Bruce F. Vento Elementary Offers New Spanish Bilingual Program for Fall 2006

Bruce F. Vento Elementary Offers New Spanish Bilingual Program for Fall 2006
6/22/2006 11:35 AM

Saint Paul, Minn — Saint Paul Public Schools today announced that it is beginning a new Spanish bilingual program at Bruce F. Vento Elementary. This Spanish/English program is open to Spanish-speaking Kindergar-ten and first grade students who live east of 35E and north of I-94 and begins in September 2006.

The new program offers all-day kindergarten and first grade classes. The program is modeled after Homecroft Elementary’s Spanish bilingual program. In addition to the important value of bilingualism, this program will promote biliteracy and biculturalism, giving students an opportunity to have a greater understanding of their own language heritage while becoming proficient in English. Each year a grade level will be added, eventually creating a kindergarten through grade six program. Busing is also available to students who live one mile or farther from the school.

Students will also have access to all of the many benefits that Bruce F. Vento Elementary provides, such as: participation in reader’s, writer’s and math workshops every day; enrichment programs that provide additional challenging opportunities; classrooms that are networked with Internet access; and, a variety of programs that assist students who need extra academic assistance.

“Research shows that students who speak a second language at home become proficient in English more quickly when they have a solid grounding in their first language,” said Darrel Rivard, principal at Bruce F.Vento. “We are very proud to offer this important program to members of our Eastside community.”

To enroll or find out more details about this program, please call the Saint Paul Public Schools Student Placement Center, (651) 632-3708, where translators are available to answer questions and enroll students.