Spanish bilingual program is a go in Winnipeg School Division
WSD says they have enough children registered for the fall
While most students are counting the sleeps till the end of the school year, Kathy Heppner says her 5-year-old daughter Elena can't wait to get into the classroom.
"She is very excited and telling everyone she is going to Spanish kindergarten. I am just thrilled. I think on the first day of school, I will have tears of joy and happiness,"said Heppner. "Elena was born in Bolivia and I am ecstatic she will be able to learn the language of her birth country."
Heppner, who is not Spanish, learned the language while working with an NGO in Bolivia.
Her daughter Elena will be one of the first students in the Winnipeg School Division's new Spanish bilingual program at Earl Grey School this fall. Heppner and another parent have been working to bring the program in for the past four years.
It was approved by the WSD a couple of months ago. Fourteen students from within the division have registered. Another 11 from outside the division are signed up but haven't been given approval yet.
"Our hope is to fill the class first with students who live within the school division boundaries," said Gail Singer, principal of Earl Grey. Students within the division will be bused for free.
"We are very excited to have it. It's going to bring a whole new dimension to our school that we are thrilled to have. It's a great opportunity,"said Singer.
A teacher has been hired . A consultant is helping to develop and adapt the curriculum from other kindergarten programs. Singer says Earl Grey has room to expand long-term with more enrolment. The program will be offered in kindergarten this fall, kindergarten and grade one in the fall of 2017, and then expands to the other grades up to Grade 6. More students from within the division can still register. The cap on the class is 20.
A meeting will be held at Earl Grey Monday at 6:30 p.m. to talk about how to support bilingualism at home. Presentations will be made in both Spanish and English.