First Graders Celebrate Eric Carle!

Spanish Immersion Program Updates

Overview: The Spanish Immersion (SI) program modifications/changes outlined below emerged from feedback collected over the course of the 2024-2025 school year. In October 2024 the Spanish Immersion Advisory Committee was created to help inform potential improvements to the SI program. The SI Advisory Committee met frequently from early November 2024 to May 2025 to discuss various issues, challenges, and recommendations for improvement related to the SI program. Survey data was collected in December of 2024 from parents, students, and educators to gather perceptions about the SI program. Ultimately, the committee came to majority consensus on the modifications described below. Some of these items have already been instituted, while others will be implemented during the 2025-2026 school year.

Selection of Students into the SI Program 

Historically, if one child within a family was awarded a spot in the SI program via the lottery, any subsequent siblings were automatically provided entry into the SI program.  This “sibling allowance” will be discontinued to ensure equal opportunities for all potential SI program lottery applicants.  Moving forward, each sibling will need to go through the lottery process to enter the SI program. This change will be implemented for the Spring 2026 Spanish Immersion program lottery.

To ensure equitable access to the Spanish Immersion program, students identified as “economically disadvantaged” (according to state provided data) will be provided preference (higher weighting) in the spring Spanish Immersion lottery process. 

Middle & High School Language Development Opportunities

Fifth grade will no longer have Spanish Immersion specific teams, instead all teams and core content areas will be in English. This was recommended by many parents and students, as they preferred to have a separate course that focuses on conversation, rather than having math or science in Spanish. This is consistent with other immersion programs in the U.S. 

Fifth grade Spanish instruction for SI Program students will occur as a separate course that focuses on conversational Spanish, literature and cultural exploration. This will be provided by onsite educators at CHMS and BRMS.

The middle and high school Spanish language scope & sequence has been revised to reflect  information/feedback collected from students, parents/caregivers and other members of the school community. 

Communication About the SI Program

During the fall of 2024, numerous myths and misconceptions about the Spanish Immersion Program became prevalent. These misunderstandings also emerged in the parent and educator surveys. To minimize  the spread of misinformation and to create a better understanding about the SI program, an information sheet was crafted that addresses specific myths and misconceptions. 

In the spring of 2025, educator “focus group” sessions were held at each of our SI elementary schools (RES & JES) to answer educator questions/concerns about the Spanish Immersion program and to clarify any misconceptions. Additional Q&A sessions will be held during the ‘25-’26 school year if needed.

More frequent communication about the Spanish Immersion Program will be provided through the monthly District Happenings, weekly Roots & Wings, school/family newsletters, and when appropriate, with hard copy flyers at schools. This is to ensure all families and educators are provided with updates, in addition to general information about the program.

Two virtual  informational nights will be provided for families each spring during the SI registration window to offer information and to field questions about the SI program (historically only one session was provided).

Enhanced Integration of Spanish Immersion & English-Speaking Students

Survey data indicated a need to enhance the integration of Spanish Immersion students with English language students at both Jericho Elementary School (JES) and Richmond Elementary School (RES). To facilitate increased integration, students will have shared recess, lunch, and other opportunities together throughout the school day. Additionally, principals at RES & JES will work to incorporate the Spanish language into elements of the school. Examples include: Announcing buses in both English and Spanish, having Spanish-language posters in the hallways, and providing opportunities for the SI classrooms to publicly share their work during all-school meetings.

Spanish Immersion and English-speaking educators will be provided time to collaborate in grade-level teams/professional learning community (PLC) groups, in addition to other district and school-based professional learning opportunities.

Special Education

There is a perception that students with special needs are either not allowed into the Spanish Immersion program or are otherwise not supported with receiving special education services once in the SI program. Students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs), 504 plans, or other types of support plans are not precluded from entering the SI program, nor are there any restrictions on receiving those supports once in the SI program. There have been challenges with navigating the new Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) special education rules which came into effect in July of 2023. MMUUSD has worked closely with the AOE to ensure students in the SI program are able to receive the same services and supports as students in English speaking classrooms. Now that certain issues have been rectified, there should be fewer hurdles with having SI students move through the special education evaluation process. Additionally, there have been substantive refinements to our multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) process so that students in the SI program receive timely and appropriate layers of support, including tier 3 interventions.

English Language Instruction

To ensure students in the SI program are provided a solid foundation in English instruction, all SI students will receive phonics instruction and phonemic awareness instruction starting in kindergarten. The percentage ratio of English to Spanish instruction will increase (more English) as students proceed through the SI program. 

VOLUNTEERING

**If you think you might VOLUNTEER at any point during the school year, please be sure to fill out the Volunteer Form now.**

Link to Volunteer Form 

It is much easier to fill it out now so you can be cleared to volunteer at any point during the school year.

ATTENDANCE

Consistent and regular attendance is paramount to student development and success.  On time arrival provides a student with the most positive start to the day.  If your student will be absent or tardy, please be sure to enter the information PickUp Patrol by 8:00am.  Our first priority is your child's safety.  If the absence or tardy is not entered into PickUp Patrol by 8:30am the office will begin to contact families.  Students are marked absent until they have checked in with the office.

**Information about PickUp Patrol will be sent out by the end of the week**

District Illness Guidelines

*Stay Home When Sick*

Students and staff should stay home with any potentially contagious illnesses or symptoms including the following:

• Vomiting or Diarrhea - must be 24 hours symptom-free and able to tolerate food and drink before returning to school. 

• Fever 100.4 or greater - must be home until fever-free without the use of medication for greater than 24 hours.

• Any infection requiring antibiotics - keep your student home until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours.

• A persistent cough that disrupts regular activity.

• Excessive nasal drainage - check with your child’s doctor before sending your child back to school. 

• Unexplained rash - check with your child’s doctor before sending your child to school. 

• Red or draining eyes - check with your child’s doctor before sending your child to school. 

• COVID-19 - stay home until fever-free without medication for 24 hours and symptoms have improved. Please report any COVID-19 to the school nurse.

• Influenza - stay home until fever-free without medication for 24 hours and symptoms have improved. Please report any influenza to the school nurse.

• Any other symptoms or illness that impede a student’s ability to learn or staff’s ability to work.

Revised March 2024

• October 24th - No School for Students

• October 25th - Big Truck Day at RES

• November 5th - 2 Hour Early Release

• November 6th - Title 1 Informational Meeting

• November 6th - Parenting Workshop

2025-2026 SY District Calendar

The district has put out the SY calendar for next year over the weekend. There are minimal changes compared to this year’s school calendar. The First Student Day is back on a Wednesday (August 27th).

You can view the full 2025-26 SY Calendar HERE and it was shared in the District Happenings as well! 

We will do our best to keep our WEBSITE updated on a regular basis. We also invite you to follow us on our two main social media pages: FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM. I also encourage you to reach out to the classroom teachers as they all communicate in a variety of different platforms!