1. Family Engagement Project ELL 433
Sarah Carpenter

2. Culture Night at Lynden High School
Free event in the cafeteria of Lynden High School.
There was a selection of different foods from around the world made by students and families as well as donated by local restaurants.
There were performances by local children including songs sung in different languages and cultural dances.
This event was put on by the First Generation Club of Lynden High School.

4. First Generation Club
Created by students after attending a conference at WWU
Initial goal was to encourage and support students to become the first in their family to graduate high school and attend college
Because of the population of students, the club also strives to encourage cultural awareness and diversity

5. Who benefits from Culture Night? Who seems to get most involved?
Club members get great experience organizing and running an event
Traditionally not a group of students who would organize school events
Engaging with community by asking for food donations
Receive positive feedback from teachers and community members that increases confidence
Families of club members benefit by being involved and attending the event
Most families generally hesitant to attend school events
Welcoming atmosphere and culturally diverse offerings make them feel more comfortable
Families are asked to donate food which gives them a personal connection to the event and a chance to share their culture

6. What has the success been of programs like this?
Attendance of more then 200 people to the event
Only the third year this event has been held and the second year of First Generation Club running it
Very high attendance of a population that doesn’t normally attend events
No other program like this in the district

7. How does the district/school communicate with families?
Skyward Access
online system that includes a messaging system and allows parents to look up important documents and records
Vice-principal and other staff members speak Spanish and make phone calls to families
Home visitor/advocate also works with Spanish speaking families
Rely on volunteers for Russian and Punjabi
Drop in parent meetings
ELL teacher helps teacher make differentiated lesson plans that address their ELL students
Staff at the high school will receive training in Sheltered Instruction

8. How does the district/school communicate with families?
Many traditional events offered that attract families (sporting, senior project presentations, musicals)
Carry an assumption that families will attend
Marginalized families need to be reached out to
notices are sent but not all families have access to computers
School/district does what it can but there are always ways to improve

9. Recommendations
Surveys to gain data about what families think of the event
Always good to hear positives and ways to improve
Good gauge of the event’s success
Opportunity for other organizations to recruit and inform
Good avenue for other school clubs or organizations to present information
PTA presence

10. Resources
Gaitan, C.D. (2004). Involving Latino families in schools: Raising student achievement through home-school partnerships. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Corwin Press.
interview with Lisa McKeen, vice-principal
interview with Jen Reidel, teacher and club supervisor of the First Generation Club