ENL At Eagle Point Elementary School
Welcome to Eagle Point Elementary School in Albany, New York. We are one of the most diverse elementary schools in Albany. During the 2016-2017 school year we have students and staff representing more than 30 countries, speaking more than 20 languages. Many of the students who speak a language other than English attend ENL classes. This information is for these families.
What Is ENL?
ENL stands for English as a NewLanguage. It used to be called ESL (English as a Second Language). It is a class that is designed to help students who speak a language other than English at home, improve their English language skills so that they can independently function in the classroom. ENL helps your child build the vocabulary and background knowledge they need for the rest of school.
ENL classes are offered during the school day. They do not cost extra money. Your child will either go to ENL three or six hours per week.
New in 2015-2016, the ENL teacher will coteach in your child's classroom for part of your child's ENL services. This will reduce the amount of time that your child will be out of the classroom.
In ENL we use content that the students are learning in the classroom to help develop our language skills. For example, when the kindergarten class learned about transportation we talked about how we get to school, and how we go back to our countries to visit our families. We learned the words for various types of transportation and street signs. We also read stories, poems and sang songs that tied into the theme of transportation. For the older students we studied about what makes a good leader and talked about some famous American leaders and why they were important to their communities.
The eventual goal is that your children will no longer come to ENL. This usually takes three to six years. Some students need less ENL and some students need more ENL.
What Is the Process For Testing Into ENL?
When you registered for school you were given a form called the Home Language Questionnaire. It asked you some questions about what languages are spoken at home. If you said that you speak a language other than English at home, the ENL teacher is given your HLQ form. The ENL teacher then interviews your child. It is a very informal process where the teacher asks a few simple questions. The ENL teacher also sits in on the routine speech screening done by the speech teacher. Based on the informal interview and speech screening, your child may be given an ESL test. This test measures how much English your child understands. This test will tell the ENL teacher if your child will need to go to ENL. You will get a letter in the mail at the end of September to let you know if your child will go to ENL.
Do Children Stay in ENL Forever?
No. Children are tested each May to see how much growth they have made in their English language development. The test they take is called the NYSESLAT (New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test). Your ENL teacher will send home information about this in test in April.
Who Is The School Nurse?
Another important person in school is the nurse. She is here to help your children. Her name is Mrs. Shea. You can contact her at [email protected] and by phone at 518-475-6830. When you come to school please make sure that you give her your children’s medical records. The immunization records are very important. Your child must have all immunizations. If you are new to the country you have 30 days to get these shots. If you go to see the doctor or go to the hospital please send the report to her.
What Can Parents Do to Help?
The most important thing you can do is to make sure your child comes to school every day. If you know your child is going to be absent please let the school know. Please make sure you send in a note. If you are having a hard time communicating with the school, please contact me. I will help you.
Read to your child every day. It does not matter if you read in English or your own language. In most cases it is better for you to read in your language. Being bilingual is very important.
Take your children to the library or the New York State Museum. They are free and easy to access by bus. These are great opportunities for your entire family to learn. I will also send you information about free and low cost activities throughout the year, like soccer, ice skating and swimming.
How Can My Child Get Extra Help?
We have a free after school homework club at Eagle Point Elementary School. It meets Monday – Thursday until 3:30 pm. You can sign your child up for this program. There is no transportation so you will need to pick your children up at 3:30 pm. RISSE also offers an after school program. Please check the parent link for more information.
Are There English Classes for Adults?
Yes. There are many options for English Classes for adults. SUNY Albany (518-442-5010) offers classes in the evenings. BOCES (518-862-4775) offers classes at many times during the day.
Welcome to Eagle Point Elementary School in Albany, New York. We are one of the most diverse elementary schools in Albany. During the 2016-2017 school year we have students and staff representing more than 30 countries, speaking more than 20 languages. Many of the students who speak a language other than English attend ENL classes. This information is for these families.
What Is ENL?
ENL stands for English as a NewLanguage. It used to be called ESL (English as a Second Language). It is a class that is designed to help students who speak a language other than English at home, improve their English language skills so that they can independently function in the classroom. ENL helps your child build the vocabulary and background knowledge they need for the rest of school.
ENL classes are offered during the school day. They do not cost extra money. Your child will either go to ENL three or six hours per week.
New in 2015-2016, the ENL teacher will coteach in your child's classroom for part of your child's ENL services. This will reduce the amount of time that your child will be out of the classroom.
In ENL we use content that the students are learning in the classroom to help develop our language skills. For example, when the kindergarten class learned about transportation we talked about how we get to school, and how we go back to our countries to visit our families. We learned the words for various types of transportation and street signs. We also read stories, poems and sang songs that tied into the theme of transportation. For the older students we studied about what makes a good leader and talked about some famous American leaders and why they were important to their communities.
The eventual goal is that your children will no longer come to ENL. This usually takes three to six years. Some students need less ENL and some students need more ENL.
What Is the Process For Testing Into ENL?
When you registered for school you were given a form called the Home Language Questionnaire. It asked you some questions about what languages are spoken at home. If you said that you speak a language other than English at home, the ENL teacher is given your HLQ form. The ENL teacher then interviews your child. It is a very informal process where the teacher asks a few simple questions. The ENL teacher also sits in on the routine speech screening done by the speech teacher. Based on the informal interview and speech screening, your child may be given an ESL test. This test measures how much English your child understands. This test will tell the ENL teacher if your child will need to go to ENL. You will get a letter in the mail at the end of September to let you know if your child will go to ENL.
Do Children Stay in ENL Forever?
No. Children are tested each May to see how much growth they have made in their English language development. The test they take is called the NYSESLAT (New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test). Your ENL teacher will send home information about this in test in April.
Who Is The School Nurse?
Another important person in school is the nurse. She is here to help your children. Her name is Mrs. Shea. You can contact her at [email protected] and by phone at 518-475-6830. When you come to school please make sure that you give her your children’s medical records. The immunization records are very important. Your child must have all immunizations. If you are new to the country you have 30 days to get these shots. If you go to see the doctor or go to the hospital please send the report to her.
What Can Parents Do to Help?
The most important thing you can do is to make sure your child comes to school every day. If you know your child is going to be absent please let the school know. Please make sure you send in a note. If you are having a hard time communicating with the school, please contact me. I will help you.
Read to your child every day. It does not matter if you read in English or your own language. In most cases it is better for you to read in your language. Being bilingual is very important.
Take your children to the library or the New York State Museum. They are free and easy to access by bus. These are great opportunities for your entire family to learn. I will also send you information about free and low cost activities throughout the year, like soccer, ice skating and swimming.
How Can My Child Get Extra Help?
We have a free after school homework club at Eagle Point Elementary School. It meets Monday – Thursday until 3:30 pm. You can sign your child up for this program. There is no transportation so you will need to pick your children up at 3:30 pm. RISSE also offers an after school program. Please check the parent link for more information.
Are There English Classes for Adults?
Yes. There are many options for English Classes for adults. SUNY Albany (518-442-5010) offers classes in the evenings. BOCES (518-862-4775) offers classes at many times during the day.