Fitting in: Borah clears space for Lang. Academy

September 8, 2011
Filed under Centerpiece, Featured, News

By Brittni Hanrahan

Borah High School will be welcoming the Boise Language Academy next year, and Samantha Mora’s English 102 class has been working with the Academy students to help them transition.

“English 102 students shadowed students and their classes for a day, and, in return, followed the English students’ classes at Borah to help them become familiar with what it is like at Borah for a day,” commented Spanish and English 102 teacher, Samantha Mora.

A mentoring program with the Boise Language Academy students by English 102 classes has also been working with Jill Ragan’s reading class. English 10, junior history classes, and staff are reading “Home Of the Brave” by Katherine Applegate to expand global understanding and gain an idea of what a refugee student might experience.

“Borah wants to make the Boise Language Academy move a smooth transition and a learning experience for students and staff,” according to English Language Learner instructor and sophmore English teacher Stefan deVries.

Twenty teachers prepared for the Academy next year by attending a conference about refugees. “The Boise Language Academy students come to America for a chance at the good life, but they must understand how it works socially and politically,” said deVries. “I think to keep the Boise Language Academy in a separate place was a barrier for the students.”

“To make room for incoming students, the book room will be used as a classroom, and some classrooms will be utilized during teacher planning periods,” said Principal Bonita Hammer. “The goal is to use all the space Borah has to fit the new population.”

“One thing that students can do to make the transition better is to smile, be welcome and friendly to the new faces that will be joining us at Borah next year,” said deVries.