The school year is well underway, and our students are thriving! We are currently giving tours for the 2011-2012 school year and adding families to our list for the Kindergarten round up. If you are interested in the Immersion program for your child, please don’t delay and contact the school as soon as possible. We can’t wait to hear from you and welcome you to our family!
History of the Program
Foreign Language Immersion Program In April of 2009, a group
of committed neighborhood parents of preschool and Kindergarten aged
children began working with the school to develop a foreign language
immersion program. This interest was premised upon the knowledge that young
children have a unique window of opportunity early in life to develop
the parts of the brain used for acquiring language skills. Studies
show that children who learn a second language early in life benefit,
not only through being bilingual, but also by increased cognitive
development, improved complex problem solving skills, enhanced
listening skills, and greater intellectual flexibility. Academically,
foreign language immersion students develop skills that help them
perform better than their monolingual peers on standardized tests
administered in English.
In November of 2009, the District Governing Board approved the Foreign
Language Immersion Program at SPTA. Children do
not need any prior knowledge of Spanish in order to participate in the
program, but must be fluent in English.
