building rapport
It is very important to build a strong sense of community in any school setting. Building community between the school and your Mennonite families may prove a challenge, however, for a number of reasons. First, sometimes there is a language barrier, which causes many parents to shy away from initiating conversation with anyone who is unable to speak German. Many feel ashamed of their lack of English-speaking skills and even feel inferior to non-Mennonites. Besides the Mennonite culture being so different from mainstream culture, many Mennonites also grow up being taught that they must be separate from the world. Therefore, some Mennonites may not participate in community efforts, and will rarely be the initiators thereof. For these reasons, it is very important for school staff to make the first move and continue trying, when it "seems" that their attempts at building relationships fail. Many Mennonites have faced opposition and ridicule and may doubt the true intentions of individuals outside of their cultural group.