Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School
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Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School
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History
On Tuesday February 27th, 2007, the Massachusetts Board of Education approved the application of the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (PVCI) and gave the school the go-ahead to open in the fall of 2007. The first day of school was August 30, 2007. Who We Are PVCI is governed by a Board of Trustees. Our trustees are educators and professionals committed to creating a public Chinese immersion school for families in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. Our Board of Trustees includes nationally known language educators and advisors with experience in immersion, Chinese language and culture. Our Mission The Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (PVCI) prepares K- 8th grade students for academic and personal success through rigorous study and instruction aligned with the state and federal government standards, augmented with Chinese language and culture. PVCI's goals are to graduate students with excellent scholarship, high proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and English, plus sensitivity to multiple cultures. PVCI serves the Pioneer Valley region. Educational Program
 PVCI uses a "one-way" immersion model,
meaning most students will enter the program with no knowledge of Chinese.
Chinese language acquisition will occur naturally by using Chinese as the
language of instruction during a portion of the day. This approach is becoming
very popular because it produces high
academic outcomes and bilingual/biliterate
students.
As a Massachusetts public charter school, PVCI offers a curriculum aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. PVCI students receive instruction in core subjects (mathematics, English language arts, science, and social studies) and in art, music, health, and physical education. Students also study Chinese Language Arts and culture. PVCI will administer the MCAS tests.
Six-year-olds sing a Mandarin song in Portland, OR's Chinese immersion program. Photo: Rick Bowmer, AP, 1/3/06. In grades K-1st, 75% of the daily instruction is in Chinese and 25% in English. In grades 2nd-5th, 50% of the daily instruction will be in Chinese and 50% in English. In grades 6th-8th, 25% of the daily instruction will be in Chinese and 75% in English. English Language Arts will always be taught in English by a teacher with native English proficiency. Subjects taught in Chinese are taught by a bilingual Chinese/English teacher with native or near-native proficiency in Chinese. Art, music, health and physical education is taught in English or Chinese. School Calendar and Hours PVCI complies with state requirements for the minimum number of days and hours open. PVCI operates 180 days a year. PVCI’s Kindergarten and 1st grade operates on a full-day 7 hour schedule from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. For older students, PVCI will operate on a full-day of 7 hours and 45 minutes from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM. Students may start arriving at 8:15 AM. The longer day is seen in other charter schools and allows more time for instruction and enrichment activities. Contact Information
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Send mail to
info@pvcics.org with questions or
comments.
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For more information please contact us: