Kindergarten students at Memorial Elementary School to learn both English and Spanish

The Milford Public Schools proudly launched a new Dual Language learning program this month, beginning with two classrooms of kindergarten students at Memorial Elementary School. Plans have already been developed to expand this new learning model to additional grades in years to come. The program has affectionately been titled, La Comunidad, meaning “The Community.”  The name was chosen by the educators and families enrolled in the inaugural classes.

Students enrolled in this program will receive about half of their daily instruction in English, and about half of their instruction in Spanish. The curriculum they will be learning is comparable to the typical curriculum of any other kindergarten classroom, with the exception being that the teachers and students in the dual language classrooms will be instructing and conversing with students in both English and Spanish.

Years of research, planning, and development led to this exciting new opportunity for the students of Milford. Ms. Julia Latino, Assistant Director of Multilingual Learner & Dual Language Programming for the Milford Public Schools, who helped spearhead the development of this program stated, “Over the past two years, educators and administrators have come together to launch a successful Spanish/English program at Memorial Elementary School. We’ve also worked closely with experts in the field, including MABE (Multistate Association for Bilingual Education) to give our program the strongest start possible. The deep support from our School Committee and the Milford community makes it clear that this type of programming is both wanted and needed.”

Principal of Memorial School, Ms. Lisa Burns added, “The Memorial community is excited and honored to open the doors to the first dual language program in Milford. La Comunidad’s successful beginning is the result of meticulous planning and dedication from our educational leaders. Ms. Latino's planning and attention to detail laid the foundation for this initiative, ensuring every aspect of the program was thoughtfully designed to benefit students and families. The program's launch has been powered by the endless enthusiasm and expertise of our kindergarten educators: Ms. Jessica Lema-Guaman, Ms. Adriana Hill, Ms. Lauren Woodbury, and Ms. Missy Machado. These dedicated teachers have embraced the program with passion, creating an engaging and supportive learning environment where young students can develop bilingual skills from the start of their educational journey.”

Kindergarteners throughout Milford, regardless of their home language, had the opportunity to enroll in this learning model. Families interested in this program entered their students in a lottery for this initial class of 44 students. This class of students will continue to receive dual language instruction in subsequent grades, with plans to continue this model through Grade 5. 

Dr. Craig Consigli, Superintendent of the Milford Public Schools, said, “This is a great opportunity for the students of Milford. Building the program from the ground up, Julia Latino and Jenn Noorjanian worked tirelessly to prepare our Memorial Elementary School staff. I appreciate the support of the Milford School Committee in supporting programs like the Dual Language Program. I am excited to see this program grow every year and expand beyond Memorial Elementary School in the future."

More About Dual Language Programs:

Dual language programming provides students with powerful academic and cognitive benefits, enhancing problem-solving, memory, and critical thinking skills. Spanish-speaking students strengthen their bilingualism and biliteracy, building confidence and cultural pride while preserving their home language. English-speaking students develop strong proficiency in Spanish while maintaining high levels of English literacy, preparing them for future academic and career opportunities. Research consistently shows that students in dual language programs achieve at higher levels and graduate at greater rates. Importantly, these students develop a deeper appreciation for diverse communities through sociocultural competence - the ability to work and play with peers from other cultures.

Submitted by Milford Public Schools