On Friday, April 13, the Family of Catholic Schools in Pomona hosted a Walk-a-Thon to celebrate the beginning of a new program aimed at fostering literacy, Spanish/English dual-language immersion, and blended learning for students in grades TK-12.
Nearly 500 students participated in the Walk-a-Thon along with their families, fundraising for scholarships that will allow deserving students to enroll at one of the schools in the Family of Catholic Schools in Pomona — two primary schools, St. Madeline and St. Joseph, Pomona Catholic Middle School and Pomona Catholic High School.
In the upcoming school year, these schools will begin to incorporate parts of the program in their curriculum. St. Joseph will present core academic content in Spanish and English as part of the DLI program, with the goal of teaching students to be biliterate. Students at St. Madeline will use the Superkids Reading Program to focus on excellence in literacy and language arts. In the middle school, students will be given hands-on opportunities in a blended learning program that combines language with practical knowledge.
Full story at Angelus.
Important work! Fund these programs – but PLEASE now educate these children in the authentic teaching of the Catholic faith!
This seems good that students will be able to read, write and speak in both languages. Lack of solid skills in each of these three areas negatively classifies a person. This, in turn, negatively influences employment opportunities.
So students will be have inadequate proficiency in two languages instead of mastery of English. Just great. These things are always more symbol than substance.
Maybe this program will be excellent, who knows?? Otherwise— better to educate your child in a traditional Catholic school, in a Latino country— they may end up beautifully educated, and speak both beautiful Spanish and English!! American programs of this kind, often sadly are not as good!