I really appreciate these insights! This sounds much better than my initial impression (which ran along the lines of what's the point if the exposure is likely not to the kids/teachers she'll eventually be in class with). If your kids came out of this program enthusiastic about starting in the fall, then maybe it's worth the childcare challenge. Mine has had once-a-week Spanish classes in preschool, but certainly not enough exposure to make full immersion less intimidating.

I'd recommend it too, especially for kids with no Spanish background. My kids did the program last summer (when it was offered at Key, it's a joint program and alternates between the two) and it was well-run and helped them make friends before the school year started. It definitely had a focus on learning language, but via lots of songs, activities, and planning for an imaginary trip to a Spanish-speaking country.

The Immersion summer school class is a lot of fun. It's learning about cultures and foods and dances and things from Spanish speaking countries, but in a way to get kids learning the language and speaking a bit. It can be intimidating for some kids to start in Kinder with half their day in Spanish. So for those kids with no Spanish background, this can be a fun way to get used to hearing it and what they'll be exposed to. They also may get the chance to see some of their future teachers around, and since it's at Claremont this summer, they'll see their new school.

At the school information session, the principal encouraged us to sign our children up for summer school so they have a leg up when they start in the fall. I should have asked at the time but I wasn't sure we were going to pick Claremont then...does anyone have experience with summer school for Spanish immersion? Is it a positive introduction where the kids get excited about it? I'm concerned that it sounds like a rigid program and it may turn my child off on it...and if they are introducing the new kindergarteners properly in the fall, it shouldn't be necessary. Summer school is every day for a month, so it pretty much screws up childcare plans for summer, you have to be there in person to apply, the deadline to apply is in two weeks, and there are "no excused absences" (in the summer??). So I'm not thrilled with the idea unless it's going to be fun and positive and get her excited about starting school. Any thoughts?