The teachers and staff at Mark Twain Elementary visit Abbey Lane Apartments so frequently they are often swarmed by students eager to greet them once they arrive.
For years, the team at Mark Twain has connected with students and parents at the apartment complex where a majority of their Somali families and families of other English Learners reside. From the teachers to the principal to the school secretary, they have hosted potlucks, soccer games, tutoring, and other activities to ensure families feel supported while their kids are in school.
These visits to Abbey Lane are even more important as the district returns to virtual instruction this fall and the need to share information, answer questions, and provide support will be critical to their students’ success.
“They know what to expect and how to get a hold of us,” Principal Vicki Moss said.
This week, English Learners teachers Donna Dixius and Chelsie Lakeman dedicated a morning at Abbey Lane to help families fill out forms, including the district’s Opt-In form for school meals, and alert them to upcoming dates to pick up back-to-school information, worksheets, and supplies.
“In this building, it’s all hands on deck,” Lakeman said.
Their efforts are particularly meaningful to Somali families, said Asha Moallin, the school’s Somali paraprofessional whose kids are enrolled at Mark Twain.
Even before she started working at the district three years ago, Moallin was struck by how teachers and staff connected with Somali families and thought: “We can’t move away from Mark Twain.”
“With the Somali culture, it’s kind of hard for them to ask for help but then they’ve developed this relationship with the school that they are so comfortable,” she said. “They have that comfort and trust that we’ll do anything we need for them and we’re there for them.”
Moss said the school’s team has worked hard to develop relationships with families, from ensuring parents are greeted by name when they enter the building to providing opportunities to celebrate their culture in school. The EL teachers, Dixius and Lakeman, accompany students on the bus on the first day to ensure their ride to school goes smoothly.
The home visits to Abbey Lane are a big component of that as well. Teachers and staff typically visit during the summer to ensure kids are registered for kindergarten and the spring to check out Chromebooks for the end of the year.
During virtual learning last spring, Moss was at Abbey Lane at least three times a week to check in on students who had not logged into classes. Over the summer, Dixius checked in with families to answer any questions about the Westerville Virtual Academy.
“These are our students,” Moss said. “It’s our responsibility to make them feel a part of our population.”