Students excited to plunge into Spanish learning at Earl Grey School

Parents and students in a Spanish bilingual program at Earl Grey Schoolare celebrating today.

After four years of lobbying for a program in the Winnipeg School Division, 18 kindergarten students are learning to count and sing in Spanish.

• Spanish bilingual program registration underway in Winnipeg School Division

Heidi Garcia's son Haydnis one of them. Her husband is Salvadorian and she considers her family a work in progress in speaking Spanish at home.

"We would just love for our kids to be bilingual. It's part of their heritage. I am learning too and we are really excitedto have Haydnin here. And the cool thing is he's already coming home wanting to speak more. He is actually being the instigator to get more Spanish spoken in our home," said Garcia.

Elena Heppner is also in the class. She is proud to shout "Buenos Dias!"

"I like to learn new words and work at the different centres. I like learning about more Spanish," said the five-year-old.

Her mom, Kathy Heppner,who learned Spanish as an adult, is thrilled.Heppner was one of the motherswho made the proposal to the division.

"It's pretty amazing. I think it's a bit surreal. I don't know if we thought it would happen. With community support, it has been a fabulous milestone," said Heppner.

Not everyone who is in the class has Spanish heritage.

MyloKendrick's family moved into the division from southwestern Manitoba. He loves learning new words in a language he has heard before.

"I love it because when I go to Mexico again with my family, I can speak with Spanish people."

The program will grow as the current class grows up; itwill be offered in kindergarten and Grade 1 in fall 2017 and continue to expand at Earl Grey up to Grade 6.

Heppner and another parent, Eugenia Lehmann,are proposing that other school divisions in Winnipeg adopt a similar program. They also want to see a late entry program so students in Grade 7 can also have the option.