GUSD Taps the Power of Language
Written By Laura Corea-Hernandez, PIO, Gilroy Unfied School District
Studies have shown that bilingualism, or the mastery and use of two languages, has a positive impact on learning, listening, connecting with others, and problem solving. The Gilroy Unified School District is proud of its Dual Immersion Program, which is one of only five such programs in California that serve students from Kindergarten through 12th Grade. The program has exceeded expectations and evolved to meet student needs. Part of its success owes to the dedicated leadership and support of the District’ s Board of Trustees, Superintendent Flores, and GUSD teachers.
Dual Immersion Trailblazer
Las Animas Elementary was GUSD’ s first school to adopt Dual Immersion in 2001 under the leadership of Principal Silvia Reyes. Results there were so positive that the Board of Trustees not only supported its continuance, but also its expansion and replication, beyond the initial grant. In 2006-2007, South Valley Middle School adopted Dual Immersion, followed by Rod Kelley Elementary in 2008-2009 and Gilroy High School in 2010-2011.
During the years since our district began implementing Dual Immersion, we have seen increased student enrollment in AP classes and A-G courses( Biology, World History, Environmental Science and Global Studies), and higher graduation rates. We’ ve also seen an increase in students pursuing extracurricular activities, embarking on service learning projects, and taking on leadership roles in the school and community.
Student Families Embrace Program
Our students and their parents are in effect making a six-to twelveyear commitment to the Dual Immersion educational experience.
Students show up willing to work hard and their parents are supportive of their students’ efforts from day one through graduation. It’ s exciting to see the future that our students are creating for themselves by utilizing what they have learned from a bilingual education. As for the next generation of students, we anticipate this program will double in size, district-wide, over the next four years.
Rod Kelley Elementary School Principal Maritza Salcido appreciates the program’ s benefits through her role as an administrator and as the parent of a Dual Immersion student. According to Salcido,“ My daughter is currently a freshman in the Dual Immersion program at Gilroy High School. Being a part of the dual immersion family has been so rewarding. Students go through the challenge of learning two languages simultaneously, managing extra homework, and meeting high expectations despite the academic rigor of this program, by exhibiting discipline and perseverance. Our students learn to value people’ s differences, they develop a global view, and they are not afraid to put themselves out there. I am a proud administrator and an even prouder parent of a Dual Immersion school.”
Golden Bell Winner
With each new school year, the program continues to expand especially now that our district offers it across the K-12 education pathway. In 2015, our district’ s Dual Immersion program received a prestigious Golden Bell award from the California School Boards Association. All courses are A-G and we offer Spanish Language Programs, Biology, Global Studies and World History. Students are acknowledged for their commitment to the program in a special ceremony upon promotion / graduation.
Gilroy Unified School District was honored with a Golden Bell Award( 2015) for its Dual Immersion Program. Pictured( L to R) are Gilroy High School Principal Marco Sanchez, former South Valley Middle School Principal Anisha Munshi, current and former Rod Kelley Elementary School Principals Maritza Salcido and Luis Carillo, and Las Animas Elementary School Principal Silvia Reyes.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 gmhtoday. com
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