Cultural Liaisons, Translators & Interpreters
More than 47 different languages are spoken by students and families within the district. Where cultural or language barriers exist, they can often be bridged with the help of interpreters for spoken communication and translators for written communication.
How Can a Cultural Liaison Help?
Our cultural liaisons assist school staff and parents with school-related matters. They can:
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Help families understand the American school system and help them fill out school paperwork such as forms for school registration, immunizations, Free & Reduced Lunch, transportation, scholarships, and more.
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Interpret home-school communications between staff and parents regarding academic and behavior matters.
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Interpret for early childhood screenings, special education assessments, parent meetings, and conferences.
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Encourage bilingual families to participate in parent-teacher conferences and attend those conferences to interpret for families.
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Serve as a resource to school staff about working with students and families from other cultures.
Check out the following learning resources:
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The Minnesota Humanities Center conducts bilingual and heritage language work that aims to preserve heritage languages and improve early literacy development.
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Reading Tips sheets for Parents from Colorín Colorado - a bilingual site for educators and families of English language learners.
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Tips for Reading with Children translated into 25 languages.