Did you know that at Canyons District, it’s possible to learn two languages at the same time and to graduate from high school fluent in both? The start of October signals the opening of the window to apply for Canyons District’s Dual Language Immersion Programs for the 2018-2019 school year.
From Monday, Oct. 9 to Wednesday, Nov. 22, parents and guardians can apply online to have their children learn Spanish, French or Mandarin Chinese.
In addition, parents and guardians who have questions about the programs are invited to a Parent Information Night on Wednesday, Nov. 1. The 6-8 p.m. event will be held in the Professional Development Center at Canyons District’s East Administration Building (9361 S. 300 East in Sandy).
Please note, that students with siblings currently enrolled in a Dual-Language Immersion school must still submit applications by the Nov. 22 deadline. A lottery will be held to determine entrance into the programs if the number of applicants exceeds the 56 seats available per entering class.
On the application, parents will be asked to list their top three preferred languages and schools. Parents will be notified of their children’s acceptance into a program, or be given a choice of possible programs, on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018.
All programs, except for the one at Midvale Elementary, are for students entering first grade in 2018-19. The Midvale Spanish-English program is for students entering kindergarten in 2018-2019.
Spanish also is offered at Alta View and Silver Mesa. French is taught at Butler Elementary and Oak Hollow. The schools offering Mandarin are Draper Elementary, Lone Peak, and Ridgecrest.
A model of bilingual instruction dating back to the 1960s, immersion programs are surfacing in classrooms around the globe as an efficient path to proficiency in a world language. Children in dual language immersion programs spend half the day learning core subjects in English and the other half learning in a target language.
CSD’s first immersion classes opened in 2009, the same year that the District was founded. The District is now home to 17 elementary and secondary school immersion programs. Statewide, nearly 10 percent of all elementary students are learning a world language through the program which extends through high school where, if they’ve passed an Advanced Placement exam, students can start taking college-level courses for early college credit.
Questions? Call the Instructional Supports Department at 801-826-5026.
