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Dual Language

Bilingual. Biliterate. Bicultural.

 

What is the goal of the Dual Language (“DL”) program?

The Two-Way Dual Language model aims to ensure students become bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural starting in the early years of school where children are best primed for language learning and readily open to other cultural experience. The program strives for a 1:1 ratio of native Spanish speaking children and native English speaking children in the classroom. All of our grade levels have DL classrooms, with two DL classrooms for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and First Grade.

 

What does this look like in the classroom?

At THES, the DL daily routine is based on the designated “Language of the Day” and set academic subjects that always occur in Spanish or English, regardless of native language. The Language of the Day for Mondays and Wednesdays is Spanish. For Tuesdays and Thursdays it is English. The Language of the Day alternates every other Friday. What that means is that the daily routine is based on the language of the day (school-wide/classroom announcements, circle time, learning stations, etc.). Our DL teachers also use the language of the day when speaking to children/making transitions. Regardless of the Language of the day, academically, the children separate for Language Arts based on native language, and receive their Language Arts instruction in their native language. Math is always in English. Science is always in Spanish. For Math and Science, the students remain with their homeroom class as they are paired as English/Spanish partners to facilitate learning and growth. Specials (Art, Music, and PE) are instructed in English, although DL students learn Spanish songs in Music at different times of the year. While our librarian reads in Spanish and English to our children in the well-known kiva, her engagement with children is primarily in English. She, however, houses a large collection of Spanish books. Dual Language students check out 1 English/1Spanish book weekly with their class (although they can return those books and check additional books out within the week as desired). All students, regardless of being in the DL program, receive Korean once a week at Travis Heights Elementary. No application is required for this cultural/language enrichment class.

Summary of DL Model Across Academic Subjects.

Reading & Lanaguage Arts
(PreK, K, and Grade 1) – In native language only
(Grades 2-5) – In both languages
Mathematics
(All grade levels) – In English only
Science/Social Studies
(All grade levels) – In Spanish only
Special Areas
(Art, Music, P.E.) – Primarily English

 

What happens if too many parents apply for their child to be in this program?

If you read the application, you’ll notice a section on ‘Lottery Procedures’ for being admitted into the DL program. This is to ensure that, should a school receive too many applicants, fairness will occur in selecting students for the program. The lottery date will be announced later in the year. Last year, it was held on March 5th. A 3rd party entity at central office administration is in charge of the lottery. Parents are notified of student acceptances shortly afterwards. Those students who are not selected will be placed on a waiting list and parents will be notified as additional slots become available.

Please note, parents who reside in the school’s attendance zone and parents who have siblings already in the Dual Language program will be given priority. Students currently in the Pre-K Dual Language program at THES who wish to continue will also be prioritized in the lottery.

For 2015-2016 Applicants: 

If you are interested in applying to the THES Dual Language Program, please read the information below.  You can contact THES at 414.4495 before you drop by just to make sure they have plenty of applications on hand.

Note that applications are due 2/27/2015.

Transfer Applications to THES (Deadline 1/30/15 at Office of Student Services – AISD)

AISD began accepting transfer requests for the 2015-2016 school year beginning on Monday, January 5, 2015. Transfer request forms are available at the Office of Student Services (Room A200), Carruth Administration Center, at 1111 West Sixth Street. Completed applications are due back at the Office of Student Services by 5 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2015.

Parents submitting requests for students who are new to the district or who have had an address change since enrolling in school this year need to attach proof of residence and a picture ID. A birth certificate needs to be provided for students who are new to the district.

For more information on the transfer process, see the Transfer page on the AISD website: http://www.austinisd.org/parent-information/transfer-information

THES Dual Language Program Applications – for BOTH transferring and neighborhood students (Deadline 2/27/15 at THES Campus)

Applications to the Dual Language Program are now available at the Travis Heights Elementary School office. Neighborhood and transferring students wanting to apply to the THES Dual Language Program must submit a COMPLETED application packets and ALL required documents back to THES NO LATER THAN the end of business on February 27, 2015.

Packets submitted after February 27, 2015 may not be considered. Items needed for a complete packet are listed below:

  • Student Registration and Data Verification Form (SR290) for 2014-2015
  • Home Language Survey
  • Transfer Request Form (for students requesting transfers)
  • Dual Language Immersion Program Commitment Form
  • Picture ID of the parent/guardian enrolling the student
  • Proof of residence of this person (recent utility bill, current lease agreement, recent tax receipt that shows the property as homesteaded, recent mortgage payment receipt). NOTE: “Recent” means the document must be dated within 45 days.
  • The child’s birth certificate
  • The child’s immunization records

If more students apply than there is space available, a lottery will be conducted by March 24, 2015. You may apply to multiple Dual Language programs, but will need to identify a first choice. Applicants will only be included in one Dual Language lottery, even if applications have been submitted for multiple programs. If space is limited, a student can receive a transfer in the THES Dual Language Program only after all neighborhood students have been accepted into the program.

Kindergarten Enrollment

You may enroll your child for kindergarten at THES by coming to the school office. You will need the following items for registration:

  • Immunization Record
  • Social Security Card (for your child)
  • Birth Certificate (State Issued)
  • Photo Copy of Parent ID
  • Proof of Residence (rental contract or utility bill with valid address)

Pre-Kindergarten

Children who are four years old on or before September 1st and who do not qualify for either the Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities (PPCD) or the state-mandated prekindergarten program provided for qualifying students, are eligible to enroll in the tuition supported prekindergarten program.

Parents can obtain prekindergarten tuition supported applications from THES.  An additional application is required for parents who wish to apply for the dual language program as well as tuition supported prekindergarten. Interested parents can also pick up the dual language program application at THES. The deadline for Dual Language tuition Pre-K or regular tuition Pre-K is February 20, 2015. All applications should be turned into THES by this date.

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