West Seattle is now home to two newly certified international education programs at Concord Elementary School and Denny Middle School.

Beginning in September 2009, the current curriculum at Denny will be expanded to include a dual-language program. Existing courses will also be altered to include a global perspective.

“It will be a great fit for all of our kids,” said Jeff Clark, principal at Denny Middle School. “Every child can benefit from a global perspective.”

Spanish will be Denny’s target language which they will teach in three ways: one format for students new to the language, another for native speakers that may not be able to read and write in Spanish and a third for bilingual students. The school will also continue to offer Mandarin language classes and may offer Arabic in the future.

Concord Elementary already has a successful dual immersion Spanish program for Kindergarten and first grade. Dr. Norma Zavala, a native Spanish speaker was appointed as Concord principal for the fall of 2009 and will expand Scott’s popular program.

Clark commended Scott and Concord for developing an excellent foreign language program. His son is currently studying Spanish in the first grade at Concord.

Both schools will integrate a global perspective into daily learning and offer courses such as multicultural literature, world economics, global health and arts, music, dance and drama from around the world.

“The world is getting smaller so having the students ready to participate in a global economy is essential,” said Sandra Scott, principal of Concord Elementary School.

Scott added that Concord is working to receive grants that could allow for international artists to begin a residency at the school.

Both schools have exceptionally diverse student populations that the district believes will be well served through the new globally-conscious curriculum. Concord’s 315 students currently speak fifteen different languages, while Denny’s student body of 625 students speaking more than 22 languages.

Scott believes that her students will be excited about the changing curriculum.

“They’re gonna be jazzed,” she said. “Students jump at the chance to look at things in different ways.”

But being that Concord is the only elementary school in South Park, Scott said that the school will maintain a traditional model for parents who are not interested in international studies.

The two schools will be working with Chief Sealth High School, which offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate program, a demanding college prep series of international courses and exams.

Seattle Public Schools developed the standards for international education between 1998 and 2000. The district now has five designated international schools with a goal of eleven total.

“This is a significant expansion of an invaluable program: educating our students to become global citizens,” said Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson, Ph. D. “ Students with a global perspective have a better understanding of the world around them, the language skills to communicate across cultural boundaries, and a deeper knowledge of the connections that link our community to those of the world at large.”