The daily proceedings of school may be intuitive for most of us, but for families who have recently moved to the U.S. from a foreign country, the system can be overwhelming.

Luckily, The Tumaini Transition and Welcome Center located at Granite Park Junior High is in place to assist international students as they enter Granite schools for the first time.

During a two-week program, students receive daily instruction in school and social skills, and practice daily tasks such as opening lockers, using lunch numbers, and writing the alphabet. Teachers also help students to be familiar with classroom procedures and academic standards.

The Center had 40 students during the first session of the school year – 16 secondary students and 24 elementary students representing 11 different countries and eight languages. Numerous counselors and liaisons touted the success of the first session.

“I spoke with the secretary, principal, and ALP lead at Roosevelt Elementary and they could not say enough good things about the Center,” said family specialist Carrie Pender. “I has made a big difference to have their students go through that program prior to attending Roosevelt.”