Herricks to Start Language Immersion in First Grade

By Alexandra Zendrian

The Herricks school district intends to start new Spanish language immersionsections starting in the first grade beginning in the 2013-14 school year.

The school board discussed the future of the program at last Wednesday’s meeting at the community center. Superintendent Dr. John Bierwirth said he would recommend that there be aminimum of 48 students in the program and a maximum of 52 students so there would be two classes of between 24 and 26 students. If more students than that apply, there will be a lottery.

There will be a preference for students who have siblings who have gone through the program Dr. Bierwirth explained since there is a “pedagogical advantage” with those families.

This year enrollment for this program has started and will continue through May20 at 4 p.m. In the future, Dr. Bierwirth suggested that enrollment for the program begin in January and go through the first week in April. For this year’s program, ateacher needs to be hired and the district will begin looking immediately.

Board vice president James Gounaris said that for some parents there may be concern about the program starting in first grade because then some students may be moved from other schools to Denton Avenue in first grade after a year of learning elsewhere. Bierwirth said that this is something for the district and parents to think about.

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