District hosts picnic for ELL families

Every year the ESL Department of the Cohoes City School District organizes picnics for the parents of ELL students, and gives the parents a chance to meet the teachers, find out about state tests and talk to each other.

This year's picnic, held on April 29, was a true celebration of the diversity of Cohoes. Nearly 20 parents and 45 children attended the picnic and enjoyed original and unique food: Ukrainian golubci (staffed cabbage), Sudanese falafel (fried vegetarian dish), Afghani deserts, a huge Ukrainian cake and "American" food - pizza!

Cohoes teachers and the parents enjoyed the performance of the Harmony Hill students, and a computer presentation that Middle School ELL students put together.

Today, immigration to the United Sates is at its highest since the early 20th century. Shaped by the unprecedented wave of immigrants from Sudan, Ukraine, Moldavia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Russia, the face of Cohoes has changed in the span of 10 years. Since 1998, the number of immigrants in Cohoes tripled and the number of ELL (English Language Learners) students in our district increased nearly seven times.