2010–2011 Spanish enrollment form

The TOPS Spanish Language before/after school program.

Spanish language and culture classes will begin the first week of November.  Elementary school students can learn about Spain and Latin America, their foods, music, and customs in a fun after school program that features an immersion approach to the language.

• Classes for 1st–3rd grade meet afterschool on Mondays & Wednesdays.
• Classes for 3rd–5th grade meet afterschool Tuesdays & Thursdays.
• Middle school classes may be before school.
  Middle school parents, your child can now begin high school level Spanish with the middle school Spanish language and culture classes. The schedule for the middle school class will be determined on the basis of when the most students are available. Please let us know now if you are interested in this program.

The cost will be $300 for 45-minute sessions, two times per week over 20 weeks. Scholarships available in accordance with TOPS financial aid policies.

Information: Marcia Weaver @ mweaver@u.washington.edu
Enrollment: Complete the registration form and
Send a check made out to Friends of TOPS by Friday October 15, 2010
Mailing Address:Marcia Weaver • 937 Broadway East, Seattle, WA  98102

Financiación

Funding

The bulk of the Spanish Language and Culture program cost is parent-funded. Parents currently pay $300 (payable to Friends of TOPS) per student for 40 classes of instruction (45 minutes twice a week for 20 weeks). See the registration form for details.

Un Poco de Historia

A Little History

Since 1997, TOPS parents, staff and faculty have been exploring opportunities for foreign language learning for TOPS students while not overburdening our teachers, or threatening current curriculum and enrichment programs. The level of support among TOPS families for a Spanish language program remains high.

Objetivos

Goals

Here at TOPS, there is a strong commitment to educating our children by using an anti-bias, multicultural approach. An important step in offering a “world-class” education to our students at TOPS is to make opportunities for learning a second language as early as possible in our students’ lives. Foreign language study exposes students to the richness of other cultures and provides perspectives that aid in the appreciation of diversity, helping our kids develop a wider cultural outlook.

Beneficios del Programa

Program Benefits

There is research that shows that learning a foreign language at a young age helps develop important cognitive abilities with the best window of opportunity lasting roughly from age one until puberty, during which second language acquisition is effortless. After puberty, changes occur in the palate and the structure of the brain which make it much harder to learn a new language. Foreign language learning in the early elementary years (even on an intermittent basis) has proven results in increased verbal skills in the child’s native language and better success in foreign language study in later years.