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I saw EBI in its first year, and was impressed with the school philosophy, and the plans the administration had for the school. However, things have changed. I hear there's a new director, and wonder if anyone can comment on how the school is now. Are the teachers effective? Is the IB really being used, or do the teachers think this is something that will be nice in the future? Have they been trained in it? What's the director like? Have the costs changed? These are lots of questions -- if you know answers to any of them, I'd love to hear about it! I'm thinking about this school as an option for a pre-k kid. Future EBI Parent?
The kindergarten teachers are both great, and the 1st/ 2nd grade teacher (also great) is an IB expert who is implementing IB very effectively and training the teachers who are new to it.
Costs? Well, I wish it were free. Private school is a big financial commitment, but we're glad to be making it and we hope we can continue all the way through 8th grade.
Send your child there if 1. Bilingual education is very important to you; 2. You really want your child to learn by inquiry rather than taking top-down instruction from a teacher; and 3. You want to participate in growing a school. Happy at EBI
You asked about the new director and what changes that has brought to the school. The director was hired as a result of an international search (applicants came from Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Paris ... quite astounding actually!) and he has more than a decade of experience in a dual-immersion Spanish/English preschool - 12th grade school in Mexico City where he was the head of the Elementary school. He is wonderful: deeply passionate about EBI's mission, very personable, a great educator, a terrific listener (when parents come with concerns), a great people manager, great with the teachers, super organized, focused on both the now and the vision. He was able to bring some teachers with him from Mexico, including one who is a trainer in the Primary Years Program of the International Baccalaureate. The teachers are teaching under the IB PYP curriculum and it's great to see the kids responding to it. I encourage you to go visit the school and check out the classrooms yourselves!
All in all, we are super happy: our son has learned a ton, is really engaged, and is completely bilingual. We're looking forward to next year when the 3rd graders will start Mandarin! 3rd year EBI parent
EBI is a new school (now in its third year) that has definitely hit its stride. The new director, Jon Fulk, is the most energetic and qualified school head I have ever encountered. He has a wealth of experience implementing the IB Primary Years Program, and the energy and vision to make EBI a premier school in the Bay Area.
As a parent, the PYP program hits all of the high points, addressing social and emotional development as well as academic pursuits. But it's not just the content the kids are getting but the love of learning they are developing that is most exciting.
The faculty are 100% committed to the school's mission and the PYP program. They have created a warm and welcoming learning community, and collaborate like no other group of teachers I have ever seen. One of the kindergarten teachers who has worked in international schools around the world said that being in the community of educators at EBI has been the most rewarding professional experience of her life.
And on the language, our child gets no support with Spanish at home, but after three years at the school is completely bilingual, and even asks on occasion how to say something in English!
In short, we're thrilled. It's a great community of families and teachers, and a dynamics and exciting place to be. It's really hard to imagine being anywhere else. Fired up EBI parent!
Re: Spanish or bilingual co-op preschool in Berkeley
Our daughter attended EBI in Oakland for preschool. We loved it
so much, we enrolled her in Kindergarten. We were very
impressed with the teachers; they are warm, creative and
dedicated. And the new head of school is fantastic! He inately
understands the needs of the kids, parents and staff and does a
beautiful job balancing them while ensuring the school is
delivering an excellent education in a loving environment. The
community of parents is truly wonderful. Committed and
energetic, we continue to make friends who will be friends for
life. Our daughter is thriving, excited to go to school and is
speaking (and reading) Spanish already.
Thrilled with EBI
My husband and I are in the early stages of looking at school options for our sons, and are really excited about the idea of Spanish immersion; if we were to go the public-school route, our immersion option would be Leconte Elementary, but we're also considering looking at the Escuela Bilingue in Oakland. I'm curious to hear from people who might have made a choice between those two, or people who have their kids enrolled in one or the other (or not? Downsides are welcome, too!) Thanks a lot!
When a student at EBI speaks to a teacher in English, the teacher repeats in Spanish what the child just said and, depending on the situation and grade level, may have the child then repeat their statement/question in Spanish. That way the child is not only hearing the teachers speak Spanish but they also hear and speak their own thoughts in Spanish. If my child says, lI need a penciln her teacher will prompt her to say lNecesito un l7piz.n I did not hear this being done at Cragmont. The students spoke English to the teachers and the teachers answered in Spanish. This is the critical piece of an immersion program for determining who can understand Spanish and who can understand it AND speak it.
I also value the fact that EBI, to the greatest extent possible, employs native speakers or teachers with native-like fluency. My child's pronunciation is impeccable. A couple of the teachers at Cragmont, while fluent, just didnmt have native- like pronunciation. Not super important but a nice perk.
Perhaps the most compelling reason we chose EBI was the International Baccalaureate curriculum. The International Baccalaureate aims to develop linquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect... These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.'' At the center of what EBI does everyday is the IB Learner Profile: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk- takers, balanced and reflective. Excited to be at EBI
Having said all of this, I do have to comment that EBI is a new school and has felt some growing pains q nothing uncommon in the field of education or at a new institution. However, they have hired a new head of school that starts this July. I was very impressed by his immediate grasp of the school's strengths and needs, his shared vision for the future, and his innate understanding of how to get EBI there. Nonetheless, since it is a new school, you have to have a bit of the pioneer spirit to feel comfortable there. But you will be surrounded by an amazing community of diverse and dedicated families who all share the same mission as the school. Excited to be at EBI
I know there are some references to Escuela Bilingue in the archives, but there aren't a lot. I went on a tour a couple of weeks ago, and while I thought the preschool looked great -- the kids seemed to be having a grand time -- the parent tour- guides were really down to earth and friendly, and the building looks like it has potential (the yard is great), I came away with doubts in my mind after seeing the kindergarten. I can't put my finger on it exactly. Are there people with kids there, particularly in K or 1st grade? Are you happy with the school? Obviously, I know it's a brand-new school so growing pains are part of the process. And the whole idea of an IB, immersion K-8 program is wonderful to me -- I just wonder what the confidence level is like in terms of them being able to pull this off. Thanks for any advice, comments. Mom of Young 5
There are also two other teachers in the classroom: Merly, the assistant, is just who you want to be there emotionally for your child; and Pilar, the reading teacher, is a delight. She's doing the Writer's Workshop material with the kids every afternoon in the most creative and inventive ways. She's got the kids acting out stories before they sit down to write them. It's really helped the kids conceptualize what a story is.
And yes, I have every confidence that the Board knows what they are doing and are succeeding. The school is extremely well run administratively.
As a new school, the Escuela does not have everything yet, but what it does offer is really special: a second language for your child; an international faculty; an atmosphere of optimism and energy; a great music teacher; a parent community that is intelligent, dedicated, unpretentious and fun-loving; a faculty that loves children and receives them with heart and encouragement. We feel grateful for it. K/1 mom
I definitely think the language immersion aspect can have an effect in terms of engagement, especially in the beginning. During the first few weeks, my daughter didn't understand much of the Spanish and consequently only really engaged/listened when spoken to in English. Now that she understands more, she can better listen/engage with all speaking in the classroom. Overall, we think EBI is a great kindergarten for her! Mom of an EBI kindergartener
I was leery of having my son in a mixed age classroom b/c EBI is not a Montessori school and I worried that the teacher and supporting staff would be ill-equipped to handle the range of students. All of those fears have been allayed. Jana is an experienced educator who has done a terrific job of making lessons fit the varying skill levels of the students.
She is doing a great job of working with the English language teacher Pilar to ensure that the kids are developing their reading and writing in Spanish and English. She also does a good job of keeping order in the class. I can see how you might think Jana is a bit reserved upon first meeting her, but I assure you that her students are enthralled by her lessons and enjoy her company.
My son is thriving at EBI. EBI K/1 Parent
I suggest that you speak with as many current EBI parents as possible. For example, if you show up around drop-off or pick-up time, you will have an opportunity to meet many parents, and while some will not have time to talk on the spot, I'm sure that most will be willing to arrange a time to talk. I think you'll find a wide range of experiences, levels of satisfaction, and expectations for the future of the school.
We have found the Spanish immersion aspect of the school to be fabulous, and the parent community to be exceptional. Some of the teachers are excellent. But leadership and daily management have been challenges, as evidenced by significant turnover in teachers after the first year. Part of this is undoubtedly due to the fact that the founding head of school left at the end of the first year. She has been replaced by an interim head, who will in turn be replaced by a new head next year.
The bottom line, I think, is that EBI is a very new school. It has many wonderful things to offer, but the growing pains are real. You'll need to weigh these things and decide if it's a fit for your family. Anonymous
Our son will be 3 in October and is scheduled to start in Ms. Hyer's class at Grand Lake Montessori. We heard today that Escula Bilingue Internacional has a space for him. Please share your experiences and thoughts, especially: -how the schools ''feel'' -importance of ratio - EBI has a 1:6 ratio; GLM has a 1:9 ratio -sophistication and experience of teachers -how discipline is handled -concerns about EBI being new -concerns about ''communication'' at GLM. To the extent it depends on the kid: Our son has already had two big transitions this year (starting school last September and a new sister four months ago), so we don't want to move him again once we make this decision. We already know that he does well in a Montessori setting, but we had really wanted an immersion program (he has no Spanish at home, previously understood a fair amount of Spanish, but doesn't seem to understand much now). He is quick to warm up to teachers but is just beginning to engage with other children. His primary passion is music, and he is very focused when he gets involved in a task. He has very strong verbal skills but it takes attentive listening to understand as he doesn't do certain consonants. He is working on learning to express his feelings and to manage conflict (he tends to let others take things from him, is shy to ask to participate, etc). He is pretty easy going, easily redirected, and an infrequent tantrum thrower.
For me, the student to teacher ratios were crucial, because at that age they still need lots of help. He was not potty trained at all, even though we had tried, and was not reliable about eating lunch without encouragement, could not put on a jacket or shoes, or take them off, etc. But our teacher, Angela, is a very warm person and mom to two young boys and incredibly understanding. He has thrived in her classroom and has grown so much over this year. And yes, there are boys in his classroom with similar temperament to your son. My son is the one doing the grabbing and taking of toys, unfortunately- it seems like a kid is either a grabber or a yielder, and both types of kids have lessons to learn in a school setting. I have been pleased with the type of modeling, redirection and playacting that the teachers have used this year to deal with pushing, namecalling, new baby siblings, etc.
We also don't speak Spanish at home, and he was very hesitant at first to speak any Spanish to us. But in just the last month, his understanding and verbalization have gone through the roof, and what has helped him most of all is music. The music teacher, Jackie, sings with them accompanied by her guitar and other instruments. He is constantly singing Spanish songs about spiders, ducks, the sun, the seasons, and it is so awesome! He tries to explain now (he is translating, actually) to us what the song means. And he hears our accent when we speak a Spanish word and will say ''No mom, maracas'' with the Spanish rrr sound that comes out of his mouth like a native speaker.
Of course there are issues with any school, but any concern I have had this year has been promptly and respectfully addressed. i don't regret our decision for a minute and am glad that we took the risk as we have met so many other wonderful parents and kids who are excited to be part of this new school.
But, you guys know your son the best, and will have to go with your gut feeling after taking all of the pros and cons of each school into consideration. I am happy to answer more of your questions if you e-mail me. lou
We have applied to Escuela Bilingue Internacional next year for the Pre-K program. I’ve heard some great things about the Pre-K progam and mixed things about the Kindergarten program. Overall, my information about this new school is pretty limited. Can EBI parents please fill me in on the strengths of both the Pre-K program and the Kindergarten program AND any areas of concern or weakness. anon
The IB curriculum is concept-based so kids are taught to think ABOUT and ENGAGE WITH what they're learning, as opposed to what I grew up with which was to memorize LOTS of facts without even knowing why I had to know them. Critical thinking, basically. Because he's the youngest in his class, he's still not reading in English as well as some of his classmates. His reading in Spanish is quite good though and his teacher and Assistant are to be commended for that. My son loves the warmth he gets from the teachers and staff. He enjoys the fact that he's already able to see how people in different Latin-American countries have different words and accents (there's at least 5 different countries represented in teachers/staff). Last week he asked why Spanish people use a lisp when speaking Spanish. Because they emphasize plurality, my son will be able to feel at home in any Latin American country he goes to (today he said he wants to visit the country where the song Guantanamera comes from...but we'll wait for the embargo to be lifted, I guess).
His favorite part is music class. He ABSOLUTELY LOVES his music teacher, who comes twice a week to his class, is a well-known Bay Area performer and teacher at Berkeley's school of Jazz. Her rapport with the kids is amazingly professional. She treats them like little musicians and gives the kids her very best. They've had two performances this year and hopefully there's more in the making.
Why me and my wife like it? We are a multilingual household--three different languages are used at home. I am also a trained French language and Literature teacher and know that EBI's approach to language teaching will serve the children who go there well. I volunteer to help out in his classroom at least twice a month and am surprised to see how even the kids who have no one to practice Spanish with at home can now talk to me with confidence.
Have there been snags? Of course there have. The biggest was the fact that the Head of the school was also the kindergarten teacher and, unfortunately, that meant she was quite overwhelmed. But together with the support of parents and the board, she worked hard to hire a new teacher who is fully dedicated to the class and is always available for anyone who wishes to meet with her about their children. In general though, the snags have actually resulted in parents coming together to make recommendations to the board and Head to improve the school. In the process, many of us have realized that Head, parents and board are all working with a common goal: to make ESCUELA BILINGUE INTERNACIONAL the model for other Spanish bilingual schools in the country. Because parents, boardmembers and head are working together, I know that next year will be the year we go on the map for having a long waiting list. Overall, I am lucky to have found Escuela Bilingue and lucky to be part of the founding years. It would be easy to go to a well-established school that is already running smoothly and doesn't demand any effort on my part. But I think that part of my child's education should also reflect my own willingness to make a heartfelt effort to build a school for him and his classmates that embodies the values and global vision me and my family hold dear. If I am hoping that EBI will help these children change the world, why can't I reciprocate in advance and do my best to change EBI, each day, for the better? This is actually a contagious attitude I've caught from some of the people I've met there. Best regards and I hope we can also count on your family joining us! Douglas
We're the parents of a preschool boy who will be five years old
in early Oct. '07. He is currently in his second year at a
coop preschool and we're wondering what to do with him next
year re: third year of preschool vs. kindergarten. We have
been following the development and grand opening of the Escuela
Bilingue in Rockridge very closely; we would love to hear from
parents of pre-K and Kinder students at EBI to hear what you
like about the program, any concerns, generally ''how things are
going.'' Specifically, any input on how the school's size and
learning environment would help/hinder a highly verbal, bright,
but slow-to-warm, somewhat shy boy would be appreciated. Just
FYI, he is being raised in a bilingual English/Spanish home.
Thanks in advance for the input!
Curious Parents
I have been extremely impressed not only with my child's
language development, but also with his growing knowledge and
appreciation for different cultures as well.
Because EBI is a brand new school, I expected things to be a
little chaotic at the outset, but I have been pleasantly
surprised by how smoothly things have been running. That said
there is definitely room for improvement. I hope that as the
school year progesses and the school gets its bearings there will
be better systems put in place for communicating with parents.
Otherwise, we really don't have any complaints.
If you choose EBI for your child I think you will find that the
community is welcoming and vibrant and one in which it will be
easy for you to get involved. I think EBI is really off to a
great start and encourage you to keep exploring it as an option
for your family. Best of luck
Happy EBI family
Does anyone have feedback on Berta Ortega-Plate, she is the
newly hired preschool director at Escuela Bilingue Internacional. Berta is currently a master teacher at the
Harold Jones Child Study Center at UC
Berkeley. We are strongly considering EBI and know that the
director will make a huge impact on the school's direction, so
feedback is much appreciated.
Pre-School Decision Time
She is gentle, kind, insightful and kids really like her. She really pays attention to the kids' emotional, intellectual, social and physical development and has good advice for parents who are concerned about some aspect of their child's progress.
She plans really great activities for the kids. She really knows the field of child development. She knows the curriculum and creates all kinds of opportunities for kids to learn and grow.
I think EBI is really lucky to get her
A Berta Fan.
I have heard a lot of good things about Escuela Bilingue Internacional but not much about their summer camp. I am planning to send my 4 year old to a Spanish camp so any thoughts? -anon.
The kids have lots of fun, learn a lot, and leave their experience with a better understanding of the big exciting international community we live in. Hope this helps. Alison
Re: Spanish/English camp for 6-year-old
Hi,
Escuela Bilingue Internacional has just posted their summer camp sessions. They
run full and half day immersion programs. My son goes to school there and is
also
6 years old. The camp should be really great this summer. I don't have the
information with me as they just gave it to us on Friday, but you should be able
to
find it on their website which is: http://www.ebinternacional.org/en/index.html
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
suzanne
Last updated: Apr 30, 2009
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