Dual English/Spanish Language Immersion Program Expanding

In an increasingly multi-lingual economy and society, the ability to move easily between English and Spanish is very important, which is why the Dual-Language Immersion program offered at Butterfield and Armada elementary schools is so popular, and why the program is now expanding to Sunnymead Elementary starting in 2015-16. Parents interested in enrolling in the program are invited to attend one of three upcoming informational meetings. Attendance is mandatory for enrollment. The dual-language program uses the 90:10 immersion model at the kindergarten level, in which the instructional day consists of 90-percent Spanish and 10-percent English. The percentage of non-English instruction decreases each following year until English and Spanish are used equally. Regardless of which language is primarily spoken by students when they enroll, all students will eventually become bilingual, bi-literate and bi-cultural. “As we prepare all students to become college- and career-ready, learning to speak and write in academic English is one of the goals under the Common Core State Standards,” said program director Lilia Villa. “In our dual-immersion program, students also are learning academic Spanish, which is a tremendous advantage.” The program offered at Butterfield and Armada elementary schools will expand to grades K-2 next year. The new program at Sunnymead Elementary will begin at the kindergarten level for the 2015-16 school year, adding a grade level each succeeding year. Interested parents must attend one of the following informational meetings in order to enroll their children in the program: Friday, Feb. 6; Wednesday, Feb. 11; or Monday, March 9. Each meeting will be held at the MVUSD Board Room, 25634 Alessandro Blvd., Moreno Valley, and will begin at 6 p.m.