NPS expects eight Ukrainian students to arrive late August
NORFOLK, Neb. -- The Norfolk Public School District is expecting eight Ukrainian students to arrive this month, as the first wave of Ukrainian parolees arrives in the city.
On Monday NPS held its monthly board of education meeting, where the discussion of students arriving took place.
During her report, superintendent Dr. Jamie Jo Thompson revealed the school would be expecting eight students to arrive later in August.
While Ukrainian is the native language of the student, Thompson said English is a language taught to students in Ukraine, and an interpreter from Lincoln would be arriving to help students for their first week.
"We have been told to expect eight school-age children in the first round of parolees," Thompson said. "They range in age from five to sixteen. We are looking forward to meeting these new students and helping them settle into their new homes in America."
The students are defined as parolees, not refugees, meaning they do not have access to potential permanent status or certain financial assistance.
Under the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the students will be given free meals, free transportation, and free school supplies. Thompson said students will enroll in Woodland Park as their future residence falls within that school's area.