Shocking Moment...more to come

Yesterday was the first day of registration for seniors.. I was assisting the parent table in having the students fill out the Free/Reduced Lunch Eligibility Form when one young man and his family from South Africa starred blankly at the form...

Me: "Have you ever been eligible for free/reduced lunch before?"
The student: " I don't eat lunch Miss."
Me: " Oh, so do you go off campus to eat lunch?"
Student: " No."
Me: " Ok, so do you bring your lunch with you to school?"
Student: "No miss, I don't understand that form so I have never eated lunch at all."
Me: "So let me understand, you have never eaten lunch ever while you have been in school? Is that what you are telling me (in shock)?"
Student: " Yes, Miss."

My heart literally sank as I looked at this young man and his younger siblings looking up at me. I pulled the student over to the side with his family.

Me: "Well, come over here with me and I will help you fill it out and explain it to you and your family so we can make sure this doesn't happen again."

Had to contact a couple neighboring elemtary schools to make sure we tracked down the younger students to insist they are put on the program.

This is just one of so many students...I am in the process of working with the Parent/Community Liason and New Comers Center to make sure this error in translation doesn't happen again.

New Start...New School

Well...a new chapter of my life begins at South High School. Total population 1500 students. Total students in the 2012 graduating class..300. My work load has trippled and I am now a Senior Advisor.

This year will bring new stories and new experiences at the most diverse high school in Denver.

So it begins...