New Haitian Student Orientation

After the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Varela Sr High has enrolled over 30 new students who have come from the island. Today we held an orientation/ meet and greet session for them. Our aim was to make these students feel welcomed into our Viper family and to support them academically and emotionally.

A big thanks to Ms. Bernal who decorated the media center, packed goodie bags and ordered the food for us, Ms. Spinosa, athletic director who gave the students a who is who on the athletic front, Ms. Christin, activities director for her welcoming words, Ms. Brenda Davila from the Dade County Public Schools crisis team who spoke to the students on grief and how to find help, Mrs. Janet Hupp, regional superintendent for her welcoming words to the students, Dr. Alexis Martinez, regional director for his support and visit, Ms. Ada de la Cruz, my secretary for putting on her party planner hat and helping, Ms. Pagan, media specialist who let us use the media center and pitched in with her staff to get everything done, the administrative staff for their hard work, Ms. Lassegue who welcomed the students in their language and has been the smiling face they can go to for any assistance, Ms. Rouit, french teacher, for her work in making sure all the new students are challenged academically and continue to succeed and finally to the Haitian students who were already at Varela for taking the new students under their "Viper wings". I am very proud of the work we did today. Today was really a Viper family effort and success.