french.htm

The Wellwood International School French Immersion program was piloted in Kindergarten during the 1993-1994 school year. The following year the program expanded to include grades 1-3. By the 1996-1997 school year, each grade K-5 had one immersion class. Wellwood uses a partial immersion model; students receive half their daily instruction in French in the areas of language arts, reading, and mathematics. During the other half, they receive English instruction in the areas of language arts, reading, science, and social studies. Special areas, i.e. art, music, physical education, and library are also conducted in English.

Check out these links to see why learning French is important...

http://www.fll.vt.edu/French/whyfrench.html

http://french.about.com/od/whylearnfrench/

http://www.utm.edu/staff/globeg/profren.shtml

While one grade level is being instructed in French, the corresponding grade is being instructed in English. For example, kindergarten starts with French in the morning while first grade receives English instruction. At a mid-point in the day, the two grades switch. Kindergarten then receives English instruction and first grade receives French instruction.

The French Immersion Program follows the Baltimore County Public Schools curriculum. One half of the day includes French reading/language arts and mathematics. The teaching staff has assembled curricula including texts, novels, audio-visual materials, and technological resources in French. The other half of the day includes English reading/language arts, science, and social studies.

The majority of classroom discussions, presentation of objectives, homework, test, and follow up activities are in French. Homework is in French. The MSA and other standardized tests are taken in English; some instruction is done in English in preparation for these assessments.

Enthusiastic teachers, fluent in French are essential to the success of the program. The teachers must also meet the Maryland State requirements for certification. Qualified substitute teachers that are able to implement French are generally not available. In an emergency, an English-speaking substitute is engaged to assure that the prescribed content is taught.

In accordance with Baltimore County regulations, transportation is not provided to students participating in a magnet program that do not live within the school boundaries. It is the responsibility of the parent to provide transportation to and from Wellwood if the family does not live within the designated area. However, Baltimore County does offer a shuttle to Wellwood for students accepted into the program who are zoned for Bedford, Fort Garrison, Millbrook, Summit Park, and Winands Elementary. Look at the chart below to see what time the Wellwood Shuttle arrives at your home school. If your child's home school bus does not get to your home school by the time listed below, then you must get your child to the school by that time. The Wellwood Shuttle does not wait.

Kindergarten students in the French Immersion Program are admitted based on expressed interest. Applications must be submitted to the Baltimore County Magnet School office by the December 1st deadline. By lottery, 24 children are selected for a place in the kindergarten program. Experience has shown that the program is suitable for most learners. However, children who have serious delays in first language development or general auditory impairment or who have deficits in auditory processing or auditory memory, may not be as successful in the Immersion Program. A limited number of spaces may become available in first grade depending on how many students leave the program in kindergarten. Click here to obtain an application for the program.