Wyandanch hosts event for immigrant students

Wyandanch schools extended a warm welcome to immigrant families and their children tonight.
The evening aimed at embracing 80 immigrant students who have recently come to Long Island from Central American countries. Most of them are from Honduras and El Salvador.
"We need them to feel welcomed. We need them to understand we are here for them and we're going to support them in every way we can so that effective learning can take place," said Wyandanch Superintendent Dr. Mary Jones.
Jones says the event was a chance for everyone to get to know each other outside of the classroom. They shared a meal, listened to music and talked about services the students may need to help them adapt to living in the U.S.
Thursday night's welcome session is believed to be the first hosted by a school district on Long Island since the influx of immigrant children began last year. So far, an estimated 70,000 unaccompanied children have crossed the border.