What is Really Happening

The Winnipeg School division has set a new target date for September 2016 to start a Spanish Bilingual Program pending sufficient enrollment numbers. 

The story in the Winnipeg Free Press on May 12^th was misleading and incomplete, calling the program “a bust”.  After a recent meeting with the School Board Chair, Mark Wasyliw, the Winnipeg School Division has reiterated its commitment to the Spanish Bilingual program. 

It will begin at Luxton School, located at 111 Polson Ave. in West Kildonan pending sufficient enrollment. Chief Superintendent Pauline Clarke and Mark Wasyliw are dedicated to working with Eugenia Lehmann, Kathy Heppner and the community to bring the Spanish Bilingual program to reality in Winnipeg. The program will start with a combined kindergarten and grade 1 class if there are 23 students willing to register. 

For further information and to register call Eugenia Lehmann at (204) 887-4572 or Kathy Heppner at WinnipegSpanishImmersion@gmail.com

Still Waiting.....

From the WSD regarding the addition of grades 1-6:

The Policy/Program Committee met on April 20th and directed the administration to report back to the Committee regarding enrollment and transportation.  It is anticipated that the information will be provided to the Committee on Monday May 4th.

Thank you for your patience.

Possible Multi-Age Classrooms

This week we met and made another presentation to the WSD. We asked them to not only consider having a kindergarten class start, but with our numbers, start a grade 1/2/3 classroom as well as a 4/5/6 class.

Many of the trustees were new from last year, so we forwarded them our proposal from last year. They seemed to wonder if there would be enough room at Luxton, so we of course encouraged them to consider a second location. We shall see what happens in the next few weeks!

Update on Numbers

Thank you so much for all of you that were able to come out to the Open House. We also appreciated the support of those that weren't able to come by means of emails and phone calls. We have received many more families who want to register their children for Spanish Bilingual programming. This is extremely exciting.

It was very helpful for us to meet the principal of Luxton. He is very supportive of Spanish instruction in his school. Since the school is multi-age classrooms, it was suggested that we consider our numbers to propose again to the school division of starting more than just kindergarten.

The WSD school division wants us to have 23 students from their catchment area registered in the class, but will be flexible in the numbers. They are also flexible in welcoming those out of the school division.

Kindergarten (born in 2010) - 18 children
Grade 1 (2009) - 9
Grade 2 (2008) - 11
Grade 3 (2007) - 5

Grade 4 (2006) - 5
Grade 5 (2005) - 7
Grade 6 (2004) - 7

Our plans for 2015 is to continue promoting the proposal to other school divisions:

Pembina Trails Families

They were very keen on the proposal last year, but were concerned there were not enough families in their division. Just like WSD promoted the possibility with their families, we are going to ask PT to do the same.

Kindergarten - 5
Grade 1 - 4
Grade 2 - 5
Grade 3 - 5

Louis Riel Families

We know that LR is very open to bilingual programs and hope to have more numbers to make an initial presentation to them as well.

Kindergarten - 3
Grade 1 - 6
Grade 2 - 3
Grade 3 - 8

Thank you again for all of your support. As you gather with your families and friends over the holiday season, let people know. As Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has".

Open House

We are pleased to inform you that the Open House will happen on Thursday December 4 at 7:00. It will take place in the library at Luxton School, 111 Polson Ave. Representatives from Winnipeg School Division will join us to answer any questions that parents may have.

We are thrilled that the location has been named and with sufficient enrolment, the Spanish Bilingual program will start in Fall of 2015.

School location selected

Winnipeg School Division has decided that Luxton School, 111 Polson Ave. will host the Spanish Bilingual Program in Fall 2015. Open house / Information Night for interested parents coming in the next few weeks.

Great News!