Please preserve Glenwood's STEAM2 program

[Alice Whiteside]

I want to state plainly that if you close Glenwood without a commitment to keeping the school-wide program together, you will be closing a program. 

Glenwood is home to the STEAM2 program: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, and Mandarin. STEAM2 includes two tracks, Mandarin Dual Language and World Language. The curriculum of the World Language track is not markedly different from the curriculum at non-magnet schools in our district (as noted in the report), but it is a magnet program -- families enter a lottery for the STEAM2 World Language track. I have met families in the WL track who chose it for the Mandarin culture and language component and others who chose it for the STEAM focus. Without a commitment to keeping the school-wide program intact, a decision to close Glenwood would dismantle this program: the STEAM2 World Language track would effectively disappear (at least, I have not heard any explanation of how it would continue, as all CHCCS elementary schools are single-language), and the Dual Language track would be set on a path that we know, from our own recent history, is fiscally risky and likely unsustainable.

The STEAM2 program is not simply a few specialized teachers, and it is not two programs in one building: it is a unified, school-wide culture. Our teachers and staff work together to support our students in this amazing school. My family's experience at Glenwood has surpassed every hope I had for my child in Kindergarten. He has historically had a very hard time with transitions and I expected Kindergarten would be the same, but he has loved school since day 1. About a month into the year, he was talking about one of his specials teachers, and I asked "Is that the one who is really nice?"; he looked at me like it was a dumb question and said "All of my teachers are really nice." In October when we started the Book in a Bag reading practice, he couldn't read; he now is reading fluently. His teachers have expertly helped him navigate social challenges. He is excited and proud to be learning Mandarin.

Riza asked at the last meeting: If your school closes, what do you need? My answer is that I need this program to remain intact. If the district is truly committed to keeping Mandarin Dual Language, it must keep intact the program that has made Mandarin Dual Language succeed.

If you are not able to make a clear commitment to maintain the STEAM2 program as a school-wide magnet program regardless of location, I respectfully ask you to vote to keep Glenwood open.

Thank you for your time, and for listening. I appreciate that this is an incredibly difficult decision for everyone.

Sincerely,

Alice Whiteside

Parent of a current Mandarin Dual Language student and a future MDL student