LYNN — Officials for both the City of Lynn and Lynn Public Schools (LPS) gathered together Tuesday, as they gave a warm welcome to the school district’s new Welcome Center.
Now on State Street, Mayor Jared Nicholson said that the center is more accessible to families relying on public transportation, and is just more conveniently located in general.
The ceremonious welcome and ribbon cutting for the center was emceed by LPS Deputy Superintendent Maricel Goris, who thanked everyone for coming, and introduced all those that were instrumental in the project.
Those introduced included LPS Superintendent Dr. Evonne Alvarez.
“(The Welcome Center) serves as that crucial hub where we foster that sense of belonging from the first moment that students are in contact with our Lynn public schools’ staff,” Alvarez said. “Having this incredible space is really not just about registration and placement, and assessment; it’s really about that sense of support where our incredible staff is able to answer questions and guide families to do what they need to do in the best interest of their sons and daughters.”
Alvarez thanked everyone involved for all the hard work that went into relocating the center, and emphasized to the crowd that the center is the first point of contact for all families initially joining the Lynn schools.
“We should never lose sight of the importance of that,” Alvarez said.
Welcome Center Director Ivette Martinez was absent for the ribbon cutting ceremony, so one of the center’s Student Enrollment and Family Engagement Specialists, Jennifer Isaac, spoke on Martinez’s behalf.
Goris said Martinez is in Washington, D.C. for a fellowship opportunity.
“This upgraded location plays a crucial role in ensuring that every family interacting with the welcome center feels valued, respected, and welcome, so children can truly thrive and make a positive impact on our community and beyond,” Isaac said on behalf of Martinez.
On behalf of the parents of Lynn Public Schools, Alba Soch spoke, in Spanish, about the importance of the welcome center to her.
Soch is an immigrant and mother of five children in the Lynn public school system.
The center’s Student Assignment Manager Nixidia Adams translated Soch’s speech for those who speak English.
“As an immigrant, I have noticed the great efforts that Lynn has made to keep the community close to the schools. I appreciate the effort they made to improve the facilities, so that we, as parents, feel welcome,” Adams translated for Soch. “As a Hispanic mother, I feel very proud and happy to live in Lynn, and even more so now.”
Soch/Adams said that the bilingual staff at the welcome center has made it even more accessible to parents who speak languages other than English, and it’s very easy to express concerns and needs.
“Now, in this new location, I know that it will work better because the offices are more central, and we have more access to public transportation, which was a great challenge for us as parents when we visited the welcome center,” Adams translated for Soch.
Finally, Nicholson addressed the crowd at the new welcome center, thanking everyone for attending and for all the effort that had gone into the project over the last few years.
“The future of our city happens in the public schools. The future starts in the public schools,” Nicholson said. “In a lot of ways, the public schools start with the Welcome Center. It’s an introduction for our families to all the amazing work that happens in our public schools; that our teachers and faculty and staff do everyday with our amazing students.”
Nicholson said there are around 3,000 new registrations every year to the public schools, and having the new welcome center will be crucial towards continuing to improve the success of the education in Lynn.
“I think it’s important to reflect and remind ourselves that each one of those enrollments, each one of those registrations is a family that’s investing what they care about most in the world, in our community,” Nicholson said.
The Welcome Center is located at 2 State St.
