A new Spanish immersion preschool, Escuelita Alegría, has opened in downtown Columbia, offering a unique educational opportunity for young children. The preschool, meaning “happy little school” in Spanish, is housed within First Presbyterian Church, located at 16 Hitt St.
The facility features four fully equipped classrooms and has the capacity to accommodate up to 50 children, ranging from age 2 until kindergarten. As of now, three students have enrolled, including one Spanish-speaking child, with three more expected to start soon.
Escuelita Alegría operates year-round, with full-day classes from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Early drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m., and late pick-up is available until 5:30 p.m. for an additional fee. More details about the school’s hours, fees, and educational approach can be found on its website.
Although the preschool is located in First Presbyterian Church, it operates independently. Rev. Kati Collins of the church noted that the school is one of several nonprofit organizations the church considered for the space. “They’ve really worked with us to say, ‘What do you need?’ and so we’ve worked together to help them get licensing,” Collins said. “It’s been exciting to watch their progress and dedication to providing this service for the community.”
Janice Rivero Morris, president of the school’s board of directors and a full-time teacher at Escuelita Alegría, explained that the preschool was created to meet the growing demand for Spanish immersion education in Columbia. “There is a need for this kind of program,” she said.
Other language immersion programs in Columbia include La Petite Ecole, which offers French immersion, and The Language Tree, which provides both French and Spanish programs.
Research shows that early language immersion has benefits beyond language acquisition. It can enhance cognitive development, improving skills such as attention, memory, and task management. Harleen Velazco Clapp, a teacher at the school and a first-generation Cuban immigrant, emphasized the importance of such programs for the local community. “In Columbia, we have a large community of native Spanish speakers and second-generation immigrants,” Clapp said. “It’s important for children to have opportunities to learn Spanish, especially when their families may not have the time or resources to teach it themselves.”
Studies also suggest that language immersion positively impacts brain development, with benefits including improved executive functions, quicker mental processing, and heightened sensitivity to sounds and music.
Escuelita Alegría is part of a growing trend of language immersion programs in Columbia, offering children the opportunity to learn a second language while developing important cognitive skills.
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