Dual Language Program Goals

  • Students in the dual language program will develop bilingualism and essential multilingual and multicultural skills that promote cross-cultural knowledge, appreciation and curiosity.  In order to acquire these benefits, the program sets out to accomplish the following goals:

    • Develop high levels of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing in both languages
    • Promote students’ high level academic achievement in Spanish and English.
    • Develop positive cross-cultural competence.
    • Develop bilingualism, biliteracy and biculturalism.

Dual Language Program (In English)

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    Enrollment

    Program Design Resources

    Dual Language Programs (for students residing within the WLWV boundaries)

    In the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, children in three of our primary schools, two of our middle schools and two of our high schools have the opportunity to become bilingual and bi-literate in two languages, Spanish/English or Chinese/English, through a district Dual Language Immersion Program.  Registration for these programs begins with incoming Kindergarten students.
     
    The program is located at:
    • Bolton Primary School (Chinese), West Linn
    • Lowrie Primary School (Spanish), Wilsonville
    • Trillium Creek Primary School (Spanish), West Linn
    • Inza R. Wood Middle School (Spanish), Wilsonville
    • Rosemont Ridge Middle School (Spanish), West Linn
    • West Linn High School (Spanish), West Linn
    • Wilsonville High School (Spanish), Wilsonville
    Families living in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, but outside the boundaries for Bolton, Lowrie, and Trillium Creek Primary Schools, may request bus transportation through the ParentVue online system.  Bus service to locations outside the school boundaries is not guaranteed. When feasible, the District will provide a bus stop as close as possible to the requested address.  Families may also request to use an established bus stop for either school.  The Dual Language Programs are for residents of the West Linn-Wilsonville School District.

    Spanish Dual Language Program in Grades K-5 

    The program at Trillium Creek is primarily a One-Way Dual Language Immersion Program. All incoming kindergarten students whose first language is Spanish will be offered the opportunity to enroll. All other kindergarten students who apply will be placed in the class based on a lottery system.

    Spanish Dual Language Program in Grades 6-12

    Students in the two-way immersion program continue on to Wood Middle School for grades 6-8.  They take two of their six classes in Spanish and the other four courses in English. These students mostly attend Wilsonville High School where they take two of their six classes in Spanish. Students in the one-way program attend Rosemont Ridge Middle School and take two of their six classes in Spanish during grades 6-8.

    Mandarin Chinese Dual Language Program in Grades K-5

    Our Chinese Dual Language Program begins with kindergarten in Fall 2022 at Bolton Primary School.  The program follows a 50:50 model with 50% of the instruction in Mandarin Chinese and 50% of the instruction in English.  The program at Bolton is primarily a one-way immersion program because the majority of students are native English speakers, learning Chinese as their second language.

    Mandarin Chinese Dual Language Program in Grades 6-12

    Beginning in Fall 2022 with kindergarten, there will be a grade level added each school year to the one-way immersion program.  Students will continue with the Chinese Dual Language Program at Athey Creek Middle School.  Chinese Dual Language courses will be offered at West Linn and Wilsonville High Schools.

    Incoming Kindergarten Dual Language Program Registration and Lottery Process for the 2025-2026 School Year

    2025-2026 online registration will open on January 31, 2025.  Parents may register using the online registration called Synergy.   Synergy provides an online registration tool both for new and returning students.  You can use this tool to register and/or update important information.  The deadline to submit an online Dual Language Application of Interest Form is March 31, 2025 at 4:00 pm.

    A lottery for the Dual Language program classes will occur on April 4, 2025 if there is more interest than space available at Lowrie Primary and Trillium Creek Primary schools.  The lottery process is a public event and will be held at the District Office - 22210 SW Stafford Road, Tualatin, in the Board Room.

    District officials will be present to observe the lottery and the entire process will be recorded.  After families have been notified of the lottery results, the video recording of the lottery will be available for public viewing.  

    The process for the Dual Language lottery is described in this document.  Please note the underlined dates for communicating results to families and confirming acceptance into the program.

    The West Linn-Wilsonville School District will host Dual Language Program Informational Meetings at the following locations:
    Bolton Primary School, February 11, 5:30 pm
    Lowrie Primary School, February 25, 5:45 pm
    Trillium Creek Primary School, March 5, 5:45 pm

    Dual Language Programs are for residents of the West Linn-Wilsonville School District.

    Late Placement

    The Term, "late placement" refers to placement in the program any time after December of first grade.

    1. Should an opening in the program occur at any time, the parents of the next child on the Wait List will be contacted.  If the parent(s) pass on the opportunity, their child is removed from the Wait List altogether.
    2. The student is assessed for Spanish literacy.  Students must score on grade level Spanish literacy to join the program OR have previously and continuously been enrolled in a Dual Language Program since Kindergarten.
    3. The family meets with the school principal to learn about the program and make sure the parent(s) support the child's participation in Dual Language.
    4. Student begins to attend school in the Dual Language Program.

    Dual Language Orientation will be held at both schools in May.  Parents of children in the program will be notified of the date and time.

    Program Design:  K-5 Spanish/English Content Areas

     

    Reading

    Writing

    Math

    Science

    Social Studies

    Music, PE

    Kindergarten

    Spanish

    Spanish

    Spanish

    English

    English

    English

    1st Grade

    Spanish

    Spanish

    Spanish

    English

    English

    English

    2nd Grade

    Spanish

    Spanish

    Spanish

    English

    English

    English

    3rd Grade

    English, Spanish

    English,

    Spanish

    Spanish

    English

    English

    English

    4th Grade

    English, Spanish

    English,

    Spanish

    Spanish

    English

    English

    English

    5th Grade

    English, Spanish

    English,

    Spanish

    Spanish

    English

    English

    English

    Target Language Expectations

    Kindergarten - Students may not initiate production of the target language, but will show evidence of understanding basic classroom routines, greetings, and high-repetition vocabulary.  If the target language is the student's first language, he/she is expected to be the language model for the other students.  All students should know what the target language is during that part of the day.
     
    The teacher may expect the student to:
    • Repeat words and phrases
    • Use common phrases in the target language
    • Join in a song or chant

    First Grade - Students will begin to respond in the target language and may or may not initiate production consistently.  If the target language is the student's language, he/she is expected to be the language model for the other students.   All students should know what the target language is during that part of the day.

    The teacher may expect the student to:

    • Repeat words and phrases
    • Use common phrases in the target language
    • Attempt to communicate in the target language
    • Follow directions in the target language
    Second Grade - Students are expected to communicate in the target language with increase in this expectation over the course of the year.  If the target language is the student's first language, he/she is expected to be the language model for the other students.  All students should know what the target language is during that part of the day.
     
    The teacher may expect the student to:
    • Participate in class with phrases or complete sentences
    • Talk to peers in the target language
    • Use the phrase "How do you say..." in the target language when the student does not know a specific word
    Third - Fifth Grade - Students are expected to remain in the target language at all times.  All communication with the teacher should be in the target language.  If the target language is the student's first language, he/she is expected to be the language model for the other student's.  All students should know what the target language is during that part of the day.
     
    The teacher may expect the student to:
    • Participate in class with complete and possibly complex sentences
    • Only hear the target language in the room
    • Use the phrase "How do you say..." in the target language when the student doesn't not know a specific word
    At all Grade levels:
    To encourage the use of the target language in the classroom the teacher will:
    • Model by staying in the target language
    • Provide visuals, sentence stems, language support systems to help access and apply the target language
    • Emphasize the importance of the language
    • Teach Growth Mindset and Celebrate Effort, Perseverance. Grit and Accomplishments
    For further information about the Dual Language Program, please contact Assistant Superintendent Barb Soisson at 503-673-7020, soissonb@wlwv.k12.or.us
     

    Resources

    ¡Colorín Colorado! - A bilingual site for families and educators      http://www.colorincolorado.org/