HPS MLD News

February 💖

Hello February👋

Dear HPS Families,

Though February has the least number of school days in a year, it happens to be one of our most active and most productive months on the calendar. As we start this month, many events are happening at HPS. We are a diverse community that honors and observes our cultural differences through education. As such, we will celebrate Black History Month with activities and speakers. My most favorite day is February 1 because it is National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. Yum!! Groundhog Day is February 2. Let us hope the groundhog is as excited as we are for Spring to begin. Presidents’ Day is February 17 and there will no school.

The Michigan Department of Education requires the testing of all K-12 Multilingual Learners (MLs) using an annual state mandated assessment. Therefore, we will continue to take the WIDA ACCESS test, which began the week of January 27. The test measures our MLs’ English knowledge, skills and academic language proficiency. This information to helps us make decisions about instruction for your child(ren).

Students do not need to study for WIDA ACCESS. Parents/Guardians should have received letters from their child(ren)’s school(s).

Please prepare for test days by making sure your child:

gets plenty of sleep
is at school and on time
eats a good breakfast (at home if they do not eat at school)
takes the test seriously and does not rush through it

Also, if possible, please:

do not take your child(ren) out of school early
avoid scheduling doctor, dentist or other appointments on test dates

Please contact your school Principal, ML Coordinator, or reach out to us, if you have questions.

Please keep supporting our staff and HPS. Thank you for your kindness, smiles and modeling the importance of a strong education.

Sincerely,

Afrin F. Alavi/MLD Director

Mirjana Maros/MLD District Facilitator

Amela Kukic/MLD Admin Assistant

News From MLD District Facilitator

Michigan Seal of Biliteracy

Our community is buzzing with excitement as about 50 students from our high schools are set to be recognized with the Seal of Biliteracy! This program acknowledges students who have demonstrated proficiency in both English and another language, providing them with a valuable credential for future academic and career opportunities. For more details about this incredible achievement and the opportunities it provides, be sure to check out the full article in Yemeni American News.

Summit K12

Here’s another exciting reason to celebrate! Summit K12 is helping students improve their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, and we’re seeing fantastic progress. But it doesn’t stop there—our program also offers parents the chance to get involved. With each active student license, up to four family members can gain their own access to the program. This makes it easier for families to practice together and create a supportive learning environment at home. Check out the attached photo for instructions on how to get started!

What is Family Access?

What Does it Do?

ML Home-to-School Coordinating Specialist

Women’s English Language Learner Sessions

If you are still interested, we have availability for you to join the Women's English Language Learner Sessions. The sessions are held at Tau Beta and Dickinson East. Over the past few months, we've been focusing on helping parents learn about different topics. The objective is to introduce them to different learning topics and tools. After participating in the weekly sessions, they are provided with materials to continue the lesson at home with their children. This initiative aims to strengthen the relationship between home and school.

For example, in January, we focused on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. We read an article together, analyzed it, and discussed questions. Their assignment was to take the same article home and work on it with their child/children. We are committed to supporting parents in our district so they can effectively assist their children at home. Next, we will focus on sight words. Mothers will practice these words during the sessions and then practice reading with their children at home.

In addition to the educational sessions, we have planned a few field trips. In February, we will visit the Arab American Museum for a guided tour. Towards the end of April or early May, we will explore Greenfield Village. In early June, we aim to embark on the Diamond Jacks Detroit Riverboat Tour.

We are excited about the upcoming sessions and field trips, and we look forward to your participation in remaining sessions of the Women's English Language Learner Session. If you are interested, please contact me or fill out the survey below. I will then follow up with you. Thank you for your interest.

Survey Link: https://forms.gle/KLgA4mU9M9JVFjqY7

Afaf Abdo-Nagi Saleh: ML Home-to-School Coordinating Specialist

313-729-9764

aasaleh@hamtramckschools.org

Languages: Arabic and English

Early Childhool Elementary (ECE)

Here we are going strong into the New Year 2025, which for me marks 15 years of educating and servicing students at HPS. These last years, spending so much time with the little ML students, refreshed my memory of the time when my daughter was an ESL student and all the challenges she went through. She was a first grader with very limited English proficiency and without any language support at school, struggling day by day to understand what was going on around her. Her language barrier and the constant struggle in the first couple years were the reason I promised to myself, that one day I will be the one who will go above and beyond to help the little ML students to feel more comfortable in the new environment and learn the second language in the most interesting, engaging and child friendly way.

So, here I am in the most diverse city in Michigan where in each classroom there are about 70%-80% ML students. If you are wondering why I am writing all of this, the answer is WIDA. This word is used so much during this time of the year. The ML Department uses WIDA ACCESS Assessment to measure English level proficiency of our ML students in listening, reading, speaking and writing.

Starting on Monday, January 27, 2025 students at ECE in 1st and 2nd grade will be tested online in reading, listening and speaking while writing will be in paper and pencil form. Kindergarten students will be assessed one on one for all domains in paper and pencil form. With no doubt I can say that our ML students will exceed the expectations and show their highest level of knowledge because they have had great resources, regular servicing and qualified ML teachers along with a paraprofessional.

This makes me realize how lucky students at HPS are to have a great bond of educators who are ready to support students through everyday learning. I wished my daughter had a strong and organized ML Department like we have now at HPS. This would have helped her tremendously to go through the language acquisition process much more easily.

Dickinson East Elementary (DE)

The Dickinson East ML team had an exciting and impactful month, highlighted by two remarkable events. First, the first-grade ML students experienced a memorable field trip to Legoland, where they explored new horizons by building Legos, riding a train, and marveling at a miniature Detroit city made entirely of Legos. The students also worked collaboratively to construct a dance floor and were thrilled by the immersive 4D film experience, making it a day of creativity and discovery.

Additionally, the team hosted the "My Food, My Culture" event, where 6th-grade ML students and their parents shared cherished cultural recipes and dishes with the school community, including parents, teachers, and staff. The event was further enriched by sponsorships from local stores and restaurants. The turnout was exceptional, celebrating the community's rich diversity and fostering connections through food and culture.

My Food, My Culture

Legoland

Dickinson West Elementary (DW)

During the month of January, ML students took their Winter F & P reading test. Many students showed improvement compared to their Fall tests from the beginning of the year. Great job everyone! Continue reading every day! Learning a-z (Raz-kids) is a great tool to practice reading. Many of our ML students have enjoyed using it.
ML and former ML students from DW participated in the Hamtramck's Got Talent on January 20th. Congratulations to Pismita B. (1st place), Amina S. (2nd place), and Janat A. (3rd place).
WIDA testing started January 27th. We hope everyone will try their best and showcase their English language skills.
Other events included:

Student Assemblies on January 17th
Honors' Breakfast on January 31st

Holbrook

Family Reading Time

Come meet author Ruth McNally Barshaw

3:30-5:00 Wednesday February 5th, 2025 at Holbrook School

The first 20 families will not only get to enjoy some yummy pizza, they will also get a new book.

Learn more about Ruth before the visit @ https://ruthexpress.com/

If you want to be part of the 20 families in attendance, please sign the form and return it to Mrs. Hill in the library.

Holbrook’s Restorative Practices Coordinator, Ms. Sheila Flowers and the PBIS team for the month of October, the PBIS Leadership team would like to accomplish the following things

with your assistance:

Character Trait: Responsibility October
Character Trait: Honesty November
Character Trait: Integrity December
Character Trait: Respect January
Character Trait: Being Honorable February
Sending Positive Postcards to Students
Culminating Activity each month for students showing Responsibility, Honesty, Integrity

WIDA ACCESS 2025 will begin on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.

Tau Beta (TB)

February is WIDA ACCESS Assessment Month. Our Multilingual Learners Kindergarten through 8th grade will be taking WIDA ACCESS Assessment which is an assessment of the progress in the English language. The test consists of four parts: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Look for the ClassDojo announcements about your child’s testing date and make sure they have a good night sleep and nutritious breakfast.

Fun Learning Experiences in Tau Beta

Kindergarten ML students at Tau Beta have been learning about Morning Routines by singing a song and walking a Barbie doll around the house explaining what she does first, next, then and last. At the same time our 4th grade ML groups are learning about animal adaptations through Reader’s Theater.

Resources

Encourage your children in Grades 1-8 to work on Summit K-12 daily. This program is located in Clever and working on it consistently will help your child exit the English Language Learner Program/score proficient on the WIDA ACCESS.
WIDA ACCESS Sample Items: https://wida.wisc.edu/assess/access/preparing-students/practice

Kosciuszko Middle School (KMS)

The weather is definitely colder but that is not stopping our busy bees here at Kosciuszko Middle School! On Friday January 10, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources visited KMS and presented to our multilingual learners about the fish and the ecosystem of the Great Lakes.

The following Friday, January 17, the students went on a field trip to the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit. At the center, they continued their education about the ecosystem of the Great Lakes and attended a class on the story of the sturgeon.

Our KMS ML students were invited back, as only one of two schools selected to participate, in a special program funded by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, US Fish and Wildlife Services, and Bass Pro Sports. The multi-part program focuses on responsible use of state parks and appreciation of Great Lakes aquatic species. All students will receive a fishing pole and tackle kit, along with training on how to fish, in order to foster lifelong enjoyment of the outdoors.

Thank you to Mrs. Housey-Johnson for partnering up with the DNR!

Hamtramck High School (HHS)

January is the month of snow in Michigan. We had two unexpected snow days on January 21 and 22. As a result, the final exams at HHS were moved two days but it did not affect learning. There are many exciting events happening at Hamtramck High School:

AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING (HHS)

After school tutoring is available at Hamtramck high school in the library from 3-4 pm, Monday through Thursday each week.

Mondays and Wednesdays: Social Studies and English help
Tuesdays and Thursdays will be English and Math help
Our ML students can take advantage from this opportunity as they will make up any missing work or get extra support with new subjects that they are struggling with. It is free of charge!

ACCESS TESTING IS HERE!

ACCESS test is given annually in Michigan and it is used to monitor ML students’ progress in acquiring academic English. Also, it measures proficiency and growth as the test result assist in determining when MLs have attained English language proficiency. This year the ACCESS testing window is between January 27, 2025, and March 21, 2025. On February 10th, we will start the first day of testing at HHS. The test will take place at the Community Center.

Horizon

At the end of December, before the beginning of winter break some of our students dressed as Santa and the Elves visited ECE and passed out candy to the students there. That was also very fun.

We returned from winter break rested and ready to continue the school year. On January 8, we had “Flannels and Flapjacks” in the morning. Chris came in and made flapjacks for the students. As he made them, he threw them so the students could catch them on their plates. It was something different and the students enjoyed it. Shout out to the counselors for making this event happen.

Then we had Martin Luther King Day and two days of no school because of the severe cold weather.

We are also very busy with getting students to enroll in FASFA. We had recruiters from SEMCA come in and speak with students about various positions that they have to offer, as well as representatives from Macomb Community College.

WIDA has started at Horizon, and I am hoping that I will have finished with most of the students in the next two weeks.

At the beginning of February, we will have our award ceremony for quarter 2 Shining Stars.

February 25, we have a field trip to Tollgate Farms. Students are eagerly waiting for that to happen.

I wanted to shout out Mr. Guay, our TV production teacher, and his class for creating these Ham Cam videos that I am sharing with you. The first one is our Thanksgiving edition called “Thanks – A-Palooza”.

Here's the link (https://youtu.be/UZs27mcc8H0?si=xp2lLA_Yntgj-biZ)

The second one is the “Holiday Hootenanny”

Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4OAz9GhhuE