¡Pasa el verano hablando español!

Passez l'été en parlant français !

ISB’s French and Spanish Language Immersion Program captures the best of language learning and summer fun! ISB Summer’s staff is comprised of experienced, talented, and creative educators. Small group sizes (assigned by age) of up to 18 children and 2 to 3 counselors (based on the number of kids in a group) help each group build strong bonds and allow for personalized learning and attention. ISB’s warm and welcoming atmosphere makes the Summer Program a great experience for children of all language levels. Beginners grasp the rhythm of the language, learn songs, and build daily vocabulary. More advanced speakers enhance their skills by learning new vocabulary and using the language with their peers.

ISB's Summer Language Immersion Program is open to rising Pre-K 4* through rising 5th Grade students.
*Children must be 4 years old by September 1.

 

Summer 2023: Land and Sea

Monday, July 3 - Friday, July 28

ISB Summer celebrates the season by learning about the interwovenness of land and sea. Through arts and crafts and hands-on nature projects with conversations led in French or Spanish, outdoor play, visiting experts, and field trips, participants are in for an enriching experience.

Our program is suited for beginners and native speakers alike. The target language (French or Spanish) is incorporated into the routine of the day, and many new words and expressions are introduced based on the theme of the week. At the end of each week, families will receive a newsletter and photo album sharing the week’s adventures and highlighting the target vocabulary. We welcome a weekly residency with the Brooklyn Seeds Gardening program, as well as a weekly residency with the music-filled fitness program with Zing! For Kids.

Weekly Residencies

Brooklyn Seeds 

Participants get their hands in the dirt and learn about native plants and animals (as well invasive ones) with Brooklyn Seeds! 

Zing! For Kids

Zing! fuses functional exercise and high energy with athletic drills, positive affirmations, breathwork, and creative play to channel a child’s inner rock star. Kids can expect to get moving, feel strong, and have FUN!

 

THEMES

 

Session 1: Sand, Rocks, and Sparkles

(Monday, July 3-Friday, July 7; Closed July 4)
In this shortened holiday week, we open summer with sand and seashell globes, slime and volcano-making, water games, and science fun with metal detectors and minerals! Grades 1 and up will take a field trip via chartered bus to the American Museum of Natural History to visit the Hall of Gems and Minerals.

 

Session 2: Sharks, Starfish, and Otters

(Monday, July 10 - Friday, July 14)

What do sharks, otters, and starfish have in common? They are all keystone species that play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. We will learn in French and Spanish about these cool creatures and take an all-grades trip via chartered bus to the New York Aquarium. Do you know what else is a keystone species? Honey bees. All children will explore the importance of bees and native plants with Brooklyn Seeds' onsite visit.

 

Session 3: Raptors and Rodents
(Monday, July 17 - Friday, July 21)

Delve into the world of prey and predator and examine the fascinating life of animals that are right here in our midst. With target vocabulary in French or Spanish naming different birds and yes, rodents, we will learn about the comeback of raptors in New York City and how these mighty predators can help reduce our rat population. We will also learn about what smart creatures rats are. The week will be filled with amazing on-campus assembly visits from wildlife rescuers of raptors, rodents, and probably a few other creatures who will make appearances!

 

Session 4: Voyage Around the World
(Monday, July 24 - Friday, July 28)

This week, we will celebrate the human species by celebrating culture through song, story, and food from Spanish and French-speaking countries around the world. Our talented counselors will bring their own diverse cultural heritages into our space to share and enjoy.

Health and Safety Plan

Children are required to be fully vaccinated in order to attend ISB’s summer session.  This includes all vaccinations required for school entry and both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5 years and up.  A standard health form and proof of vaccination against Covid-19 (if age appropriate) will be required to attend our summer session. Currently, at ISB, mask-wearing is optional unless someone has been a close contact.  This requirement is subject to change according to guidance from the Department of Health.  If your student requires any medications, including over-the-counter, their pediatrician will need to complete a required form. Please contact our School Nurse, Kali Gerber, at kgerber@isbrooklyn.org for any questions regarding health forms or your child’s health needs. 

A Day at ISB Summer...

At ISB Summer, children are a part of engaging and language-rich activities, including arts & crafts, group games, sports, cooking, music, drama, and story-time. Playing outside is also a key part of the summer experience! Daily recesses are scheduled in ISB’s play yard and local parks. Daily activities are always unique, but each day has one thing in common: the groups are always busy having fun!

Sample Schedule

8:30-9:00am - Early Drop-off
9:00am-9:15am - Arrival & Morning Greeting: Circle Time, Discussion of Activities
9:15am-10:15am - Group Activities (arts & crafts, music, cooking, drama, athletics, etc.)
10:15am-10:30am - Snack (bring snack from home)
10:30am-11:15am - Outdoor Recess
11:15am-12:00pm - Group Activities (arts & crafts, music, cooking, drama, athletics, etc.)
12:00pm-12:30pm - Lunch* (bring lunch from home)
12:30pm-1:15pm - Trip to St. Mary's Playground (Pre-K 4 students have nap/quiet time after lunch)
1:15pm-3:15pm - Group Activities (arts & crafts, music, cooking, drama, athletics, etc.)
3:15pm-3:30pm - Clean-up, Farewell & Dismissal
3:30pm-4:00pm - Extended Day

Prices and Registration

2023 Program Prices:
Session 1 (July 3 - July 7; Closed July 4): $600
Session 2 (July 10 - July 14): $750
Session 3 (July 17 - July 21): $750
Session 4 (July 24 - July 28): $750
Please note there is a non-refundable registration fee of $25 per session.

Early Bird Discount: 2% off the total cost of summer session registrations purchased through March 15, 2023.

Sibling Discount: Receive 2% per child per session when 2 or more siblings are registered.

Multiple Session Discount: Register for 2 or more sessions to receive 2% off your total.

Registration for ISB Summer takes place online via Popsicle. Create your account, enter your child(ren)'s information, and then choose your desired program sessions. Get started now!

See what parents are saying about ISB's Summer Language Immersion Program...

"The activities were so creative and engaging. It was a great way to continue building Spanish language skills in a fun way. Leticia and all of the staff that worked with the group were so wonderful. They were fun, caring and so enthusiastic. Thank you!"
 
"Great teachers and good projects, it was a perfect introduction to French!"
 
"My son made a lot of friends. I loved that he was speaking Spanish all day."

 

"My son loved all of the hands-on art projects that accompanied the theme. I personally enjoyed that he came home everyday talking about the projects and his experiences at camp.  I loved the fact that the teachers were very creative in their implementation."

2nd Grade Future Astronauts Blast Off to Outer Space

There was a buzz of excitement in the 2nd Grade classrooms as students began their next unit of inquiry on outer space. First, students reflected on their prior knowledge by writing and drawing what they already knew about the solar system, and then, they moved on to their space adventures! “This is the best unit for 2nd Graders!” says Paulina Bemporad, 2nd Grade English Teacher. “We tap into the wonder and imagination for space exploration, investigating our Solar System as we integrate science, math, physics, language, literacy, and social studies.”

A Powerful and Intimate Conversation Between ISB 5th Graders and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez

Each year, as part of the Civic Symbols and Constitutions unit of inquiry, the 5th Grade class sets off to Washington, D.C. to further understand how our the Constitution and other political documents are used to govern the country and to explore the ways that monuments and civic symbols express the common values of our society. While field trips have been put on pause during the pandemic, the class has been enjoying virtual field trips and meetings with special visitors as they learn more about the United States government. Last week, the 5th Graders were very fortunate to have a virtual visit from Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, New York’s 7th Congressional district representative, which includes their own school community in Carroll Gardens as well as several other surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods.

La Tierra en Movimiento

The 5th Grade “Moving Earth” unit encompasses Earth’s changes and how those changes can affect our lives. No one could have predicted that students would be exploring this unit while living through a historic pandemic, but the current context gave students a deeper connection to their studies and a very real lens through which to develop inquisitive questions. Students launched the unit by investigating the Earth’s changes and the human response. To explore this, Spanish 5th Graders interviewed people who have lived through various disasters from all around the world.

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