Sealaska - Programs - Tlingit K-3

Tlingit K-4

Academic Success

Features

Parent Comments

Send Comments to:
Webmaster

Parent Comments

In May 2003, a surveyor asked parents of enrolled students to name two things they would like the Juneau School Board to know about their experience with the Tlingit K-4 Program at Harborview Elementary School. The following is a sample of comments from parents:

Having had 6 kids in all of the various schools and programs in the District the Tlingit language program is by far the most effective with my child and family.
It instills pride in being Native and supports a sense of community for the kids and families in the program.
The Harborview Tlingit Immersion program is the BEST program in the Juneau School District, and is a model for the rest of the state and nation…. Bilingual education and cultural pride will overwhelmingly help with benchmarks, standards, NCLB and anything else you throw at us.
The children have been so excited about this classroom and the opportunities provided them that a grandparent can only latch on to that excitement and enjoy it….
The pride the children feel as they share their learnings (Tlingit language) with parents and grandparents….grandparents and parents share their pride and support the development of a positive self image that this classroom promotes for Tlingit children.
My son has been going since Kindergarten - now he can hold conversations with my grandma. I really enjoy having my son learn our language as I don't know it - now he can pass it on.
It is so very important, what is being taught and learned….it is so great not only what my granddaughter has learned, but as well the other kids.
2 things…having qualified teachers, Native teachers, and bringing pride back to our Native children, enabling them to thrive in both cultures. Spanish and other languages are being taught. Thank you for including Tlingit.
Its an excellent program for children and parents. The culture and language reinforces other aspects of the curriculum
Smaller class size is important; its more "traditional" as far as Tlingit is concerned.
The environment is so comfortable. I think the students open up right away and are not scared to learn. I know from my youngest, who now can hardly wait for next year.
I enjoy listening to my boys talk Tlingit, count and sing. And I watch them come up with their own scenarios like hunting, fishing, cooking etc…
Children enjoy the one-to-one time with the teachers. The smaller class is nice for them to learn.
Learning culture at such a young age is nice.
Try to obtain assistance (personnel) to help the immersion team…do not burn out the teachers, take care of them. Make sure to expand the program through the grades.
The program works. All involved work very hard with a common goal. The program has benefited my son greatly. He enjoys all. I hope this program will go on and on. To all involved keep up the good work.
Teamwork and language that is native to this area. Tlingit language was about out of society because it was native, not white. Good to hear the native language brought back. Stronger community ties will build a stronger society, builds a stronger self esteem for children to accept who they are and for those to understand the Native culture. To help discrimination from building…they learn to accept all; it is good to hear that coming out of little ones' mouths, not hate talk.
The program respects and transmits the culture to families - children, aunties, uncles, parents and grandparents and great-grandparents. For this we are so very grateful.
I would like to let you know that I am pleased and grateful that both of my sons were able to participate and are proud of what they are learning.
I have two children in the program. They both are learning to speak Tlingit language. They are learning about the Tlingit culture. It is an experience they would not receive in any other school program. They are happy, excited, enthusiastic, and learning and about being in school.
They are learning how to be respectful of themselves and each other. They are learning that each person has responsibility for their behavior towards others that will help create a school environment that is welcoming to everyone. School will become a place where all children can begin building positive attitudes about education and be accepting of others.
I really enjoyed seeing the kids' enthusiasm for Tlingit culture. They did a great job and I am so thankful for the hard work of the teachers who keep them excited about our native language. More dancing and storytelling would be awesome… I am sure they would really absorb it all.
I feel it is too bad the rest of the children in the area don't get the same privilege.
The importance of the survival of the Tlingit language, not only in the school but home also….we need more parental involvement.
Thank you for offering this fantastic program to our children. It will pay great dividends in the future success of Native students in our school district. Please continue to support and grow this program! It needs to continue to expand in staffing as the student participation and number of grade levels expands. It am apprehensive about next year. I have heard there will only be one teacher for grades 2, 3 and 4. I do not believe that is enough, no matter how great that teacher is. Please help us find a way to continue the high quality of the program.
I, as a grandparent, am learning my language along with my grand-daughter.
The get-togethers are most pleasurable.
The greatest accomplishments of our people have just begun. This program has planted a seed in my child that has produced fruits that I will enjoy every time I hear my daughter speak in her native language.
Without your support this would never have happened. Continued efforts for these endeavors require the continued support of the school board as well as our people.
My daughter wants to come to school now. She didn't prior to entering the Language and Culture program. Staff needs mutual planning time, at least a few days a week. We need this program offered at additional Juneau sites, such as Glacier Valley. More families want this. More children need this. We need additional staff support for the 2-3-4 combo next year…that's an enormous amount of critical content for one teacher to cover.
Thank you…it’s a GREAT program.

top