MIGRANT STUDENTS EARN PASS AWARDS

"Four migrant high school students are being honored at graduation ceremonies for success through PASS," notes Linda Roberts, Director of the Office of Secondary Education for Migrant Youth in Sunnyside. Lacy J. Gaspard of Wahkiakum High School in Cathlamet is honored as Migrant PASS Student of the Year, while Edgar C. German of Quincy High School receives First Runner-Up honors. Ana R. Gonzalez of Pasco High School, and Catalina Cruz Pascual of Nooksack Valley High School received Honorable Mentions. "To learn more about these award winners and their accomplishments, come visit our Internet website, at www.semy.org," Ms. Roberts invites.

SEATTLE MIGRANT EDUCATOR HONORED

Nohra Giraldo takes great pride in helping migrant and native-Spanish speaking students earn credits needed for high school graduation. An educator in Proyecto SABER at Ballard High School in the Seattle School District, Mrs. Giraldo and other Project staff work with more than 125 students each day. Her unique style of being "forthright and realistic while being optimistic and encouraging as well," makes a big difference in Mrs. Giraldo’s success in motivating teenage students, notes school counselor Julie Chapman. Mrs. Giraldo will be honored as PASS Contact Person of the Year by the Office of Secondary Education for Migrant Youth at the OSPI State Promising Practices Conference in October in Spokane.

DUAL LANGUAGE TRAINING JUNE 22-23

The Second Annual Dual Language Institute will be held June 22-23 at Southridge High School in Kennewick. The institute will primarily focus on effective instructional strategies that are good for all ELL (English Language Learner) students. "This will be an excellent professional development opportunity for all teachers, whether you are in the planning stage, or early stages of implementation of a dual language program," says Mary Pruitt, federal programs director at Kennewick School District and a member of the organizing committee.

There will be about 10 presenters from Texas, New Mexico, California and Washington sharing their years of experience in dual language programs. Kathryn Lindholm-Leary, a well-known researcher and author on the subject, will discuss theory, implementation issues, and research results as the keynote speaker and in a special 2-hour workshop.

Go to the Educational Service District 123 website at www.esd123.org and click on the Dual Language icon to register. The institute is limited to 200 participants.

STATEWIDE MSDR CONFERENCE AUG. 18-19

The Migrant Student Data and Recruitment Office (MSDR) will hold its Statewide MSDR Conference Aug. 18-19 at the Yakima Convention Center in Yakima. The theme for the 2005 Annual Statewide MSDR Conference is: "Touching the Lives of Migrant Families — Striving for Excellence." MSDR is a multi-state web-based student data system providing technical assistance and coordination of services with local, state and regional educational/community agencies. The conference objective is to strengthen Washington’s migrant education staff and to create a family of advocates through a variety of shared learning and networking activities. Online registration is available at MSDR’s website at www.msdr.org

HIGHLINE YOUTH TO CONNECT WITH HERITAGE

"Descubriendo Nuestra Cultura" (Discovering Our Culture) is a monthlong summer program for Latino youth who attend the Highline Public Schools in Burien. Six elementary school teachers from Mexico will travel to Burien as part of the Bi-National Migrant Education Teacher Exchange program to teach 120 students reading, writing, Spanish, math and science, along with Mexican history, music, arts, crafts, and games. Classes are conducted entirely in Spanish. Local educators, parents, local officials and other community organizations participate in the program. The end result, besides academic growth, is that Latino children feel pride in their heritage and the family connection is made stronger. And with Latinos and non-Latinos working together, the entire community is made stronger.

MIGRANT STUDENT DROPOUT EARNS COLLEGE DEGREE

Anna Alvarez dropped out of Highland High School to work with her mother in a warehouse. The HEP program at WSU helped her get her GED. Now she is graduating from Idaho State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She is the first in her family to graduate from high school, go to college and receive a college degree.

NUMEROUS SCHOLARSHIPS SET FOR HISPANIC YOUTH

Hispanic high school students have until June 30 to apply for one of 70 $2,000 or two $25,000 scholarships. To qualify, students must be Spanish-speaking, bicultural high school students with at least a 3.0 grade-point average and who want to pursue careers in the healthcare industry. The scholarships are funded by the PacifiCare Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. Application information for the PacifiCare Latino Health Scholars program can be found at http://pacificare.com/ or http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/1338/pcare.

Meanwhile, the federal Housing and Urban Development Department is awarding $54 million in grants-in-aid to 34 states and the District of Columbia to help young men and women, ages 16-24, to receive their high school equivalency diplomas and provide them with on-the-job training. Youth will be provided training in homebuilding skills that will qualify them for careers in the building industry. For more information visit: http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/whatsnew/eta_default.cfm?id=1106.

PARENTING BROCHURE AVAILABLE IN SPANISH

A brochure to help parents prepare their preschoolers to succeed in school is now available in Spanish. "La Lectura es lo Primero" is a translation of "Put Reading First: Helping Your Child Learn to Read – A Parent Guide" and provides an overview of the findings of the National Reading Panel for parents. It offers information about what to expect from a school's reading program based on research evidence. It also suggests ways parents can reinforce reading instruction at home with everyday activities and interactions. To view and download the brochure, visit: http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/k-3.html or http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/pdf/PRF_espan_.pdf.