Saint Paul Public Schools began partnering with the City of Saint Paul to recruit mentors in the community to work with new Hmong refugees students arriving from the Wat Tham Krabok refugee camp and enrolling in Saint Paul Public Schools.

Background
In December 2003, the United States government announced plans to resettle up to 15,000 Hmong refugees (originally from Laos) because the refugee camp in which they lived was being closed. Wat Tham Krabok, the refugee camp, is located in Thailand 90 miles northeast of Bangkok.

Unlike other refugee students who have resettled in Saint Paul, only half of the children in Wat Tham Krabok have access to school due to numerous reasons. Therefore, these kids enter our schools with many questions about their new community in general, and about their new school specifically.

It is estimated that Minnesota will receive 5,000 refugees. Saint Paul Public Schools is expected to receive 1,000 school-age students. To ensure their academic success, the school district set up Transitional Language Centers (TLCs) for elementary newcomers. These are located within certain existing elementary schools. There is also a secondary school site (grades 7-12) located within the International Academy-LEAP school. The TLCs and the secondary site were created based on the past success and lessons learned from our district’s experience with the resettlement of refugees from Somalia, Thailand and many other countries

Mission
To support the academic, social and cultural needs of the new Hmong refugee students from Wat Tham Krabok.

Goals

1. Create an opportunity for new Hmong refugee students to be connected to a caring adult who can offer emotional support and guidance as the student pursues academic success.
2. Promote literacy by focusing on reading.
3. Educate Hmong students about embracing and respecting their own culture while connecting them to their new community.
4. Increase hope, motivation and academic achievement among the new Hmong refugee students.
5. Educate Hmong students about embracing and respecting their own culture while connecting them to their new community.
   
6. Develop a collaborative model of a support system where schools, parents and the community work together to support Hmong high school students.