We are dedicated to promoting and supporting the education of all students. With that in mind, our education efforts are focused on Latino students and Spanish bilingual and dual language efforts. Below you will find the latest resources in our local efforts to continue a community wide discussion on this topic.
Cuca Avila Scholarship
Donations are being accepted for the Cuca Avila Scholarship Fund which has been set up by Conexiones Latinas, Illinois Wesleyan University, and the Avila Family to help local students and families in need who want to attend Spanish Saturday School at the IWU Language School for Kids and cannot cover the financial cost. In honor to Cuca Avila (a local Latina community leader and District 87 and ISU graduate) you can help a student learn or retain their Spanish by donating to Conexiones Latinas at the following levels:
1. Books: $30
2. Half Scholarship: $150
3. Full Scholarship: $300
You can donate using the button below or by visiting the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation and donate directly through our fiscal agent (mark it as Conexiones Latinas Fund: Cuca Avila).
Spanish Saturday School
This spring 2016, Illinois Wesleyan University will again offer Spanish Saturday School for children ages 4.5 to 12 as the second session of the new IWU Language School for Kids.
The Spanish Saturday School Classes will take place 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. starting April and will be held in the Buck Memorial Library on IWU Campus. Registration for the spring program is $300 per student for registration. Multiple child discounts and student tuition scholarship are available.
For more information and to register: https://www.iwu.edu/…/spanish_immersion_saturday_school.html
Film Screening: Speaking in Tongues
On April 6, 2015, in conjunction with other community partners, we sponsored a free public screening of the documentary Speaking in Tongues (http://speakingintonguesfilm.info/) at the Normal Theater (209 W North St) in Uptown Normal.
The film, which took home the Documentary Audience Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival, follows four diverse students and their families as they encounter the challenges and delights of becoming fluent in two languages. A Q&A with Professor Elizabeth Skinner, Assistant Professor at ISU’s College of Education following the screening will consider how the discussion of potential benefits of dual language immersion is playing out locally in the Bloomington-Normal community.
Presented by our Education Committee and local community partners, the goal was to continue a community discussion on bilingual education and share information on current bilingual education resources and local efforts to start a Spanish Saturday school, plans for a multi-language afterschool program, and ideas to bring dual language immersion to our schools.
dual language summit
Last October 2014 we hosted a Dual Language Summit at Illinois Wesleyan University - our featured speakers were representatives from the Champaign-Urbana School Districts speaking on the implementation and status of their dual language program.
