Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“A Warm Welcome at School”

In this activity, students will demonstrate their understanding of the struggles faced by students like Jaime and Ángela by creating their own welcome program for Jaime’s or Ángela’s new school.

Imagine that you are a student leader at one of the New Mexican schools that Jaime and Ángela will be attending. You know that there are several new students who have emigrated from Central America, and you want to make sure that they feel welcome in their new school. What kinds of programs could students create and run that would help students in Jaime’s and Ángela’s situations feel less homesick, understand how their new school functions, or make new friends? After the kinds of traumas these students may have experienced, how might their new school community best reach out and show compassion toward them?

Identify a Need

• Think about the different kinds of obstacles students like Jaime and Ángela might be facing.
• Choose just one of these obstacles to focus on in your program.

Create a Program Outline

• Decide on a plan that students can accomplish themselves (with perhaps a little support from school staff).