{"id":14911,"date":"2019-11-10T20:00:17","date_gmt":"2019-11-11T01:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/?p=14911"},"modified":"2019-11-11T08:52:02","modified_gmt":"2019-11-11T13:52:02","slug":"hola-hello-our-dual-language-program-bridges-cultural-gaps-and-makes-the-most-of-our-incredible-diversity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/?p=14911","title":{"rendered":"\u00a1Hola! Hello! Our Dual Language Program Bridges Cultural Gaps and Makes the Most of Our Incredible Diversity"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In a colorful kindergarten class at John Adams Elementary School, three girls are holding hands and singing along to \u201cFive Little Speckled Frogs\u201d in front of a video showing words in both Spanish and English.<\/p>\n

Down the hall, fourth graders are learning about the Earth\u2019s \u201crotaci\u00f3n\u201d and its gravitational pull on \u201cla luna.\u201d<\/p>\n

And next door students are demonstrating the use of an imaginary bow and arrow while listening to an English-speaking teacher talk about hunting for food in times gone by.<\/p>\n

Look around these classrooms and you see the diversity that makes ACPS so special, and a program at work that teaches languages while also bridging gaps by the sharing of cultures.<\/p>\n

\"a<\/p>\n

Our school division offers K-5 Spanish-English dual language programs at John Adams and Mount Vernon Community School. The John Adams program has been running for 27 years.<\/p>\n

Unlike at Mount Vernon where every student participates, at John Adams the program is optional.<\/p>\n

Currently about 40% of the student population is enrolled, according to principal Ginja Canton.<\/p>\n

But did you know that if you live outside the attendance zone \u2014 and space allows \u2014 you can apply to transfer into the school\u2019s program?<\/p>\n

I consider our dual language program to be one of the best kept secrets in Alexandria,\u201d says Canton, although she adds that was never the intention of the initiative. \u201cIt is often the case that people first learn about it through word of mouth.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"a<\/p>\n

In Ricardo Perez\u2019s fourth grade class, he teaches science and math in Spanish during half of the day and his partner teacher Mrs. Thomas instructs the same students in English during the other half.\"We<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so lucky to be in this school with such diversity,\u201d said Perez, who hails from Puerto Rico and has been at John Adams for six years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see at least seven different countries represented in this classroom. Wonderful,\u201d he said as he scans the room. \u201cThe kids love this program. I love this program.\u201d<\/p>\n