Signatures 306 total
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Name: Meredith Mani on Feb 1, 2013Comments: Keep French!Flag
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Name: Maria Begona Morton Juaneda on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Maria LaWalt on Feb 1, 2013Comments: I support French Immersion at Herndon Elementary. There are other opportunities for Spanish Immersion throughout the County. Rather than moving French to another school, I suggest exploring ways to enhance our current 25 year program.Flag
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Name: Mindy Thunman on Feb 1, 2013Comments: The French Immersion program is valuable to not only the children involved, but the community! I have clients that have moved here because of the program. Reconsider.Flag
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Name: Joanne Lyons on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Aicha Bensaid Samrhouni on Feb 1, 2013Comments: I agree to the above statement.Flag
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Name: Myra Goodrich on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Diane Campbell on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Kathryn Adams on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Drew Goodrich on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Kristy Lamariana on Feb 1, 2013Comments: yay French;)Flag
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Name: Edwige Pinover on Feb 1, 2013Comments: Very few schools in the US offer a foreign language in an Elementary School. Herndon ES in Fairfax County Virginia has been teaching French in a partial immersion program since 1988. The town of Herndon is proud of it, the parents support it and the students love it. As a French citizen, i am so so proud of hearing French away from "home." Vive le francais a HES!Flag
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Name: Traci Koch on Feb 1, 2013Comments: French Immersion is VERY important to the Herndon Community and FCPS. I have a 7th grader that b/c of French immersion is excelling in her French class. And has used her French in several real world experiences. I want my 4th grader to be able to have the same success.Flag
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Name: Kerstin Gordon on Feb 1, 2013Comments: Fairfax County is a magnet for smart professionals. They value the school system because it offers a lot of different options to help the children develop their potential (immersions, advanced classes, labs, computers, and so on). Cancelling French at HES will decrease that attraction. We already have 4 schools with Spanish immersion, and only 2 with French immersion (and only ONE with German immersion!). Please don't use the immersion as a back-door way to boost overall student performance, at the expense of those that are truly interested in a different language!!!Flag
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Name: Anonymous on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Stephanie Parker on Feb 1, 2013Comments: I truly believe that speaking a different language is very important to our youth. We are implementing an injustice when we take away these special programs in our schools.Flag
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Name: Nancy Mirr on Feb 1, 2013Comments: My daughter was in the French Immersion at HES, and we loved it!Flag
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Name: Shermin Sirajudin on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: DUSSART Caroline on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Dori Sobhani on Feb 1, 2013Comments: Save the French Program at HESFlag
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Name: Jennifer Callahan on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Jessica Schelling on Feb 1, 2013Comments: We are so lucky to have a foreign language program in our public schools! But out of the twelve language immersion schools in Fairfax County, seven are already Spanish. Please help us keep the French program at HES and make it stronger!Flag
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Name: Anonymous on Feb 1, 2013Comments: There are other area schools that offer Spanish as a foreign language. And while Spanish may be a good choice for futures in teh Americas, in todays global world, it is not good enough. Giving consideration to one’s career, people who speak the French language can have an easy access to the global scene. Because foreign countries are sending off their delegates to the international market everyday, a comprehensive education of a variety of languages is a requirement. Apparently, international companies and corporations especially in the economic industry are considering those individuals who are bilingual. The French language is one of the major languages used in the international setting. French is a customary language in the politics and business setting. Various organizations are considering French as their official language. Among these are North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and the United Nations. Therefore, a world class job opportunity awaits to those people who speak of the French language fluently. So lets try to keep in mind the futures of our students in this particular instance.Flag
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Name: Karla Fife on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Athena Scalise Waitt on Feb 1, 2013
Comments: I can't express how disappointing it is to see the French immersion program disappearing right before our eyes. I remember back in 2009, when I was just moving house and up to my eyeballs in boxes, and got the urgent call to step up and help organize Herndon to fight for the continuation of our language immersion programs throughout the Fairfax County school system. To me, there was no choice, but to do my part, as the Herndon ES French Liaison, to spread the word and help organize the fight to save all language programs in FC. It is appalling to think that all the hard work by all of us is being thrown by the wayside for whatever purposes are motivating this drastic change. I urge the administration to reconsider their decision and to ensure that the community interests are taken into consideration.Flag -
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Name: Abeba Debes on Feb 1, 2013Comments: Keep French At HerndonFlag
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Name: Emily Boccia on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Krista Cole on Feb 1, 2013Comments: Some believe that the only way to solve the current resourcing problems / problems with low test scores amongst the Spanish speaking population at Herndon is to move the French program. That would solve the (Spanish) resourcing problem, but, we do not see how it would solve a very real resourcing problem with French. And if Herndon has the resources to keep this program (and Spanish) for another six years--why not another 60 years? We don't really understand any real reason we need to move the French program, as it will not fully solve either problem without causing other very serious problems--families dropping out because it's moved too far away, resource probelms still wold exist, Spanish scores may not come up immediately, and we have no guarantee Spanish speaking parents will agree to the immersion of their kids in Spanish--when they may fear they won't be immersed into English. We noticed there was very little representation from the Spanish speaking community a few days back,a nd we don't know if this might be contributing to the low scores--low involvement period, which may be able to be solved another way without ending French. It is our opinnion, after listening to Prinicpal Gwynn, she has a problem, for sure with Spanish speaking students' test scores, and this is a legitimate concern. We also understand the need for 2 - way immersion of Spanish students to bring those scores up, but we are not convinced a Spanish two-way is the only way to bring the scores up, and we are also are concerned about the ability of the school to recruit French Teachers--which will exist whether you move the program from Herndon or not. The Spanish scores may improve by using 2 way immersion... So, instead of getting rid of French at Herndon, add Spanish and increase county resources to this school, and if this is not possible, parents can raise funds too, and lobby the legislature to allow a phased approach to the new Title I requirements that would allow current NATIVE FRENCH-speaking teachers to get their certification. French students may be able to help Spanish students too--we can't rule out assistance from peers. We need to be creative and help this prinicpal to increase her scores and realize her dream of all students getting a good education; But let's not penalize parents who have bought homes in the area just to make certain their kids can speak French and whose kids are performing because they have caring parents who would like them to learn another language other than English or Spanish. There are good reasons for that, and frankly, today's economy (world-wide) demands more than Americans who know simply English and Spanish. Herdon French families have made a huge investment in order for their kids to learn French, and they won't be happy to move their kids. Transitioning kids to anotherschool sounds easier said than done. WE've not even begun to discuss which school would take 200 new students. I live in Centreville, and I drive, and I'm happy to do that. If the program were moved much further, I would not be able to take advantage, and that's a shame for us and most of all, for our children, who have worked so hard to learn French.Flag
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Name: Sandi Volpe on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Anonymous on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Scott Boccia on Feb 1, 2013Comments: S'il vous plaît garder programme d'immersion en français!! (Please keep french immersion program!)Flag
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Name: Judy Aukamp on Feb 1, 2013Comments: With such a high population of spanish speakers, French allows more diversity at HES, brings in kids from other school just to be part of this program. We have a great intern program in place and have had wonderful experiences with it..Flag
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Name: Barbara Welsh on Feb 1, 2013Comments: I agree that the French program at HES offers many advantages and is one of the things that make it an attractive learning choice for many of the reasons described above. I''m also not convinced that implementing two way immersion for the spanish population will necessarily fix the low test score issues that are definitely a real issue. There are many socio-economic factors that directly tie into why their scores are lower. The French program not only immerses the kids in the language, but also does pretty decent job of immersing them into the culture. The interaction with the exchange students and the ongoing activities such as French bedtime stories give the kids a real taste of all things French. Understanding the French language from an early age also gives an advantage should the student choose to later study Spanish, and I don't know that the inverse would be true, because of the complex grammar rules of French. With the Spanish language becoming more and more prevalent in the USA, knowing French would definitely give an edge in international arena, and because it is a romance language, would assist somewhat in basic understanding of Spanish and Italian. So please, don't remove a program that has been in place at Herndon for so long, but figure out how to attract and keep the students in the program--by hiring quality educators and continuing to improve the program. And the final BIGGIE, shame on you FCPS and Herndon Elementary for the method in which you communicated this possible transition--trying to slip it in like an every day occurrence without adequately informing the school community and exploring all the issues and alternatives, instead of just assuming folks would just sigh and go down quietly is appalling.Flag
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Name: Anonymous on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Mary Brown on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Laura Bachman on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Helen Parker on Feb 1, 2013Comments: This is an essential program offered to our children!Flag
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Name: Jennifer Werner on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Christine Gregory on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Barbara Lineberger on Feb 1, 2013Comments: A foreign language is important for our students.Flag
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Name: Paul Lineberger on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Kathy Ausnehmer on Feb 1, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Mason Walsh on Feb 1, 2013Comments: Keep the French Program!!!!Flag
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Name: Judith Slepetz on Feb 2, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Mahadeva Mani on Feb 2, 2013Comments: immersion is supposed to be for those who aren't native speakers. Spanish "immersion" is a con to teach children whose first language is already Spanish. this is not a true immersion program. Immersion should not be used as a replcaement for ESL. It cheats the children of the real education they need. It is not the right solutin to the demographic change in Herndon. And it is patronizing of the parents of the children whose first language is Spanish - it says, "I'm sorry, your children aren't good enough to learn in English, so we'll get away with it by teaching them in Spanish, just to pass the most minimum bar. And after that if they can't speak English well enough to go to a good high school, well they're out of our hair." There has been no impact study done on what this will mean, there has been no coordination with the high school for them to be ready to accept these children. This whole approach reeks of a self-serving arrogance, rather than a real concern for the benefit of the children. Let's see what the parents of the children whose first language is Spanish have to say about this and then let's make a choice to change the program.Flag
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Name: Nan E Massie on Feb 2, 2013Comments: The French immersion program is a reason that Herndon schools get such high praise! For a public school to be offer this in their elementary curriculum - AWESOME! What it has done for the children - PRICELESS!Flag
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Name: Anonymous on Feb 2, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name: Katie Jurcich on Feb 2, 2013Comments:Flag
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Name:
Monica Jo Abernathy-Greer on Feb 2, 2013
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Name: James McDonald on Feb 2, 2013Comments: Good program, please keep this intact.Flag