By: Nicole Taylor
STOCKTON – The upcoming year at Stockton School brings a new world languages program and a more comfortable building, according to the superintendent.
Marlene Leeb was excited about the expansion of the school’s foreign language program beyond the French program that already exists.
"We have a new introductory Spanish program called ‘Espanol Para Ti,’ " she said. "It will be for the fifth and sixth grades."
She said the introduction to foreign languages at this age would help the children decide what to pursue when they enter higher grade levels.
"We want the children to have experience in many languages," she said. "Studies show that this age is a good time to start a second language."
Ms. Leeb said the students would not use textbooks.
"It is being facilitated by the classroom teacher," she said. "It has some videos and a lot of supplemental materials. Oral expression is the focus rather than written."
Although there is no new construction in the building, Ms. Leeb said when students enter the building on Sept. 6, the first day of school, they might notice something different.
"We also have air conditioning throughout the building," she said. "The PTO raised money through their auctions and has purchased an air conditioning unit."
She said because of the age of the building, air conditioning could not be installed in the lower portion of the building. However, there will be central air in the entire top floor.
There will be a few new faces at Stockton School as well. Ms. Leeb said at last count, enrollment was 63 students, up from last year’s 61.
"We also have some new faculty," Ms. Leeb said. "We have a new fifth- and sixth-grade teacher, Lawrence Nemeth; a new nurse, Ingrid Merea; a new supplemental teacher, Patricia Dennis; and a new music teacher, Carolyn Viola."
