Schools

English-Spanish Program Expands to Include Preschool Students

Parents interested in enrolling children in the Dual Immersion Academy are invited to an open house Tuesday.

The Lemon Grove School District will expand its English-Spanish program to include preschool students this fall at the Dual Immersion Academy at Mount Vernon Elementary School.

The program currently promotes biliteracy, bilingualism and biculturalism in English and Spanish to . The expanded program will offer children ages 3- to 5-years-old opportunities to start building skills in both languages through listening and speaking, and engaging in developmentally appropriate play.

Students get equal exposure to both languages, with half the day’s instruction in Spanish and the other half in English.

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Competency in two or more languages will be a vital skill for the 21st century, and will provide lifelong opportunities, according to Principal Russell Little.

Parents interested in enrolling their child in the preschool-5 program are invited to learn more about it at an open house from 8 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 29, at , 8350 Mount Vernon St. There will be an orientation and parent will have an opportunity to tour the DIA classrooms.

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The language-immersion program is in addition to the no-cost preschool program the district offers at each of its elementary schools during the school year.

Two three-hour sessions are offered each day, in the morning from 8 to 11 a.m. or in the afternoon from noon to 3 p.m. Breakfast or lunch is provided.

The preschool program is funded by the state and First 5 San Diego.

For more information, call Donna Willson, preschool program coordinator, at 619-825-5722. Or visit the preschool page on the district’s web site for eligibility guidelines and to download an application.


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