A new language for Georgetown seventh-graders: Mandarin Chinese
GEORGETOWN — Students at the middle/high school will be able to experience a new foreign language this fall.
The School Committee last week approved a plan to include Mandarin Chinese in the world languages exploration course offered to seventh-graders. If all goes well, Principal Peter Lucia said he plans to offer an additional four years of the language.
"The language will help the children who speak it become competitive globally," Lucia said.
Mandarin will be part of a three-language introduction in seventh grade, which includes French and Spanish. Lucia said the addition of the third language will help alleviate larger class sizes in the other languages.
"Right now, language classes are 30 students. The Chinese will help bring the number down to 22 per class," he said.
Lucia said that there is a teacher in the math department who is fluent in Mandarin who will teach the course, eliminating the need to hire a new teacher.
"If the program expands, we'll have the option of transferring her to teach the language full time and hiring a new math teacher or finding a Mandarin teacher," he said.
In the fall, Lucia also plans to address the low MCAS math scores in this year's sixth grade.
"We will identify the kids in need and remediate them both in class and in a specialized center. My personal goal is to get the range of students in the proficient category up to 60 percent in seventh grade, up to 70 percent the year after that," Lucia said.
In other committee business, Cathy Riccio was approved as school nurse leader, and Mary Beth Doherty as a school nurse. School improvement plans were also approved for all three schools. The plans are available online at the school's Web site, www.georgetown.k12.ma.us.
