1. Spanish Immersion in Jefferson Parish Public School System 1.Spanish Immersion in JPPSS 2.Why choose a Spanish Immersion education for my child? 3.Contacts

2. 1. SPANISH IMMERSION IN JEFFERSON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

3. Spanish Immersion in JPPSS What is Spanish Immersion? A program in which children follow the regular curriculum while becoming fluent speakers in Spanish. Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, PE, Art, Technology and Social Living are taught in Spanish by a highly-qualified and certified teacher. Every day an English Language Arts block is taught by a highly-qualified and certified English-speaking teacher.

4. Spanish Immersion in JPPSS What is Spanish Immersion? The students take all the standardized tests required by Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and No Child Left Behind (Interval Assessments, ILEAP, LEAP). The average test scores for Spanish immersion students are higher than the average district scores. After 2 years in Spanish Immersion, students become fluent Spanish speakers.

5. Spanish Immersion in JPPSS Where is Spanish immersion? J.C. ELLIS ELEMENTARY (East Bank): Pre-K to 2 nd Grade (August 2009) ALICE BOUDREAUX ELEMENTARY (West Bank): Pre-K to 3 rd (August 2009)

6. Spanish Immersion in JPPSS Who can participate? Any child regardless of origin or cultural heritage Immersion is not a gifted program, and no tests are required for students to participate in the program. The point of entry into the program should not be later than first grade.

7. Spanish Immersion in JPPSS Statement of Commitment The success of the program depends upon long-term participation. Parents should encourage their child especially in the first years when the target language is still to be learned. Parents should not feel discouraged if their child seems nervous about his/her new experience. Enrollment into the program requires a commitment from both parents and child in order to be successful.

8. Why choose a Spanish Immersion education for my child?

9. Why choose a Spanish Immersion education for my child? Do you speak Spanish? Spanish is spoken as a first language by about 330 million people Spanish is spoken as a second language by perhaps another 50 million. Spanish is the official national language in 21 countries.

10. Why choose a Spanish Immersion education for my child? Some Spanish speaking countries: Spain Mexico Honduras According to the 2000 United States Census, Spanish is spoken most frequently at home by about 28.1 million people aged 5 or over in the USA.

11. Why choose a Spanish Immersion education for my child? Acknowledging the Past Heritage : Spanish language and Louisiana share a long history that began with the explorers and did not end when Spain ruled Louisiana from 1762 until 1800. Culture and Tradition: We experience it every day, either in the food we eat, the holidays we enjoy, the names that we say or the words that we use.

12. Why choose a Spanish Immersion education for my child? Enhancing the Present Through the Spanish immersion program, your child will become bilingual and will be able to communicate freely in Spanish. Your child’s education becomes more challenging. Being bilingual makes it easier to learn a third language. Speaking another language helps broaden your child’s knowledge of the English language allowing him/her to internalize better the mechanism of all languages.

13. Why choose a Spanish Immersion education for my child? Getting Ready for the Future Being bilingual will offer an increased and incredible range of job opportunities when your child is an adult. A bilingual education helps a teenager/college student be more aware and opened to the world he/she lives in. Being bilingual will help your child reach higher academic scores and goals in high school and college.

14. Why choose a Spanish Immersion education for my child? Ready for an international career? Many companies all over the world need Spanish and English speaking staff. Opportunities are everywhere…

15. Why choose a Spanish Immersion education for my child? What kinds of business need Spanish speakers… Travel and Transportation International Banking and Finance Shipping - Import/Export Agricultural Engineering And more….!

16. Why choose a Spanish Immersion education for my child? “The man who speaks two languages is worth two men.” Voltaire (French Philosopher, 1694-1778)

17. 3. Contacts

18. For more information, please contact: Jefferson Parish Public School System Elizabeth Anderson, Foreign Language Coordinator 504 349 7703 JC Ellis Elementary School (East Bank) 801 Brockenbraugh Court, Metairie 70005 504 833 7254 Contact: Thomas Chaze, 4 th Grade Spanish Immersion Teacher Boudreaux Elementary School (West Bank) 950 Behrman Hwy, Terrytown 70056 504 393 8732 Contact: Esther Tabrane, Pre-K Spanish Immersion Teacher

19. Merci!