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| | | | 07/08 Classes
| | K, Handley
K, Stephenson
K, Reagan
1st, Rddad
1st, Taleb
1st, Tesdell
2nd, Ly
2nd, Papillon
2nd, Smith
3rd, Asper
3rd, Klein
3rd, Przybylski
4th, Gasho
4th, Kaszás
5th, Lacey & Anderson
5th, Tran
6th, Gagnaire
6th, Verbeke
| | | | 07/08 Specialists
| | ELL, Schmitt
ELA/Creative Arts, Garvey
ELA 3rd, Vanderborght
ELA, Turner
Music, Dr. Lamb
Phy. Ed., O'Connor
Science, Bissoy
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| | | | What is French Immersion Education?Why is immersion education an exciting option for my child?Why French?How is academic achievement assessed?What about teaching English language skills?Do children need a background in French to enroll?Will my child fall behind in English?Will I as a parent have to learn French too? How can I be involved in my child's education if I don't speak French?Are teachers in the immersion program native speakers of French?Does the school offer full-day kindergarten?Can I enroll my child if I don't live in the school district?I'm interested! What should I do next?What is French Immersion Education?
“French Immersion” means classroom instruction is entirely in French.
Students learn the entire Saint Paul Public Schools curriculum while
learning French. A city-wide option, L'Etoile du Nord French Immersion
School (pronounced: lay twal dew nor), is open to all Saint Paul residents. |
Why is immersion education an exciting option for my child?
A second language is a wonderful gift to give your child.Immersion
education is a proven means of stimulating learning that cuts across
boundaries of language, socio-economic class, and ethnic groups.
Students master grade-appropriate subject content, become fluent in the
target language, develop English-language skills at or beyond standards
set for English-only programs, and learn to understand and appreciate
world cultures. |
Why French?
French is the second most frequently taught language, worldwide,
after English. A global language, it is used for communication on five
continents. French is spoken by tens of millions of Africans and
Asians, and is the primary language of France as well as several other
European countries, much of Canada and the Caribbean.
French
literature is a world treasure, and France itself is the most visited
nation on earth with nearly 70 million visitors a year. French is the
second most prominent language in the business world. And the French
language is also just fun to speak and hear. |
How is academic achievement assessed?
Continuous assessment is an integral part of classroom instruction. Content taught in French is assessed in French.
District-wide standardized testing is administered in English. |
What about teaching English language skills?
English reading and writing instruction begins in the second grade.
While students' reading in English may be below grade level in the
beginning of the year, the skills they have been acquiring in French
transfer to English.
By the end of the year, most students
are reading at grade level, and by the end of fifth grade many students
are reading well above grade level. |
Do children need a background in French to enroll?
NO! The program is designed for non-French speakers. Most students
entering the program in kindergarten and first grade have little or no
prior French language experience.
Beyond the first grade
level, students seeking admittance need to pass an entrance evaluation.
They are expected to be proficient in French appropriate to their grade
level. How do the students learn if the teacher doesn't speak English?
Young
children are naturally adept at learning languages. To ensure
understanding in the classroom, teachers infuse their lessons with
visual, musical and dramatic techniques. The students themselves begin
by speaking in English, but as new vocabulary is introduced, they are
encouraged to use more and more French. By second grade, French is the
primary means of classroom communication. |
Will my child fall behind in English?
Abundant research shows that learning in a second language actually
enhances the child's first language ability. In the early years,
immersion students may lag behind their peers on standardized tests
given in English, but this is natural, since all classroom instruction
is in French. By the end of fifth grade their English scores typically climb to equal or surpass their non-immersion peers. |
Will I as a parent have to learn French too?
Only if you want to! The program assumes that the family is not
French speaking, and teachers take this into account when they send
notices or work home. But many parents enjoy sharing their child's
progress with a second language.
For some immigrant families, the French language is also a valued way of passing a cultural heritage from parent to child. |
How can I be involved in my child's education if I don't speak French?
Parents are encouraged to be involved in their child's education as
much as possible - taking advantage of enrichment opportunities, and
spending time reading together in English.
Homework can be
a learning experience for the whole family, since many students enjoy
sharing the work they are doing in school, performing stories, poems
and songs they have learned, and teaching their parents how to
pronounce their spelling words correctly. There are many
volunteer opportunities at school. Many parents enjoy spending time in
their child's classroom as well, helping the teacher with “behind the
scenes” classroom projects and special events, and volunteering in the
library and at PTO functions. |
Are teachers in the immersion program native speakers of French?
The school seeks a balance of native French speakers and
American-born teachers. All the teachers communicate at a native or
near-native level. Many of the American teachers have traveled and
lived extensively abroad.
In addition, L'Etoile du Nord
French Immersion School is fortunate to host visiting Teacher Interns.
These are typically young adults from around the world who come to
Saint Paul for a year to share their language and cultures with our
students. This year, the French Immersion community is host eight
interns from Senegal and France. |
Does the school offer full-day kindergarten?
Yes! All-day kindergarten allows students' language skills to
develop more quickly. In this way, students are more prepared for
academic subjects and still have plenty of time for play and social
interaction. |
Can I enroll my child if I don't live in the school district?
Yes. L'Etoile du Nord is open to all children in the metropolitan area.
However, preference is given to students who live in the district. |
I'm interested! What should I do next?
We encourage you and your child to visit the school before making a
decision. Tours are given on a regular basis between November and
April. Call the school office to set up an appointment.Parents
wishing to place their kindergarten or first grade child in the program
are required to complete a “citywide option” enrollment form and submit
it to the district placement office. Brochures are mailed to all Saint
Paul residents in January and can also be obtained from the Elementary
Student Placement Office at (651) 632-3760. |
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