Berkeley Parents Network: Escuela Bilingüe Internacional

Berkeley Parents Network

Escuela Bilingüe Internacional

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > K-12 Schools > Escuela Bilingüe Internacional

Website for Escuela Bilingue Internacional: http://www.ebinternacional.org/

October 2007

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

I've got a kid at the Escuela in the K/1 class and he loves it. I've spent a good amount of time in the classroom, so I can tell you that the teacher shines best when you get to know her. She's intelligent and compassionate and she really tries to understand each child individually. She's thinking not just about academics but about each child's attitude toward work. She helps them to develop a tolerance for frustration, a willingness to try something difficult, etc. She's easy to talk to and open to ideas, including the children's ideas. Over the last two weeks, each child has had an opportunity to teach a lesson of their own design. One kid talked about planets, another about farming, a third made her own pinata. It was a lot of fun and very exciting for the kids.

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

We have a daughter in the K/1 class at EBI. We weren't sure how it would go since she's one of the youngest in the class, had been in a non-structured play-based pre-school and has a limited background in Spanish. After spending a few weeks "getting comfortable" at EBI, she now seems VERY happy, engaged and not stressed by the "rigors" of kindergarten. She's bonded with all three teachers (and has to hug them goodbye) as well as many of the kids. My daughter has never shared much what goes on at any school and I haven't spent any time in the classroom (mostly due my daughter's attachment behavior when I'm around), so I rely on the teachers and school materials/work to understand what she's doing. She seems to enjoy all the activities. She's proud to be learning Spanish and loves to teach us new words. She's a lefty and had some challenges with learning to write, but they've really been helping her and she's shown tremendous improvement in a short time. She now loves to do "real world" math with us whenever she can. The only complaints we hear are about normal kid politics, which are mild compared to her preschool since the kid "leaders" in this EBI K/1 class are amazingly kind and inclusive.

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

My son is in the K/1 class at EBI and this is our second year at the school. While there are definitely some growing pains that this two-year-old school is still working out, our child's experience in the classroom has been terrific.

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 can't comment on the kindergarten class in particular, but wanted to respond to ''I just wonder what the confidence level is like in terms of them being able to pull this off.''

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

May 2007

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.

Hi there: I can't speak to GLM, but I also know that my son would do well in that setting and like the Montessori philosophy. However, my husband and I decided that having our son learn Spanish as a child was important, and so we decided to take the risk of starting at an ''unknown'' school. My son also turned 3 in November, so was a young one, and I won't lie, the first month was really difficult for him. I don't think that it was the language so much as he was adjusting to all of a sudden going from sharing a nanny with one other boy, to being in a room full of 18 kids.

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

I just wanted to say that you should find out as much as you can about each school. We were in a similar situation and I realized that I was about to accept just about anything in exchange for a special bilingual type program at another school--didn't even know the name of the teacher at the other school, whereas at GLM you know exactly who the teacher will be. Just make sure you are making your decision with equal information on both sides. anon

Feb 2007

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

EBI is a very new school: this year was its first year in operation. My son has been at EBI this past year in a pre-K class. The goals of EBI are to develop into a Pre-K through 8th grade bilingual school. The mission of the school is impressive, and the Board and administrators are really amazing, committed, competent people. And the parent community and parent involvement are fantastic. I think the school's future is *very* bright. That said, as would be true of any new school opening up for the first year, we have had our share of bumps in the road. Some of the preschool classes are absolutely stellar, while others are still catching their stride. My son has been in one of the classrooms that has taken a bit longer to fully reflect all the EBI potential (the teacher is very high energy and loving, but the classroom is much less structured, less clear communication between parents and teachers to help stress Spanish at home, etc). So my son is not in the ''best'' class, but he still has had an awesome experience -- speaking and singing Spanish, learning to write, talking about the world, making neat art projects, etc. Relative to my understanding of how many of my friends' children are experiencing other preschools, his experience compares favorably. My point I think is that EBI currently is hitting the ''outstanding'' to ''quite good'' range. And everyone (teachers, administration, parents) are working very hard to have it hit ''outstanding'' all the time - - which is a special feature of the school and community. I would encourage anyone who is committed to bilingualism and the general philosophy of International Baccalaureate teaching program to RUN to EBI to enroll. I think this school is already very strong, and has the potential to be the best private school in Oakland/Berkeley, bar none.
true believer, even tho we didn't get the ''best''

I am an EBI Parent of a Kindergartner. My daughter has been extremely happy at EBI. She loves her teachers and classmates and has learned a lot this year. The small teacher student ratio has also helped a lot. She is actually already reading in both Spanish and English. We had a few glitches this year, but very few given that is was the first year of the school. The school head taught kindergarten at the beginning of the year which didn't work too well so the school hired a separate K teacher. Despite these challenges the school has been very responsive to parent concerns and has done everything it can to make the kindergarten experience a positive one. They are dedicated to hiring experienced master teachers and we are sure next year will be much smoother. Overall, EBI is a loving school environment. Teachers really care about the children and the parent community is welcoming. Students are challenged and it is amazing to see the students become fluent in Spanish in such a short time. We are very happy there and more importantly our child is happy and learning. I highly recommend EBI to prospective parents. EBI Parent

For a school that just opened AND with the lowest enrollment fee of any NAIS school in the East Bay, Escuela Bilingue is surely a great bargain. Why my son loves the school? He's currently in the Kindergarten class. The emerging currilum/International Baccalaureate structure allows him to figure out the world and learn AT HIS PACE while validating his view of the world and making him open up to the value of others' perspectives.

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

October 2006

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

Our son started at EBI, and I was VERY concerned about how he'd transition - he's very slow to warm up, and is going through an intense fear-of-strangers-and-new- things stage. I met with his teacher, Angela, two weeks before school started and was immediately soothed by the way she engaged him from the get go -- she respected his space, got down on his level, and allowed him to come to her as he felt more comfortable. From day one we have been so surprised at how easily he has entered the classroom; all of his teachers (there are 4 in the youngest Pre-K class) are loving, warm, and really great with children. You'd expect that, but when I was touring schools I was surprised to see many people who did not have that skill. Our son has heard some Spanish at home, but not a lot, and has quickly picked up on all the language basics, singing, counting and responding to questions in Spanish. We have a break this week, and every morning he is saddened to learn it's not a ''go to school day''. Our son is very bright (really, not just my opinion!) and has been stimulated and engaged by all of his activities at school, from the academics to learning new social skills. We've also enjoyed the parent community at EBI, as well as the teachers and administration. All of the classes are relatively small, especially the K class, which currently has only 10 students. All classes include TAs that bring the ratio to 1:6 or 1:5, depending on the classroom and the students needs. Hope that helps - I know there is an open house tomorrow night at EBI, so you might want to check it out.
EBI parent

So far so good for us at EBI. We are in the younger Mid-K group at EBI. It was a tough call for us to move our child to EBI because we were very pleased with the preschool he was attending. In the end we decided to make the move so that we could be a part of the school from the start. We have found the teachers in both his classroom and the after-care program to be warm and loving and we are pleased with the variety and depth of activities and exercises available to our child. He is developing terrific friendships, great confidence in his abilities and mastery of Spanish in this true immersion program.

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

My almost-four-year-old son goes to EBI. He loves it, and so do his father and I. His teachers are warm and bright, the activities in his classroom are age-appropriate and stimulating, and he comes home from school jazzed about various projects the class has worked on during the day (making apple juice, building a rocket ship, etc). Although the school is already somewhat large, the student-teacher ratio in each classroom is 18:3. So, each child is getting plenty of individual attention. Teachers and administrators are responsive to parents as well, in my experience. The school community is very diverse, with children of many races, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. EBI offers need-based financial aid, so there is also some valuable socio- economic diversity that is missing in many private pre-schools. My son is coming from a Montessori environment, and EBI's program is less structured (particularly in the after-school care). I had some trepidation about how my son would respond to that change, but my concern was unwarranted; he is thriving. Of course everyone who enrolls at EBI at this stage is taking a certain leap of faith that this brand-new school will be well run. I expected a lot of bumps in the road as we all found our groove, but there have been remarkably few problems. I attribute this to the high caliber and commitment of the people running the school. The board members, the founding head (Graciela), the Preschool Director (Berta) and the Chair (Liza) are all incredibly experienced and competent. When there are problems, they seem to deal with them quickly and appropriately. Another thing that I love about the school is the sense of community. Many if not all of the families are involved in some way (improving facilities, planning the inaugural party, fund-raising, etc.), which both increases the feeling of commitment to the school and allows parents to get to know each other. It is great to walk down the hallway in the morning and exchange greetings with t familiar children and parents around you. People are genuinely EXCITED about being there. Your son is already bilingual, so you presumably don't have concerns about the immersion aspect, but my son spoke almost no Spanish when he started. He is already speaking a good deal of Spanish at home, and clearly understands much, much more based on how he responds to his teachers. I feel like I am gushing over this school (I am not a gusher), but I really think it is a wonderful place. If things continue as they are now, my family will be at EBI for the long haul. Best of luck to you in your decision.
--- Happy EBI Parent

April 2006

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

Hello, I am a parent in the West Classroom of Jones Child Study Center, where Berta is one of the full-time teachers. Berta has been a teacher at Jones for more than 15 years, I think. She is very experienced and I think she is great.

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.

My son is currently attending Harold Jones Child Study Center and Berta is his teacher. Berta brings such joy to his day, everyday! She is nurturing, innovative, aware of each child's needs, positive, and brings in so much culture and community into the classroom. Because my son's first language was spanish she speaks spanish to him and he responds very well. She is truly a master teacher with lots of creativity and therefore, I am following her to EBI. This is my dream for my son to be immersed in spanish with an outstanding teacher who knows how to tap his strengths and bring out his best within a nurturing environment.
Estatic parent

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