Fourth District PTA Outreach Chairman:
Laura Zuchovicki   [ ]

Reach Out and Become a Global School

Living in California gives us many advantages, such as “almost perfect weather year round,” but among the most attractive points of living here are the various cultures that are found in our local schools.

When my family moved to Southern California, I could not believe the diversity that one encounters in each of our local schools. I have observed the way our children are capable of interacting with classmates of different cultures and find it intriguing how they view the various ethnicities as an every day way of life.

As immigrant citizens of this country—we came from Mexico—and having raised two bilingual daughters, we see the advantage of being exposed to many cultures. Here in California, we do not need to travel the world to understand the difference in cultures; we just have to go to our local schools where we experience it first hand.

This is why it is significant that we outreach to other cultures, so we understand what they are about and respect who they are, and so they can respect our culture too. Sounds simple, but in reality it is a very difficult task. As PTA leaders, we should set the example and help our units reach out to the cultures available in our schools, so they can enrich our children’s education. The question is how to do it? These are some ideas that could help you become a “global school:”

• With the help of your principal, identify the main languages spoken by the parents at school.
• Welcome all families to your Back to School Night or any school event by having translators available for people who do not speak English. Send a “welcome to PTA” letter translated in those languages to each household where English is not spoken.
• Communicate information about your membership drive and the events sponsored by PTA. In some other cultures it is not a custom to have fundraisers for schools or to volunteer; therefore, it is really important to make these parents feel welcome and let them know about the way things are done here.
• Have translators available at your PTA meetings.
• Translate your newsletter into the different languages spoken by the parents at school.
• Hold a “Heritage Festival” and invite everyone to share their background and a taste of their culture through a pot-luck or an assembly. Students can wear their traditional clothes or the colors of their ancestral country’s flag.
• Include in your after-school programs one that teaches a foreign language. These programs not only teach the conversational language, they also bring the culture to the classroom, helping students understand the differences and similarities among countries. What a great way to communicate and reach out!

We have to understand that we are becoming “global” not only in the aspect of a business world, but in everyday life. So what better way to start than in our local schools where we have the resources to do it? Let us reach out and become a better community by understanding and respecting our differences.

If you have questions please contact: Laura Zuchovicki, Fourth District PTA Outreach Chairman.

From the February 2008 issue of "Orange Leaves", the official publication of the Fourth District PTA. [ Subscription Information ]