Employees of the Multilingual & Multicultural Center of the Portland  Public Schools at Todays Fair.

Portland School Superintendent Xavier Botana (L) with City Councilor Pious Ali at the Fair.

Nanette Dyer-Blake Community Outreach & Development Specialist.

About 100 people attended the third annual Back-to-School Fair for multilingual families with children in all Portland Public Schools at East End Community School on Munjoy Hill today.  The event was hosted by the Multilingual & Multicultural Center for the District.

The purpose of the Fair was to answer questions about the Portland Public Schools and fill out paper work for the school year that started late last month said Nanette Dyer-Blake, Community Outreach and Development Specialist for the District.  Nearly 40% of the schools are comprised of families that do not speak English at home Blake said.

“We wanted to have additional after school providers not here before to let parents know they are not affiliated with school.  They are separate and independent entities.  Parents have to sign up separately for them,” said Maureen Clancy, Language Access Coordinator for the District.  There are 5 part-time and 5 full-time interpreters with the Center that has a total of 25 employees.

“We had many people asking us what services we provide and where we are located,” said Hamet Ly, on-site supervisor for Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Services.  He was one of about twenty non-profits at todays Fair.

According to Ryan, refreshments were available including yogart which was very popular!

For more background on this Fair, please visit post herein dated September 12, 2017.