Our Elementary

My kids (just Jarek this year) attend the greatest little elementary school! Their school is the main thing that has kept us in Vegas, which is ironic considering that most schools in NV are not so great. It's a Spanish Immersion school. Starting in kindergarten the kids go all day and have half of the day taught in English and the other half in Spanish. SUCH a change from when we lived in CO and they were trying to pass a bill to fine or jail teachers who spoke Spanish in the classroom! They started the Spanish Immersion program in kindergarten when Tristen was in second grade so he missed out on most of it, but still got the benefit of this school. They also have a Marine Lab with lots of different sea creatures and they bus kids in from other schools around the valley to tour it. Tristen was involved in their GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) program and Jarek's teacher told me that the GATE teacher has already pointed him out as likely to be in GATE (they test at the end of second grade). However, Jarek also happens to have the BEST teachers at this school! They were his kindergarten teachers and moved to second grade this year. They definitely go the extra mile on EVERYTHING they do. The Presidential Ball was actually their fourth presentation for the parents so far this year. They've put on a Johnny Appleseed reader's theater, an Elegant Spanish Restaurant (where the kids could only speak Spanish), and an Owl presentation. They've also been on four field trips already. They toured Albertson's when they were studying nutrition, and have gone to plays at UNLV and a local high school. His teachers take turns dressing up most Fridays as "Grandma Fannie," who comes and cooks something with them, and "La Scientifica Loca," who does crazy science experiments with them. They definitely utilize parental involvement (believe me, I know!). I go in every week and often do mundane tasks like stapling or filing papers, but I'm happy to do those things if it means freeing up their time to do all the great things they do. We were very sad to see our principal get married and move to CA in December, but she assured me that our names are on "the list" of zone variance students that should be accepted that she passed on to the new principal . We're just keeping our fingers crossed and praying for next year.