The Bridgewater-Raritan Multilingual Parent Advisory Committee (MPAC) held a successful “Multilingual (ML) Family Workshop” on Thursday, April 30, in the Small Cafeteria at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School.
The event, thoughtfully planned and executed by the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District K-12 Supervisor of the Multilingual Department, LeighAnn Matthews, and Jenna Maneri, a Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District ESL Coach, brought together families of Multilingual Learners for an evening centered on connection, learning, and celebration of multilingualism.
Educators from across the school district attended, creating meaningful opportunities for families and teachers to engage with one another in a welcoming and supportive environment. A delicious catered dinner added to the warm, community-focused atmosphere.
According to Ms. Matthews and Ms. Maneri, the evening began with a presentation from Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Club, whose student members shared personal reflections on their experiences as multilingual students. Families also benefited from a presentation by RU Bilingual, an organization of Rutgers graduate students whose primary research involves bilingual populations.
The outreach program based in New Brunswick focuses on the social, cultural, and educational dimensions of bilingualism. While parents attended the presentations, younger children enjoyed crafts planned and organized by Ms. Maneri, allowing families to fully participate and enjoy the experience.
"Overall, the ML Family Workshop was a meaningful night that highlighted the strengths of multilingualism while strengthening connections between families and the school community - celebrating language, culture, and shared experiences," said Ms. Matthews and Ms. Maneri.