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DDSD offering English language classes for Spanish-speaking parents

DELAVAN — In efforts to improve relationships with parents, the Delavan-Darien School District is offering a Basic English language course for Spanish-speaking parents and guardians of district students.

The courses are scheduled for Tuesday nights from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Turtle Creek Elementary School (1235 Creek Road, Delavan) starting Jan. 8.

Ray Paez, a bilingual classroom and office aide at Turtle Creek Elementary School and the associate pastor/Spanish pastor at East Delavan Baptist Church, will teach the course.

The free course will teach beginning, conversational English to any parent or guardian of a Delavan-Darien School District student no matter that student’s grade or school.

District administration and Latino community members identified a need to build stronger partnerships between Delavan-Darien teachers, staff and parents to improve the education of students.

Developing an English language course specifically designed for parents will, hopefully, result in greater parent awareness of and involvement in their child’s or children’s education in Delavan-Darien schools, Superintendent Robert Crist said. The education of all children is a partnership between parents and school staff, he added.

“About a quarter of our student body speaks English as a second language,” Crist said. “When parents are also not fluent in English, it creates barriers that make the education of children that much more difficult. We are looking to break through those barriers and develop meaningful relationships with our parents that will have a positive benefit for their students in our classrooms. We feel an English language course is one way to accomplish this goal.”

Crist stressed the importance of all parents and guardians becoming active participants in the education of their children.

“Improving the communication of and with our parents will certainly create a better learning environment for our students both here in our schools and within their homes,” Crist said.

The first English courses will last a few months. Afterward, the program will be re-evaluated to determine if it should continue.

Parents interested in registering for the class should call instructor Paez at (262) 728-2642 ext. 4300.