A group of fifth-grade students from Pakanasink Elementary School created a website to welcome new students and their families and make them feel included and valued. What’s so special about this is that the site is for families who speak Chinese, Polish, Arabic, Spanish, Tagalog, French and English!
This was a year-long project involving a range of roles for the students. Some students were script writers, videographers, music editors, and/or artists while others were translators. Each role provided valuable learning experiences in areas such as project management, teamwork, communication, digital skills, and cultural awareness. Collaborating on such a meaningful project not only benefits the incoming families but also enriches the educational experience of the students involved.
This was the brainchild of Laura Haldeman, an English as a New Language teacher, with the support of Darcy Kocsis, technology integration coach, and a tremendous group of fifth-graders who, they agree, did the bulk of the work.
The series of videos – in the seven different languages – introduce newcomers to key areas and people in the building, including Principal Brian Breheny, Assistant Principal Colleen Delles, the main office staff, the music and art teachers, social worker, nurse, librarian, physical education teachers and the all-important cafeteria!
The students utilized Canva to create designs that are inviting and engaging. They carefully chose welcoming colors and clear, readable fonts to enhance the presentation’s appeal. Additionally, they incorporated saved photos, audio files, and videos, enriching their project with multimedia elements to further engage their audience. The photos and videos showcase the school environment, staff, and student activities.
The students’ families were also supportive. Parents and other family members helped with the translations! Taleen Ali and Rand Alsayes combined for the translation to Arabic.
“The dialect is tricky,” said Rand. “My mom, sister and brother helped with the translating.”
“It was definitely a family project,” said Ms. Haldeman, thanking the families for their assistance.
Kyleigh Plowden was one of the script writers. English is her only language but this project was important to her because she wants everyone to feel welcome.
“Some people speak different languages and feel awkward,” she said. “This gives them more of an idea of how welcoming it is here. I want to make a difference instead of sitting here and making them feel like an outsider.”
Avian Singh had his hand in many different aspects of the project, doing much of the videoing and editing, as well as the credits. He came to the United States from India when he was a baby, yet English was difficult for him to learn.
“I know how someone feels because they speak a different language,” he said. “Why not help them out?”
Feedback from other students was encouraged in an effort to improve the site and its content.
When the project was complete, the group gathered for a pizza party and to watch the videos and credits they created. There was so much pride in this amazing project.
“By working together on this project, the fifth-grade students learned valuable skills in collaboration, communication, and digital literacy,” said Ms. Kocsis, “while making a meaningful impact on their school community.”
The Welcome Newcomers website can be reached from the Pine Bush website. Go to pinebushschools.org, click Pakanasink Elementary School and in the school links at the bottom, click on Welcome Newcomers. Or click here.