Carpenter fifth grader creates video to help students from immigrant families feel welcome and safe

By Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor

“One of my favorite things about Carpenter Elementary school is that we have kids from so many different places from all around the world,” says Shakhrizoda, a Carpenter Elementary 5th grader whose accent reflects her Uzbek roots.

So begins a video created by 5th grader NaAissata, whose family is from Guinea, that is meant to make children from immigrant families feel welcome and secure.

                                        NaAissata

More than 25 languages are spoken at Carpenter, says fifth grader Ayah, whose family is from Jordan and Palestine.

She notes: “It makes me feel like it’s OK to be different and unique and that other people won’t judge me.”

EL teacher Trish Hayes says the video and poster were her students’ idea.

“After multiple Carpenter families were impacted by ICE’s immigration policies this school year, my students decided to take action,” she said. “They wanted to make sure that immigrant students and families feel safe at Carpenter during a time that there is so much local and national anxiety around the issue.”

They shared the video with the Carpenter school community but also wanted to share it more widely with the district in the AAPS District News.

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