Connection, support, and a sense of belonging rang through the district office last week as the Multilingual department hosted a student conference for newcomer students on October 29. AVUHSD students who have been in the United States for three years or less had the opportunity to participate in workshops and engage with community organizations together as they celebrate their unique educational and personal journeys. 

“This event is dedicated to welcoming our students to the AVUHSD community and helping them feel connected and supported,” said Multilingual Program Coordinator Ana Peña Santos. “It embodies a spirit of unity, inclusion, and strength, bringing students together to realize that their journey is shared by many others.”

Four workshops focused on providing students with information about graduation requirements, post-high school education, mental health, and financial aid. Students also got to learn about community resources and student support services outside of the boardroom while Palmdale’s Mariachi Las Palmeras performed renditions of regional classics. 

Desert Pathways Principal Alex Santoyo served as the event’s keynote speaker, giving the students some words of encouragement as he shared stories of his own background. He believes this event is crucial in inspiring students with ideas on what their future can be. 

“I hope that [the students] believe in themselves, that there’s a bright future ahead of them, that they learn how to overcome obstacles and not to give up,” said Mr. Santoyo. “And that they continue going to school and learning the English language and not to stop because that’s the biggest challenge.”

One of the most celebrated aspects of the event is the opportunity for students to interact with other schools. Antelope Valley students Yoali Lopez and Alvaro Pacheco, both originally from Mexico, said it was good to be able to meet new people from different countries. Yobar Troncozo, an Antelope Valley student from Ecuador, said it was good to share and have conversations with the other schools who attended the event, and he thought it was a beautiful event. 

“Every year, we witness beautiful connections such as old classmates reuniting here in the US, or students connecting with much-needed resources and realizing they are not alone in their journey,” said Ms. Peña-Santos. 

Thank you to the Multilingual Department for hosting such a powerful event and to the community partners, teachers, aides, presenters, and other staff who contributed to creating a space for these students to learn and form meaningful experiences!