Bridging language gaps

Elementary school program helps connect parents with teachers and students.Created five years ago to serve the Spanish-speaking parents at Providencia Elementary School, the role of the school’s monthly Hablemos meetings has expanded rapidly with time. It has become not only a place for parents to voice their concerns and stay informed, it is a valuable forum for cultural exchange.

“It’s our opportunity to bring our parents in and talk about issues and share our concerns,” said Providencia Elementary Principal Teresa Delgado. Although PTA meetings are run bilingually in English and Spanish, Hablemos, Delgado said, is a unique way to open the school to parents and give them a forum to give input and ask questions.

It is also a good place to learn about each other, parent Maral Halljian said.

A recent Hablemos meeting brought together parents from throughout the school to discuss issues and to listen to a presentation in both English and Spanish explaining “Day of the Dead,” a Mexican celebration that celebrates the memory of deceased ancestors.

“Day of the Dead is an important tradition,” said event organizer Estela Sermeño. “With the Spanish community it’s an Aztec celebration and it coincides with Christian All-Saints Day.”

Halljian came to the meeting expressly to learn about the tradition, explaining that Armenians have their own time to honor their ancestors in the spring.

The celebration, Sermeño explained, is a time for people to remember loved ones who have passed -- to honor their memories with pictures, altars and a celebration.

Sermeño set up an altar in the school’s cafeteria, displaying all the traditional items important to the celebration, from pictures of loved ones to incense and water.

“The dead are very thirsty,” Sermeño said. “Kids will come by here and they can ask questions and learn about our traditions.”

Members of Hablemos continued the exchange on Oct. 21 by setting up booths selling corn on the cob and carne asada at the school’s annual Harvest Festival. The group also coordinated performances by a traditional ballet folklorico and by a group of Aztec Dancers.

“Our booth is one of the biggest attractions at the festival,” Sermeño said.

The meeting, however, was not all celebration. Parents took time to discuss their frustrations with helping children finish homework assignments parents might not understand themselves. Parents also discussed how to counsel their children on safety procedures and avoiding strangers.

“I try and playact to teach her how to respond,” said parent Manuela Cuadillo of her daughter. “Sometimes I think I just scare her.”

Delgado helped advise parents on how to approach the issues, and made sure parents clearly understood the information she was providing.