Dear parents, 

     As our students embark on their amazing journey through the eyes of an immigrant, it is important we inform parents of the requirements. This is a large project that is rich with history along with creativity and human experience. Although imaginary, the characters for which your child will be keeping a journal are going to have a very real experience as if they were actually living between 1900 and 1925. Since there is so much to this project, there will be checkpoints along the way to make sure everyone stays on track with their journals. We ask that parents get involved in this as well. This is also a great opportunity to share the story of your own family’s journey to and within the United States. 

The cost for this unit will be $27.00 per student.
Please make checks payable to MIT 

This fee will cover the following expenses: 

• Transportation and entrance fee for skating at Highland Ice Arena on December 18^th. (This is not part of the unit, but included in this overall cost so that we don’t have to send home a separate permission slip and letter.)

• Printing costs and a notebook that will be purchased for each student to organize immigration journal rough drafts and project paperwork.

• A field trip to the Nordic Heritage Museum (transportation included) on January 7th.

• Two visits from the Living Voices theater company on January 4^th and 8th.
  An actress from this theater company will come to Madrona and put on three performances each day (4^th and 8^th) for middle school students. Using costumes and a multimedia presentation, she will perform the journey of a new American, from the turmoil of the old country, to the promise of America.  Her performance will include the steamship passage of 1910, the path through Ellis Island, and the sweatshops of the lower east side of Manhattan. Middle school students will learn what American liberty and opportunity means to people around the world. The actress will take questions in character providing valuable information and insight for student journals.

• Supplies and rental equipment for the Ellis Island simulation and other simulations during the week.

  The permission slip and the fee are due by December 11th.

Scholarship money is available for the cost of this unit if needed. Please contact Craig Baldwin for information on scholarships from MIT.

This is a large and complex writing assignment. The week of January 4^th-8^th will provide each student with powerful experiences they can use to produce a rich and detailed journal. It’s our intent during the week to immerse students in this period of history and give them an excellent start to this challenging project.  

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This will be the last time we ask for a fee until spring. We know that it is difficult for some to provide this fee during a busy and demanding time of the year. However, we know through experience that these field trips, theatrical presentations and simulations are an essential part of this unit and will help prepare your child for this very demanding assignment. Many parents have told us over the years that this assignment made their child a writer. 

It is our hope that this unit will be rigorous and enjoyable for all our students. If you have any questions about the unit or the fee, please feel free to email Brad or Sharann. We would be happy to answer any questions.

THROUGH THE EYES OF AN IMMIGRANT

JOURNAL REFLECTIONS OF THE AMERICAN IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE