Dwight Bellizzi Dual Language Program Model:

Dwight Bellizzi is excited to welcome PK4 and kindergarten students to our Dual Language program as a brand-new magnet school beginning in the 2023-2024 school year! Our school will be the only inter-district magnet school in the Greater Hartford Region that offers students an incredible learning opportunity to receive both English and Spanish instruction in their academic classes. The Dual Language program is a 50/50 program model, core academic instruction is taught 50% in Spanish and 50% in English. Kindergarten students have two teachers, one Spanish language teacher instructing for half the day and one English language teacher instructing for the other half of the day.

As a two-way model we teach students whose home language is Spanish and students whose home language is English. It is a 50-50 model in that 50% of the curriculum is taught in English and 50% is taught in Spanish for all students (Kindergarten to 2nd grade) enrolled in the program. Our program is also a two-teacher models where two teachers will partner to teach the full curriculum where one teacher gives all instruction in Spanish and the other gives all instruction in English.

Special Features and Highlights

• Admission into our Dual Language program is through the Regional School Choice Office (RSCO) application for grades PK4 and Kindergarten for the 2023-2024 School Year

• Our Dual Language Immersion Program for Kindergarten - Grade 3 will allow students to become bi-literate and bilingual in Spanish and English.

• Avid

• PBIS

• We are a community school with wraparound services that support students’ physical and mental health

• We are proud of our partnership with Boys & Girls Club

• Full service health and dental clinic

• Bilingual office staff (Spanish/English)

• Cultural activities and celebrations of students' heritage and backgrounds

What People Are Saying

Students Say: “The teachers and staff are always willing to help and they have taken a real interest in me. In many ways, they have been more like friends than just teachers, and I believe this atmosphere makes us want to work harder and do well in our studies.”

Parents Say: “From the very first moment I enrolled my sons in the Academy, the staff has treated us like a part of their family. Every teacher pays close attention to the individual needs of their students, and they always keep me informed about [my son’s] progress and any concerns they might have before anything becomes a real issue.”

Teachers Say: “I believe that all children are capable of being successful students and are willing to give you as much effort as you give to them. My most important job as a teacher is to help my students develop a love of learning so that they want to work hard and they want to succeed. Regardless of the challenges they may face at home, we never allow students to use these issues as an excuse. We encourage them to rise above it to be the best they can be.”