Answers to Frequently asked questions
HOW ARE ADMISSIONS DETERMINED?
Admission is open to all Minnesota students, no restriction applied, all year long for the current academic year. You do not need to live within the district to enroll your child in Notre Ecole. If the school’s enrollment target is reached, a selection is made by random lottery. Students register for our lottery simply by completing an application. A waiting list is maintained in the event there are seats available after lottery. To find out more read our Application, Admissions, Enrollment, and Lottery Policy on our website
WHAT DISTINGUISHES YOUR SCHOOL?
Supported by a collaborative faculty of high-quality professional educators, students are immersed in a rigorous curriculum based on best practices from around the world specifically designed to prepare students for success in the emerging global community.
We are the only school in the Twin Cities area to offer an environment in French Immersion and STEAM with intentional daily play breaks and the use of the Japanese philosophy of O-soji to foster responsibility and respect.
WHAT IS IMMERSION?
Language Immersion is an approach to second language instruction in which the usual learning activities are conducted in a second language. This means that the new language is the medium, as well as the object of instruction. The ultimate goal of the language immersion classroom is language acquisition.
In early years, immersion teachers know that students will not understand everything they say. Teachers use body language, visuals, objects, exaggerated facial expressions, and expressive intonation to communicate meaning. In kindergarten, it is common for students to speak English with each other and when responding to their teacher. As the years progress, students naturally use more of the immersion language. (Fortune and Tedick, 2003)
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF IMMERSION?
A growing body of research on immersion education has shown that immersion students consistently meet or exceed academic expectations in the following areas:
Second language skills: Immersion students by far outperform students in traditional foreign language classes. They are functionally proficient in the immersion language and are able to communicate according to their age and grade level.
English language skills: In the early years of English instruction (K-2), there may be a lag in English reading and writing skills. By 5th grade, however, immersion students do as well, or better than students in English-only classes.
Content areas: Immersion students achieve in academic areas as well as students in English-only programs.
Cultural sensitivity: Immersion students are more aware of, and show positive attitudes towards other cultures.
The reality is that more and more English-speaking parents are interested in their children learning a second language now more than ever, especially with the importance of international trade and companies doing business overseas with their own factories or through outsourcing. Parents realize that the job market is tough and they want their children to have an “edge” in the competition.
WHY BEGIN A SECOND LANGUAGE EARLY?
Your child's brain is at the optimal stage of early development to learn language, meaning your child has twice as many synapses (connections) in the brain as you do. These connections must be used or lost. There is a window of opportunity in which your child can learn any first language normally. After this period, their brain becomes slowly less receptive. Your child can learn as many spoken languages as you allow them to hear systematically and regularly.
Placing an English-speaking child in an immersion program would best be done in Preschool or kindergarten, thus giving him/her an advantage. A child entering a Foreign Language-immersion program in 2nd grade or higher may be very difficult for the child to ‘catch up’ to his peers who began a program in preschool or kindergarten. Many studies have been conducted on this topic and all the studies have concluded that placing an English-speaking child in an immersion program at a young age never inhibits the child’s learning to read and write in English. Unless the child has a language or learning disability, he/she will easily keep up in English because it’s spoken at home and the child is literally surrounded by English through the media and in the community.
WHY FRENCH AND NOT SPANISH OR ANY OTHER LANGUAGES?
https://www.notreecole.org/whyfrench explains most of the reasons why choosing french as a foreign language to start with. It’s very often that families come to Notre Ecole and share that parents took french classes in middle or high school, enjoyed it but feel frustrated that most of it is now lost. Based on their experience, it’s even more clear that having an early exposure to French would have make a huge difference for them. French is a central language of the European continent, and took his roots in both the latin, greek and anglo-saxon world, it’s a perfect stepping stone for all others latin languages, such as Spanish for example. On top of learning high quality French at Notre Ecole, your child will be able to pick up a third language in middle and high school, with a larger and easier access to quality Spanish classes due to the proximity of the USA with the Spanish influence, where the opposite might not be true. That’s one the reason we encourage to select French as your first foreign language for your child, it will give not 2 but possibly 3 foreign languages acquired before graduating from High School, thus opening even more opportunities for your child.
IS ANY PRIOR EXPOSURE OR KNOWLEDGE OF FRENCH REQUIRED?
No. We assume children coming to our class are being exposed to second language immersion for the first time. However, we welcome and encourage children who have some prior knowledge of a second language – they tend to be natural tutors and helpers to the other kids!
The teachers instruct your child with proper pronunciation, grammar, and accent. Of course, having reinforcement at home is always an advantage, but children with little or no reinforcement of the second language at home are usually just as successful in immersion programs as those with native speakers at home. Parents often enjoy learning the second language at the same time as their children. Most parents observe that the younger students quickly surpass adults in their learning curve.
IF MY CHILD DOESN’T SPEAK FRENCH, HOW WILL HE OR SHE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON IN CLASS?
Young children learning a second language will learn similarly to the way they learned their first language. The teacher will use hand and body cues, stories, inflection, facial signals, songs, games, and fun to make clear what is being conveyed. Children learn to explore and examine their surroundings and environment. In a short time, they catch on to what is being communicated. Young children do not have the same inhibitions that older people tend to have while learning. They are natural mimics and have little fear of making mistakes; they absorb the second language much more naturally and with less hesitation than an older child or adult might.
HOW DO I HELP MY CHILD DO THEIR HOMEWORK OR SUPPORT THEM IN FRENCH WHEN I DON’T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE?
Do not worry if you speak a language other than French at home. There are many apps and websites that your child can interact with to support their learning, but here are some other ways that you can help your child succeed throughout his or her French education.
· Read continually to your child. Reading to your child in any language will support progress in both languages. Research shows that any lags in the English language tend to fade by 4th Grade.
· Help your child feel ownership of their language by letting them correct and mock your French accent when you try to speak. You will reinforce what they’ve learned in the classroom at home and it provides a bridge between their two isolated languages.
· Parents shouldn’t be doing their kids’ homework. Instead teach them the skills needed to figure it out. Coach them on time management, encourage them to think critically, or guide them to where they can find the answer themselves.
· Give your child an opportunity to speak French with someone other than their teacher.
WHAT IS STEAM?
STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.
STEAM fosters creativity, ingenuity, and innovation that is necessary for creating new jobs and industries in the future.
HOW IS YOUR SCHOOL FUNDED?
Like traditional public schools, public charter schools are funded by the Minnesota State Department of Education based on student enrollment yet additional funds must be raised by our school because the per student allotment is less than that expenditure for a student enrolled in non-chartered public school. Fundraising supports Notre École’s expanded academic programs, our facility needs, and allows the school to best serve our students.
WHAT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL?
Charter school can be described as independent public school, with only the Minnesota Department of Education as direct partner. Charter schools are free, public schools that accept higher degrees of accountability in exchange for fewer bureaucratic regulations. Catering specifically to its student body, a charter school has greater flexibility in scheduling, curriculum design, teacher development and incentives, and administrative procedures, and having more freedom to develop their own material, without heavy bureaucratic oversight. Student applicants are offered free admission through an official lottery selection process. In the event that seats are left after the lottery, charter schools maintain a waiting list.
DOES YOUR SCHOOL HAVE A SCHOOL UNIFORM POLICY?
We do not have a school uniform however students should dress modestly and appropriately for an educational setting.
Feel free to contact us at info@notreecole.org if you have any other questions.