Our Mission: To Advance the Language Development of English Language Learners Through Rigor, Engagement, and Collaboration

ELL Today Dual Language Program at Thompson New program aims to grow bilingual and biliterate students

October 14, 2015 B i l i n g u a l I s B e a u t i f u l

More inside!

We are excited to announce that Bethel now offers ELL

services in every building. The magnet programs at Rocky

Ridge, Frederickson, Evergreen, Spanaway Middle, and Spanaway Lake are still

available for those students who need intensive ELL services.

ELL services in every building!

A Dual Language student reads a book about leaves in Spanish.

Two dual language (DL) kindergarten classes started in September with two teachers, Mrs. Schefer and Mr. Lewis, and 36 students. Approximately half of the students in each class are native Spanish speakers. In these dual language classrooms, students are instructed in Spanish for 90% of the day and 10% in English. According to Principal Ralph Wisner, there are three objectives for the students in the DL classes: 1) They will be biliterate and will perform at or above grade level by 5th grade; 2) They will be bilingual; 3) They will develop a deep sense of multiculturalism. A preschool and two 1st grade classrooms will be added next year. The expectation is that children will stay in the DL classes throughout elementary school. Call Thompson Elementary for more info: 253-683-5800.

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Dear Consuela

1

Dear Consuela,

I am a 6th grade girl. My best friend from elementary

school does not always want to sit with me at lunch

and I feel sad. What should I do?

Sad At Lunch

Dear Sad At Lunch,

How nice to have a best friend from elementary school.

Good friends never leave but sometimes look

differently as we get older. You might consider telling

her that you feel a little bit left out, but do it in a way

that doesn’t make her feel sad for wanting to have new

friends.

Dear Consuela,

I’m an 8th grade guy and really like this girl in the 6th

grade. Her brother is one of my best friends. How do I

hang out with her and stay friends with her brother? I

don’t want to be teased by my friends about it either.

What should I do?

8th Grade Guy

Continued on Pg. 3

Student Profile:

Lyka Tababa Larioque

My name is Lyka Tababa Larioque. I am in 10th grade at Spanaway Lake High School.

I moved to the United States from the Philippines just four months ago, so I am very new to this country. I came here with my sister, Lara, and brother, Jareed, to join our mother after our dad passed away in the Philippines. When we came, it had been three years since we had seen our mother.

I had taken English since the 1st grade in the Philippines, but I felt that my English was not that fluent. I worried about adjusting to my new country. I really did not know much about America before. It has been interesting.

I read in Tagalog and in English. I would like to join a sports team at school, basketball, I think.

After high school, I want to go to college and then open my own business of some sort - maybe a resort. I plan to stay and work here and maybe save enough money to return to the Philippines.

Student Profile: Alexis Guerrero Lopez

My name is Alexis. I am a 5th grader at Rocky Ridge Elementary. I am Mexican.

I live in Graham with my family. We like to eat homemade Mexican food. On Saturday nights, we like to watch all kinds of movies. We just saw Minions.

When I am home, I have to read 30 minutes every night. I like reading books. After reading, I like to go outside and play soccer with my friends.

I had surgery last year and met the Seahawk mascot. Guess who was inside? Russell Wilson!

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The Benefits of Being Bil ingual

There are many benefits to being bilingual. First of all, studies have shown that people who are bilingual are better at solving complex problems, are more creative, and switch between tasks easier than those who are monolingual. Bilingual speakers are also better able to focus their attention on a task, which may be the reason why bilinguals have more job opportunities and earn more money than those who only speak one language. In addition, those who have learned another language are usually more empathetic and have a bigger view of the world. An additional benefit of bilingualism comes later in life: Studies have repeatedly shown that the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s is delayed by at least five years!

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Dear 8th Grade Guy,

It’s always okay to like someone no matter what the

age. You obviously know something about her from

being friends with her brother. In middle school, you

have an opportunity to get involved in a lot of things

from sports to clubs to drama. You might want to

find out if she is involved in something that interests

you and join the group to get to know her. All good

things take time. Take it slow and see where it goes!

Cook with your child. Ask

him or her to read the recipe

and measure the ingredients.

1.

2.

3.

REMEMBER:

You are your child’s first teacher!

Go to the library with your

child and join in the many free

activities that are offered there.

Be an example! Children

learn by example, so let your

child see you read!

Top Tip:

Talk to your child about college.

It is never too early to introduce the idea

that college follows high school!

District and Community Events OCTOBER:

• 19th Bilingual (English/Spanish) Storytime, South Hill Library, 7:00– 7:30pm, FREE!

• 19th – 23rd Play to Learn (ages 0-6), Pumpkins, Parkland/Spanaway Library, 1:30 – 3:00pm, FREE!

• 19th – 23rd Play to Learn (ages 0-6), Pumpkins, Graham Library, 1:30 – 3:00pm, FREE! • 26th – 30th Play to Learn (ages 0-6), Bats, Parkland/Spanaway Library, 1:30 – 3:00pm, FREE!

• 26th – 30th Play to Learn (ages 0-6), Bats, Graham Library, 1:30 – 3:00pm, FREE!

• 26th – 30th Elementary School Conferences (Early Dismissal) • 28th – 30th Middle & High School Conferences (Early Dismissal)

NOVEMBER:

• 4th Late Start Day (Schools start 2 hours late)

Contact Information

Sonja Hemmerling Ryskamp Assistant Director of Special Education 253-683-6927 sryskamp@bethelsd.org Marjut Karlsson (Le français est parlé) ELL Teacher, Spanaway Lake High School 253-683-5759 mkarlsson@bethelsd.org Charmée Beauclaire (Le français est parlé) ELL Teacher, Spanaway Middle School 253-683-5584 cbeauclair@bethelsd.org Fred Fitch (Se habla español) ELL Teacher, Rocky Ridge Elementary 253-683-5001 ffitch@bethelsd.org Emi Conant ELL Teacher, Fredrickson Elementary 253-683-6376 mconant@bethelsd.org

Rima Gnatyuk (Я говорю по-русски) ELL Teacher, Evergreen Elementary 253-683-8223 rgnatyuk@bethelsd.org Denise McVey ELL TOSA, Bethel School District 253-683-6927 dmcvey@bethelsd.org Tonya Stevens Chelius (Se habla español) ELL TOSA, Bethel School District 253-389-2042

Thank you for all you do for your children!