Welcome!

As the lead agency for the Refugee Center and Community School at Reynolds Middle School (RCCSR), IU13 Community Education welcomes you to RCCSR's newsletter!

Our newsletter, which will be published every month, will keep you informed about the significant role that refugees and immigrants play in maintaining a healthy, local economy, and how you can help us welcome them and facilitate their integration into our economy and community.

Temporary Home at Emmanuel Lutheran Church

The Refugee Center and Community School has moved temporarily from Reynolds Middle School to Emmanuel Lutheran Church- 540 W. Walnut Street while Reynolds undergoes construction and renovations. Thank you to Emanuel Lutheran Church for hosting us! 

THIS MONTH AT THE

REFUGEE CENTER AND COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Clara + Nouraiz's Fundraiser

Thanks to the efforts of two 7-year olds, $5,352 was raised for the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 Refugee Center and Community School at Reynolds Middle School. 

Clara Flinchbaugh and Nouraiz Leister Chaman, sold pins and signs that welcome refugees to Lancaster County. 

Clara's pins said: "Let all people be treated equally. Let all people be loved." She sold $1,203 worth in pins. While Nouraiz, in 2017, sold signs that said: "No matter where you are from, we're glad you're our neighbor. He sold $4,149 worth in signs.

This money will be used for backpacks, cultural navigation services, and school orientations to support the programming at the Refugee Center and Community School. Thank you, Clara and Nouraiz for your contributions! 

 Photo from LNP Online | BLAINE SHAHAN | Staff Photographer

 Leap Into Language

Four local organizations are partnering to hold the third year of the Leap into Language summer program for middle school students from refugee and immigrant backgrounds. This year, the program will run from July 2- 26. 

IU13 Community Education’s Refugee Center and Community School at Reynolds (RCCSR) and School District of Lancaster (SDoL) are the primary organizers of Leap into Language. Khem Subedi, Community School Facilitator for RCCSR, said organizing the program involves recruiting students through home visits and communicating with program partners to plan for the summer and establish the curriculum, among other things.

The month-long program starts with English language lessons in the mornings, taught by educators from RCCSR and SDoL as well as education students from Millersville University. In the afternoons, EMM provides enrichment activities through local youth groups who participate in its Kingdom Team program, a summer learning and service opportunity. Youth groups practice conversational English with their international peers through games, sports, crafts, and more.

EMM’s Community Engagement Coordinator Angie Earl believes the program is an opportunity for the students to keep up their conversational English skills outside of the regular school year. It also helps some refugee families adapt to the idea of full-day education for their children. “Having positive peer interactions helps refugee students to feel more comfortable and confident in using English and in relating with people of other cultures, which is an important step toward gaining a sense of belonging and welcome in the community,” said Earl.