Mimi Collins' students had never eaten at a restaurant ridden in a car or bought something from a store.
Some had never been to school.
To help such immigrant and refugee students Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools is opening the Newcomer Center today on Chapel Hill High School's campus.
Instead of throwing these students into the whirl of school" they'll be instructed in small groups at the Newcomer Center first.
""A lot of times those first few weeks in school will determine whether your experience in the years to come is going to be a good experience"" said Sheila Moorman, who works with Lutheran Family Services to bring refugees to the area.
The majority of the students are civil war refugees from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Growing up at refugee camps in Thailand, many may have only had school for half a day in makeshift bamboo buildings, said Collins, a teacher at the Newcomer Center.
The reason why we started the Newcomer Center is we were getting so many students that were 12"14 17 years old with no literacy skills" said Jose Nambo, dual language coordinator for the district.
And they expect many more.
Because the English as a second language population has doubled during the past four years, from 9.9 percent in 2004-05 to 22.2 percent in 2007-08, continued growth is expected, district spokeswoman Stephanie Knott said.
In the Triangle, there are about 300 refugees from Karen, a war-tornstate in Myanmar, Collins said.
The district also plans to openthe Welcome Center in mid-September to offer immigrant parents information about placement tests and registration for their children, through a translator if necessary.
They might also have questions about school supplies and bus routes"" Nambo said. Some don't have access to the Internet or friends or neighbors telling them what they should do.""
After living in refugee camps" the idea of supporting themselves and paying bills is completely new Moorman said. The Newcomer and Welcome centers will ease the refugees' frustration she said.
Five of Collins' six middle school students don't know how to multiply or subtract and it's going to be difficult to get them back on track with others in their grade" Collins said.
""But these students are just so incredibly willing to learn" she said. They're really satisfying to teach because they work so hard" they soak it up like a sponge.""
In order to teach vocabulary and culture" Newcomer Center school days will be booked with field trips to grocery stores and parks.
Nambo expects that once more students are sorted into the program about 45 percent will be Spanish-speaking.
The Newcomer Center's opening was delayed due to transportation issues. Collins' students moved from classroom to classroom at Culbreth Middle School" but now they'll get settled at Chapel Hill High.
""The Newcomer Center's not going to solve all their problems"" Collins said. We just hope to give them enough academic support.""
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