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MFEE Navegadores Escolares Spring 2022

In June 2021, the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE) created Navegadores Escolares to support the large increase in Montclair's English Language Learners (ELL) and their families. MFEE has been able to expand the Navegadores Escolares program to serve more families, impact systemic change in the Montclair Public School district and community, and also launch two bilingual after school programs to serve students: Entrenadores Escolares (for teens) and Oruguitas (for K-5th grade students). Scroll below to see how this work continues to grow.

Milestones Hit Since June 2021

DIRECT SUPPORT TO STUDENTS & FAMILIES:

  • Serving 60 families, including 110 students, increased from 15 students in June 2021
  • Supporting 50 Navegadores
  • Registered 27 students in MPS
  • Accompanied 26 students to their first day of school
  • Attended 23 parent-teacher conferences, 8 meetings with school counselors, 8 IEP meetings
  • Secured laptops and tech set up for 45 families
  • Secured free internet for 16 families
  • Connected 12 students to dental services
  • Connected 25 families to medical services
  • Connected 30 families to food services
  • Helped 55 students/parents get their COVID and other vaccines
  • Supported 26 families through close contact COVID protocols
  • Enrolled and transported 12 kids in winter soccer through MUSC and registered 22 for spring soccer
  • Enrolled 14 girls in Girls in Gear learn-to-ride bike program
  • Partnered with MSU to offer customized college tour for ELL seniors, pre-college workshops for teens, and community gathering at Pitser Soccer Field
  • Secured over $25,000 in Emergency Rental Assistance Funding for several families
  • Provided weekly ESL classes for adults
  • Hosted 15 community gatherings, including: Know Your Legal Rights, Know Your Medical Rights, Genesis/Tech Support, Parents as Literacy Partners, Holiday Celebrations, Theater/concert outings
  • Provided opportunity for 27 people to talk with immigration attorneys
  • Secured scholarships so that every student in the program could have 1 extraordinary summer camp experience

SYSTEMIC CHANGE:

  • Working with school district to remove school registration barriers
  • Piloting translation tools with ESL schools
  • Produced how-to guides for staff & families to better leverage district interpretation service
  • Working with district to boost learning materials in ELL students' primary language for scaffolded learning
  • Consult with MSU Bilingual Education experts
  • Supported district with ESL parent night and conducted outreach to reach a record number of attendees
  • Supporting teachers to create differentiated learning plans and accommodations for ELLs
  • Raising awareness among community partners of barriers that ELLs face and working collaboratively to address them
  • Launching a Teacher Learning Community to support teachers of multilingual learners

COMMUNITY PARTNERS:

  • AAPI Montclair
  • BDP Holdings
  • Catholic Charities
  • Essex County Office of Health
  • Girls in Gear
  • Howard Silver
  • Kindersmile
  • Laptop Upcycle
  • Legal Services of New Jersey
  • Make the Road NJ
  • Montclair Art Museum
  • Montclair Child Development Center
  • Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation
  • Montclair Community Pre-K
  • Montclair Health Department
  • Montclair Helps
  • Montclair Film
  • Montclair Public Schools
  • Montclair Public Library
  • Montclair Sanctuary Alliance
  • Montclair State University
  • Montclair United Soccer Club
  • New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children
  • Nutley Health Department
  • Partners for Health
  • Reach Out Montclair
  • Refugee Resettlement Alliance
  • Restorative Justice Montclair
  • St. James Church
  • Salvation Army
  • Tacoria Montclair
  • Toni's Kitchen
  • Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair
  • YMCA
  • Zufall Health

Milestones Hit since November 2021

  • Recruited and provide ongoing training for 14 Bilingual Entrenadores (learning coaches)
  • Hired a program coordinator
  • Secured an MSU Social Work intern and Americorp scholar to provide on-site support
  • Recruited and support a network of 7 volunteer drivers to transport students to and from the center
  • Provide bilingual tutoring and ESL enrichment to 25 ELL middle and high school students
  • Converted donated space into an engaging learning center
  • Create a safe, nurturing community that boosts cultural pride, self-confidence, and interpersonal skills
  • Partner with Restorative Justice Montclair to cultivate strong relationships among students
  • Communicate regularly with each student's teachers to shape individual learning plans
  • Partner with MPS teachers, local tutors, and other educators to pilot innovative teaching strategies
  • Connect students to local enrichment opportunities

Milestones hit since March 2022

  • Recruited and provide ongoing training for 17 teen learning coaches and parent educators
  • Hired a program coordinator
  • Recruited and support a network of 8 volunteer drivers who transport students to and from the center.
  • Provide bilingual academic and social emotional support to 25 students
  • Create a safe, nurturing community that boosts cultural pride, self-confidence, and interpersonal skills
  • Foster creative play to leverage students' interests and curiosity
  • Communicate regularly with each student's teachers to shape individual learning plans
  • Partner with MPS teachers, local tutors, and other educators to pilot innovative teaching strategies
  • Connect students to local enrichment opportunities

Check out Oruguitas in Action