Nuestro Mundo begins planning for a dual language middle school
Keeping the kids immersed
Keeping the kids immersed
actually care about the child. They know the child. The way the classes are set up is they allow the kids to intermingle with each other within the grade. When I
come into the school, I feel like family. The way it is all set up, it gives that sense of community. My child loves to come here and learn.”
Judy Kujoth is a Nuestro Mundo, Inc. board member and also the parent of a Nuestro Mundo student. She also feels that Nuestro Mundo is ahaving a
positive impact on her child’s and the other children’s education and skill set. “The kids are learning in a dual language immersion setting at this point and we
want them to maintain their skills, their interest in languages, their interest in meeting people and understanding each others’ race and ethnicity and the
differences and similarities between them,” Kujoth said. “They love their school. It has been effective. The kids are learning biliterate skills, bilingual skills and
friendships they might not otherwise have had. It’s just an overall good idea.”
In an ever increasing global economy and village, Watkins feels that Nuestro Mundo is preparing her children for the future. “I grew up in a segregated city,
being around Latinos and not feeling connected with them,” Watkins admitted. “It made me feel there was a problem because they were different. Here that
aspect is not there. It eases the racial barrier that is in place between the child who speaks English as a first language and the child who speaks English as a
second language. It removes the barrier that you can’t communicate with each other, that you are different from each other. It nurtures us in the sense that we
are different from each other, but that is okay because we can then learn about each other in an environment that is safe for the child and an environment that
encourages fellowship and community. In terms of dual language being the wave of the future, my child will be able to feel confident that he can communicate
no matter what the situation may be.”
The parents and the board members of Nuestro Mundo want to continue the experience for the children. On March 9, Nuestro Mundo presented a proposal
to a Madison Metropolitan School District board committee a proposal for the development of a dual language immersion secondary school. It is their hope that
the school board will give them a green light for the project on March 9 so Nuestro Mundo can submit a apply for an early planning grant from the Wis. Dept. of
Public Instruction. The grant application is due April 15.
It is important to Watkins that this secondary school be available for her son and nephew. “It would take them from an integrated world into a segregated
world and it would bring down their morale,” Watkins said if they would be forced to attend a regular middle school. “It would bring down their confidence, which
is something that I struggle with. Right now, they say ‘I can do this.’ We have to take a look at the age that they are going to be at if they don’t continue with the
dual language immersion. It would be way worse than if we went ahead and continued.”
While noting that the creation of a dual language immersion program on the secondary school level as a charter school will bring approximately $1 million
into the district, Kujoth is concerned about the detrimental impact on her child if dual language immersion is not offered. “I think the progress they’ve made
toward developing biliterate and bilingual skills are slowly going to be eroded,” Kujoth said. “One of our worries is that if we don’t have the money that comes
through these grants to create a really good program, then the next time we are in tough economic times, which we still are for the foreseeable future; our
program is going to be at-risk of being cut. The other thing about the charter, being under contract, we’re going to be guaranteed a five-year cycle of learning.
They won’t be able to break that contract. And if we can build upon the success of the primary school, we’ll have every reason to think that contract will be
renewed, just as the primary contract was renewed a few weeks ago. We think it is the best way to go.”
Debra Gil-Casado, a board member and early proponent of dual language immersion, feels that a dual language secondary school will be created. How it
gets created is another matter. “If we don’t get the charter, Madison will try itself,” Gil-Casado said. “But they have their standard way of operating. Charter schools
allow the flexibility to really explore education in different ways.”
Juan José López, Nuestro’s board chair recognizes that it is facing an uphill battle for approval. “Yet it is a battle he is willing to take on. “We need to have
our independence,” López emphasized. It is after all, for the children.
come into the school, I feel like family. The way it is all set up, it gives that sense of community. My child loves to come here and learn.”
Judy Kujoth is a Nuestro Mundo, Inc. board member and also the parent of a Nuestro Mundo student. She also feels that Nuestro Mundo is ahaving a
positive impact on her child’s and the other children’s education and skill set. “The kids are learning in a dual language immersion setting at this point and we
want them to maintain their skills, their interest in languages, their interest in meeting people and understanding each others’ race and ethnicity and the
differences and similarities between them,” Kujoth said. “They love their school. It has been effective. The kids are learning biliterate skills, bilingual skills and
friendships they might not otherwise have had. It’s just an overall good idea.”
In an ever increasing global economy and village, Watkins feels that Nuestro Mundo is preparing her children for the future. “I grew up in a segregated city,
being around Latinos and not feeling connected with them,” Watkins admitted. “It made me feel there was a problem because they were different. Here that
aspect is not there. It eases the racial barrier that is in place between the child who speaks English as a first language and the child who speaks English as a
second language. It removes the barrier that you can’t communicate with each other, that you are different from each other. It nurtures us in the sense that we
are different from each other, but that is okay because we can then learn about each other in an environment that is safe for the child and an environment that
encourages fellowship and community. In terms of dual language being the wave of the future, my child will be able to feel confident that he can communicate
no matter what the situation may be.”
The parents and the board members of Nuestro Mundo want to continue the experience for the children. On March 9, Nuestro Mundo presented a proposal
to a Madison Metropolitan School District board committee a proposal for the development of a dual language immersion secondary school. It is their hope that
the school board will give them a green light for the project on March 9 so Nuestro Mundo can submit a apply for an early planning grant from the Wis. Dept. of
Public Instruction. The grant application is due April 15.
It is important to Watkins that this secondary school be available for her son and nephew. “It would take them from an integrated world into a segregated
world and it would bring down their morale,” Watkins said if they would be forced to attend a regular middle school. “It would bring down their confidence, which
is something that I struggle with. Right now, they say ‘I can do this.’ We have to take a look at the age that they are going to be at if they don’t continue with the
dual language immersion. It would be way worse than if we went ahead and continued.”
While noting that the creation of a dual language immersion program on the secondary school level as a charter school will bring approximately $1 million
into the district, Kujoth is concerned about the detrimental impact on her child if dual language immersion is not offered. “I think the progress they’ve made
toward developing biliterate and bilingual skills are slowly going to be eroded,” Kujoth said. “One of our worries is that if we don’t have the money that comes
through these grants to create a really good program, then the next time we are in tough economic times, which we still are for the foreseeable future; our
program is going to be at-risk of being cut. The other thing about the charter, being under contract, we’re going to be guaranteed a five-year cycle of learning.
They won’t be able to break that contract. And if we can build upon the success of the primary school, we’ll have every reason to think that contract will be
renewed, just as the primary contract was renewed a few weeks ago. We think it is the best way to go.”
Debra Gil-Casado, a board member and early proponent of dual language immersion, feels that a dual language secondary school will be created. How it
gets created is another matter. “If we don’t get the charter, Madison will try itself,” Gil-Casado said. “But they have their standard way of operating. Charter schools
allow the flexibility to really explore education in different ways.”
Juan José López, Nuestro’s board chair recognizes that it is facing an uphill battle for approval. “Yet it is a battle he is willing to take on. “We need to have
our independence,” López emphasized. It is after all, for the children.
By Jonathan Gramling
Delia Watkins has had two different experiences raising children and having them attend
Madison public schools. Her older children have attended regular elementary and middle
schools. They have not bonded well with the schools and the educational process is a struggle
for them. Watkins’ youngest son and her nephew have had a different experience. They have
attended Nuestro Mundo Community School, the dual language immersion charter school
located in Frank Allis Elementary School on Madison’s east side. They love coming to the
school.
Watkins and other parents, educators, teachers and community members were at Frank Allis
School February 21 for a public forum to discuss the possibility of creating a dual language
immersion secondary school that the current Nuestro Mundo students could attend after the fifth
grade.
Watkins is sold on Nuestro Mundo and the dual language immersion concept. “What I like
about Nuestro Mundo is the nurturing environment, socially for the children, being able to learn
different languages and going outside of the box with their learning,” Watkins said after the forum
ended. “They learn about different cultures and enjoy being in something that is different. I love
the teachers and how they give a sense of community. You don’t feel like it’s just a routine. They
Delia Watkins has had two different experiences raising children and having them attend
Madison public schools. Her older children have attended regular elementary and middle
schools. They have not bonded well with the schools and the educational process is a struggle
for them. Watkins’ youngest son and her nephew have had a different experience. They have
attended Nuestro Mundo Community School, the dual language immersion charter school
located in Frank Allis Elementary School on Madison’s east side. They love coming to the
school.
Watkins and other parents, educators, teachers and community members were at Frank Allis
School February 21 for a public forum to discuss the possibility of creating a dual language
immersion secondary school that the current Nuestro Mundo students could attend after the fifth
grade.
Watkins is sold on Nuestro Mundo and the dual language immersion concept. “What I like
about Nuestro Mundo is the nurturing environment, socially for the children, being able to learn
different languages and going outside of the box with their learning,” Watkins said after the forum
ended. “They learn about different cultures and enjoy being in something that is different. I love
the teachers and how they give a sense of community. You don’t feel like it’s just a routine. They
Delia Watkins (c), whose son and nephew are enrolled at
Nuestro Mundo Community School is a strong
proponentexpanding the dual language immersion to the
middle school level.
Nuestro Mundo Community School is a strong
proponentexpanding the dual language immersion to the
middle school level.