Grapevine Showcases Dual-Language Excellence
The school served as a host site for countywide conference;
students spotlighted at showcase hosted by SDSU and SDCOE
Grapevine Elementary was selected as a host school site for the 2025 San Diego Dual Language Conference, produced by San Diego State University and the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE). In addition to hosting conference attendees, Grapevine students participated in the conference’s inaugural Bilingual Brilliance Student Showcase at SDSU on Saturday, January 25th.
The event, which ran from January 23-25, saw educators and dual-language leaders from across the county and state converge at Grapevine on the first day of the conference. Grapevine was selected as a host so that conference participants could learn how the school has built a robust and welcoming dual-language program.
Grapevine Principal Myrna Hernandez says the success of the school’s DLI program is maintaining a focus on three pillars and main objectives:
- Bilingualism and biliteracy
- High academic achievement in both languages
- Cross-cultural competence.
“There’s more to dual-language learning than just learning a second language, especially for those who are non-native Spanish speakers,” says Hernandez. “It’s also about understanding the social and cultural element; and being open to learning about other people’s culture, history, and geography throughout Latin America and Spain, in addition to speaking the language. It’s a unique kind of understanding and it gives the students a better and diverse view.”
A Track Record of Success
Sandra Cephas from SDCOE was one of the organizers of the conference and a former principal of Grapevine Elementary. She explains how Grapevine was selected: “We looked for schools with a commitment to improving bilingual education, but also those that have committed to creating welcoming environments for the school communities. Grapevine is a school that has historically supported its community.
“Most notably, [Grapevine] committed to expanding its dual language program during the COVID-19 pandemic when most schools were shutting down programs. We feel that Grapevine needs to be celebrated and that other school districts can learn from them so that educators can come together, not to evaluate, but to learn from each other for self-reflection and for self-improvement.”
Inagural Showcase Featured Grapevine Students
A special addition to this year’s DLI Conference was the ‘Bilingual Brilliance Student Showcase’, which took place on Saturday, January 25th at SDSU. 3rd - 5th-grade students from Grapevine joined students from five other San Diego County schools to showcase their dual-language learning with presentations, special activities, and projects.
The showcase was inspired, in part, by Grapevine’s annual 5th-grade DLI showcase, which sees the school’s 5th graders creating and delivering presentations to showcase the skills they have developed at the school.
Hernandez has grown the school’s showcase tradition during her tenure, including developing rubrics and bringing in panelists from the community. These audiences present opportunities for students to speak publicly and present their learning. These experiences have prepared Grapevine students for the countywide showcase and can serve as a model for other schools.
“It's awesome because the showcase was an opportunity to celebrate our kids in the program,” says Hernandez, “but also for Grapevine because it will put us on the map as one of the lead schools in the county for having a dual language program.
We have some amazing teachers here, and now being recognized at the county level is a big step for us so we're very excited.”
Past, Present, and Future Presentations
Grapevine students were given a three-part format for their presentations at the county showcase: the past, about the journey students experienced in the DLI program; the present, as in what they are working on now and what they are looking forward to; and the future – which asks students what their future hopes are and how they think being a DLI student can help them in their future.
The showcase included projects or artifacts created by students and was presented in a bilingual format. The goal was to highlight how proficiency in two or more languages enhances students’ academic success, cognitive flexibility, and cultural identity.
Developing Skills That Provide Opportunities
Rafael Olavide, Director of Multilingual Programs and ELD for VUSD, former principal at Grapevine and founder of its DLI program, sums up Grapevine’s students' journey to success: “The goal of our DLI program, which starts as early as TK, is that when students graduate from high school at the end of the process, there is a validation of all of their work with the California State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB).
“This [recognition] is added to their high school diploma and opens additional doors for them. Students will have passed rigorous assessments and checkpoints throughout the process for attainment of proficiency levels in both languages. One requirement of this certification is the 5th-grade showcase at Grapevine, so students are well prepared to take their showcase skills to SDSU for the DLI conference.”
As Vista Unified continues to build its DLI pathways to cover TK-12th grade, Grapevine’s inclusion in the conference is a confirmation of the work being done in the district to bring more opportunities to students throughout their school years and beyond.