¡Bienvenidos!

1. ¡Bienvenidos! Rock Creek Forest Elementary School

2. Agenda • Tour • Introduction • Vision and Mission • Immersion Program • Application • Questions

3. Vision of Rock Creek Forest At Rock Creek Forest Elementary School we provide all students with the knowledge, skills, and habits that will empower them to become leaders of our society. 

4. Mission • We strive to fulfill our vision by: providing a rigorous instructional program for all children, developing relevant skills for students to compete in a global society, and establishing healthy relationships to foster a positive environment for students, staff, and parents in our community.

5. Goals for Immersion Program By the completion of fifth grade in the Spanish Immersion Program students are expected to: 1. Understand, speak, read, listen, and write in Spanish at a high level of proficiency. 2. Perform at a proficient or advanced level on standardized achievement tests. *Achievement tests are administered in English. 3. Apply skills and demonstrate knowledge in the content areas of the curriculum in keeping with state standards. 4. Continue their studies in advanced level Spanish courses at the middle school level.

6. Spanish Immersion Program • The Spanish Immersion Program follows the MCPS Program of studies at all grade levels. • Most children in immersion program not only learn the second language, but they achieve skills appropriate to their grade level • Full Day Kindergarten 26 students • 1st – 3rd Grade 27 students • K – 4th Grade All Subjects in Spanish • 4th – 5th Grade 28 students • 4th Grade Second semester 90 minutes of English a week • 5th Grade 3 hours of English a week

7. Assessment • Students in the program are evaluated in a variety of ways. These include informal teacher assessment, formative assessments, MCPS, report cards, TN2 (second grade), Maryland State Performance Assessment Program (MSA Grades 3-5), and Measures of Academic Progress Assessment in Reading (MAP-R Grades 3-5). These assessment procedures evaluate individual performance in the classroom as well as performance in context compared to peers in the County and peers in the State at the same level.

8. Admission • For Spanish Immersion Program - By lottery • School Hours: 9:15 am – 3:30 pm Apply to: • http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/admissions/immersion_news.shtm

9. Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services (DCCAPS) Facilitating the Outreach and School Assignment Processes for the Consortia, Application, and Elementary Immersion Programs

10. Elementary Immersion Application Process • Step #1 Complete an Immersion Interest FormFill in the circle of each program in which you would like your child to participate. Immersion Interest Form An Immersion Interest Form must be submitted for every student participating in the immersion process.

11. Step #2 Immersion forms are run through a computerized lottery process. Step #3 Immersion school assignment letters are mailed to students’ homes in early May. • Factors which may impact the • lottery (school assignment) process: • - School capacity (space availability) • - Sibling link • - Eligibility • - Selection area priority (based on home address) • - Number of applicants

12. Can my child participate in multiple lotteries? Yes, students may participate in one to all seven lotteries. How will I know if my child is selected? Parents will be sent a letter in May. This letter will include: The program/s that their child has been invited to and/or A number indicating their rank order on the waitlist for the programs that they selected on the Immersion Interest Form.

13. Is transportation available? • Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) provides • transportation from central stops for elementary school language immersion students for the areas served by the program. • Transportation may be provided for many of the special programs to and from central stops (usually at MCPS schools) determined by the MCPS Department of Transportation. • Stops may be several miles from the student’s home. • Parents are responsible for arranging transportation to and from • central stops. • Bus trips are usually significantly longer than local school • transportation and may vary by program or location. • It is important to carefully consider transportation options • and responsibilities.

14. How can I find out more information about the lottery process and programs? Visit the website:www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/ Can my child continue in a middle school immersion program after elementary school? Yes, students can continue into the middle school program. Parents must fill out a Change of School Assignment Form (COSA) to make the request. (See chart on next slide 9)

15. What are my options if I want to continue this program in middle school?

16. CONTACT INFORMATION • For more information about the immersion lotteryprocess, contact the DCCAPS office: • Karen Danco 301-592-2053 • Kathy Pence 301-592-2060 • John Rottiers 301-592-2056 • For information about each immersion program, visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/ • as well as each school’s website

17. Together We Achieve!

18. Q&A • Open to questions