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are math, science and social studies. Math concepts are also reinforced in English. Students do not need to be Spanishspeakers in order to succeed in the program. “When a child is young, they don’t know that much in their native language, so what they’re acquiring is so new to them that they’re quickly going to be at the same level for both languages,” explains Veronica Betance-Sandoval, world languages specialist. “As you get older, you have your foundation and want to compare. A kindergartner won’t do that. It’s complicated to believe that it’s possible to get kids to understand what you’re saying, but then you see it. It helps that we have the most enthusiastic teachers as part of the program.” Demichellis uses many visuals and gestures. “We immerse them and make it visual,” she says. “If they’re not quite sure what I’m saying, they can look at what I’m doing. There’s also a lot of mentoring and peer-tutoring.” Hermosa Vista Elementary parent Laurie Anderson is thrilled to see her children excited about learning. “We honestly were not sure what to expect with the dual-language program, but with the help of some amazing teachers, we feel that it is a huge success,” she says. “Our kids are not only learning Spanish, but also how to adapt and focus. We strongly recommend the program.”
A global education in Mesa At Summit Academy, students learn via the highly respected International Baccalaureate program. The globally themed program focuses on inquiry learning and multi-cultural awareness. At the elementary level, or primary years program, lessons come alive for IB students because they use creativity to study issues through questioning. There is an emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving and lifelong learning. “A lot of what we do, and our language, is based around the learner profile,” says Camille Loudenbeck, Title I specialist. “This is really a philosophy.” Every grade level at Summit Academy focuses on the six units of IB: Who We Are, Where We Are in Place and Time, How We Express Ourselves, How the World Works, How We Organize Ourselves and Sharing the Planet. The learner profile aims to develop learners with 10 traits, such as risk-taker, reflective and open-minded. 16 facebook.com/mpsaz
Students find success in Martha Garchow's Spanish class at Summit Academy. Estudiantes encuentran el éxito en la clase de español de Martha Garchow's en Summit Academy.
At Summit Academy, students can choose to continue with IB at the school in seventh and eighth grade. However, at the elementary level, it’s all-inclusive. Dana Frank enrolled her children at Summit Academy and never looked back. “It was a big decision,” Frank remembers. “I scoped it out and we were so impressed. My children were going to a highly regarded charter school, so I expected they would be head and shoulders above the Summit kids, but it was actually the opposite. They had to pull them out for remediation for a couple things because they weren’t at that level.” An important part of the IB program is world languages. At Summit Academy, students take Spanish beginning in kindergarten. At Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies, which offers the IB Middle Years Program to sixth- through eighth-graders, students may also take Mandarin Chinese.
Award-winning neighborhood schools In every neighborhood in Mesa, parents can find an exceptional district school. Mesa Public Schools continues to break records for awards that honor excellence. Currently, the district has an unprecedented 23 A+ Schools of Excellence™ awarded by the Arizona Educational Foundation. The list includes elementary schools such as Brinton, Falcon Hill, Las Sendas, Red Mountain Ranch, Sousa, Washington, Whitman and