Almost a year
ago, we started on this journey with the hopes of making available some
form of a Mandarin language program in Redwood City. Since then, we have
spent countless hours planning, writing, designing, emailing,
researching, interviewing, sometimes even going door-to-door to reach
out to the community. We have had many conversations, discussions, and
meetings with parents, educators, administrators, and fellow MIP
organizers throughout the Bay Area. In reward for this hard work, we
really could not have asked for a better time and place for this group
of talented and committed individuals to come together to make this
project a reality. A perfect example of 天时 地利 人和.
At
last Wednesday night's School Board meeting, the School Board gave its
nod of approval to establish a K-8 (and maybe even K-12) Mandarin
Immersion Program in Redwood City Public Schools! We are certainly on
our way to making this real!
"Mandarin Two-Way Immersion Program" was second on the agenda that night. After
presenting the benefits of bilingualism and recommendations on program
implementation, curriculum, and admission, the School Board responded
with a few questions and supportive comments. A dozen or so parents and
children were in attendance and the lobby was abuzz with excitement
afterward. With the School Board's approval, the Superintendent's office
can now officially start planning and set a timeline to start a MIP in
fall of 2015.
A HUGE thanks to everyone involved! Thank you for your continued support!
There
is more work ahead of us to put a brand new program in place. The
school district as well as our parent group have expressed mutual
interest in working together as we move forward. We're looking to form
sort of a "pre-" Parent Teacher Association to help the Superintendent's
office in whatever way we can to make a great MIP for our students.
We're calling it the Mandarin Immersion In Redwood City (MIIRWC) Parents Group. Please email if you are interested in joining!
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