Multilingual Learners (ML)
Department Director
Carina Da Silva, Director of Multilingual Learners (ML)
Barnstable High School Language Office, Room 2302
Family & Community Liaisons
- Rafaela Brunelle – Portuguese District Liaison
- Adela Blanco Román – Spanish District Liaison
- Emma Jaurigui – Spanish District Liaison
- Newton Jordao – Portuguese, BHS
- Renata Jordao – Portuguese Liaison, BIS
- Nathalia Santana – Portuguese/Spanish, BUES
- Hayanne Silva – Portuguese Liaison, HyWest
Rafaela Brunelle – Portuguese District Liaison
My name is Rafaela Brunelle and I’m the bilingual family liaison for Barnstable Public Schools. I was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil. After graduating high school in Brazil I came to the US to study English. Prior to joining BPS in 2018, I worked as a medical interpreter/translator. As a bilingual family liaison, I’m committed to providing exceptional support to our culturally diverse community and proudly serve as the bridge of communication between the schools and multilingual families in our community. I’m eager to start the new school year and continue assisting our new families and students in getting acclimated to our school system.
Rafaela Brunelle
BPS Email: brunelle_rafaela@mybps.us
Office phone: (508) 420-2272 Ext. 1330
Google Voice/Whatsapp: (508) 534-8670
Adela Blanco Román – Spanish District Liaison
My name is Adela Blanco Román, and I am originally from Spain. I came to the US in 2000, and became an interpreter 10 years ago. This is my 6th year working for Barnstable Public Schools as a parent liaison, interpreter and translator. Working for the schools and helping the families and staff to communicate, helping the parents connect with school resources and helping them to navigate a different school system are some of my duties which I truly enjoy. I am always eager to help new and existing families, administrators, and staff to create a harmonious and inclusive environment.
Adela Blanco Román
BPS Email: blancoroman_adela@mybps.us
Office Phone: 508-790-6445 Ext. 1243
Google Voice/WhatsApp: (508) 827-1598
Emma Jaurigui – Spanish District Liaison
My name is Emma Jaurigui. I am from the Central Valley in California. I am new to Cape Cod and the Barnstable Schools. I was recently hired to provide support as a Spanish Liaison. My previous job experiences have been within different school systems in the United States. I have had the opportunity to teach Special Education and different grade levels, with Kindergarten being my most recent position. I am looking forward to doing my best to support students, parents, and staff in building connections.
Emma Jaurigui
BPS Email: jaurigui_emma@mybps.us
Office Phone: (508) 790-6460 Ext. 1228
Google Voice/Whatsapp: (508) 348-9895
Newton Jordao – Portuguese, BHS
My name is Newton Jordao. I was born in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and moved to the United States with my parents when I was seven years old. I went through the education system in Barnstable and graduated from Barnstable High School in 2014. After finishing college, I began working for the Barnstable Public Schools in 2019, and I’m currently the ELL Portuguese Liaison for Barnstable High School. As an ELL Liaison, I provide language support to our Barnstable Public School multilingual community. I like to think of myself as a bridge or connection point between our school community and multilingual parents/students.
Newton Jordao
BPS Email: jordao_newton@mybps.us
Office Phone: (508) 790-6445, ext. 1783
Google Voice/Whatsapp: (508) 296-0232
Renata Jordao – Portuguese Liaison, BIS
My name is Renata Jordao. I am originally from Brazil and came to the United States when I was eight. I am the Portuguese Liaison at Barnstable Intermediate School. Having grown up in Barnstable, I am proud to be a part of the community that fostered my educational journey. As a Barnstable graduate, I have a strong connection to the school and its values, making my role even more meaningful. As a Portuguese Liaison, I support students and families transitioning into a new language and culture. In my role, I serve as a bridge between the school and the Portuguese-speaking community, helping to facilitate communication and understanding. I am excited to be a part of the Barnstable Public Schools community and to contribute to the success and growth of our Multilingual Learners.
Renata Jordao
BPS Email: jordao_renata@mybps.us
Office Phone: (508) 790-6460 Ext. 1670
Google Voice/WhatsApp: (508) 296-0028
Nathalia Santana – Portuguese/Spanish, BUES
My name is Nathalia Santana. I was born and raised on the Cape to Brazilian parents. I moved to Brazil at the age of 5 and came back to Cape Cod at the age of 8. I attended Barnstable Public Schools and graduated in 2012. I am currently the Portuguese/Spanish Liaison at Barnstable Community Innovation School. As a former EL student, I feel a deep responsibility to be a support and bridge to families in our community. My mission is to create a connection between our schools and families in order to have a greater sense of community in our district. I truly enjoy working with our families and our school staff!
Nathalia Santana
BPS Email: santana_nathalia@mybps.us
Office Phone: (508) 420-2272
Google Voice/WhatsApp: (508) 534-8093
Hayanne Silva – Portuguese Liaison, HyWest
My name is Hayanne Silva, and I am happy to be working at Hyannis West Elementary School as a Portuguese Liaison. As someone who was born in Brazil and came to the United States at the age of five, I have a deep appreciation for the challenges and opportunities that come with learning a new language and adapting to a new culture. Having graduated from Barnstable in 2013, I am proud to be back in the district that played a significant role in shaping my educational journey. As a Portuguese Liaison, I am committed to providing valuable support and guidance to Portuguese-speaking students and their families.
Hayanne Silva
BPS Email: silva_hayanne@mybps.us
Office Phone: (508) 790-6480 Ext. 1216
Google Voice/WhatsApp: (508) 418-9231
ML Teachers
- Barnstable High School
- Barnstable Intermediate School
- Barnstable United Elementary School
- Barnstable Community Innovation School
- Barnstable West Barnstable Elementary School
- Hyannis West Elementary School
- Centerville Elementary School
- West Villages Elementary School
- Enoch Cobb Early Learning Center
Barnstable High School
- Marjorie Pitts: Pitts_Marjorie@mybps.us
- Molly Waterhouse: Waterhouse_Molly@mybps.us
- Jennifer Knight: knight_jennifer1@mybps.us
- Julia Shangina-Petitt: Shangina-Petitt_Julia@mybps.us
- Patti Connor: Connor_Patricia@mybps.us
- Kelley Doherty: doherty_kelley@mybps.us
- Leonardo Rosa: rosa_leonardo@mybps.us
- Basak Mcdougal: mcdougal_basak@mybps.us
Barnstable Intermediate School
Barnstable Intermediate School: 508-790-6460
- Dorota Spagnuolo: Spagnuolo_Dorota@mybps.us
- Stephanie Pishko: pishko_stephanie@mybps.us
Barnstable United Elementary School
- Stacey Kennedy: Kennedy_Stacey@mybps.us
- Jiro Adachi: Adachi_Jiro@mybps.us
- Maura Dean: dean_maura@mybps.us
- Nataliya Melillo: melillo_natalyia@mybps.us
- Steve Berkowitz: berkowitz_steven@mybps.us
Barnstable Community Innovation School
Barnstable Community Innovation School: 508-790-6485
- Patrice Michael: Michael_Patrice@mybps.us
- Beth King: king_beth@mybps.us
- Marcia Ubertaccio: ubertaccio_marcia@mybps.us
- Corey Hayes: hayes_corey@mybps.us
Barnstable West Barnstable Elementary School
Barnstable West Barnstable Elementary School: 508-362-4949
- Michelle Murphy: Murphy_Michelle@mybps.us
- Maura Donovan: donovan_maura@mybps.us
Hyannis West Elementary School
Hyannis West Elementary School: 508-790-6480
- Casey Doherty: Doherty_Casey@mybps.us
- Kimberly Brown: brown_kimberly@mybps.us
- Leslie Silliman: silliman_leslie@mybps.us
- Hannah McLaughlin: mclaughlin_hannah@mybps.us
- Betty Checo: checo_betty@mybps.us
- Sophia DiLorenzo: glading-dilorenzo_sophia@mybps.us
Centerville Elementary School
Centerville Elementary School: 508-790-9890
- Bonnie Stanley: Stanley_Bonnie@mybps.us
- Lindsay Anderson: anderson_lindsay@mybps.us
West Villages Elementary School
West Villages Elementary School: 508-420-1100
- Kristi Bader: Bader_Kristin@mybps.us
- Stephanie Markwell: markwell_stephanie@mybps.us
Enoch Cobb Early Learning Center
Enoch Cobb Early Learning Center - Preschool: 508.790.6493
- Patricia Spillane: spillane_patricia@mybps.us
Multilingual Learners Program & Procedures
About
The asset-based term Multilingual Learner (MLs) is used to describe all students who come in contact with and/or interact in languages in addition to English on a regular basis--including English Learners (ELs), newcomers, students with interrupted formal schooling, long-term English Learners, English Learners with disabilities, gifted and talented English Learners, and students who speak varieties of English or indigenous languages (WIDA, 2020). Barnstable Public Schools (BPS) welcomes MLs from many linguistic and cultural backgrounds particularly Latinx students from South and Central America and the Caribbean Islands.
BPS Language Proficiency Assessments
Preschool
BPS Language Proficiency Assessments
Language Proficiency Assessment (Paper) |
Age |
Domains Assessed |
Not EL if... |
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Pre-IPT Oral |
Age 3 |
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Pre-IPT Oral |
Age 4 |
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Pre-IPT Oral |
Age 5 |
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Kindergarten
Initial Identification of MLs in Kindergarten
Time |
Language Proficiency Assessment (Paper) |
Domains Assessed |
Not EL if… |
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September - December |
K WIDA Screener |
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January - June |
K WIDA Screener |
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Please Note: All kindergarten students tested between September and December who do not qualify for services will be monitored throughout their kindergarten year and will be reassessed with all four domains in September of their first grade year.
First Grade
Initial Identification of ELs in First Grade
Time |
Language Proficiency Assessment (Paper or Online) |
Domains Assessed |
Not EL if… |
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September – December |
K WIDA Screener |
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January – June |
Grade 1 WIDA Screener |
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Grades 2-12
- Direct Language Instruction
- Opting-Out of Direct Language Instruction
- Exiting the English Program
- Our Multilingual Programs
- Benchmarks for Making Progress Toward English Language Proficiency
Direct Language Instruction
All ML students will receive direct, systematic, explicit, and sustained language instruction with qualified and licensed ESL educators. At BPS, our EL instruction may happen in a pull-out, push-in, or self-contained setting. Placement decisions will be made to meet the student’s linguistic and academic needs based on the student's English proficiency levels. BPS will attempt to the extent possible to follow these recommendations:
English Proficiency Levels (ELP Levels) |
Periods of Direct Language Instruction |
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Beginner: 1.0 to 2.4 |
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Intermediate/Advanced: 2.5 to 4.2 |
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Opting-Out of Direct Language Instruction
Parents/guardians of ML students who qualify for EL services can choose to opt-out of direct language instruction. As per state laws, “The decision to opt-out must be voluntary and informed, and not the product of district practices or influence, the result of inadequate or inaccurate information, or inadequate district resources.” Barnstable Public School staff cannot recommend opting out to families. The BPS district procedures for opting-out are below.
Initiating the Process
Should a parent express the desire to opt their child out of the EL program in any situation or setting (voluntary and not influenced), the staff member who receives this request will:
- Notify the EL Director of parent request
- Inform the parent to expect some follow up from the EL Director within 5 school days
Meeting with Parent
The EL director, with an interpreter if needed, will:
- Meet with the family to understand the basis of their opt-out request.
- Share information to ensure that parents fully understand what it means to opt out of the program. Services they are opting out of,
- Possible push-in supports that students would have access to,
- Required monitoring
- Continued participation in the ACCESS test
- Parent’s right to opt-out at any time AND that parents can opt back in at any time.
- The need to revisit the opt-out decision annually
- The parent is provided with the opt-out form (translated as needed) following the meeting.
Finalizing Opt-Out
Should the parent decide to move forward with the opt-out process:
- The completed, signed form is needed to remove the student from ESL - the EL Director needs a copy of the form to initiate this process EL Director changes coding in Aspen and notifies the counselor to complete any necessary schedule adjustments/roster changes
- A copy of the form goes in the student’s cumulative file
- Educators working with students will contribute progress, data, and information through Ellevation for ongoing monitoring
- Collaboration between educators working with the opt-out student is highly recommended.
- For students who are dually identified and have opted out of ESL services, collaboration between EL and special education staff will be even more critical in the ongoing support of the student.
Please Note: Opt-out students are still in the ELE program and will take the ACCESS test every year until they receive qualifying scores to exit the program.
Exiting the English Program
Every year, ML students will participate in the ACCESS for ELs language assessment. The ACCESS measures students’ academic language proficiency from year to year. To be considered for reclassification, or to exit the program, students must receive:
- An overall score of 4.2 or above on ACCESS
- A composite literacy score of 3.9 or above on ACCESS
The ML team will monitor all Former English Learners (FELs) for four academic years, twice a year. Content teachers will receive a monitoring form to complete in the Ellevation platform. Data from observations, assessments, and participation will determine if students stay as FELs or if they need to return to the ELE program and receive direct language instruction.
Please Note: Opt-out students are still in the ELE program and will take the ACCESS test every year until they receive qualifying scores to exit the program.
Our Multilingual Programs
Sheltered Content Instruction (SCI) |
English as a Second Language (ESL) |
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Benchmarks for Making Progress Toward English Language Proficiency
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) developed Benchmarks, or target ACCESS scores, for students to meet each year to show progress towards exiting the ML program. Second language acquisition is a very complex process-- it depends on many factors and it is different for each individual. Our ML students are not required to meet Benchmarks every year or to exit the program within a time frame, but BPS will monitor students’ benchmarks to ensure they are making adequate progress toward English proficiency.
AUGUST |
SEPTEMBER The ML program director reviews and shares the data with the school team. |
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER School teams will contact families for their input. |
OCTOBER After receiving family input, school teams develop a support plan. |
ALL YEAR
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Identification of ML Students
STEP 1
STEP 2
If the home language survey indicates, in any of its questions, that there is a language other than or in addition to English, a Parent Community Liaison will administer a language proficiency test within 30 days of enrollment, unless:
- The student was classified as a Former English Learner (FEL) student in their previous district.
- The student transferred from another district in MA or another WIDA state and did not qualify as EL in the previous district.
- The student has ACCESS results from the last calendar year from a previous district.
STEP 3
STEP 4
A schedule will be created to support the student's linguistic, social-emotional, and academic needs. All ML students will receive ESL services. Later in this document, consideration for the groups below is discussed:
- Former EL students (FEL)
- Opt-out Students
- Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE)
- Multilingual Learners in Special Education
- Newcomers
STEP 5
The ML teacher will notify parents/guardians of the student's placements within 10 days from registration at the FCEC. The Yearly Parent Notification form will be sent in the family's requested language. An EL folder will be created to keep EL records. Many records will also be placed in Aspen and Elevation.