The district’s English as a New Language program – formerly known as ESL, or English as a Second Language – features several support programs, now in place for students and their families, including the ENL Homework Helpers Club.

In this new offering, an elementary/ENL-certified teacher in the ENL program provides support for ENL students in grades 3-5 at John F. Kennedy Intermediate School, as a complement to the long-standing Study Buddy program for grades K-5.

According to Gina Palasciano, the district’s curriculum associate for world languages and ENL, the Homework Helpers Club began as a trial in January 2015 and was so successful that it was expanded to run every Wednesday after school from October through May. Homework Helpers support is also available for Deer Park’s English language learners at both the high school and middle school.