CUSD hosts “Newcomer Parent Night” for new families

Two friends are all smiles at the Newcomer Parent Night at Weldon Elementary School, where Clovis Unified provided information and resources about the community and the district for immigrant families moving into the district. (Photo by Hannah-Grace Leece, Clovis Roundup)

January 14, 2025 – Clovis Unified School District is rolling out the welcome wagon for families from around the globe this semester. They hosted, they hosted a “Newcomer Parent Night” on January 9th, designed to ease the transition into America during the new year. 

They brought together community organizations and school district programs for this event, inviting them into the cafeteria of Weldon Elementary School to set up tables throughout the room. These organizations and programs provided valuable information and resources to support the families’ adjustment to the district and America. 

“It’s important because we want to create a welcoming environment for our families, our students, our parents, and let them know the resources that are available to them in Clovis Unified and in the community,” explained Robyn Snyder, Director of Supplemental Services in the district. 

Featuring groups such as the Special Education program, the Fresno Burn Center, and the Fresno Community Health Center, the event provided parents with informational booklets along with goodies like coloring pages and toys for children, snacks, and other amenities. 

The Fresno Burn Center, for example, raised awareness about the dangers of cooking burns by educating families and providing practical resources. To emphasize their message, they offered a kitchen mitt for families to take home. 

These individuals were hand-picked by the district, who were aiming to find the best kind of support available to help immigrant families. The event, which first began during the 2023-2024 school year, naturally continued the following year as Snyder and her fellow district officials recognized the ongoing need to support new families joining the district. 

Snyder stated, “We saw a huge increase in the immigrant families moving into our district…We really started thinking about, how can we create an environment, an opportunity for parents to learn more about the district?” 

The district ensured that comprehensive accommodations were available for visiting families. They proactively reached out to each potential attendee, calling them at home, providing a translator to speak to them in their native languages, and personally inviting them to the event. 

In addition to these efforts, they provided transportation for families in need, arranging buses to pick up and bring them to Weldon Elementary School. 

Weldon was strategically chosen as the new venue for the event, moving from the district office to offer a more familiar and welcoming atmosphere for families. Snyder explained that this change also provided easier access for families coming from various parts of the school district. 

“We find that in the school site campuses, we get more parents that are new to the country. They feel more comfortable coming to a school site rather than to a more formal district office building,” she stated. 

This idea certainly resonated with the families, who engaged in conversations with district officials with comfort and ease. Each district official was eager to help families in any way they could, welcoming each family into the event with a smile as they approached the double doors of the cafeteria. 

Translators were also provided to families who did not speak English, allowing families to communicate effectively with each table coordinator. 

The cafeteria was unexpectedly adorned with flags for several different countries, making known that the district was there to help the families’ transition into American life and provide quality education for their children. 

Going forward, Clovis Unified looks forward to continuing to uplift their immigrant families and give their children the best education possible through events such as these. Families interested in receiving aid can visit the tab for supplemental services on the district’s website at https://cusd.com/74918_3.