Riding the wave in partnership with the Latino community • Subamos a la ola juntos
It's easier to learn English when you are surrounded by friends with the same goal. Today students discussed and wrote about their immigration experiences and life on "An Island Called Home." English language acquisition is accelerated when the topic is something students know and care about.
After five months working on the design and construction of wind turbines and boats, our STEAM after school class celebrated with a field trip to Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) in Wanchese. Their boats were launched in a special tank where they were tested for their ability to withstand wind, current, and waves. Everyone had a chance to tweak their designs after the initial trial but none of the adjustments helped the boats survive hurricane conditions in the wave tank!
Then it was time to test the wind turbines, girls against boys. Each team carefully placed their turbine in front of the fan, turned on the motor, and used the gauge to measure the amount of energy generated. Again, they had the opportunity to tweak their designs and adjust the angle of the blades before the second test. David Sybert, of CSI, was a master at giving the students leeway to make their own decisions without instructions from him. He posed questions and withheld judgment on any answers. The result of the second turbine test was a tie!
Thanks to NC Coastal Federation (NCCF), our Manteo Middle School group learned about recycling and how marine debris negatively impacts our Outer Banks environment. They were tasked with sorting trash samples found on the beach by how frequently they were found - from cigarette butts to construction debris to fast food containers. Then they learned which of these items can be recycled.
This activity made it clear that reducing litter is necessary in keeping our beaches, sounds, and ocean clean and safe. Students were surprised to learn how few items can actually be recycled by local town and county services. Reduce and reuse need to come first!
Sarah Hallas, of NCCF, led students through a series of experiments designed to test water quality and salinity. Students used various tools to measure water quality and learned which levels of salinity were considered healthy for animals living in fresh, brackish, and ocean waters.
Many of these students had helped to build oyster reefs earlier during the summer program, so they already embraced the importance of maintaining the quality of the water that surrounds us in the Outer Banks.
Manteo Elementary and Nags Head Elementary have generously donated space to Sea Change for our weekly adult ESL classes, so it was a pleasure to participate in their holiday events.
Every December parents, students, and community members come together to usher in the holiday season. Students enjoy caroling and craft activities and games. Local artisans sell crafts and homemade food stuffs. The highpoint is a silent raffle in the cafeteria where you can bid on anything from tree service to weekend getaways to fishing tackle to jewelry. The halls are filled with energy from one end of the school to the other. And the funds raised support key programs and educational services.
It can be difficult to spend the holidays away from home, especially if you are in a foreign country. Our dual immersion teachers worked overtime to make the first semester of this new program a success, and we wanted to celebrate their contributions. We invited teachers, administrators, parents, and students to a potluck luncheon where each person brought their favorite holiday dish to share. Students played bilingual Lotería and made crafts while parents chatted with the teachers and each other. The party ended with a bilingual sing along
Motivated to learn more about CPR after a free introductory class in April, nine participants earned certification in CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation), QED (Automated External Defibrillator), and First Aid after attending an all-day event on June 30 sponsored by Sea Change at Children & Youth Partnership's office in Manteo. Certified instructor Lourdes Caballero taught the class in Spanish. Lourdes, a Sea Change advisory team member from Greenville, freely shares her time and talents with our Outer Banks Latino community.
"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean." Ryunosuke Satoro Music brings people together, it always has. In the first of five introductory family music classes offered by Sea Change this summer, Outer Banks blues musician Ruth Wyand shows Christopher Estrada how to read and play basic guitar chords. Children and adults attending the classes learn how to read music rhythms and basic melodies, create their own tunes, and match themselves to an instrument of choice.
Creating and enjoying music together is an important part of Latino culture. Under pressure to make ends meet, the adults are finding it difficult to share these traditions with their children. Music lessons are expensive, and time is tight. Kay Minis, Sea Change Coordinator and an amateur harpist, had often received requests for music lessons from the children she tutored. She didn't feel qualified but she definitely was inspired to find a way to bring more music into her families' lives. Ruth Wyand offered to provide family music classes on Sunday afternoons for children, teens, and adults.
There is no language barrier here. Ruth doesn't speak Spanish, many of the parents have limited English, but everyone learns together. As an added bonus, Hugh Hammers of the Beach Music Shop in Kill Devils, donated a custom painted guitar to the cause. We will learn who the lucky winner is at the last music class on July 29.
