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Update from
FUSD Instructional Services Division
Submitted by Dr. Denise Herrmann
Assoc. Superintendent for Instructional Services
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Fremont Unified School District offers a K-8 Mandarin Immersion Program (MIP) for families who are interested in having their students learn English and Mandarin. The primary goal of the MIP is for students to become bilingual and biliterate in both languages. The K-6 Mandarin Immersion Program (MIP) started its inaugural class in the 2010-2011 school year at Azeveda Elementary School. Since then, the Mandarin Immersion Program has expanded into junior high school. The first 7th grade class opened at Hopkins Junior High in the 2017-2018 school year.
Dr. Rocha, Dr. Herrmann, and the entire Federal and State Department have worked closely with staff, parents, and outside experts to fill the gaps in materials and curriculum that occurred in the 7th grade world history and Mandarin language classes. We appreciate the positive partnership we have established with CIPCF and look forward to collaborating in the future.
On Wednesday, November 15th, the FUSD School Board received a presentation on the Mandarin Immersion Program including current enrollment, possible solutions for expansion at both the elementary and junior high level, curriculum update, priority standards, and high school pathways. Throughout the discussion, the School Board showed strong support for the Mandarin Immersion Program and directed the Instructional Services Division, in coordination with the Facilities Department, to research and identify possible sites for future expansion. The next school board report will take place in Spring 2018.
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Holiday Around the World
Dec. 15, 6-8PM, Azevada Cafeteria
PTA Meeting
Jan. 16, 6:30, Azevada Library
CIPCF Meeting
Jan. 9, 6:30, Azevada Library
Mid-January
Kinder Enrollment Meetings
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Visit Hopkins' Parent Faculty Association (PFA) website at :
https://hjh-fusd-ca.schoolloop.com/pfa
for student activities dates.
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7th Grade Update
Submitted by: Keith Koo
MIP Jr. High Task Force | 7th and 2nd grade parent | Former CIPCF trustee
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The 7th grade MIP program at Hopkins had a challenging first two months due to several factors such as the lack of an approved Chinese language textbook and a World History curriculum provided in the Chinese language that is at the appropriate reading and comprehension level for the MIP program. The latter was particularly difficult given that the MIP program has not yet had a backward mapping of Chinese language standards that go from 8th grade back to Kindergarten.
Since those initial meetings, the District has been actively engaged with the CIPCF and the MIP program with frequent updates on the current state and potential future state of the MIP programs at the Elementary, Junior High and what High School might look like.
As a practical matter, the District has approved the Mei Zhou as well as Level Chinese (a new publisher to the MIP) for 7th grade. In addition, the District has allowed for the 7th grade MIP to pilot a world history unit in December prepared for by Professor Enya Dai of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. For the educators and parents who have reviewed Professor Dai's material we are encouraged that the District will allow her to provide all subsequent units for the 7th grade World History and the 8th grade U.S. History for the 2018-2019 school year.
On Wednesday November 15th, the MIP was an official item on the FUSD Board's agenda (item 15.3). CIPCF Officers, Trustees and parents were in attendance. I was particularly encouraged that members of the Board made the following proactive comments/observations:
1) The MIP program at Azevada is expected to outgrow its current space and the District should be planning for that as well as the Board asking the question of what are the District's plans for MIP to continue into High School. A discussion ensued on what expansion might look like at either Azevada or an alternate location or a hybrid approach whereas the current program stays at Azevada and expansion occurs at another school.
2) Brian Lee presented to the Board the desire to consider offering work visas to qualified foreign teachers and the waiver of certain credentials. The District will do some research and get back to the Board and the MIP.
3) Opinion also circled around whether the 7th grade World History texts were "too advanced" and if it would be more suitable to teach at the "AP High School" level which would be challenging to most 7th graders. Dr. Rocha also presented the Chinese language "Pathways" to the 5 High Schools. Although there is not nearly enough time or space to delve into this topic the pathways discussion is pertinent to what happens to the MIP post Junior High.
I'm most pleased with the validation by the Board and the District that they see the MIP as a strategic asset to Fremont and are committed to finding the right solutions.
Keith Koo
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It’s hard to believe that five years have flown by so quickly, and that I’m writing my last message to you as a trustee. In those years, we’ve added a second class to all grade levels except 6th and 7th grades, promoted our first immersion class beyond elementary school and expanded into junior high with discussions ongoing to continue our program into high school. In addition to our successes, we’ve had many lessons learned along the way, the most key of which is that parent voices and participation DO make a difference. We are a program founded by parents’ desire to enrich our children’s lives with Chinese language and culture.
In the first few months of this year alone, parents galvanized, organized and brought One Voice to the School District and Board to 1) fix the curriculum issues in the new 7th grade class, 2) backwards engineer grade level standards from AP Chinese in 10th grade back to kindergarten, 3) communicate better and more regularly with the parents and 4) identify a path for continued growth of the program to start a third kindergarten class and ensure sufficient room for two classes each at the 7th and 8th grade levels.
The District heard our Call-to-Action. All four areas have been or are in the process of being addressed. Our most recent request involves asking the District to sponsor work visas for teachers to ensure that we are able to pick the best from a larger pool of qualified applicants, similar to many other Bay Area programs – stay tuned on the results of that request!
I’ll leave you with a note of encouragement that every parent can have a profound impact on our kids and program, whether by volunteering in the classroom, donating to the program, talking with District administration and Board members, helping to organize school activities or supporting language acquisition at home!
Wei-Lin
Wei-Lin Tong, CIPCF Board of Trustees President and Co-founder
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Newly Elected Trustees
The CIPCF Board of Trustees and officers would like to extend a congratulations to Jojo Chu and Darrian White on their newly elected positions on the CIPCF Board of Trustees. They will both begin their first term in January 2018.
Thank you to our out-going trustees, Wei-Lin Tong and Flo Mascon for steering us through our pioneering first eight years. Our program started and flourished because of your desire to establish a Mandarin Immersion program in Fremont. We would not be where we are without your efforts, guidance and determination to succeed.
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About this Newsletter
This is a parent-sponsored newsletter. Joseph Azevada Elementary School, Hopkins Jr. High School and Fremont Unified School District are not responsible for the content of this newsletter.
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Get Involved at Hopkins and Azevada
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Interested in Volunteering for a CIPCF event or have ideas?
Contact the officers at:  officers@cipcf.org
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