Information Meeting for incoming Kinder Parents

Parents that are interested in learning more about the dual language program at Lincoln should plan on attending the March 4th meeting in the Lincoln Cafeteria from 6pm-7pm.  This meeting is geared towards parents of incoming kindergarteners for 2014-2015 that have NOT registered for the DLP at Lincoln, but would like to learn more about how the program works. 

Please help us spread the word about this meeting. 

Calling all incoming DLP kindergarteners to Lincoln Elementary!!!! It's time to register

It's that time!!!!!

Unbelievably, it’s already that time of year - kindergarten registration for the upcoming school year.

We’ve put together step by step instructions for anyone who is confused by the registration process (as it can be very cumbersome).  Please know that this is written by parent advocates of the dual language program and not by the district or school; however, we have verified that our instructions are accurate.  If you require any additional information please contact the school and/or the district office.

IF YOU LIVE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF LINCOLN ELEMENTARY
If you live in the boundaries of Lincoln Elementary, Kinder round-up (registration for 2014-2015 kindergarten) started the first week of February.  If you haven't already done so, be sure to complete your paperwork as soon as possible, as space is limited in the dual language program.  Be sure to designate that you are registering your child or children for the DLP.


IF YOU DO NOT LIVE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF LINCOLN, BUT ARE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF SCESD
1.  Complete an Intradistrict Transfer Request:   Transfer requests must be done at the District Office, 801 S. Main Street, Salinas. 
2.  Please make sure to write on the paperwork that you are requesting the dual language program (DLP) at Lincoln. 
3.  Upon acceptance of your transfer the district office will notify you in writing (or via phone).  You then need to take your approved SCESD transfer paperwork to Lincoln and fill out the kinder registration paperwork. 
 4.  Again, be sure to designate that you are registering your child or children for the DLP.

IF YOU DO NOT LIVE IN THE BOUNDARIES OF SCESD
1.  Complete an Interdistrict Transfer Request: Go to your current school district office and request a transfer out of your district (interdistrict transfer). 
2.  Be sure to specify that you are requesting a transfer because your current district DOES NOT offer a dual language program.   Once you've completed the request, be sure to ask for a copy for your records.  Additionally, make sure to ask for the phone number and email address of the person you can follow up with directly regarding your request.
3.  Check on the status of your transfer request frequently: Please note that most districts will not approve transfers on the spot, it could take several weeks/months.  It will be your responsibility to check on the status of your transfer request.  You should also note, that your district must approve your transfer if they do not offer a Spanish dual language program at any of their district elementary schools.    
4.  Once your request is approved, your current district will mail or fax the approval to SCESD.  You should continue to follow-up with SCESD to make sure they receive the approved transfer. 
5.  Once SCESD receives the transfer and SCESD approves your request for Lincoln, you should receive notice from SCESD (either in writing or via phone).  You will then need to take your approved SCESD transfer paperwork to Lincoln and fill out the kinder registration paperwork.  BE SURE TO DESIGNATE THAT YOU ARE REQUESTING DLP ON ALL YOUR PAPERWORK!!!!

If you have questions about which school boundaries you live in, please take a look at the following map:

http://www.monterey.k12.ca.us/drupal/sites/default/files/files/home/images/district-school/Schools%20and%20Districts.pdf

Hopefully, this is useful information for anyone out there that is confused about the process.

Please note, that you can always ask the school or he district office directly if you require any additional information!

Best of luck!

The Gift of Giving

If you are considering giving a gift of appreciation to your child's teacher this holiday season, here's the wishlists that the maestras have put together (thanks to the PTO):
Preschool
Maestra Razo:
white copy paper
blue dish soap (bubbles)
wax paper
flour for playdough
chisel tip sharpies
assorted art tissue paper
1.5 inch scotch tape
band aides assorted sizes
card stock

Kinder
Maestra Airada:
5 cookie sheets (dollar store)
glitter large jar (red, gold silver, blue, green)
2 cassette players with headphones
laundry cart w/wheels (new or used)
32 white boards (12x12)
2 gallons of glue
2 large staplers
scrapbook paper
treasure box items (dollar tree)
painting easel
copy paper, glue sticks, markers
gift cards (Amazon, Michael's, Beverly's, Oriental Trading Co.)
hot glue gun and glue sticks

Maestra Ruiz:
yellow highlighters
kodak ink black/color 30/30
Target gift cards
clorox wipes
Beverly's gift card
white lunch bags (small)
brown lunch bags (small)
Michael's gift cards
expo markers

1st Grade
Maestra Gonzalez
art drying rack
glitter
mason jars
white copy paper
scented markers
Elf on the shelf (girl)
scented stickers
color copy paper
colored pencils
markers

Maestra Perez
Elf on the shelf
Dollar Tree gift card
Target gift card
Office Depot gift card
dry erase markers
snacks
assorted art tissue paper
paint brushes
class set of highlighters

2nd Grade
Covarrubias
Target gift card
Michael's gift card
Walmart gift card
Office Depot card
Ticonderoga pencils
painters tape
black dry erase markers
jump ropes
jumbo color chalk class set

2nd/3rd Grade
Maestra Santana
copy paper
pencils
fine tip crayola markers
craft sticks (tongue depressors)
white boards for students
binder paper
colored copy paper
ink for printer
(NO PRINTER NEEDED, AS PTO IS PURCHASING ONE)

3rd Grade
Maestra Leyva
large popsicle stick boxes
glue sticks
ticonderoga costco pack pencils
crayola markers
crayola colored pencils
white copy paper
colored copy paper (lilac, pink, green)
Michael's gift card
Target gift card

The Connection of Language, Cultural Traditions and Celebrations by Ashleigh Williams

There are many things in this world that I love to do.  I love to cook, bake, read, sing in the car, spend time with friends, shop, rock climb, hike, craft and sleep.  I love to play and listen to music, talk, teach, veg out and learn.  Essentially, I just love to live.  And so many of these things go hand in hand, frankly it’s ridiculous.

As a teacher, I find myself making connections that most people would not normally see the same way I do.  I see the value in exposure even if only for a brief moment, and have internalized that some exposure is better than no exposure.  I have also learned to differentiate between good, correlated, rich exposures and flimsy, exposures that qualify more as a stretch than a teachable moment.

I use both.

I was recently asked why I, as a dual immersion educator, believe that learning about cultural traditions and celebrations is important when learning a new language.  The answer is simple.

Context.

Let’s be honest here.  It is nearly impossible to separate a language from the culture and country it comes from.  There are examples as simple as California’s use of the word “dude” to East Coast Italian-American’s use of the word “skeeves”, a derivative of the Italian “schifo” which literally means disgusting.

Knowing that language and culture are inherently related, the best option to provide language learners with a rich learning experience is to incorporate as many cultural traditions and holidays into their language acquisition as possible. 

Would it make sense to learn the language that is associated with American traditions and not the traditions themselves?  Think about it for a second.  There are some simple words and phrases, such as fireworks, hotdogs, grill, 4^th of July, pilgrim and harvest (to name a few) that warrant a beautiful, cultural definition.  Sure, these words can definitely be translated from English into any other language, but learning them in conjunction with the celebrations and traditions they’re related to paint a fuller, brighter picture.

Likewise in Spanish you have picturesque words, such as cempazuchitl, calaca, posadas, Nochebuena, ofrenda, papel picado that can be translated into many languages.  However they are far better understood in the context of the traditions and holidays with which they are associated.

In this instance, brief exposure, while better than no exposure, is still not a plausible solution.  These connections take time to build.  Schemas must be created into which our context for learning must fit.  You can say the word “ofrenda” over and over again and show me a picture of an ofrenda.  But if you do not teach me that during los días de los muertos family members create ofrendas on home made altares to leave for their deceased loved ones, ofrenda will never take on that special meaning that it deserves.

These connections, between language and culture, reading and music, cooking and rock climbing are what make life rich and interesting.  They are what make our understanding deeper and meaningful. 

I challenge you to look for those connections in your every day life.  Make a list of words that you commonly use (the, a, and, an, is, was, are, etc. do not count) and put yourself in a second language learners’ shoes.  Do those words make sense without the cultural context?  If so, would a cultural context give you a more complete picture?  I urge you to make your connections rich and meaningful, not void of relevance. 

 About the writer

 Ashleigh Williams, Dual Language Program Teacher

After teaching two years in the DLP at Lincoln elementary, Ashleigh and her husband relocated to the Peninsula.  She is currently a Spanish DLP Kinder teacher at Selby Lane Elementary School in the Redwood City School District.  Ashleigh is trilingual, growing up fluent in Italian and English and later mastering Spanish.  Recently, Ashleigh was asked to present at the annual Summer Annual Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Conference, where she will speak on the new California Science Standards in the Dual Immersion thematic classroom.  She is also a blogger, you can follow her here assistingdescubrimiento.blogspot.com.