Hi Joanna & Artur, 

I live in the neighborhood and I read an article on the internet called "Arcadia Lite - a Neighborhood Between the Giants".  Because you are doing business in this area, and because I think schools are something most buyers want to know about, I wanted to let you know about some of the changes at Squaw Peak Traditional Academy ("SPTA"). 

I don't work at SPTA, but I do plan on sending my two kids there in the next two years (one is 4 and one is 5).  SPTA is the public, kindergarten through 8th grade elementary school that serves the familes between 32nd and 40th Street, and between Northern and Indian School Road.  As you probably know, for several years most of the parents in this neighborhood sent their kids to private or charter schools, but I think that is about to change. 

In August of 2009, SPTA stopped busing the children in from outside the neighborhood.  As a result, there are now only 150 k - 7th graders at the school (and 100 8th graders who were "grandfathered in").  There is a parent movement from within the neighborhood to revitalize the school and to start a new foreign language immersion program, that will start in kindergarten and 1st grade in August of 2010. 

For the first time in several years, there are scores of parents who are signing up on waiting lists to enroll their children at SPTA.  The foreign language program is the main reason.  There are only three other programs like it in the state.   In the program, children learn a foreign language through immersion education -  50% of their regular curriculum will be taught in Spanish, and 50% will be taught in English. 

The program has been so successful at the other schools that they have waiting lists that are 3 to 4 years long. At SPTA, the program is just starting in August 2010, so there is still plenty of room.  The school (and the parents) are hoping to have enough children in August 2010 to have two classes of kindergarteners and two classes of first graders.  

We would greatly appreciate it if you would tell families who are considering moving into this neighborhood about this new program at SPTA.  As I mentioned, I do not work there, I am just a parent who is planning on having her kids start there in the next couple years, and I'd like to see the program have enough children enrolled to ensure it is a success.

Also, it would be great if you would consider including something about this new program in any future articles you may write about the neighborhood!   To give you a little more information, I wrote a summary below:

Foreign Language Immersion

Squaw Peak Traditional Academy, located at 4601 N. 34th Street, is the k - 8 public elementary school serving the neighborhoods between 32nd and 40th Street, and Indian School and Northern.  The school is offering a foreign language immersion program that will teach children to speak, read, and write in two languages.  The program will begin in kindergarten and first grade for the 2010 - 2011 academic year, and will add an additional grade every year thereafter.  English speaking children enrolled in the program will spend half of the school day learning the traditional academy curriculum in Spanish, and the other half learning in English. 

The school's goal is to provide a rigorous, accelerated education that includes an opportunity to master a second language.  The curriculum also includes Music, Art, P.E., and Technology.  To learn more, please attend one of the foreign language immersion information sessions on January 28, 2010 at 8:00 am or at 5:00 pm, or go to squawpeakimmersion.com.  To sign up for the waiting list, please call Squaw Peak Traditional Academy at 602-381-6169.   Children from outside the school boundaries are welcome to enroll to the extent space is available. 

Also, here is a link to an Arizona Republic article that was recently published about the program and the efforts of the parents in the neighborhood who are behind it.   http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2009/11/20/20091120Phx-ncimmersion1121.html.  The parents have started a website about the program, and you can see that at www.squawpeakimmersion.com. 

Thank you so much!  

Renee