PEF Partners with Ibrahim El-Hefni Foundation to Fund
World Language, k-5

For many years, the Peninsula Education Foundation has been working with the PVPUSD to find a way to fund a world language program for the elementary levels. With the hard work of Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Susan Liberati, we now have an introductory program. And thanks to a very generous donor, we have help funding the program for the first year. Suzanne Wright of the Ibrahim El-Hefni Technical Training Foundation will be donating $107,000 towards the $182,000 price tag of this initial roll out. The PEF will fund the additional $75,000 this year, and hopes to fund the program in its entirety in 2008-2009.

Due to the success of a FLAP grant that brought Chinese language to Lunada Bay, Point Vicente and Montemalaga Elementary schools, the district realized the model could be shared across every campus. During a workshop with elementary principals, a plan was designed to introduce world languages at all ten elementary schools. A goal was created for each elementary school to incorporate world language into the teaching day, whether through classroom instruction, during P.E., or included in an art lesson. Each school will be adding this element at some level this first year, with a more structured program to come in the following years. The goal for 2008-2009 is to add the world language program in 6th and 7th grades as well, to complete the learning process and have a program that will encompass kindergarten through 12th grades.

Seven of the elementary schools will have Spanish as their core language, and Lunada Bay, Montemalaga and Point Vicente will continue with the Chinese concept. Allowing flexibility at each school enables students to learn a variety of languages during their younger years.

The Peninsula Education Foundation’s President Dave Wagman stated, “The world language program is something we have been working towards for many years. We are thrilled to be able to add this to the list of important needs that the PEF is funding for our children. Thanks to the support of a generous donor like Suzanne, we are making this a reality”.