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Matt DuBois, PSB Senior Director of Clinical Services and Social-Emotional Learning matthew_dubois@psbma.org

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