Pine Street School
Kindergarten students enjoying a book together. (Pine Street School)
Proud student showing off her work. (Pine Street School)
Teacher working 1-on-1 with a student. (Pine Street School)
Grade 1 classmates dressed up for our Lunar New Year celebration. (Pine Street School)
Student using classroom resources. (Pine Street School)
Students learn all subjects in both English and Mandarin: Solar System. (Pine Street School)
Teacher working 1-on-1 with a student to write traditional Chinese characters. (Pine Street School)
Preschool Lunar New Year celebration performance. (Pine Street School)
Students learn all subjects in both English and Mandarin: Body Systems. (Pine Street School)
Pine Street School
Program Description
Pine Street School is a Green Ivy School, along with Battery Park Montessori School, in New York City, which teaches Mandarin and Spanish. Mandarin classes are 50–60% Mandarin immersion. Students have two full teachers in the classroom all day long, one English and one Mandarin teacher. Academic content is taught and assessed in small groups in two languages over an extended period of time. The Mandarin teachers are native language speakers. Teachers share teaching duties, so that at least 50% of a student's week takes place in Mandarin. Because the Mandarin teacher is always present and speaking Mandarin, the true percentage of time is closer to 60%. Small-group instruction and individualized learning plans ensure that the rate of language learning is higher than in a standard language immersion program.
The goal of the Pine Street School Mandarin Immersion Program is biliteracy. Due to the brain-friendly, research-based language teaching practices, children quickly begin to understand, learn new skills, and become bolder and more creative with their newly acquired Mandarin language.
In Kindergarten, the emphasis is on academic, social, emotional, physical, and cultural growth through a foundation of international study and citizenship. Children become internationally educated citizens through a focus on the development of positive attitudes toward themselves, other people, the environment, and learning.
The elementary school curriculum (Kindergarten–Grade 5) offers a technology-enabled, project-based, problem-solving setting that nurtures passion with a purpose. It focuses on guided inquiry, collaboration, and communication as approaches, providing an environment that fosters the development of problem solving and critical thinking as well as subject-specific competencies.
Special Program Features
- Small-group teaching
- Individualized learning plans
- Chinese art, music, and cultural studies
Program Video
Students going to Little Dragon Restaurant
Program Contacts
Jim Gaines
Director of Admissions
[email protected]
Sirong Wu 吴思蓉
Mandarin Program Coordinator
[email protected]
