When will the program begin?
We aim to start with grade levels K-1st starting September 2012.

What grades will the program serve?
Initially, GIP will open with grades K-1st. Grade levels will be added as these students advance. We hope to ultimately offer middle and high school grades so our students will receive full benefit of the language programs.

Where will the program be implemented?
The program will be implemented at Daniel Phelan Elementary School in Whittier.

Do I need to live in the Whittier City School District boundaries for my child to attend the school?
No, for this program you do not need to live in school district's boundaries in order to attend the school. However, you will need to apply for an interdistrict transfer.

We speak Spanish at home. Will a third language confuse my child?
Not usually. Multilingualism is the norm in many parts of the world. Speaking another language will put a child at an advantage over monolinguals for the German immersion component of our educational program. This is because learning a third language is easier than learning a second language.

Is prior knowledge of German required to enter the school?
No. The immersion program is designed to teach children who don't have any prior German language knowledge. After-school tutoring and assistance with homework will be offered if a student needs some extra help. An intensive summer school program is planned.

Is GIP the right program for your child?
The educational experience at GIP will require a high degree of commitment from both students and their parents. Success by any measure will be difficult to achieve without: consistent attendance, dedication to the immersion language model, abiding by behavioral expectations, parental involvement, effective communication between students, parents and staff and parental support of the school in the form of financial or in-kind donations and/or volunteering.

How do I enroll my child?
Take the time to fill our our enrollment survey. You will be notified when enrollment will begin which is anticipated early Spring 2012.

What are the benefits of learning another language?
In addition to reaping the social and economic advantages of bilingualism, immersion learners benefit cognitively, exhibiting greater nonverbal problem-solving abilities and more flexible thinking. It has been suggested that the very processes learners need to use to make sense of the teacher's meaning make them pay closer attention and think harder. These processes, in turn, appear to have a positive effect on cognitive development. From the standpoint of academic achievement, over three decades of studies consistently show that immersion students achieve as well as or better than non-immersion peers on standardized measures of verbal and mathematics skills administered in English. California students at local elementary immersion programs produce standardized test scores that are consistently among the highest in the state. German immersion programs across the country also show extraordinary academic gains for their students.

But my child doesn't speak a foreign language well enough!
There is no requirement that your kindergartner or 1st grader know German before starting at GIP. In fact, this program was designed for them. In order to make academic lessons comprehensible to learners and to support their second language learning, immersion teachers-who are highly proficient in English and the immersion language-use a vast repertoire of instructional strategies as they cover the school's curriculum.

Won't it be difficult to help my child with homework if I don't know the language?
You will be supported in your role as parent of an immersion student. Immersion programs structure homework so that the children know what they are expected to do, how to do it, and what to do if they do get stuck. Parents are also given very clear directions regarding homework. As a parent, you will be provided with a homework hotline number to call in case you have questions about the homework. The most important way that you can help your child at home will be to read to your child in English.

When will the International Baccalaureate Program begin?
We aim to begin with the IB component of our program in September 2013.

Is a uniform required to attend school?
GIP is part of Phelan Elementary School and all students are required to comply with the uniform policy.