History of Program

2008 saw the first year of the DL program at Aldama Elementary School with two DL kindergarten classes.  With growing interest from the community, Aldama worked with the district to begin this exciting, challenging, and rewarding program that teaches students elementary school curriculum in both Spanish and English (50%/50%). 

Students ideally enter this program in Kindergarten and continue with the same cohort of students through the sixth grade.  Two classes will be taught at the lower grades, and then will potentially combine into one class in the upper grades. This provides not only a fantastic opportunity to  learn a language when developing brains are most amenable to language acquisition, but it also creates space to build a community of families that will see these children through all of their elementary education. 

With its educational and cultural advantages, Dual Language has become a very popular educational program across the country -- and in the greater Los Angeles area in particular.   During the spring when kindergarten tours and enrollment take place, it is not uncommon to see families of prospective families lined up on the steps of the school beginning at 5AM hoping to get into Aldama's Dual Language program!

Aldama's dual language program currently houses students between the grades of kindergarten through third grade.  Teachers have been well trained in various innovative teaching techniques and theories including CGI math, Readers and Writers Workshop, GLAD strategies, and specialty foreign language workshops.  We look forward to our program continuing to grow and flourish in our community!

Geographical Orientation

Aldama is located in Highland Park, California.  Highland Park is located along the Arroyo Seco. It is situated within what was once Rancho San Rafael of the Spanish / Mexican era. Its boundaries are roughly the Pasadena Freeway (California Route 110) and the city limits of South Pasadena on the southeast, the city limits of Pasadena on the east, Oak Grove Drive on the north, and Avenue 50/51 on the west. The district's neighbors include Mt. Washington on the southwest, Montecito Heights on the south, Hermon and Monterey Hills on the southeast, Pasadena and South Pasadena on the northeast, Eagle Rock on the north, and Glassell Park on the west. Primary thoroughfares include York Boulevard, Avenues 50, 54, and 64, Monte Vista Street, and Figueroa Street.

School/Program Make-up by Language and Population

Registration in Aldama's Dual Language Program is open to families in LAUSD, local district 4, whose home schools are the following: Monte Vista (Riordan PC), Garvanza, Buchanan, Eagle Rock, Yorkdale, Annandale, Bushnell Way, Dahlia Heights, Glassell Park, Mt. Washington, Rockdale, San Pascual, Toland Way and Dorris Place Elementary.

 DUAL LANGUAGE REGISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Registration in Aldama's Dual Language Program is open to families in LAUSD, local district 4, whose home schools are the following: Monte Vista (Riordan PC), Garvanza, Buchanan, Eagle Rock, Yorkdale, Annandale, Bushnell Way, Dahlia Heights, Glassell Park, Mt. Washington, Rockdale, San Pascual, Toland Way and Dorris Place Elementary.  

2. Packet pick-up is the 1st step in enrollment. Packet pick-up for Fall '12 enrollment will be in April 2012.  Doors to the auditorium open at 7am, however, an earlier line-up is recommended.  Last year, families lined up at 4am.  

3. Parents are given an appointment and registration packet to complete. 

4.  If you are one of the first 24 English or 24 Spanish speaking families (48 total) to receive a packet and you are from one of the eligible schools, it is assumed your child will be enrolled in the program. 

5. DO NOT MISS YOUR APPOINTMENT TIME AND BE SURE YOUR ENTIRE PACKET IS COMPLETE.  You must have all of your child's updated physicals (pediatric, dental and vision) completed and forms with you.  If you do not show up for your appointment or if your packet is incomplete, you forfeit your place in the program and you will be put at the end of the waiting list.

Program Objectives

Dual language programs (also known as two-way immersion programs) allow English learners and English proficient students to receive instruction in English and a target language in the same classroom to develop academic proficiency in both languages beginning in kindergarten for a minimum of six years.