Dedication by 2 Holly Hills school staffers speaks volumes — and not in English

DENVER | Holly Hills Elementary School surprised two staff members with a Hero Award for their work supporting and welcoming students who are new to the country and the community. 

Nadira Rami and Jimena Ortiz Lozano were honored with the awards during an informal and unexpected ceremony Monday morning. The elementary school administrators gathered around the front office and while Cherry Creek School District Superintendent Chris Smith presented Rami and Ortiz Lozano. 

“Just having your presence here makes a huge difference for every single family,” Smith said when presenting the staff members with awards. 

Holly Hills has welcomed about 200 newcomer students this year, which equates to 2-3 students every week, according to Cherry Creek School District spokesperson Lauren Snell. Most of the district’s new families are migrants and refugees. 

Rami speaks five languages: Moroccan, Arabic, French, Spanish and English. She uses her language skills to address the needs of children and their families — in their native language. Rami is new to the district and works as office manager, registrar and community liaison. She has also organized clothing and backpack drives, according to Snell. 

Rami said that she reflects on her own experience as an immigrant when helping the children at the elementary school.

“I feel what they feel. For that, I would like to help,” she said. 

Ortiz Lozano echoed those sentiments.

“Having a person who speaks their language helps [the students] out a lot, and they have that connection with me, which is really nice and I love it,” she said. 

Ortiz Lozano currently works as a teacher for the Newcomer Academy and designed the newcomer program. Her second language is Spanish, so she supports students whose first language is Spanish. In addition to assisting the new students acclimate to the school, she also manages a classroom where all the instruction is in Spanish. 

“I don’t know that any of us would have the capacity to support that community and everything that we’ve gone through this year without the support of our incredible family liaison and our incredible newcomer academy teachers’ outstanding work,” said Holly Hills Principal Molly Drvenkar. “Thank you for all that you do for us.”