Wyckoff Elementary Schools May Add Foreign Languages to Curriculum

The Wyckoff Board of Education is expecting a presentation from teachers and administrators in January that members say could result in the addition of more foreign language instruction to township elementary school students.

According to an update at a Board of Ed meeting this week, teachers in the district have been investigating the possibility of increasing the current World Language offerings at the elementary level for about a year. Board Vice President Lisa Martone said the group will likely make a presentation to the Board in January with the results of their research, and a recommendation as to whether or not world language should become a bigger part of the elementary curriculum.

“The current research focuses on potentially introducing a more vigorous world language program at the elementary schools,” Board President Rob Francin told Patch.

“This has been a goal of the Board for about two years and was generated by parents reaching out to us.”

Francin said that the languages offered would be dictated by the languages already taught at Eisenhower Middle School and by the Ramapo Indian Hills High School district.

Board members also said they will look for the presentation to discuss how adding in a foreign language component will affect the rest of the school day, and where it might fit in to elementary school students’ schedules.