Gisela Vigil

Students at McGinnis Middle School are creating 'newsletters with a view' thanks to Vigil's "ONE Perth Amboy" program. In the program, seventh and eighth-grade students enrolled in the Limited English Proficient (LEP) program will produce a bilingual newsletter three times during the school year. The newsletter title, ONE Perth Amboy (Ojos Nuevos En Perth Amboy), translates to "New Eyes in Perth Amboy", a phrase that characterizes LEP students when they first arrive in Perth Amboy. By combining information about community and school resources with historical data, the students have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with their new school environment and their new community. Working on the newsletter also directly affects how the students view and adapt to their new culture. Vigil's program helps students become effective communicators, active learners and engaged members of their community by conducting surveys and interviewing community members for articles. The newsletter serves as the link between the school and new families in the community. Vigil resides in Elizabeth.