No matter how you say “welcome” in their native tongue, staff at the Dallas Independent School District’s Margaret and Gilbert Herrera Student Intake Center always find a way of warmly welcoming new-to-the-country immigrant students to Dallas ISD.
“The Student Intake Center plays a crucial role in providing an affectionate greeting to families new to the country and helping them acclimate academically and socially,” said Amanda Clymer, director of the Student Intake Center. “Our goal is to make families feel welcome and to empower them with information about Dallas ISD and community resources as they begin a new life in this country.”
The Intake Center offers foreign newcomer students like Mya Sut Aung, who will attend fourth grade at Jill Stone Elementary School, enrollment, academic assessment, information about Dallas ISD programs and services, immunization verification and referral, mentoring, orientation, and other services.
Aung and his family recently relocated to the United States as refugees from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, also known as Burma.
“I am so excited to go to school,” he said, through a translator, as they visited the center to enroll in Dallas ISD. “I really want to go to school.” He is so excited to make new friends as well, and asked for an English-Spanish dictionary so that he can learn those languages to better communicate with them.
Another new student who is excited about learning English to communicate with new friends and teachers in Dallas ISD is Lizbeth Arias, who has visited the Intake Center to enroll in school after recently arriving Dallas from Honduras. Lizbeth’s mom, Yoni Arias, said she’s happy for the new education her daughter will soon receive. Lizbeth will be attending Highland Meadows Elementary.
Meanwhile, José Sanchez also visited the center to enroll his children Rubí and Fernando, ages 7 and 9, who will both be attending Kahn Elementary School. Sanchez has been living in the U. S., but his kids have recently relocated to Dallas from México.
“I came to Dallas schools in search of good teachers, classes and a better education for my children,” said Sanchez.
Aung, Arias, and the Sanchez’s siblings, are some of the new students that will soon be walking the hallways of Dallas ISD schools. Despite their different backgrounds and stories, one thing they all have in common is now being part of the Student Intake Center’s family.
The Intake Center, which enrolled over 2,500 students last year from 150 countries, now has a new location at 9400 N. Central Expy., Ste. 200 in Dallas.
All students in grades K-12 who have never attended U.S. schools must register through the Margaret and Gilbert Herrera Student Intake Center. The following items are required: proof of residency within the district boundaries (i.e. utility bill) or a letter proving they are living with someone in the Dallas ISD boundaries, birth certificate of the student, a picture ID of parent or guardian.
Walk-ins are welcomed, but appointments are encouraged. To make an appointment, call (972) 749-5760.
