McDonald International School McDonald International School

International Support International Support Fund CampaignFund Campaign

What is the International Support (I.S.) Fund Campaign?

The I.S. Fund is the money raised solely by parents and neighborhood partners to pay for the cost of classroom Immersion Instructional Assistants and the International Teacher Interns Program.

The I.S. Fund Campaign is the variety of efforts implemented to raise the money for the Fund.

What Your 2012-2013 PTAWhat Your 2012-2013 PTAImmersion Support FundImmersion Support Fund Paid For: Paid For:Immersion Assistants and InternsImmersion Assistants and Interns

SpanishSpanish Japanese

3 Full Time Native Speaking 3 Full Time Native Speaking Immersion Instructional Immersion Instructional AssistantsAssistants

2 Full Time Native Speaking 2 Full Time Native Speaking International InternsInternational Interns

2 Full Time Native Speaking 2 Full Time Native Speaking Immersion Instructional Immersion Instructional AssistantsAssistants

1 Full Time Native Speaking 1 Full Time Native Speaking International InternsInternational Interns

Total = 5 Instructional Assistants and 3 InternsTotal Cost = $273,000 for 2012-13

What Is The Difference between Immersion Assistants (IA) and Immersion Interns (II)?

• IAs are experienced teachers assistants hired and salaried by the Seattle School District. McDonald PTA gives money to the School District to cover the costs of their salaries. McDonald teachers and Principal Grinager all participate in the selection process. These teachers are then able to stay with the school from then on provided our PTA can come up with the funding for their salaries.

• IIs are teacher assistants who come to us through international programs (like the Japanese Government, Amity) that are created to give native language speakers the chance to work/teach abroad. They generally come for one year and then return to their studies in their countries of origin. The PTA generally is expected to pay a small amount of money for expenses (around $5,000) and to provide housing in the form of home stays with McDonald families.

An Immersion Assistant (IA) or an An Immersion Assistant (IA) or an Immersion Intern (II) is a teacher Immersion Intern (II) is a teacher assistant that is native speaker in assistant that is native speaker in the foreign language being taught the foreign language being taught by the primary teacher. by the primary teacher.

For the 2013-14 school year we will add at least 3 additional kindergarten classes

For an additional cost of $75,000 to add 1.5 moreNative Speaking Immersion Instructional Assistants

In the Immersion classroom setting, the Instructional Assistant cuts the student teacher ratio in 1/2. When the Intern is present in the classroom, the student teacher ratio is cut by 2/3’s.

If your child’s classroom has 30 students – the district funds a 30:1 student teacher ratio.

Through our campaign, we have been able to cut that down to 15:1 every day and 10:1 many days.

Do you think your child will have a better and more personalized learning experience in a 30:1 environment or a 10:1 learning environment?

•Reduction of the student-teacher ratio by one-half.•Increase in the opportunity for students to hear and have conversations in the foreign language being taught.•Availability of additional support for struggling students and for those who need additional challenges and advancement.•Addition of depth and breadth of classroom cultural enrichment.

Benefits Of This Kind of Benefits Of This Kind of Classroom Support Include:Classroom Support Include:

14:114:1 Student to Instructor ratio with an Immersion Assistant/Intern

28:128:1 Student to Instructor ratio without an Immersion Assistant/Intern

Language Immersion Instruction Language Immersion Instruction without an Immersion Assistant or Internwithout an Immersion Assistant or Intern

WithWith WithoutWithout

The Critical Importance of Immersion Assistants and Interns

Other Seattle School District language immersion schools and many nationwide have employed

Immersion Assistants (IAs) and Immersion Interns (IIs) with great success.

“ Having a an IA is invaluable – it not only …… but also provides me with more time to plan, reflect, and design more effective lessons. “

- Diane Einmo, McDonald Spanish Immersion Teacher

How Much Do Immersion Assistants and Interns Cost Us?

.

• The cost for the Seattle Public Schools to hire each Assistant is $50,000

• This breaks down to approximately $25,000 per class.

• The approximate cost for each Intern is projected to be around $5,000

• Projected needs for 2013 - 2014: 2.5 full-time Japanese IAs 4 full-time Spanish IAs 2 Japanese IIs 2 Spanish IIs

We did not reach our goal last year!We raised approximately 60% of our goal

and got a one time gift from the district that covered the

remainder for the 2012-13 school year only.

We must do better this year to maintain the level of classroom support that we have been

enjoying this year.

Your PTA:Hard At Work To Find External Funding

In addition to the “Direct Ask” of this Spring’s campaign, the PTA has many external fundraising initiatives already in motion.

• Business Campaign – soliciting from surrounding businesses• Grants – multiple grants are being written and applied for• Scrip’s and commissions – Amazon and a variety of other sources• Magnanimous Donors Group – Inquire with Mark Roschy or Kathy Bacon

We Need Your Help!Our goal for our 2013-2014

Immersion Support Fund is:

$375,000Based on projected classroom

needs for 2013 - 2014:2.5 full-time Japanese IAs - $125,0004 full-time Spanish IAs - $200,0002 Japanese IIs - $25,0002 Spanish IIs - $25,000