Baldwin Park Unified students and parents in the District’s Dual Language program learned about the additional benefits and resources for cultivating bilingual, biliterate and bicultural homes through a special guest lecture from award-winning author and speaker Maritere Rodriguez Bellas on Jan. 25.
Bellas, a bilingual parent mentor and writer, visited multiple Baldwin Park Unified schools, including Foster, Geddes, Margaret Heath, Tracy and Walnut, to speak with Dual Language students and teachers.
The assembly at Tracy Elementary had Dual Language students from Sierra Vista Middle School and Sierra Vista High School in attendance to show the younger students where they will be if they continue in the DL program.
Bellas concluded her visit at Olive Middle School, where she hosted a special parent discussion for more than 60 people.
“It was so wonderful speaking to Baldwin Park Unified children, they were so good and asked really great questions at every level,” Bellas said. “Dual Language Districts and teachers are the best resources for families because they help guide parents in their child’s education, they explain the role of the model parent and they can share success stories of the kids who already went through the program.”
During the question-and-answer session, BPUSD parents asked for tips on motivating students to continue practicing other languages at home after school, and Bellas suggested making it fun by incorporating music, television, film and art into daily experiences.