Latin American fare helps school unite

BY KELLY HINCHCLIFFE : The Herald-Sun
khinchcliffe@heraldsun.com
Sep 21, 2006 : 10:53 pm ET

DURHAM -- Lakewood Elementary School's cafeteria took on the air of a fiesta Thursday evening as Hispanic specialties graced the tables.

Instead of students lining up to get the usual lunchtime fare and milk, Lakewood staff served dishes from Latin America provided by students' parents.

Families from Mexico brought salsa, frijoles, tostadas and multiple chicken -- or pollo -- dishes.

Parents from Honduras brought valiadas, described as a tortilla with cream, eggs and beans.

Families from El Salvador brought ensalada -- salad -- and popusas, described as tortillas with cheese and pork.

Principal Elizabeth Shearer was pleased with the large turnout at the school's first Hispanic Culture Night.

"We want to be an inclusive school," she said. "We want to recognize the community we serve."

Lakewood's Hispanic population has been on the rise in recent years, Shearer said.

At least 40 to 45 percent of the students at the school this year are Hispanic, she estimated. And about 50 to 60 percent of this year's kindergartners are Hispanic. Official statistics will be released Monday when Durham Public Schools releases its official enrollment figures.

Some teachers, such as Joy Bingham, are trying to keep up with the growing population by taking Spanish classes at Duke University every week.

She, along with four other teachers from Lakewood, are part of a program called Spanish Leap. Duke pays for them to take Spanish for a year as part of the program. Next summer they will travel to Guatemala for eight days for more intensive training, Bingham said.

Bingham has 17 students in her third grade class this year. Six of the students speak English, eight are bilingual and three speak only Spanish. A little girl in her class helps translate, but Bingham says her Spanish classes have helped.

"They know that I'm in school. They help me," she said. "I'm able to pick up on what they say."

Although she sometimes feels silly and embarrassed trying to speak another language, Bingham said she has learned some important sayings, including "Be quiet, please," "Are you sick?" "Is your mommy at home?" and "Come to the carpet."

"It's a rewarding experience," she said. "I teach them, but they also teach me."

Evelyn Chavez and Saray Aulis, both third-graders, know what it's like to come to an American school not knowing very much English. The two girls are from different parts of Mexico, but both arrived at Lakewood in the first grade.

"Some people talked to me, but I didn't understand," Saray said.

With help from English as a Second Language teacher Prissy Sotolongo, the girls have improved their English skills.

"They both can read and write," Sotolongo said. "We encourage them to keep building their vocabulary in Spanish."

Sotolongo explained that a growing Spanish vocabulary enables students to improve their English vocabulary as well.

Sotolongo is one of about six teachers at the school who are bilingual. A few others know some Spanish or are in the midst of taking classes, Shearer said. Shearer herself has been working to perfect her skills. She traveled to Guatemala this summer for a week of Spanish school.

After eating an Hispanic-inspired dinner Thursday, Bingham tried some of her new Spanish words on the kids.

"I like being involved in stuff like this," she said. "It shows you support the kids and their culture."
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