Jennie K. Kolter Elementary School

Foreign Language Grant News - 
from our Grant Coordinator Mrs. Jordan

 

 


Working to actively communicate and advance our relationships with the general public, parents, and other educators.  Read below in this column for some of that work.

 

 

Congratulations!  Almost $500,000 over 3 years

Kolter has been awarded a Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) Grant by the U. S. Department of Education for almost $500,000 over the next three year. The Kolter Kids Soar project was the only HISD school to receive this grant. The majority of the funding will be used to expand the new Chinese program in grades K-5.  Funds for the project will also be used to expand the existing elementary Japanese program at Kolter and to align the program with existing programs at the middle and high school levels.  The project will allow for staff development time for the language content teachers to work together to ensure that the objectives of the project are carried over into the content classrooms.   This award will give Kolter teachers and coordinator the opportunity to participate in national dialogues on Foreign Language in Elementary Schools (FLES) programming.

March 30, 2008

We were most appreciative to the Japanese representatives (Consulate-General of Japan at Houston ) who arranged a Japanese culture workshop at Kolter on March 30.

This event included workshops on Manga Drawing, Calligraphy, Origami, Flower Arranging, Ceramics and Japanese Dancing. It was really fun and educational.

Feb.6, 2008

As part of the FLAP Grant, Kolter hosted a Foreign Language inservice building our connection with teachers from Pin Oak Middle School and Johnston Middle School. Teachers collaborated on two main topics: differentiating instruction and assessment for elementary and middle school teachers. Dr. Audrey Heining-Boynton, former ACTFL president, facilitated the workshop designed to improve communications with elementary and middle school foreign language teachers.

Nov. 15-17, 2007

Seven  teachers and administrators attended the American Council of Teachers of Foreign language Conference (ACTFL) in San Antonio, on November 15-17. The conference gave teachers and administrators the opportunity to collaborate on curriculum alignment for K-12 for Chinese and Japanese.

April 2007
  		The Kolter FLAP Grant provided the opportunity for Mrs. Yu, Mrs. Keith, Mrs. Jordan and Mrs. Kearney to attend a Critical Language program workshop in Portland, Oregon April 25-2 2007.  As part of the K-12 alignment, the Chinese teacher from Johnston Middle School and Magnet Coordinator from Bellaire High School accompanied the Kolter staff and visited several Portland Public Schools with a Japanese and Chinese immersion program.
HATFL Tours Kolter in May 2006!        Click here for details
Feb 2006
 
We were most appreciative to the French representatives (the French Consul and the French Cultural Attache) who visited Kolter's 3rd grade French Class on Monday Jan 23, 2006. Meeting these Two gentlemen and talking with them was an important and unique part of these students' French education.    Click here for the whole story.      Merci'
Jan 24, 2006
 
As part of the FLAP Grant, Kolter hosted a language workshop building the connection with teachers from Pin Oak, Johnston and Hamilton middle schools.  Teachers collaborated on curriculum, assessment and language transition to middle school.  Dr. Audrey Heining-Boynton, former ACTFL president, facilitated the workshop designed to improve communications with elementary, middle, and high school foreign language teachers.

Jan 2006

We are happy to have made contact with the Chinese Embassy recently. This is important in our efforts to connect with the social and business community associated with the Languages we teach.  We are holding our next Foreign Language Parent Advisory Council meeting on Wednesday Jan 11, 2006 at 8:15am.
Nov and Dec 2005

Photos of Collaboration and Integration of The Foreign Language and Cultures Magnet Program into the Classroom Curriculum.

Nov 2005

We are Kolter proud of all the teachers who presented a workshop at the Texas Foreign language Association (TFLA Conference in El Paso, October 21.  The workshop was attended by elementary as well as middle school language teachers who gave wonderful accolades for the Kolter presentation.

Eleven teachers and administrators attended the American Council of Teachers of Foreign language Conference (ACTFL) in Baltimore on November 16 -19.  It was very informative and beneficial.

The Kolter Advisory Council met Friday, November 4 to discuss grant activities.   Plans were made and are progressing.
Oct 2005

Kolter staff presented and attended the Texas Foreign Language (TFLA Meeting) in El Paso Texas  .  Click here for Magnet Coordinator's Powerpoint Presentation at Texas Foreign Language Association
(TFLA) meeting in El Paso, Texas on Oct 21. 2005                  

And click here for our Grant co-ordinator's presentation.  Click here for the Grant Coordinator's
 Powerpoint Presentation at TFLA  

Fall 2005
Five of Kolter's Japanese Language Students participated in the 17th Annual Japanese Poetry Contest held in Dallas in Fall 2005.  Our Kolter students swept the contest by winning First through Fifth places.      We are so Kolter Proud!

Fall 2005

Click the essay to the right to read the 5th grader 1st Place Essay by our own Charlotte Peterson. This as in a National French Essay Contest in the Fall of 2005. We are so Kolter Proud!

     
Spring 2005     

Teachers collaborating on integration of foreign languages and cultures into their classrooms during an In-service in the Spring of 2005.  Much was accomplished!