New Home for Mandarin Immersion in RWC

 Please visit our new site at www.rwcmi.org! 

Fall 2018 John Gill MI Family Events

Please join us at any of the following upcoming events that are open to current and prospective families!


MI Family Playdates 

When: Sunday, November 4th @ Noon
Sunday, December 2nd @ Noon

Where: Maddux Park
Maddux Dr & Kensington Rd,
Redwood City, CA

Purpose: For prospective families to meet current MI families. Get to know the John
Gill MI program in a fun social environment. Siblings are welcome.

Prospective Parent Meet & Greet

When: Friday, November 16th from 9 AM to 10 AM

Where: John Gill Elementary School
Picnic Table Area
555 Avenue Del Ora,
Redwood City, CA

Purpose - Parents-only event on campus. Meet existing MI parents, learn about the program and application process, ask questions and receive an MI Intro Packet. There is no classroom tour during this session.



JGMI Math Games Day

When: Sunday, November 4th
3:00 - 4:30pm

Where: Redwood City Library
1044 Middlefield Rd,
Redwood City, CA
(Children’s Section)

Purpose: MI Community event. There will be parent-run games and puzzles for building
problem-solving skills and enhancing mathematical concepts.

JOIN || Sign up for the mailing list to receive information on MI tours, registration, educational and community events

QUESTIONS || Connect with current MI parents by emailing jgmiinquiries@gmail.com

INFO ||  Visit the John Gill Mandarin Immersion school web page for more information

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The John Gill Mandarin Immersion Program started in 2015, and in just 3 years, we have tripled the number of participating students and built an incredible community that collaborates and supports this program. Did you know that there are over 1 billion speakers of Mandarin, the most spoken language in the world? This is the place where your child will learn the Chinese language and be enriched by the Chinese culture. The John Gill MI Program provides a rigorous and innovative educational curriculum, while preparing our students to become future leaders.

2018-2019 Registration is Open

Registration for the School of Choice - John Gill Mandarin Immersion is now open!

To register -- Redwood City School District Registration
For a step-by-step guide -- MI Registration Guide for SY2018-19 

Out-of-district families are welcome to apply.
Deadline to register and enter the lottery is Friday, December 22, 2017.

The Schools of Choice form will re-open from Thursday, March 8, 2018 until Friday, September 28, 2018. For this second window, applications will be accepted in the order that they are received (not by lottery).

Please attend a Kindergarten Tour to learn more!

Tuesday, 9:00-9:45AM
Nov. 14, 2017
Dec. 12, 2017
Jan. 23, 2018
Feb. 20, 2018

Tours start in the school library
John Gill Elementary
555 Ave. Del Ora
Redwood City

The tours are for both Mandarin Immersion and English-only Kindergarten. Call 650-482-2406 to schedule a tour. 

What Are the Five Types of Mandarin Immersion Parent?

Prospective student families, incoming and current MI parents, anyone interested in Mandarin immersion education... please join us for a special MI parent presentation at John Gill on Thursday, March 23 with Elizabeth Weise, author of A Parent's Guide to Mandarin Immersion. 

The talk will cover an overview of MI programs in the U.S., as well as discussing the five types of Mandarin Immersion parent. Weise speaks at events throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and we're excited to have her here in Redwood City to share her experience with us!

Elizabeth Weise, Author of A Parent's Guide to Mandarin Immersion
"The Five Types of Mandarin Immersion Parent"
6-7:30pm
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Staff Room in Main Building
John Gill Elementary School
555 Ave. Del Ora, Redwood City, CA 94063

Book sale and Q&A to follow the discussion

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Beth Weise is a mother with two daughters who have been in Chinese immersion since they began school. Her oldest daughter was in the first cohort of Mandarin immersion students in San Francisco Unified’s program at Starr King Elementary School. She helped found 金山中文教育协会, the Jinshan Mandarin Education Council and was on its board for four years. The non-profit organization exists to support and promote Mandarin immersion in SFUSD schools. She also edits the Mandarin Immersion Parents Council blog. In 2014 she published A Parent’s Guide to Mandarin Immersion, the how-to guide she wished she’d had when her kids started immersion. Her day job is as a reporter with USA TODAY, covering computer security, technology and Silicon Valley.

Meet MI Program Families at the Park

Join us for a playdate at the park this weekend!

- Learn about the MI Program at John Gill
- Meet other prospective and current MI Program students and their families
- Enjoy friends and playtime outside!

Sunday, March 12 at 1:00 PM

Maddux Park 
Maddux Drive & Kensington Road 
Redwood City, CA 94061

Stories from Newly Mandarin Speaking Families

*** CHANGE OF VENUE DUE TO RAIN FORECAST**

Please join us for a playdate at the library and Q&A with current John Gill MI Program parents. 

Q&A with MI Program Families
Saturday, December 10th
1:00pm at Downtown Redwood City Library
1044 Middlefield Road
Redwood City, CA 94063

- Meet future classmates
- Current MI program families will share stories about their experience
- Prospective students/families with no Chinese language background can get answers about topics, such as: How do I help with homework as a non-speaker? How do students with no Chinese language background do? etc.

Please RSVP and post more topics/questions for discussion.

See you there!

John Gill School Tours for 2017-2018 Prospective Kindergarteners

Come tour the Mandarin Immersion program at John Gill! 

Parents of prospective Kindergarten students for the 2017-2018 school year are invited to attend John Gill School Tours on the following Tuesday mornings:

2016: Oct. 25, Nov. 8, Dec. 6
2017: Jan. 24, Feb. 28, Mar. 21

- Tour time 8:45-9:30AM
- Call the school to sign up 650-482-2406
- Parking is on Myrtle St., meet in the library

John Gill Elementary
555 Ave Del Ora
Redwood City, CA 94062
 
Learn More -- MI Program at John Gill
Questions -- mi@johngillpta.org 

PlayThrive Hiring Teachers Winter 2016

PlayThrive After School Program is looking to hire full and part time teachers to join their collaborative teaching team immediately! 

Accepting applications until November 28, 2016 for the following positions:
 
After School Lead Teacher (English or Mandarin OK)

After School Float Teacher (Mandarin Speaking)

PlayThrive is an educational organization dedicated to promoting whole
child education by bringing together teachers, parents, and the local
community. We aim to create a space for children to explore, have fun,
connect with one another, develop empathy toward the larger world, and
cultivate a passion for lifelong learning.

Mandarin Immersion Parent Presentation

Announcing a presentation for current and prospective parents...

Language Development in Young Children in a Dual Immersion Program

Presented by Dr. Danni Tsai
Mandarin Language Consultant for RCSD

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

6:30-8:00pm

John Gill Staff Room

(Northeast corner of the Main Building)

555 Avenue del Ora

Redwood City, CA 94062 

Dr. Danni Tsai has 20+ years in Dual Language Mandarin Immersion programs in the Bay Area. She started CLIP (Cupertino Language Immersion Program) in Cupertino Union School District. Dr. Tsai has been the acting Mandarin Language Consultant for John Gill since the incept of the RCSD MI Program.

Presentation Topics will include:

• Brain Development Research and MI Programs
• Updated Assessment Data from local MI programs
• English Literacy Development in the MI programs
• Language Immersion - The Early Years

Visit Our New Site

For program information please go to johngillpta.org/mi

News and announcements will continue to be posted here.

Photo Credit: Gigijin under a CC license

Looking for Mandarin Speaking Teaching Assistants

Redwood City School District has two job openings for Mandarin-English Bilingual Instructional Assistants for the 2016-2017 school year at John Gill Elementary. 

• Deadline to apply is July 24. 
• Pro-rated benefits will be offered. 
• Candidates must apply online to be considered. 

Please share the news!

Questions? Contact Redwood City School District through Kim Abbott (650) 423-2229 or the MI Program Parent Volunteers by email at johngillmi@gmail.com.

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See the edjoin link for more details and to apply. 

Instructional Assistant – Bilingual John Gill School - Bilingual English/Mandarin Required

• 5 hours per day 
• 5 days per week 
• 182 days per year (August – June)  
• Hours: 8:30 am – 2 pm (includes 30 minute unpaid lunch break)

Under the direction of an assigned supervisor, assist a certificated teacher in providing instruction to individuals or small groups of limited or non-English speaking students in a classroom or other learning environment including LEP classes and Bilingual Newcomers Centers; assist students in their acculturation to the American and English­ speaking culture; prepare instructional materials and perform a variety of routine clerical duties as assigned; translate for parents and teachers as assigned. Required: Any combination equivalent to: graduation from high school and one year experience working with youth in an organized setting and some experience working with people of various cultures. Bilingual English/Mandarin required. Must pass district test by at least 70%.  

• Letter of Introduction
• Proof of HS Graduation
• Resume

June MI Playdate

Please join us for a play date in the park. Make new friends, get to know future classmates, and learn about the John Gill Mandarin Immersion Program and Playthrive After School Program.

Saturday, June 18 at 10:00 AM
Maddux Park
Kensington Road
Redwood City, CA 94061

RSVP today!

PlayThrive After School Program Tour

Please come check out Redwood City's first Mandarin Immersion after school program this coming Tuesday afternoon, May 17!

May MI Playdate

Join us for a play date at the park to meet John Gill Mandarin Immersion program families!

Sunday, May 21 @ 1pm
Nealon Park
800 Middle Avenue
Menlo Park, CA, 94025 

Recruiting 1st Grade Teacher and Students! 诚聘一年级老师! 继续招生！

Redwood City's Mandarin Immersion Program at John Gill Elementary is looking for a first grade teacher to join this fall 2016.  And with the growing waitlist, a second Kindergarten class is possible.  Please help us spread the word!

 

1st Grade Teacher Application: https://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/780981

For details about the position, the school, and the program, download this PDF.

The district would also like to open a second Kindergarten class provided that the enrollment number is met.  The program is open to out-of-district families.  If you are interested in enrolling your child, please attend the next school tour. 

John Gill School Tour on Wednesday April 27, 8:30AM-9:30AM
Meet at the library on Ave. Del Ora side
555 Ave. Del Ora, Redwood City, CA 94062

For further enrollment questions, please contact Melanie Davenport, (650) 423-2237, mdavenport@rcsdk8.net

Please also join us at the following events to meet school faculty and/or currently enrolled families:

Friday April 15, 6PM
Mandarin Language Movie Night
Staff Room at John Gill
555 Ave Del Ora, Redwood City, CA 94062
Limited number of spaces available, details and sign-up on evite

Saturday April 23, 1PM-4PM
Play Date with currently enrolled families at Maddux Park, Redwood City  

Tuesday April 26, 6:30PM-8PM
Re-imagine John Gill.  Meet in the multi-use building.  This is one of a series of meetings facilitated by the school district for the community to collectively explore new educational models and find a way to transform the whole school.

Saturday, May 7, 5:30 PM

Dinner Fundraiser & Parents' Night Out, details and sign-up on evite

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Lots of Opportunities to Visit!

Now that the first round of School of Choice has closed, we already have a full Kinder class for next year!  The district will open a second class if the enrollment number is met, so help us get there!  If you haven't already visited the school or talked with our enthusiastic parents, there are still lots of opportunities to do so:

1. Lunar New Year Table, Saturday, Feb. 27, 11am-4pm - Come visit our table at the 6th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration in downtown Redwood City

2. Old Spaghetti Factory Dinner, Saturday, Feb. 27, 5-7pm - Admitted parents, there are still a couple of spots left for the Spaghetti Factory fundraising dinner.

3. Daytime School Tours, Tuesdays, March 1 & 8, 8:30-9:30 am - Meet at the library on Ave. Del Ora side.

4. Evening School Tour, Wednesday, March 2, 6:45-8:00pm 
5. Re-imagine John Gill Meeting, Tuesday, March 8, 6:00-7:00pm - Learn about the latest development in STEAM learning, design thinking, etc.

6. Round 2 of School of Choice on THURSDAY, MARCH 9.  First Come First Served for this round of lottery!

7. Check out more program details and photo gallery in the newly updated About the Program section.

Belameda Park Playdate

Please join us for a playdate this week! Meet families from the MI program at John Gill Elementary.

Date/Time:  Saturday, February 20, 2016, 1 PM to 4 PM

Location: Belameda Park (right behind the Belmont library)

Address: 1110 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont, CA 94002

If weather is bad we will be in the kids section of the library.

Spaghetti Dinner Mixer

The MI Parent Volunteers are hosting a dinner mixer that will conveniently begin after the Lunar Festival in downtown RWC ends. Children are welcome. If you are interested in learning about the Mandarin Immersion (MI) program at John Gill Elementary School, this will be a good opportunity to meet current parents and other prospective parents.

Place: Old Spaghetti Factory
Address: 2107 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94062
Date: Saturday, February 27
Time: 5:00-7:00pm
Cost: $50 per adult and $5 per school-aged child (excludes alcohol)

Proceeds will go towards the Mandarin Immersion (MI) Fund that pays for the teacher's aide and MI related expenses. We welcome additional donations.

Please email hester.chan@gmail.com if you have any questions. Thanks for reading!

Learn about MI at John Gill

Please join us for a playdate at John Gill Elementary on the Saturday after the monthly PTO meeting.

Saturday, January 23
11:00am - 2:00pm
Play Structure at John Gill Elementary
555 Ave Del Ora
Redwood City, CA 94062

Those newly registered or considering registration, please come out to meet parents and students of the MI program!

Get to Know MI@JG at the Park

Please join us for a playdate at the park tomorrow!

Instead of a weekend play date during this busy holiday season, we're getting together on Wednesday. Stop by after school or on your way home and meet Mandarin Immersion program students and parents.
 
Date: Wednesday, December 9th
Time: 3:00 - 5:00pm
Location: Stafford Park (Hopkins and King St.)