Organizing a summer newcomer program with Sarah Whitfield

Organizing a summer newcomer program with Sarah Whitfield

From Highest Aspirations by Ellevation Education

September 9, 2025 · 34 min

About this episode

Sarah Whitfield discusses the structure and impact of a summer newcomer program aimed at fostering belonging and collaboration with families.

In this episode of Highest Aspirations, we speak with Sarah Whitfield, an ML Instructional Specialist, about the summer Newcomer Academy she directs. Sarah shares the intentional structure of the program, which is designed to build a strong sense of belonging and identity for middle and high school newcomers. She details a profound shift in her approach—moving from "family engagement" to true "family collaboration"—and discusses a simple yet transformative practice of asking parents about their hopes and dreams for their children. This conversation provides a practical roadmap for creating welcoming environments and building authentic, lasting partnerships with newcomer families. Key questions we address: How can a summer newcomer academy be structured to build a strong sense of identity and belonging for students? What is the difference between "family engagement" and "family collaboration," and what does this shift look like in practice? How can a simple question about a family's "hopes and dreams" for their child transform the relationship between home and school? For additional episode and community resources: Download the…

People in this episode

Guest: Sarah Whitfield

Topics covered

  • summer newcomer program
  • family collaboration
  • belonging and identity
  • partnerships with families
  • education for newcomers

Keywords

  • newcomer academy
  • family engagement
  • education
  • middle school
  • high school
  • identity
  • belonging

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ellevation Education

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