A new afterschool program is helping immigrant students at schools in Mount Olive to prepare for living in their new country and to achieve academic success in the school district.
The Bridge Builders program focuses on study tips, English language skills, cultural awareness, and homework support. It is funded via a federal grant and aims to acclimatize immigrant students from grades K through five, who have lived in the US for less than three years. The director of educational programs in the district, Debra Martin, says it is crucial for students to be given the learning and experiences they need to feel comfortable and that they belong in the US. This is particularly so because the US has more immigrants than any other country.
Superintendent, Larry Reynolds, says the program started at the beginning of the semester because of an influx of new immigrant students, with 60 in the current year, compared to around half-a-dozen ten years ago. Reynolds says that most of the immigrant kids are gradually taught the language but are not immersed in the culture, meaning they do not fully understand what it is to be an American. Many immigrant students are even unaware of classroom basics, such as raising a hand to gain the attention of a teacher.
The program is free of charge, and students meet twice a week in small groups, where they work with teachers and learn alongside others from similar backgrounds.