Dual Language Immersion (DLI) offers a rich bilingual experience for young learners when their minds are developmentally best able to acquire a second language in meaningful contexts.

Students enrolled in DLI spend half of their school day with a Spanish-speaking teacher and the other half with the partner English-speaking teacher. Rather than learn Spanish through Spanish language lessons, the Spanish-speaking teacher develops students’ Spanish literacy through the Kindergarten content. WCS’s adopted curriculum will be used and instruction will be divided between two highly qualified, caring, and creative teachers.

We have modeled our DLI program after the Utah Department of Education’s state-funded program, and we utilize their research-based model, resources, and best practices.

The English-speaking teacher will teach reading and writing, as well as portions of other content areas (social studies, science, math) for half of the day. The Spanish-speaking teacher will use the other half of the day to teach Spanish literacy, mathematics, and portions of other content areas using only Spanish. From day one, the Spanish teacher speaks only Spanish and communicates using a wide range of engaging strategies including pictures, songs, games, body language, expressions, and drama. After a brief period, students will also speak only Spanish during Spanish class.

Students will receive seven years of dual language instruction and will become proficient bilinguals. Typically, immersion students develop greater cognitive flexibility, attention control, memory, primary language skills, and problem-solving. In addition, dual language immersion students are more aware and positive about other cultures and people.

To demonstrate Spanish proficiency, our 2nd through 6th grade DLI students take STAMP assessment every year. This a standardized Spanish proficiency assessment and collectively, our students outperform the target benchmarks in listening, speaking, reading, and writing!

Starting in 2023-24, the dual language immersion program will move to middle school, where our students will receive two Spanish courses. DLI Spanish 3 (a full year dual credit class) and DLI Culture, History and Media (to prepare for the Spanish AP assessment).

The continued success of Warsaw's DLI program is a result of the ongoing commitment and efforts of WCS’ school board, administrators, the DLI teachers and support staff, and the students and families.

All incoming kindergarten families interested in DLI must have pre-registration and registration completed by June 1 in order to be entered in the DLI lottery, which is tentatively scheduled for June 7.

If families miss this kindergarten deadline (or are interested in joining the program in 1st or 2nd grade), they should contact the buildings directly to inquire about availability and waitlist information. Contact information can be found on the building website (links below).

Starting in 2023-24, the Dual Language Immersion program will move to Lakeview Middle School. 7th grade DLI students will receive two Spanish courses; DLI Spanish 3 (a full year dual credit class) and DLI Culture, History and Media (a half-year course to prepare for the Spanish AP assessment).