Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Sept/Oct 2018 | Page 5

First group of Spanish immersion students prepares to make history again
In the fall of 2012, a group
of kindergartners made history
as they walked into the Spanish
immersion classes at Shiloh and
Sun Valley elementary schools.
They, along with another
group of kindergartners at
Marvin Elementary, were the
first students to enroll in Union
County Public Schools’ dual
language immersion program
-- a thriving, acclaimed and
growing program that is now
offered in 11 UCPS elementary
schools each year.
Those kindergartners are
now fifth graders who are
preparing to make history
again as the first students
to participate in the district’s
Spanish immersion program at
Sun Valley Middle.
It’s an accomplishment that
is not lost on Shiloh Elementary
Principal Scott Spencer who
has seen firsthand how much
the immersion students have
grown during their time in the
program.
“I have been so fortunate to
see our current group of fifth
graders go through the program
since kindergarten, and I have
seen these students grow in
every possible way,” he said.
“They are really like a family,
and great friendships have
evolved over the years. I
can’t begin to imagine where
this experience will take our
students in their lives.”
One thing that many people may not realize about the
immersion students, said Shiloh Elementary immersion teacher
Camila Carvacho, is that they have done much more than just
“learned a new language” during their six years in the program.
Academically, the district’s immersion students often perform as
well as or even better than their peers on standardized exams.
“Yes, my students are also completely proficient in Spanish.
But I am also amazed at how much they know about the world
and other cultures because of their time in this program,”
Carvacho said. “They’ve done more than just learn about Spanish
during the past six years. They’ve learned about other cultures,
they have a new set of skills, and they are leaving Shiloh with
global awareness and as really good citizens.”
Sun Valley Elementary immersion teacher Camila Caro said
she has also been in awe of her students’ growth over the years,
and attributes a lot of their cultural awareness, problem-solving
and multitasking skills, and ability to
focus to their six years in the dual
language program.
“People used to think that
they just learn Spanish and
vocabulary throughout their time
in the program – but vocabulary
is something they learn in
kindergarten. These students
are working on literacy, including
reading comprehension, writing
strategies and other academic
skills,” she said. “I am so surprised
by their growth. In kindergarten,
they didn’t know any foreign
language. But now, I don’t have
to say a single word in English to
them.”
Ultimately, their bilingualism
and cognitive gains are expected to
set the students up for success in
the future by preparing them for a
global society where their skills will
give them a competitive edge.
However, that’s not what the
students are most excited about.
Carvacho and Caro said the
students don’t look at their time in
the program in terms of how it will
benefit them but instead are always
looking for ways they can use their
skills to make a difference in their
community and the world.
That is exactly what Sun Valley
Elementary immersion student
Hailey Schleicher was able to do
during a recent mission trip to
Mexico. The fifth grader was able to
provide translation services for the
entire group during their trip.
“It was really fun being able to
use my second language to help people and make new friends,”
she said. “I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, but
I do know that I want to – I know that I will -- use my second
language to make a difference.”
To celebrate the culmination of their time in the program,
the Sun Valley and Shiloh elementary immersion students
participated in a Celebration of Accomplishment on May 23.
They showcased their bilingual skills and knowledge of other
cultures, received certificates and reflected on their past six
years in the program – a time when they made history in UCPS
and served as examples for thousands of students who will also
participate in immersion programs in the future.
They also discussed how, with the experiences they’ve gained
and lessons they’ve learned, they will walk into their Spanish
immersion classes at Sun Valley Middle next school year prepared
to make history again.
Parent Teacher Magazine • Sept/Oct 2018 • 3