More than 12 percent of Renton students
speak language other than English

February 1, 2005 - The number of non-English speaking students, or English Language Learners (ELL), in the Renton School District continues to grow each year. Last year, more than 1,600 of the district's 13,000 students were identified as speaking a language other than English.
The district has identified 56 languages or dialects spoken by these students and their families.

Last year's numbers include:

Languages that round out the top ten are Somali, Chinese-Cantonese, Tagalog (native to the Philippines), Rumanian, Cambodian and Punjabi (native to India). The number of Renton's ELL students has steadily increased since 1993, when only 245 students were identified as ELL. This year's count is already at 1,481: a count that historically increases, sometimes by triple digits, as the year progresses. Most of this year's ELL students, 996, are in elementary schools; 209 attend middle schools; and 276 attend high schools.

Two hundred Highlands Elementary School students, or nearly 31 percent of the school's population, are ELL students. Sierra Heights Elementary School has 116 ELL students and Tiffany Park Elementary School has 109. McKnight Middle School has 87 ELL students, the most of any middle school. Renton and Hazen high schools have about the same number of ELL students, with 95.

Highlands students use language skills to translate learning

Three students at Highlands Elementary School have found a unique way to communicate and help each other with classroom assignments. One student speaks both Russian and English. The second student is new to this country, and speaks Russian and Rumanian. The third student is also new to the U.S. and speaks only Rumanian. When the teacher gives out an assignment, 'student one', who speaks both English and Russian, translates the teacher's English instructions into Russian for 'student two'. 'Student two', in turn, translates the instructions from Russian into Rumanian for 'student three', who speaks only Rumanian. Using this translation system, all three students are able to do well in class. The students eagerly continue learning English and are happy to have friends who understand and can help.

Highlands teachers create evening classes to teach English to parents

Highlands Elementary School has more non-English speaking students than other schools in the district. About 200 of the school's 650 students speak little or no English. In many cases, parents of these students also have the same level of English-speaking skills.
Teachers at the school are working hard to instruct these students both in a new language and in core subjects like math and science. However, these professionals also know that to better help their students, they need to teach parents as well. To help parents and students, two Highlands teachers, Ellen Barrett and Beth DeDonato, have created Highlands English Language for Parents (H.E.L.P.) classes, offering a series of nighttime classes to teach English to parents. The classes, which began earlier this month, is playing host to more than 50 parents each week. The sessions are rich in language-learning practices, offering conversation and hands-on activities built around eight themes: getting to know you, family, health, employment, housing, recreation, shopping, and travel. Languages spoken by those in attendance included Spanish, Bulgarian, Vietnamese, and Polish.

H.E.L.P. is free to families thanks to a mini-grant offered through the district. The school's PTSA provides free childcare for those in attendance. Additionally, the local Starbucks is providing free coffee. The sessions will continue each Wednesday night through March 16.
Principal Mona Coppoletti Boyer praises the dedication of the teachers and others involved in recognizing the need and working collaboratively, on their own time, to meet that need. 'This is only the beginning,' said Coppoletti Boyer. 'We hope later to expand our classes to serve a wider Renton School District community, and involve more community partners. We have a wonderful opportunity to reach out to our second-language families.'

Bryn Mawr works to understand student customs and traditions

Bryn Mawr Elementary School has an increasing number of Muslim students, most coming from Somalia. Wanting better to understand their students and families, the school's staff recently invited the executive director of Somali Community Services of Seattle to expound on the faith's customs and traditions.