ALERCES SPANISH PRESCHOOL EXPANDS SCOPE

September 1, 2011 - SASKATOON - Today Alerces Spanish Bilingual School had the honour of receiving the Certificate of Registration as an Independent School. Thank you for all the hard work you have done, and your support and belief in Alerces program.

July 16, 2010 – SASKATOON – After operating successfully for three years, Alerces Spanish Immersion Preschool is expanding to include older children. Alerces preschool was created by Bati McComas and Maru Aguirre with the goal of providing Saskatoon with a unique, immersive Spanish language environment that focuses on the Reggio Emilia approach, a child-centered learning program for preschool children aged three to five.

From its inception, Alerces preschool has been warmly received by Saskatoon families as a way to either maintain children's understanding of Spanish language, or expose them to it for the first time. The Reggio Emilia inspired program is also popular with families as it allows the children to actively participate in guiding the direction of the curriculum.  An emergent curriculum begins with observation of the children and their interests, and the strong belief from teachers and parents that children are competent learners.

With a combined 25 years experience between them, McComas and Aguirre have worked long and hard to realize their dream. Their innovative approach has caught the attention of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education, who has visited their facility and is working with Alerces as a Host Site Tour Visit for the implementation of “Play and Exploration – Early Learning Guide”. In 2008, the pair received Women of Distinction awards nomination, as well as a SABEX award nomination in the New Business Venture category in recognition of their work at Alerces Spanish Immersion Preschool.

“We were approached by the parents of the school,” says Maru Aguirre “and asked if we would expand to kindergarten and beyond. With the interest there from existing families of the preschool, we knew the time was right to start expanding.”

Alerces First Spanish Bilingual School of Saskatchewan was incorporated in July 2010 as the managing entity for the current expansion plans. An independent board has been established for the bilingual school and is responsible for the expansion and establishment of additional levels of instruction compliant with provincial education standards, while ensuring the language and methodology initially proven so successful at the preschool level is maintained.

“The focus for the 2010-2011 school year,” says board president Corinne Haack “is to offer a full day all day kindergarten program that provides child-centered learning in both English and Spanish. Plans to expand to early primary grades will be developed with a goal of introducing grade one in the fall of 2011.”

“This is beyond our original dream”, comments McComas, who stated the school has grown in popularity far more quickly than they had ever hoped.  "Spanish is actually spoken by more people in the Americas than English, and families understand the significant benefit of learning this language."

Alerces First Spanish Bilingual School of Saskatchewan is in the process of seeking status as a registered independent school within the Saskatchewan Education system, with its ultimate hope to integrate into the existing Board system, allowing children to seamlessly transfer in or out as part of their normal education.

Alerces operates out of St. Martin's United Church on the corner of Clarence Avenue and Wilson Crescent five days a week, 10 months a year, and can be found online at www.AlercesSpanishImmersion.com.

Applications for kindergarten are currently being accepted. Please email bilingualSchool@AlercesSpanishImmersion.comto receive a registration form.