Immersion Program

Students may enter this program at the TK or Kindergarten grade levels. Bilingual students may be admitted at any grade level, depending on their level of literacy in Spanish and their oral English proficiency. Skills will be assessed by Immersion Teachers.

Siblings of immersion students, TK through 11th grade, are prioritized into the Immersion program. If there are more interested students than there are available spots, based on a 50% English, 50% Spanish model, then all non-sibling students will be entered into a lottery. A parent representative from SIPA will be present during the lottery. After the lottery, Pupil Services will inform parents whether their child will be placed in the Immersion program or on the waitlist, with a ranking number. If a spot becomes available, Pupil Services will contact the parent of the next student in line.

English Learners will receive Integrated ELD instruction (all content areas) and designated ELD instruction (30 minutes daily). Teachers will explicitly instruct students in English to reach academic goals of their second language in the four domains of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students are grouped based on their CELDT (California English Language Development Test) levels, with no more than two levels per group. Teachers will be using English curriculum that aligns with the current ELA (English Language Art) curriculum. 

To enroll your child into the Immersion program, first enroll your child in TK or Kindergarten at your home school. Visit the "Enroll" icon at CUSD's home page. Then fill out the Immersion Application Form and turn it into your home school.  

The Spanish-speaking Immersion program instructors are credentialed bilingual teachers with native-like fluency in Spanish. Resource teachers and Amity Interns also provide support.

Sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students continue their immersion coursework by participating in the new Spanish Language Arts core class (2 periods) during the regular school day. These classes cover the same grade-level standards that are taught in the mainstream English Language Arts; however, they are conducted in both English and Spanish. Students are placed in these classes pending various assessments and their academic record.

* An exiting eighth-grade student will have the ability to read novels in Spanish and be familiar with conventions of Spanish grammar, in addition to understanding the grade-level Common Core standards for Language Arts. Additionally, an eighth-grade student will have an understanding of a variety of cultures and be able to converse fluently in English and Spanish.

Spanish Language Arts at Cunha Intermediate

At Half Moon Bay High School (HMBHS), students typically join the Spanish for Spanish Speakers levels I and II based on the Spanish placement exam administered as 8th graders in the spring of the year prior to their attendance of HMBHS. These classes are taught in Spanish and cover reading, writing, and grammar skills at a higher level to prepare students for AP courses the following year. The College Board reserves AP-level courses for advanced students, requiring not only strong language skills but also higher-level thinking and interpretive skills typically not developed until high school. In a few cases, students with exceptional skills in all areas may be allowed to test into the course their first year.

World Languages at Half Moon Bay High School

Seal of Biliteracy

Exiting students who are fluent speakers, readers, and writers of both English and Spanish will receive the Seal of Biliteracy. This award is in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by the time of their high school graduation.

Seal of Biliteracy FAQs

Seal of Biliteracy Adopted