Los Gatos, Saratoga and Union District 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 10th year with the 2011-12 school year.
About the Classes
Classes are offered to K-6th grade students from September through May. El Programa class sizes are kept small and all instructors are fluent speakers. Music, art, cultural studies and games are incorporated into the curriculum. Language learning is taught in a fun, but academic environment with an emphasis on student-teacher interaction. This year, we have revised our curriculum in partnership with the school district to align our program with district curriculum and promote language readiness in middle school. Students are spoken to primarily in Spanish during class time, where skills are built over time as students master the language. There are no tests or required homework, but students are evaluated for progress.
Registration
Registration for the 2011-12 program opens May 13th, 2011. Students are placed on a first-come basis. Register your child for the days and location your child will be attending class. 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.
There are two options available for registration and payment.
- $799 for the full year program. Register on-line and pay in full at the time of registration.
<<CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR El Programa Español>>
- $99 Reserve your Spot! Call LGS Recreation’s Main Office at (408) 354-8700 to register over the phone and pay a $99 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit fee. Then, you MUST submit an Authorized Agreement for Direct Payment Form within two weeks of registration in order for your space to be held. This agreement authorizes LGS Recreation to charge your credit card the remaining balance in four equal monthly payments of $175 during the months of September through December.
<<Download and Print Authorized Agreement for Direct Payment Form>>
LAKESIDE SCHOOL:
<<Download and Print Authorized Agreement for Direct Payment Form>>
REFUNDS: Are given up to two weeks before the first day of class, with a $10 cancellation charge per participant. If you have chosen the payment plan, your $99 deposit fee is NON-REFUNDABLE. Requests for cancellation made after the deadline date, are not accepted. Once a program begins a refund or credit will not be issued. You will be responsible and charged the remaining balance, if owed, whether your child is in attendance or not. By signing the Authorized Agreement for Direct Payment, you have indicated you understand our policy regarding payment and that you are liable for the remaining balance for the course.
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 placement 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/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday or Wednesday/Friday. 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 (for example, every Wednesday Early Release Day). 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.
Curriculum:
El Programa Español is an immersion-based program where students will be spoken to in Spanish for the majority of class time. Students will be encouraged to use as little English as possible during the class. Please prepare your child for this format. We expect students to learn at differing rates, but by each evaluation period we expect to see a certain general level of proficiency from each student. You will receive evaluation results regarding your child’s progress. You will also receive a weekly update, via e-mail, from the instructor on what was covered in class that week. Although there is no formal homework for this program there may be learning enhancement exercises or activities sent home in the teacher’s e-mail and we encourage you to participate in these when they occur. <<Curriculum PDF>>
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.
Absences and Tardies
Students must arrive at the designated meeting spot and check-in with the instructor on time. Please emphasize with your child the importance of arriving on time for class. It may also be necessary to alert your child’s regular teacher that they must leave the classroom on time to check-in with their Spanish instructor.
If you know that your student is going to be absent from Spanish class, we ask that you call and alert us with as much advance notice as possible. Please make sure that you include current work, cell and home contact numbers and alternative emergency contacts when registering for the class.
If for some reason your child needs to stop coming to Spanish, due to extended travel, conflicting activities or a particular problem, please contact your child’s instructor AND LGS Recreation as quickly as possible and discuss this so that your child’s teacher is aware and can possibly assist you and your student. Refunds will not be issued under any circumstances.Behavior
Parents are reminded that El Programa students attending after school Spanish are expected to follow the same behavior rules required during the school day. A copy of the behavior management plan and rules implemented by El Programa is included in the link below. Students are expected to come to class on time, follow the teacher’s directions and not 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 with no refund.
-Click here to see the full rules and guidelines-
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. Any other question can be directed to Elizabeth Furey at elizabeth@lgsrecreation.org.
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