Action Day opens first dedicated Spanish immersion campus in Willow Glen

"The school is part of Action Day's Global Schools program, a full-day Spanish immersion experience for preschool-age kids. The Willow Glen program has been well-received, filling up so quickly that Action Day opened an additional Spanish immersion classroom at its Moorpark campus. Bilingual classrooms are fairly common, but full-immersion preschool programs are rare, said Cathy Jelic, president of Action Day. We developed our program based on parent demand, and it's been extremely popular."

"Indeed, research shows that early bilingual exposure increases the number of neural connections in the brain, improving cognitive and problem-solving abilities, and even providing some resilience to cognitive decline later in life. Besides the developmental advantages, children who speak other languages also have a better appreciation for other cultures and people who are different from themselves, said Action Day's program director Claudia Hernandez, who developed and leads the Spanish immersion program. Students even have better attitudes about school."

Families, neighbors and business leaders attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new dedicated Spanish immersion preschool on Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen. The preschool serves children ages 2 to 5 and operates as part of a Global Schools full-day Spanish immersion program. The Willow Glen program filled quickly, prompting an additional Spanish immersion classroom at the Moorpark campus. Early bilingual exposure increases neural connections, improving cognitive and problem-solving abilities and offering some resilience to cognitive decline. Bilingual children also develop greater cultural appreciation and more positive attitudes about school. Students are immersed in Spanish from arrival through daily classroom interactions.

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