After School Enrichment: El Programa Español
World language instruction is becoming increasingly important at all grade levels. An early start to language proficiency, when students are most receptive and skilled to take on a second language, provides the base needed for fluency in upper grade language classes. Ability to speak a second language is often an employment requirement for many careers. To address the needs of our community, LGS Recreation and Education partnered with The Atheneum Center, Inc. to deliver a full-year, after-school, on-campus Spanish immersion program, El Programa Español. This unique program will begin its 9th year with the 2010-11 school year.
About the Classes
The following table describes the guidelines for differentiation between levels within El Programa Español, however, instructors will modify class curriculum based on the unique level of each class. Curriculum Table>>
Registration
Registration for the 2010-11 program opens April 19, 2010. Students are placed on a first-come basis. Once a class is filled remaining students will be placed on a wait list. If there are enough wait listed students to open a second section of a class AND an available instructor can be found, new sections may be opened.
You will receive via e-mail confirmation of class placement, room number and exact class start and end times two weeks prior to classes commencing.
<<CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR El Programa Español>>
Class Placement
Classes accommodate returning students, new students and differing levels of Spanish knowledge. Students are generally placed with other students in their grade. LGS Recreation reserves the right to place students for maximum educational benefit. Parent requests for placements of students will be considered but cannot be guaranteed. In order to balance class placement and maximize benefits, class sizes may vary. Periodic progress evaluations are conducted. Comments or requests for class placement should be addressed to Alicia Barton at SpanishInfo@lgsrecreation.org.
Class Schedule
Classes are held twice a week on either Monday and Wednesday, or Tuesday and Thursday. Class begins approximately five minutes after the regular school bell rings. As school bell schedules tend to change each year, we cannot publish exact start times until the bell schedule is published. You will receive confirmation of the exact schedule of classes two weeks prior to El Programa classes commencing. Classes run for sixty minutes. Classes are NOT held on minimum days or school holidays. However, classes are held after regularly scheduled Early Release Days. If the Early Release Day ends before lunch, students will have 15-20 minutes to eat lunch prior to their sixty minute class. This lunch will be supervised.
Program Cost
One full academic year of El Programa Español is $799. Payment in full is required prior to the first day of class. Initial registration requires a deposit of $399. The second payment of $400 must be paid prior to the first day of class. You may choose to pay in full at registration, or pay the deposit only. In the latter case, you will be prompted to pay the second installment in August, 2010.
Class Discipline
Parents are reminded that El Programa students attending after school Spanish are expected to follow the same behavior rules required during the school day. El Programa staff uses the behavior modification rules implemented at campus Clubhouse facilities. -Click here to see the full rules and guidelines- . TheStudents are expected to come to class on time and respect the teacher and fellow students so as not to disrupt class and learning for other students. Any student who continually disrupts class, bothers other students or does not obey El Programa rules may be removed from the program without refund.
Spanish Culture
El Programa Español encompasses the study of both the Spanish language and Spanish culture. Culturally specific music and songs, which may have religious overtones at Christmas, will be included as part of the overall curriculum. Class emphasis includes understanding aspects of Spanish culture from an educational perspective. Registration and participation in this program constitutes your agreement and consent for your student to study and participate in songs and music relative to the culture of Spanish-speaking countries.
Classroom Visit
Parents may observe in a Spanish class only if they set up an observation date in advance with the instructor. Out of courtesy to the teacher, please contact your child’s Spanish teacher in advance if you wish to observe. Drop-in observations will not be accommodated. During observation time the parent must not interact with the class or interrupt the instructor.
Contacts
If you have any questions regarding the immersion curriculum and teaching methods of El Programa please contact our curriculum consultant Alicia Barton at SpanishInfo@lgsrecreation.org.
