School: Academia Ana Marie Sandoval

Website: http://sandoval.dpsk12.org/

Type: Magnet School (DPS)

Tours: Contact school for Open Houses (December & January)

Enrollment: You must contact the school to find out about the application process. Magnet schools have their own application process.

Main Phone: 303-455-9326

Principal: JoAnn Trujillo-Hays

Location: 3655 Wyandot Street, Denver, CO, 80211-2950 (Highlands Neighborhood)

Hours: Three and Four year olds 8:50-12:00…Kindergarten –Grade 6- 8:50-3:50

Grades: ECE (3 years old)-6^th Grade

Average Class Size: Approximately 400 students attend. There is an average of 28 students in the primary classrooms (three, four and five year olds) along with three adults. There are about 28-30 students in the lower elementary classrooms (1st-3^rd grade) and upper elementary classrooms (4^th-6^th Grade).

Before/After Care: Kaleidoscope Corner provides the before and after school programs for the students.

Facilities/Playground: I didn’t get a chance to see the playgrounds but since the school is fairly new, I am guessing the equipment is too! There are two separate playground areas designated for the younger students and older students.

Special & Core Programs: Ana Marie Sandoval is a Magnet School. A magnet school is a DPS school that provides a specific curriculum while meeting the DPS standards. This school has a two-part focus; one focus is on dual language (Spanish & English) and the other focus is an authentic Montessori Curriculum. This makes Sandoval quite unique from other traditional DPS schools.

Dual language:  The students at Sandoval are expected to become bilingual and biliterate by the time they leave. The curriculum is taught in English as well as Spanish. The language used in the classroom is as follows:

• 3 & 4 year olds-75% native language and 25% second language
• 5-8 year olds (K-3^rd grade)-60% native language and 40% second language
• 9-12 year olds (4^th-6^th grade) -50% native language and 50% second language

Are you asking yourself, why a dual language school for my child? Click here:  Effectiveness of a Dual Language Program to read more about this educational topic.

Montessori Curriculum: Sandoval is committed to providing an authentic Montessori curriculum. Their classrooms are designated with concrete materials in the areas of cultural, sensorial, practical life, language, and math. The students choose work based on their interests, move at their own pace, and are guided by the classroom teacher. There are mixed-age classrooms (3-5 year olds, 1^st-3^rd grade, 4^th-6^th grade). The teacher observes and tailors the curriculum to the child. They hire educators trained in the Montessori method (or have them trained).

To read further about the Montessori method click here: The International Montessori Index

Impressions: I was pleasantly surprised driving up to Academia Ana Marie Sandoval to see that it was a new school. The school was built on behalf of a grass roots effort driven by native Spanish and native English speaking parents who came together to convince the Denver School Board that the program incorporates both a Dual Language and Montessori curriculum. The efforts paid off and Sandoval opened its doors in 2001.

I arrived just on time for a morning tour that had already begun. The tour led by the principal, JoAnn Trujillo-Hays, was fast paced. Several questions were asked while we walked along but most of them were saved for the Q & A session that took place in a classroom afterwards. JoAnn was the principal for five years, left for a couple of years and is now back in her second year. She seems very dedicated to the school, it’s philosophy, and the fact that the school attracts people who think differently. I am guessing this refers to both teachers and parents!

The main entrance of the building was comprised of many windows that shed a lot of natural light into the building. The school was clean and felt spacious. I took a quick peek at a good-sized library and computer lab, walked by several classrooms but the doors were closed, and then we were whisked down the primary wing for a Q & A session in one of the classrooms. I felt the tour was over before it began. Every school tour is different of course but I really enjoy school visits that provide a tour of the entire school and grounds along with observations within the classrooms. It enables me to get a better understanding and vibe of the school and its community.

Many of the staff members are bilingual. They are also trained in the Montessori method. In the primary classrooms, the teacher is bilingual and the students are both English speaking and Spanish speaking. In the lower elementary and upper elementary classrooms, the students spend part of their day in their native speaking classroom. They then switch classrooms (and teachers) to spend the rest of their day learning in their second language. Sandoval is a “true” dual language school where the integrated time component is critical within the classroom. Joanne explained, “the integrated time is when there is a mixed group of children (native English and native Spanish) in the same classroom.  They will learn in the language of the classroom (English component or Spanish component).  This will result in learning in the second language for half of the children. The others will be learning in their native language.”

Although I am a former educator, I found it a bit confusing making sense of a how a classroom functions with mixed-age groups, dual languages and a Montessori approach. It was a lot to take in. I am guessing that the educators hired here want to go the extra mile since there is a vast amount of training involved along with extensive sharing and planning with co-workers. I got the impression from Principal Trujillo-Hays that there’s been some teacher turnover at the school. I would assume that it’s difficult to find teachers (and retain them) that possess the specific qualifications needed for teaching at this school. One certainly must be committed but it is the committed teachers that we want educating our children right?

At the conclusion of the Q & A session, one of the primary teachers visited with our group and spoke briefly about the Montessori curriculum. I found this to be quite helpful. She was passionate about the Montessori method and told us, “it allows for a true epiphany of learning. “ Children direct their learning and proceed at their own level while teachers act as facilitators supporting or challenging their academic needs. We then had the opportunity to observe some of the primary classrooms. We were asked not to interact with the children but observe them quietly (another Montessori belief). The children in this mixed-age classroom were both English and Spanish speaking. They were engaged in small groups, some with a teacher or teacher’s assistant, some without. Each child seemed to be busy with a project and knew exactly what was expected of them. It was fascinating to hear the room buzzing with Spanish conversation as well as English. I only wish I had more time to observe. I feel if you are a parent who is interested in this school, it would be important to spend a couple of hours observing different classrooms in varying grade levels to get a feel and understanding of what a typical day looks like.

There is a fairly new PTO at Sandoval. I got the impression that there are different levels of parental involvement from the highly involved to the less frequently involved. As is the case with many diverse schools, the dominant culture tends to take over (English at this school). This is why a Spanish speaking only parents group was started for those who wanted to be involved but feel comfortable at the same time. What a great idea! Parent volunteers are not allowed to volunteer within the classrooms until October. The teachers take the first couple of months to assess and get acquainted with the students.

This was the first tour I have been on where no parent (NOT ONE) asked about a gifted and talented program. Perhaps it’s because of the unique programs offered here at Sandoval. I emailed Principal Trujillo-Hays shortly after the tour to ask her a few more questions. She was gracious enough to respond back with the following:

Q: What’s the ratio of neighborhood vs. choice in students?

A: All children are choice kids with priority given to siblings and then as follows for geographic priority:

Area 1:  Neighborhood – Children who are within the boundaries for:  Bryant Webster, Columbian, Valdez, Smedley, and attendance area of Trevista

Area 2:  NW Denver (north of 6th Avenue and east of I-25)

Area 3:  Denver Resident

Area 4:  Non-Denver Resident

I can’t give you a percentage of children being accepted from each area unless I went back and figured out all the numbers for each of the 400 children in the school.  I have never had a reason to do so and simply do not have the time.  What I can say is that we eventually take all Area 1 three year olds and go into area 2.  If a parent is willing to move a child mid-year there is the possibility of an Area 3 child being accepted (we go down the list until we reach a parent who is willing to accept a spot mid-year).  We take very few of the other age levels because children do not tend to leave.  When we do, they are primarily Area 1 students. The exception may be for Spanish since we do not receive as many applications as we do English.

Q: Are assessments used each year to monitor progress to see if children are proficient (or at grade level) in English and Spanish? Also, the whole purpose of this education is having them become bilingual and biliterate so is there an assessment/evaluation for this in sixth grade (before they go on to middle/high school)? How many children are proficient in both?

A: All children leave literate in both languages.  When they enter 4th grade they spend one month in Spanish and the other month in English.  During the month all content areas are taught in that language. In other words, they spend one month learning in their native language and the other in the second language.  The two teachers (English component and Spanish component) team so that the learning in both languages is connected.

Our students take the same assessments given in other public schools.  In addition we assess children in reading in both languages beginning in 2nd grade.  We also administer the IPT (IDEA Proficiency Test) grade 3 and above.

If you are looking for a unique educational experience for your child, with a diverse community, a belief in a Montessori education and hopes of your child being bilingual and biliterate, this school would be a good option for you.

We welcome your comments and impressions on your experience with Academia Ana Marie Sandoval.

Spread the word!  DPS and ScoopToo are co-hosting two Early Education Scoop events on December 10th and January 7th.  The events are designed to help parents navigate the ECE process through DPS.  These educational sessions will cover topics such as tuition, Choice Process, transportation, special needs programming, Advanced Kindergarten, English Language Acquisition, dual-language programming, Montessori programs and before and after school care.  Enrollment experts will be on hand to answer specific questions during the Q&A session following the presentation.

If you or anyone you know is seeking to learn more about this process, please attend this informative event.  Tell your friends, neighbors and playgroup-mates!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Marissa Ferrari, Communications Office, Denver Public Schools, (720) 423-3681 or marissa_ferrari@dpsk12.org

Denver, CO – For the first time, Denver Public Schools and scooptoo.com, a Denver school-focused blog, will host two information sessions designed to make the process of enrolling in preschool and kindergarten easier for parents. The events, billed as the “Early Education Scoop,” are set for Thursday, December 10 at the new Center for Early Education and Thursday, January 7 at Valdez ECE-7 School. Both events will take place from 6:30 – 8:30pm.

The Center for Early Education is located at 3245 E. Exposition Ave., at the corner of Exposition and Steele. Valdez is located at 2525 W. 29^th Ave., directly behind North High School. Attendance and parking at both locations is free.

The Early Education Scoop events will feature Enrollment Experts who can answer parents’ specific questions related to preschool and kindergarten topics of interest, including tuition, transportation, the School of Choice process, special-needs programming, Advanced Kindergarten, English Language Acquisition and dual-language programming, Montessori programs, and before- and after-school care. After a brief overview by the DPS Director of Early Education, each family in attendance will have an opportunity to present their specific questions to an Enrollment Expert as well as tour the host school.

The event agenda is as follows:

6:30 – 6:45pm: Welcome and Registration

6:45 – 7:15pm: Enrollment Overview

7:15 – 8:30pm: Individual Q&A Sessions with Enrollment Experts and School Tours

The Early Education Scoop events are co-hosted by Denver Public Schools and ScoopToo.  Attendance and parking are free. All handouts will be provided in English and Spanish, and Spanish-language interpreters will be present. Learn more at scooptoo.com or by calling (720) 423-3560.