Des Plaines Park District Wishes You, Feliz Navidad!

The Des Plaines Park District presented a Spanish Recital on Saturday, December 21 in the Administrative and Leisure Center gymnasium. Children studying Spanish in Spanish Preschool and in Leyendo y Escribiendo (Reading and Writing) performed six songs including Si juntamos las manitas, (If We Join Hands); Rodolfo el reno, (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer); El acitron, (The citron, a Mexican sweet); Juanito cuando baila, (When Juan Dances); and Mi burro enfermo, (My Donkey is Sick). After the performance the children visited with Santa, made crafts including angels from coffee filters and Christmas trees from ice cream cones, and feasted on pizza and sweets. Over 35 children study Spanish as a second, and in some cases a third language at the Des Plaines Park District. The District has a cooperative agreement with the Park District of Park Ridge so their residents can register for the Spanish classes at Des Plaines Park District resident rates.

For the winter session, the Park District offers three classes in Spanish: Mi Mamma y Yo, a parent/tot class for children 2-3 years old; Spanish Preschool, for children ages 2 ½-5 years old; and Leyendo y Escribiendo, for children ages 5-10. The full emersion programs are taught entirely in Spanish by Laura Meza, and each week the class has a targeted learning curriculum such as clothing, food, colors, and body parts. Learning is accomplished through songs, games, art projects, and reading stories. For more information about Spanish classes and early education classes at the Des Plaines Park District, visit www.DPParks.org or call 847-391-5700.