Program Design

The night school component of our Secondary Transitional Bilingual Program was begun in 1993. The students have named it Chelan Preparatory High School. It serves students who are working and cannot attend day school on a regular basis. The vast majority of these students are Hispanic, migrant, limited in English proficiency, and either self-supporting or an essential contributor to their family's income. It provides a Newcomer Center for beginning second language proficient students and a Sheltered Content Center for those passing out of the Newcomer Center and accruing credits towards a diploma. All of the 19 credits required by the state of Washington are available through sheltered content courses. These courses are taught on a rotating basis over a three to four year period. Night school students work towards an alternative Chelan High school diploma.

The nigh school head teacher, Mark Brundage, works closely with the day school head teacher, Joel Martinez, to ensure smooth transitioning of students and credits between programs if programming change is recommended. The night school runs from 5:30 to 9:30 five nights a week. Also, an evening meal is served. Those who qualify are eligible for a free or reduced-priced meal. All other students must pay the regular full fare for a student meal. Bussing is provided for night school students coming to school and returning home.

The day school component of our Secondary Transition Bilingual Program is different from the night. It also has a Newcomer Center in combination with the middle school. E.S.L I,II,III are taught every semester of high school until a student is able to exit into mainstream English as indicated by the SLEP test and student portfolio. Specially designed curriculum such as Basic English, Multi-Cultural Literature, and Success in Communication, Reading, and Writing. We begin high school ESL to prepare students for the 4th, 7th, and 10th grade benchmarks from the day they enter our program. Sheltered content courses are also taught on a rotation basis in the day program. Those offered for high school credit, like Washington State History and Health, have been approved by the counselor of the high school. Others, like Government, Life Science, and Life Skills are offered for elective credit, but prepare students to succeed in mainstream content classes. We are exceptionally pleased with the transfer of learning experienced in sheltered content from the sheltered content to the mainstream content classes. The day school also offers tutorial support, for students struggling in mainstream classes, before school, at lunch, and after school. day school students must successfully complete 28 credits to graduate. Chelan's Night School also provides an opportunity for selected day school students (seniors only) to earn credit retrieval. These students are studying by individual contract and they must fulfill all the requirements of the course before any credit is awarded.