The Natrona County School District, public library and the Even Start program are combining efforts to reach out to Natrona County's growing Hispanic population.

The three groups hosted a family dinner night at North Casper Elementary Thursday evening to promote the library's bilingual story hour, as well as programs offered by the other organizations. North Casper is the school district's English as a Second Language magnet school.

"We thought it might be a good idea for us to come to the school," said Julie Eastes, the district's Title III Family Literacy Coordinator. "We just wanted to get to know some families."

The growing number of Hispanic students enrolling at North Casper recently prompted the Natrona County school board to approve funding for a second Spanish teacher. Fort Casper Academy is also gearing up to open its own ESL class.

"The number of families in our community is increasing," Eastes said. "We just want to make sure we reach out to them and make them feel comfortable in our community."

Comfort level is a big factor in how active a family will become in the community, said Andrea Becker with Even Start. The program provides language and literacy services to parents and students, as well as parenting classes and a sort of network for Hispanic families.

"I think it's really important to get family members together to meet each other," Becker said. "It's good to know it's okay to speak their own language."

Jerry Jones, the Natrona County Public Library's youth services coordinator, said the library also offers a myriad of services she hopes Hispanic families will come in and take advantage of.

"The Spanish-speaking population is one we've been working on constantly," Jones said.

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com. trib.com/blog.>

To learn more

For more information about Even Start and the programs it offers, call (307) 472-5640. The next bilingual story hour at the Natrona County Public Library is scheduled for Feb. 7 at 10:30 a.m.