¡HolaKids! Noe Valley Campus

From the Director:

Language in Action offers nurturing Spanish immersion preschools for children ages 2 - 6. We celebrate multi-cultural learning, bilingualism and the development of the whole child. Our foreign language instruction is grounded in immersion, which we believe is the best way for preschoolers to develop a long-lasting foundation in any language. We also believe that language and culture go hand in hand. Our program emphasizes the food, music, dance, traditions and holidays of Spanish speaking countries around the world culminating in three community wide cultural celebrations each year.

We are proponents of mixed age preschool classrooms because it fosters respect for the learning needs of students and it creates a setting where siblings can attend on the same days, simplifying family schedules. Each child is guided by his or her individual readiness, ability and interests, while being supported by teachers and students. In addition, older children learn by assisting younger children; younger children model behavior by observation of older children.

There are specific periods during the day where children are separated by age groups. For instance, circle time and outdoor time is separate since toddlers have a shorter attention span as well as different needs in terms of playground equipment and age-appropriate activities.

Our regular curriculum is taught through a 100% immersion of our students in the Spanish language. Spanish works as a vehicle to transmit basic academic contents related to math, science, literacy, social and cultural studies, as well as music, art and physical education. The ideas and basic academic concepts are introduced to our younger students and revisited with more detail as the children grow.

The day starts with fun and interactive activities that facilitate the transition of children from home to school. After, children of different ages meet together at circle time where they are invited to sing songs, listen to stories and review the Spanish vocabulary of the week.

Throughout the rest of the day, students engage in developmentally appropriate activities, which foster the development of areas such as: socialization, creativity and motor and cognitive development.

The children also have time outdoors, when the weather is good, to play in the community playground.

We end the day with a closing circle time where children are motivated to participate in conversation (in Spanish) about the happenings of the day.

Throughout the year we have two parent/teacher conferences, where the parents sign up to meet with the teachers and discuss their child's progress.

Our parents are also able to contact the teachers through email or phone to set up other meetings or ask any questions.

Teachers are also constantly observing your children and will reach out to families if they have any concerns.

Parents are also in constant contact with the Director of Administration and Communications who sends out weekly updates to inform parents what their children have been up to all week.

We have many opportunities for parents to volunteer on field trips, come in as a "Special Guest" for a day and participate in fun events.

We have a website for families enrolled in the program where photos are posted weekly, you can find everyone's contact information, sign up for events, and find important reminders.

Before school starts we have a play-date with the new families who are entering the program. Parents and kids will be able to come to the school to talk with the teachers and let the children get familiarized with the environment.

Durring the first week of school, we invite parents to drop of their child a little bit earlier so they can stay with them until classes begin.

We also have many transitional activities that we prepare for the first week of classes that help distract the children and keep them busy.