BRANDON – A Brandon school is getting some presidential attention thanks to a unique program helping recent immigrants.
“He is a really busy man,” said Eshita Lallawooa, a Grade 8 student at New Era School in Brandon. “How would he find time for us, we are in a small city in a really small school.”
Barack Obama, the President of the United States surprised students this week after he sent a letter expressing how pleased he was with the dual language book program offered at the school.
“I told my mom that and she don’t believe that,” said Anna Zhang, one of the students. “She said are you kidding me.”
Obama was made aware of the program after the Brandon School Division sent copies of books the students wrote to the White House as well as other dignitaries.
The dual language book program started three years ago after teachers realized immigrant students didn’t have a lot of reading options in their first language.
The program gives students the chance to write a story in that language and then in English. The stories are also illustrated by the students.
So far nine books have been published and printed with another 11 more in progress.
“It’s an opportunity for them to use and practice their first language because those skills start disappearing really quickly,” said Amy Buehler, the teacher who oversees the program.
Books have been written in several languages including Ukrainian, Mandarin, French, Spanish and Tagalog.
Mariia Blous recently moved from Kyiv, Ukraine and is in the process of writing a book about her great grandmother’s time in a concentration camp during the Second World War.
She says when she first moved to Canada she struggled speaking English and hopes this book helps others.
“When I came here it was really difficult for me because none books in library were in Ukrainian and I had to learn English myself,” said Blous, who is in Grade 8.
In the letter, Obama tells the students “I know there are no limits to what you can accomplish if you continue to dream big and study hard.”
Encouraging works about the words the students wrote.
“It makes us want to write more and people to read our books,” said Lallawooa, who moved to Canada from Mauritius.
The school division plans to frame the letter and hang it in the main office.
Hardcover copies of the students’ books are in all Brandon school libraries. They can also be purchased by other divisions, teachers or parents by calling the division office at 1-204-729-3100.
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