Javier Arriola-López, Principal , Rachel Carson Elementary
welcomed students from nations like Honduras, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela. This has been a blessing not only for our dual language education program but especially for our historically Mexican- American student body. It’s common now to hear students exchanging and sharing the names of different foods they eat at home, and our Spanish language is being beautifully enriched as we learn new vocabulary and regional expressions from across the continent. During this celebratory month, every grade level is immersed in expanding their knowledge of a specific Latin American country. Students are actively learning about the significance of each nation’s flag, their unique foods, native plants and animals, vital bodies of water, and cherished traditions.
Our educational mission as a dual language school is clear: we envision students who not only maintain their Spanish language while mastering English but who also walk with unwavering pride in their bicultural identity, ultimately becoming biliterate. As we often say at Carson, our dual language scholars are the new Americans—adults who will seamlessly operate with two defined yet interconnected cultures and languages. We wholeheartedly believe that speaking another language is a talent—a valuable gift that is not universal. This conviction is the heart of how we celebrate our Hispanic Heritage Month: by honoring and cultivating this incredible talent within every student who walks our hallways.
CPAA IS VOICE AND POWER REALIZED • 25
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