¿Cómo se dice “constitutional convention” en español?
Students in Jonathan Soto’s ninth and tenth grade U.S. History classes are learning the same content as their peers in other classrooms—the American revolution, the constitution, and the structure of the United States government, for example—with one key difference. Mr. Soto’s classes are taught entirely in Spanish.
The district’s Dual Language program gives students opportunities to learn in both English and Spanish as early as pre-school and throughout elementary and middle school. The high school program is expanding each year as the oldest cohort of students, currently in tenth grade at HHS North, moves through their high school years. The program is expected to be available to students at all grade levels by 2027.
Dual Language students at HHS North can take Spanish U.S. History, Spanish Biology, and Advanced Spanish Language & Literature as part of their Dual Language program. In Diashminelie Rivera’s biology class, students learn Spanish terminology for key science vocabulary, utilizing Spanish textbooks and worksheets that align with the English language biology curriculum. Maridia Hobert’s Spanish class doesn’t have an English-language alternative and is instead taken as a course alongside grade-level English Language Arts. In Ms. Hobert’s classroom, students dig deeper into Spanish literature and composition than their peers who may be taking Spanish for the first time at the high school level.
Beginning this year, students also can enroll in a Spanish-language early college course through Holyoke Community College. Opportunities for learning in Spanish will continue to expand as HHS North students rise through the program, with 11th grade courses beginning next year—including college-credit options such as Advanced Placement (AP) courses and additional dual enrollment courses with HCC. Students in 11th grade will also begin preparations to obtain the Seal of Biliteracy.
Enrollment in the Dual Language program for the 2025-26 school year will open in early February. The program is open to students of all backgrounds, including students who are English dominant, Spanish dominant, already bilingual, not exposed to either language, on an IEP, or not on an IEP. Students applying at or above first grade level must demonstrate their verbal, written, and reading level in Spanish.