Where we are at now!

We are happy to say that the Kindergarten class of 2016 has been up and running at Earl Grey school with much success. The class is full and the teacher is fabulous! We are so happy for the community support and for the families who have enrolled their children in the program.

Looking ahead in the new year, we want to remind families that registration for the 2017/18 school year will begin in February and March of 2017. Parents can register their child for either kindergarten or for grade 1 in Spanish Bilingual at Earl Grey.  You can call the school at (204) 474-1441.

As for our other projects, we are still gathering support to bring proposals to other school divisions in Winnipeg. If you live in St. James School Division, River East Transcona School Division, Louis Riel School Division, Pembina Trails School Division, or Seven Oaks School Division and want to see Spanish Bilingual programming, please contact us at winnipegspanishimmersion@gmail.com.

Another thing we are working at is to propose a late entry at Earl Grey School for the coming year; if you have a child in grade 6 right now and want them to enter into a late program, please contact us right away so we can put together a proposal for a grade 7 Spanish Bilingual class at Earl Grey School.

We wish you all the best in 2017!!

Eugenia and Kathy

Parent Meeting with Spanish Embassy - Reunión de padres con la Embajada de España.

We had a very informative session led by Maria de los Santos Espejo Quijada from the Spanish Embassy in Ottawa. To become or maintain Spanish bilingualism for your child, there are some very important things that must happen, because without it, the child will not keep Spanish, even if they speak it now.

Maria stressed that many Latin American families think that since their preschool child speaks Spanish fluently, that will not change. However, once they are in school and speaking and reading and writing English and French, it doesn't take long before the child no longer can communicate in Spanish. The fact is, our society is English dominant. So, what can Spanish families do?

1. Bilingual Education - Register your child in Manitoba's first Spanish program at Earl Grey School

2. Set goals for your family and set aside 5 or 6 hours in the week to speak, read or study Spanish together.

3. Improve your Spanish skills as a parent so that your child sees you actively working on your Spanish as well.

4. Determine what activities will be in Spanish (example, reading, movie watching, bath time, meals) and where (in the home, at the park, when shopping).



Tuvimos una sesión informativa dirigida por Maria de los Santos Espejo quijada de la Embajada de España en Ottawa. Para adquirir o mantener el bilingüismo español para su niño, hay algunas cosas muy importantes que debe ocurrir, porque sin él, el niño no se mantendrá en español, incluso si hablan ahora.

María subrayó que muchas familias latinoamericanas creo que dado que su niño preescolar habla español con fluidez, que no va a cambiar. Sin embargo, una vez que estén en la escuela y hablar y leer y escribir en inglés y francés, no se tarda mucho antes de que el niño ya no puede comunicarse en español. El hecho es que nuestra sociedad dominante es el inglés. Entonces, ¿qué pueden hacer las familias españolas?

1. La educación bilingüe - Registrar su niño en Manitoba del primer programa de español en la Escuela de Earl Grey

2. Establecer metas para su familia y aparte de 5 o 6 horas a la semana para hablar, leer o estudiar Español juntos.

3. Mejorar su castellano como un padre para que su hijo lo vea trabajando activamente en su español también.

4. Determinar qué actividades serán en español (por ejemplo, leer, ver películas, el tiempo del baño, comidas) y dónde (en el hogar, en el parque, cuando compras).

Meeting this Monday with Spanish Embassy!

Families,

We have this amazing opportunity to hear from the Spanish Embassy Representative from Ottawa, Maria de los Santos Espejo Quijada!

When: Monday June 20th at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Earl Grey School, 340 Cockburn Street N.

Maria will be speaking to families on how to support their child in a bilingual program, for those that don't speak Spanish at home. She will also be addressing Spanish speaking families on the importance of a bilingual program to retain not only oral Spanish, but written as well.

This is open for anyone, regardless of catchment or age of child! Please let your contacts know, especially those who aren't sure about Spanish Bilingual and need to know more.

Important Updates

1. They have hired the Spanish teacher for September who will be the kindergarten teacher and the Spanish resource teacher

2. Earl Grey will be getting a new principal as the current one is retiring. They will have someone hired by June 21st

3. Registration is still open for kindergarten and there are two child care centres in and beside the school, Dante Day Nursery and Earl Grey Children's Centre. If daycare is an issue for registration, register your child at EG and then call the two centres informing them you have registered your child and they will make you a priority. EGCC only has children from EG school, so you can't get a spot until you register at the school.

4. OUT OF CATCHMENT 

Because this concerns a number of families who have already registered, Celia informed us it is very difficult for the division to know how serious families are and therefore it is difficult to promise a spot in the program. She suggested that if out of catchment families are committed to having their child in this program, not just for kindergarten but through the next 6-12 years, they need to communicate that. 

To state your commitment, call the District Superintendent and the principal at Earl Grey School. Reiterate that there is no Spanish program in your division, and so you won't go anywhere. If the child you have registered is your oldest, point out that there is little chance of moving them and a 100% chance their younger siblings will be coming to EG. Add anything else that you think may be relevant. 

5. The division found a local Winnipeg author that writes Spanish children's books and they are working to provide additional resources for the kindergarten class.

6. The Rep. from the Spanish Embassy in Ottawa, Maria de los Santos Espejo Quijada will be coming June 20/21 and may have time in her schedule to have a parent meeting. This would be open to anyone, but especially geared towards Spanish speaking families who would benefit from hearing why enrollment in this program will help retain their language, both written and spoken for their children.

Registration is Open!

Hello Families,

Just a reminder that you can still register your child for Spanish Bilingual Kindergarten at Earl Grey School. The school is located at 340 Cockburn Street N. and the phone number is 474-1441. The program still has spots available for this September! Hurry!

Commitment of Moving Foward

Now that the Winnipeg School Division has officially committed to starting the Spanish Bilingual program at Earl Grey School for kindergarten in the fall, if you have a child born in 2011 you will need to contact the school at (204) 474-1441 to register them. The kindergarten class will be held in the morning.

Eugenia and I are still committed to advocating for a Spanish program in other divisions. In order to have a viable chance of starting anywhere else, we need to have 20 children in one division in one year. Without that, a presentation would be ineffective. We know that we can be successful because we've already done it in WSD!

Below are the numbers of what we have already on our database. Do you see your division? Would you like to have a Spanish Bilingual program in your area? 

Help us spread the word and get the numbers up so we can present to your school trustees!

2011 (kindergarten for 2016)

2- St. James

7 - River East

5 - Pembina Trails

7 - Louis Riel

4 - Seven Oaks

2012 (kindergarten for 2017)

4 - St. James

2 - River East

11 - Pembina Trails

11 - Louis Riel

1 - Seven Oaks

2005 (late start grade 7 for 2017)

11- WSD

1 - Pembina Trails

1- Seven Oaks

1 - Louis Riel

The Faces behind the movement

It's fitting on International Women's Day that we congratulate the founders of the Spanish Bilingual program, Kathy Rieder Heppner and Geni Lehmann. These two women have worked, lobbied and advocated tirelessly over the last three years for the community. As a result, Spanish Bilingual now is at Earl Grey School; the first in this province. Kathy and Eugenia, you have brought about change for Winnipeg that will be a lasting impact on this city for years to come.

It's Official!

We just were informed this evening that the board of trustees for Winnipeg School Division has approved the Spanish Bilingual program to start in September at Earl Grey School. There were sufficient registrations!! 

We are grateful for the many families and supporters we have had over the last three years. It couldn't have been accomplished without you all.

New Deadline

Since the trustees are focusing on budget preparation, they have decided to postpone their decision on the new language programs (that includes Spanish) until Monday March 7th.

That means there is more time to register for the program at Earl Grey School. Remember, if you have a child that is born in 2011 or ready for kindergarten, you must call or go in person to the school to register. If you have a child older than kindergarten and are hoping for late entry, please call the school at 474-1441 to inquire. The school is keeping track of all phone calls and will communicate that to the trustees. From there, they will decide if there is enough of a demand to open registration for grade 1 and/or grade 7.

Deadline Extended!!

We are happy to announce that the Board of Trustees for the Winnipeg School Division has extended the registration deadline for new language programs until February 16.

You can call Earl Grey School at (204) 474-1441 and request that a registration form for kindergarten be emailed to you. All you need to do is fill it out, scan it, and email it back. Afterwards, the school will need various documentation to be brought to the school.

If you have a child that is entering grade 1 or grade 7 and are interested in enrolling them into Spanish Bilingual at Earl Grey, please call the school and speak to the principal. The more people that inquire, the better chance that other grades can be opened up for the 2016-2017 school year.

Update on Registration - Deadline Tomorrow

Two members of the board that makes the ultimate decision regarding the Spanish Bilingual program asked how registrations were going because they are very interested and hopeful parents will respond and register their children.

One of the board members informed me that if we could get 20 registrations, whether or not they were in the catchment or not, he would urge the board to move ahead with the program since it is the only one in the province. WSD families would have bussing, out of catchment would not.

So, every child registered, regardless of the division they live in, counts towards the number we need. We do hope that you will register your child tomorrow if you have not done so already; it will make a huge difference.

Don't miss the Registration Deadline!

We can hardly believe that it is only 3 days before the deadline on Friday January 29th to register for Spanish Bilingual at Earl Grey School.  Many of you are on our database, but you must go down and register in person at the school in order to secure your spot. Call the school at (204) 474-1441 if you are unable to make it down during regular school hours and they will be accommodating. 

The division needs a deadline of the end of January in order to have time to approve a budget for the new program. Will they need to have two classes or just one? Do they have to hire one teacher or two? They also need time to renovate the new kindergarten classroom. The school division and the school is eagerly awaiting your registration to make plans!

Maybe you still have questions about transportation and bussing, or wondering if your child is ready for a bilingual program or questions about daycare etc. However we nor the division cannot answer your questions unless you register! Go and hold your spot before it's too late!

1. Bussing routes are figured out in the spring based on those who are already registered.

2. Earl Grey Children's Centre, Dante Day Nursery, and ABC Montessori can only bump families up on their list if they are already registered at EG.

3. Your child's nursery teacher can offer advice on kindergarten placement starting in April.

We have an opportunity to be part of the first Spanish Bilingual Program in all of Manitoba! Earl Grey School is a fabulous N-8 school in a beautiful River Heights neighbourhood, with not only room for your kindergarten children, but your older children who can register for the English program in anticipation for the late entry Spanish in grade 7. It's a win-win situation for your family.

We urge you to go and register your child(ren) before you miss out. Being bilingual has amazing advantages and we have the chance to give that to our children, our community, our city, and our province. 

Upcoming Open Houses

There are two Open Houses coming up.

1. Wednesday January 20 at 6:00 pm. Earl Grey School, 340 Cockburn St N. Specific to those who are or interested in registering their child for kindergarten. Hosted by Earl Grey and WSD.

2. Sunday January 24 at 2:00 pm. Glenwood Community Centre, 27 Overton St. For those interested in knowing more about expanding Spanish Bilingual to include more grades (for example late entry), other schools and divisions across Winnipeg. Registration forms will be available for Earl Grey. Hosted by Kathy Heppner and Eugenia Lehmann.