Over the last month, the 7th grade has been studying Don Brown’s moving and timely graphic novel, The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees. This graphic novel explores the Syrian refugee crisis through multiple short stories of individuals and families who have no choice but to embark on treacherous journeys by land and sea in search of a better future. Students have used this text to learn about the graphic novel genre, to practice their literary analysis skills, and to explore important themes such as overcoming hardship, xenophobia, and the power of generosity. 

In addition to examining the direct text and its themes, the English department at CESJDS prioritizes connecting our curriculum to the lives of our students and the broader world beyond the classroom. With this goal in mind, prior to reading The Unwanted, our students studied the origins of the Syrian refugee crisis and how the global community has responded to various refugee crises in different countries. Then, with assistance from incredible parent volunteers, the 7th grade had the unique opportunity to attend (virtually) a panel discussion with two experts about the Syrian refugee crisis. 

The speakers of the panel event on October 20th, Oula Alrifai and Claire Putzeys, shared with our students their powerful experiences both as a Syrian refugee (Oula) and as someone working hard on behalf of refugees in her role at the U.S. State Department (Claire). The students prepared for the panel by learning about the United States’ refugee resettlement program and brainstorming questions for the guest speakers. Following Oula’s and Claire’s presentations, the students asked tough and insightful questions about the role of the U.S. government in helping refugees, how the personal and professional experiences of the speakers were related to the Syrian refugee crisis, and what they could do as young people in the U.S. to help local refugee communities. Learning from Claire and Oula was an engaging experience and a powerful chance for our students to understand how the content of the classroom can inspire positive change outside of school. 

This panel event underscores the importance of giving students hands-on opportunities and experiences that connect the classroom to the larger world. Our students continue to build the essential English Language Arts skills of reading comprehension, analytical thinking, and writing. Giving students a direct link between the content in the classroom and current issues impacting society fosters greater intellectual curiosity and helps our students become ethical, responsible, and compassionate global citizens.