BY LORI HAMMELMAN
Staff Writer

They leave their homes each year to work in the farm fields, often with young kids in tow who do not finish the school year. For those young children of migratory workers, leaving their academic studies is not detrimental to learning thanks to a program held at the Rochelle Middle School.
With funding from the Federal Government, this program provides the traditional school subjects such as reading and math along with enrichment activities.
“We have reading, writing, and a curriculum we follow,” said Rosie Arteaga, Program Director. “Along with the school subjects, we take them swimming on Fridays. We try to take them places that they may not have an opportunity to go to.”
Arteaga explained the program’s curriculum is grade specific for the children and is taught by teachers. The textbooks provided are in English or Spanish, although Arteaga said most of the students in the program speak English.
Even though the 20 students currently participating traveled from the Lone Star state of Texas, this program is available for families that come to the area in search of migratory work even if they live in the same state.
The students’ learning levels are assessed at the start of the program, just the same as in a traditional school environment. Arteaga said there are learning goals that must be met as well.

Familiar place
Although migratory programs are not as popular as they once were so long ago, several families return to the Rochelle area each year. One student, Lupita, has been in the Rochelle program since she started Kindergarten. She is now 12 years old.

“From my perspective it is amazing to travel around the cities and have this bond with people and make friends,” Lupita said. “We have activities here…it’s better than being at home bored.”
Next year Lupita will work in the fields with her parents, but for now she is enjoying a friendship she made last year with another student who has also returned to the program. Staying in school and pursuing her dreams is important to Lupita — something instilled by her father.
“He’s always told us since we were little, ‘follow your dreams and stay in school’,” said Lupita.
Dayanara, is also a returning student. She admits the area is refreshing in temperature, which is in contrast to her home state of Texas.
“I like being here, making new friends. I like to play outside and do a lot of activities,” Dayanara said. “I like math.”

Double duty
Arteaga said the younger students that participate in the daytime program range in age from Kindergarten through middle school age. There are also older students who participate in the evening program held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30.
Currently the evening students are working on a STEAM project. Vanessa Belmonte has been instructing students every year since the program began in Rochelle eight years ago. Belmonte explained the project involves asking the students to think of themselves as a third grader, visualizing what their ideal playground would look like. The students are instructed to then design the playground from an engineer’s point, also considering safety factors.
“I like seeing their minds grow, and seeing an actual change in the little time we have with them,” Belmonte said of the things she enjoys while teaching the students each year. “It’s nice hearing back from them…they tell me they are going to school, or that they graduated.”
The evening students write in journals and have been working on a mosaic art piece. Student teacher Rey Arteaga gives credit to the evening students considering they work all day in the fields and still come to class. Rey is finishing his student teaching portion from his classes at Northern Illinois University and is scheduled to graduate next year.

“This is my second year with the program. Doing this has shown me that I picked the career I’m supposed to follow,” Rey said. “I really enjoy working with the kids here.”
When asked, the evening students enjoy getting to meet new people at the school, particularly getting to “hang out” with their friends. One student said she also enjoys the lessons the teachers give.
Last week, the evening students traveled to NIU to visit the campus.
“The night kids come…they start their day sometimes at three or four in the morning, then they come to school,” Arteaga said. “For the older ones, we can find out their progress and if they might not be on target for graduation then we can study with them, work with them.”
Arteaga said all in all, the teachers strive to keep the students interested in learning that will eventually further them in whichever field they choose.
“We just want to give enough to plant those seeds. We understand that maybe the parents might not speak English or have an education, but we don’t want that for any of these kids,” Arteaga said. “We want them to be able to graduate high school and move on to college or a trade and to have a career. Not everything means college, but just not the fields.”
Arteaga said they are still looking for families that qualify for the program. Although flyers are circulated, most often migratory families find out about the program through word of mouth.
“If they moved here across the school district, from other towns, or across the country…If they crossed a school district for the purpose of working in agriculture, please call,” added Arteaga.
Anyone fitting these parameters is asked to call Monce Aguirre, recruiter for the program, at 815-979-8410.