The St. Mary of the Hills School Board has unanimously approved a pilot program for Spanish language classes in PreKindergarten through Grade 4 this fall. The pilot, approved at last week's board meeting, will offer the classes two days a week and aims to enhance student awareness of the language and broaden their ability to understand diversity in a multi-cultural world. This comes at a good time as we celebrate National Foreign Language Week, beginning March 2!

The vision of this pilot program is for speaking and listening skills to be stressed as students develop an ear for the language in PreKindergarten through Grade 4. These foundational skills will be built upon in Grades 5 through 8 as students develop their ability to read and write in the Spanish language.

“Teaching Spanish to four and five year olds will not only introduce the children to the sounds of the language but will also create a positive attitude about learning a second language at an early age. I am delighted that it was approved!” stated Early Childhood Director Mary Fields.

Students in Grades 5 through 6 have already been getting foreign language classes in Spanish two days a week while students in Grades 7 through 8 have been receiving it four days a week since the 1980’s.

The proposal for the program came from a committee of teachers and school administrators who have long pushed for the school to include foreign language in its elementary curriculum, saying that early exposure to languages helps students achieve in many areas. The goal is for students to be able to speak, read, write, and understand the Spanish language sufficiently to enter Level II high school Spanish upon graduation.

Susan Bristol, Finance Committee Chairperson, parent of a Grade 8 student and former graduate, said she was glad the board had approved the program and will work with the other finance committee members to ensure funding for the hiring of an additional staff member, curriculum development, and instructional supplies needed to effectively support this program.

Under this pilot program Nanette Boinay, Spanish instructor in our Middle School since 1990, and currently for Grades 7 through 8, will now also instruct students in PreKindergarten and Kindergarten. She says, “Spanish is something that I have wanted for our younger students a very long time. I am looking forward to watching the growth of students from PreKindergarten to Grade 8 as they follow from their earliest years through graduation”.