St. Cloud Area School District 742 Spanish and Chinese Language Immersion celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the programs at Lake George recently with music, dance and activities. 

 

In 2006, the district conducted a parent survey to ascertain interest in language immersion; Spanish and Chinese were the top languages chosen. 

 

Both programs began with kindergarten classes in 2007, with Spanish Immersion offered at Clearview Elementary and Chinese Immersion offered at Madison Elementary. Over the years the programs have continued to  gain in popularity, and today they’re offered through 10th grade.

 

“We’re proud of having immersion programming in District 742, it’s been very successful,” said Sue Hasbrouck, coordinator of immersion and world languages.

 

“Our parents have been very pleased with both and our students have been doing well.”

 

The event kicked off with a welcome and Chinese folk music, followed by salsa dance and Kung Fu lessons, songs from the Chinese immersion and Spanish immersion students and music from the Pachanga Quartet. 

 

Face painting, crafts, photo booth, 50/50 raffle and food trucks were available during the event. Students from both schools could throw a whipped cream pie in the face of one of their teachers for a $1 donation.

 

The anniversary celebration was well attended with over 500 people enjoying the festivities.

 

“The exciting part to this was having both programs together, it was a great collaboration,” said Hasbrouck. “This was a beautiful event to bring families together and celebrate immersion education.”

 

Hasbrouck thanked the SCSU Confucius Institute, the Chinese Immersion Program Parent Advisory Committee (CIP-PAC) and the Clearview PTA for funding the immersion anniversary event, as well as students, parents, Amity Interns and St. Ben’s and St. John’s student volunteers.

 

“Without their support, the event wouldn’t have been possible,” she said.

 

The goals of the immersion programs are for students to effectively communicate in a second language, to acquire the same English skills as students in English-only programs, and to acquire greater knowledge, understanding and appreciation of other cultures.

 

The benefits to children learning two languages are numerous, including enhanced academic and linguistic performance in both languages, physically enhanced brain development, increased attendance in higher education, an expanded world view and greater career and social opportunities. 

 

For more information on District 742’s immersion programs, visit isd742.org/immersion.

 

The 10-year anniversary celebration event was free and open to the public.