New dual language school to open in Central Falls

March 6, 2019 11:38 pm

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WLNE) — The Central Falls School District has announced it will open a new dual language school.

“The main reason for us is to make sure that our students are able to have that edge,” said Victor Capellan, the district’s superintendent. “Make sure that they can compete not just with their peers here in the United States, but across the world.”

Capellan acknowledges that many Central Falls students already come from homes where Spanish or Portuguese Creole are spoken. But he says even those with some existing knowledge of another language can build on it in a formal way. He also notes many parents who are not native English speakers choose not to teach their native language to their children.

The new dual language school will teach English and Spanish.

“Research shows that you can learn both languages and have success in two, sometimes three languages,” Capellan said. “But they younger that you start, the better.”

The school will teach pre-K through 6th Grade students and use the existing Robertson school building.

Parents say their children could benefit.

“Ninety–five percent of the time in Central Falls, people speak different languages, and you can never understand what they’re saying,” said Sean Martucci of Central Falls. “You bring a bilingual school in here, you know what they’re saying.”

“I think that they should do it,” said Adam Diiorio of Central Falls. “If it works for one school, why not go all the way? Try it in Providence, try different schools. Start small and see where it goes.”

Capellan says the school will work within the existing budget and be ready to welcome 280 students in the fall.