Learning report cards' language

This story shows that kids are the same everywhere, some are telling their parents an F on a report card means Fine. So this class teaches immigrant parents to understands report cards. DP

By James Lomuscio, Staff Writer

stamfordadvocate.com: NORWALK - As 7 p.m. approached, Judith Aucar wondered whether there would be enough seats.

"We put up 250 chairs, and they are still coming," Aucar said last night about the event for immigrant parents held in the community room at Brien McMahon High School's Center for Global Studies.

The session was designed to help Spanish- and Creole-speaking parents navigate through the foreign world of report cards, midterm schedules and CAP tests.

"The Spanish-speaking population in particular is growing, and not only the students, but the parents need to get involved in the school community, so we're offering a series of workshops," said Aucar, chairwoman of the school's World Language Department.

The workshop, which had a several Spanish, Creole and French translators on hand, was the brainchild of Principal Suzanne Koroshetz and launched in cooperation with the school's Center for Youth Leadership's Peace Project.

"We want to teach parents how to read report cards, because in some cases we have had students go home and tell their parents that an F means fine," Aucar said.

According to Koroshetz, the information sessions were aimed at addressing the school's increase in immigrant students, a rise that reflects regional trends. For example, she said Brien McMahon has about 47 percent minority students, about half of whom speak Spanish.

"There's definitely been an increase, and we're just a microcosm of the larger community," Koroshetz said. "Not only do these parents care deeply about their children, but they care about their education, too.

"I want them to come and to be part of our school community."
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