Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!
Helping Students feel safe:
Some students have shared worries about immigration and ICE. If a student brings this up, here are suggested responses from Boston and Framingham Public Schools to help reassure and support them. Supportive Responses to Students
Dear Literacy Coaches,
We wanted to connect with our community of volunteers during a time of increasing uncertainty given the fast moving executive orders from the current administration. As an organization and as a group of adults volunteering your time, we are all here to support the academic and social emotional needs of the students in our program, and, most importantly, we care about the children in our Literations program. We recognize that being in schools and the clubs at this time can be difficult. We worry about the safety and well-being of the students we serve and their families.
Please refer to recent communications from the Framingham Public Schools Superintendent here and here, the Boston Public Schools Superintendent here, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston here. These communications reinforce the schools’ and clubs’ need to be safe spaces for students and what administrators are doing to ensure that safety. Our partners are also making available “Know Your Rights” red cards from ILRC (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) for all members of their communities.
For the safety of all, we at Literations, now more than ever, need to follow school and club protocol and recognize what is and is not our place as a partner. Here are some reminders:
Please wear your name/photo badge and Literations vest into the buildings.
Please make sure you follow building protocol for signing in and out.
Please make sure you are not letting anyone else into the building when you are coming and going.
Please respect your students' privacy (do not ask children questions regarding their background, family status, etc. and do not document any information you hear in that regard).
If a child speaks to you with concern about any of the above topics, please speak to your STL or program staff immediately so they redirect the student to the appropriate person in the building.
Please continue to show up for your students with a smile on your face and with demonstrated care and concern if they appear uneasy.
Please continue to treat all of our students with dignity and respect.
The districts and the clubs are working hard to support their students and their families. They are instructing staff how to handle situations that may arise and have clearly defined protocol to ensure all students’ safety. As a partner with volunteers in the buildings, we at Literations will do our part to follow appropriate protocols as well.
Thank you so much for your concern and support for the students in Boston and Framingham. If you have questions, please connect with your program staff.
Yours in service,
The Literations Program Team
