Bilingual/ESL

We have bilingual classes at Walnut Bend for students who have been tested and their dominant language is Spanish.  These classes are offered beginning in prekindergarten.  They are traditional classes with the instructional program being done primarily in Spanish.  The children are taught English as a second language and the amount of English instruction increases each school year through third grade.  These students transition in to English by fourth grade unless they move in new to the program.  Students’ progress in bilingual classes is monitored through testing by the LPAC committee made up of teachers and parents.We have teachers in our traditional classrooms with ESL certification to provide the learning for students who have a dominant language other than English or Spanish.  Testing is required to qualify for this support.  Teachers use ESL strategies learned through their training to provide support to these students.