Maya McFadden Photo
Eighth grader Yabsira, third grader Amanbuen, and dad Yemiamrew Teferi, on the first day of school.
Yemiamrew Teferi and his two sons Yabsira and Amanbuen showed up to Augusta Lewis Troup School on Thursday for their first first day of classes with New Haven Public Schools (NHPS), after moving from Ethiopia to the Elm City two months ago.
Teferi not only got the chance to send off his eighth grader, Yabsira, and third grader, Amanbuen. He also was able to stop into their classrooms to observe what the family’s new school is like.
After a walk from their George Street home to the Edgewood Avenue K‑8 neighborhood school, the trio arrived at Troup Thursday through its back entrance along with other families who also explored the school and met their students’ teachers.
Yabsira told this reporter he looks forward to classes in his favorite subject, history. Amanbuen said he is excited to learn more of the English language.
Teferi said he too hopes for his boys to improve their English skills, to learn another language that is not their native language of Amharic. Teferi is a visiting assistant professor for Yale University’s African Studies Council through 2024 and 2025.
After students headed off to their classes Thursday morning, parents were invited to not just meet the staff but to also observe the team of new and veteran educators at work.
They showed up to a school in the midst of a number of changes: Thursday marked the first day of the return of Troup’s uniform policy (green shirts and khaki pants); the school will be adopting Yondr pouches in the next few weeks to limit smartphone use in class; and it is newly a Commissioner’s Network school, a state designation and program designed to improve student achievement in low performing schools.
While making rounds of hallways, Troup Culture and Climate Specialist Da’Jhon Jett helped lead Teferi to his son’s third grade classroom.
Afterwards Jett continued his rounds Thursday morning, distributing “R.O.C.K. tickets” to staff to award to students with when they exhibit the school’s key values of respect, ownership, citizenship, and knowledge (R.O.C.K.). The students will be able to accumulate the tickets to later use at the school’s pride shop that’s still in the works. “It allows us to leverage everyone in the building and show that everyone is just as important as their classroom teacher,” Jett said.
After observing a classroom and exploring the building alongside other parents, Teferi confirmed with Jett that the school day will end at 2:50 p.m. Jett also informed Teferi of what doors his third and eighth graders will dismiss from.
After Teferi’s visit he told the Independent “Troup school is so encouraging both in terms of the school facilities it has and the service they are going to provide. Everyone is there to help people.”
He added that he recognizes that the process for his sons to improve their language skills will come with opportunities and challenges but appreciates that Troup is willing to support his family along the journey. “The school administrators and teachers promised to provide them with language training, taking some additional time as in the form of a tutorial. I want to thank them all for that,” Teferi concluded.
While in the hallways, Jett came across a fourth grader who told him “I don’t wanna be here.” Jett gave the student a hug and reminded her that her teacher this year also taught her three other siblings. “I think you should give it a shot,” he said.
Jett’s role this school year requires him to shift from being a sixth grade teacher at Troup to focusing mainly on working on school culture and climate. He said his goal is to build up Troup’s relationships with families to address all academic, home, and personal barriers impacting students. He also hopes to increase Troup’s parent presence and bring new family engagement opportunities to Troup.
Throughout the year as parents continue to visit classrooms, Jett said he plans to encourage them to take pictures of classroom anchor charts to help support their learners at home.
“We want them to trust and know who is taking care of and teaching their kids. We want them to see the great things here,” Jett said.
Jett stops into classrooms full of students, parents, and educators.