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View Winners → PUSD to Offer Armenian Dual Language Immersion Program
Education Apr 06, 2020
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In response to community interest, the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education has approved a new Armenian Dual Language Immersion high school program for the 2020-2021 school year. The ninth-12th grade program will be located at Blair High and Middle School, home of the district’s International Baccalaureate secondary school programs; students will have access to IB courses. Blair serves students in middle and high school and is composed of three adjacent campuses. Registration for the Armenian Dual Language Immersion Program began Monday at openenrollment.info.
“This is a unique opportunity to expand PUSD’s bilingual andbiliteracy academic options that now include our district’s first high schoolArmenian Dual Language Immersion Program,” said Superintendent BrianMcDonald. “The commitment that the parents and community have demonstratedby establishing a program that encourages families to remain in PUSD isremarkable, and I am pleased to welcome them to PUSD.”
PUSD currently offers Dual Language Immersion Programs in French,Mandarin, and Spanish.
To register, current PUSD students must submit an application April 6-20. New-to-PUSD resident students and out-of-district students may apply online between April 6 and Aug. 6, 2020. Additional details are posted on PUSD’s Open Enrollment website.
Classes, including language immersion, will be taught byfully-credentialed bilingual teachers who have additional preparation andexpertise in teaching Armenian.
Armenian program model would be consistent with other languageimmersion high school programs in PUSD by offering one class per grade levelwhen fully implemented at the high school level. The instructional model willfollow the Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education. Staff will conductadditional planning and outreach to determine the selected program model forpossible middle school and elementary school options, should the program expandin future years.
The new Armenian Immersion Program will offer the followingclasses in 2020-21: Armenian I, Armenian II, Armenian III, and Armenian IV(subject to minimum student enrollment). As the program expands, PUSD plans tooffer additional courses including Armenian literature and Armenian history andculture.
Language course placement will be determined by the student’sability in the target language as well as prior course completion.
“This was the finest example of collaboration and partnershipbetween the Armenian community and the Pasadena Unified School District,” saidMaro Yacoubian, a community member who advocated for the creation of theprogram. “With the unwavering commitment from parents and community members, wehave not only filled a void in the community but have also created agroundbreaking educational opportunity.”
“By establishing this academy, PUSD will have the distinct honorof having created the first Armenian Dual language, history/culture, with IBprogram in the nation,” said community member Goldie Gastjan. “This uniqueprogram will present the opportunity for students beyond Pasadena to attendthis school. Our community families are anxiously waiting, and we see a verybright future.”
“I am thrilled with the Pasadena Unified School District’s vote ofapproval to establish an Armenian Dual Language Immersion program at BlairSchool, the first of its kind in the U.S.” said Arsine Shirvanian, a communitymember who advocated for the program.
A welcome and program event will be planned once schools reopen.The first day of school for PUSD students is Aug. 17, 2020.
The approval is conditional upon enrollment in the program of 150students who are new to PUSD and is expected to draw interest fromPasadena-area families, including students who were previously enrolled at asoon-to-close private high school. The program will be capped at 250 studentsin the first year. If the program does not meet enrollment projections, courseofferings and the program location are subject to change.
