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Public commenters describe Friendship Day Camp for ORR‑eligible scholars
Summary
At the Dec. 17 special meeting, public comment speakers described a Friendship Day Camp that served 31 ORR‑eligible students from multiple countries, highlighted arts and digital inclusion activities, and noted community partnerships that provided backpacks and books.
During the governing board’s public comment period on Dec. 17, Andrea Barrera and Claudia Shepherd described a Friendship Day Camp for Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible scholars in the Cartwright district.
Claudia Shepherd, identified in the meeting as the youth education program coordinator at the IRC, said 31 students attended and represented countries including Afghanistan, Cuba, Jordan and Rwanda. The students created a “friendship flower” mural with handprints and country-of-origin notes intended as a legacy piece for the school district. “We did something very unique that we want to leave behind… Each petal was made by each student,” Shepherd said.
Speakers described four stations at the camp: digital inclusion (internet safety), cultural arts, scenario‑based social‑skills kits, and physical education activities. Andrea Barrera noted community support, including Northern Christian Schools, which donated gift baskets, and said scholars received books, backpacks and art projects to take home. Barrera and Shepherd both expressed gratitude for district staff, transportation, assistant principals and parent liaisons who helped run the event.
The board’s public comment policy was noted: items raised during public comment would not prompt immediate legal action by the board but could be referred to staff for study or scheduled for future consideration.
No formal board action was taken on the program during the meeting.
