AROUND CAMPUS
Venezuelan Visitor
Sixth graders in Ms . Cotumaccio ’ s class connected with a young Venezuelan refugee named Pavel this June , in honor of World Refugee Month . The boys learned about Pavel ’ s experience in Venezuela as a child , his journey to Argentina and life in his new home of La Plata . The boys discussed the difference between a migrant and refugee and about the political and economic situation in Venezuela that led Pavel to leave . The experience served as both a linguistic and cultural exchange for the boys , while expanding their awareness of the plight of refugees around the world . This summer , sixth graders ’ required reading is the book Refugee by Alan Gratz .
Partnership with N-YHS Explores Immigration
As third graders considered the “ push and pull ” of immigration to the United States in the early 1900s , they examined the reasons why some people came to America and the many challenges that they faced . In this unit , as well as others in our history program , we partner with the New-York Historical Society for hands-on learning experiences that deepen understanding . During sessions with the N-YHS educator , boys examined the ways that Van Gogh ’ s Starry Night expresses emotion and then created their own works of expressionism , depicting the varied emotions that an immigrant might have experienced .
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