Dear Holy Spirit Families,
Thank you to the many of you who have reached out with thoughtful questions and feedback about the future of Spanish at our school. I want to take a moment to share our vision and the reasoning behind our current approach.
We wholeheartedly believe in the value of learning a second language—especially Spanish, given our California context—and we are actively working toward a Spanish program that is fully integrated into the school day. This has always been the long-term goal: a program rooted in quality instruction, consistency, and meaningful learning for all students.
In the meantime, we’ve been intentional about how we’ve redirected instructional minutes within the school day. For our elementary grades, we’ve concentrated on strengthening foundational reading instruction—ensuring our students are building confidence and fluency at every level. In middle school, we’ve expanded our focus on writing by making composition a dedicated subject, providing students with more structured time to develop their voice, clarity, and critical thinking through writing. These shifts reflect our continued commitment to academic excellence and ensuring our students are well-prepared for the next stages of their education.
We’ve also maintained a partnership with the Spanish Immersion program, which offers classes at the nearby Tiny Tots preschool. Some of our families have chosen to continue with the program independently, and we’ve shared information about those class offerings through our school communications. While we know this solution is not ideal—particularly when it involves transportation and scheduling—we believe it is the best available option for the time being and an important bridge until we can fully incorporate Spanish into our curriculum. We will continue to promote these classes for families who wish to extend their child’s Spanish learning outside the school day.
At the same time, the limitations of classroom space and daily scheduling have made it necessary to carefully evaluate which programs can be offered on campus. Holy Spirit offers a rich variety of co-curricular opportunities—athletics, performing arts, Academic Decathlon, choir, and Odyssey of the Mind, to name a few. These programs are not “extra” but integral to the culture and identity of our school. When Odyssey of the Mind and Spanish Immersion were first introduced, both programs were offered in the same format. Over time, more families chose to stay with Odyssey, and this past spring, we saw a notable decline in Spanish enrollment.
Today, we continue to see strong student participation in athletics, and Odyssey of the Mind has grown to include an additional team due to increased interest. We’ve also had enough students express interest in middle school Academic Decathlon to form two teams this year—something we’re excited and proud to support. And in the arts, we are now producing two school musicals: A Christmas Lamb in the fall and Beauty and the Beast in the spring, which will feature an added performance due to the enthusiasm and talent of our students. These are all signs of a thriving school community, and they continue to shape how we allocate resources and prioritize programs that best serve our students.
That said, Spanish remains a clear priority. We are not looking for a temporary fix or a patchwork solution. We are looking for the right person to lead a strong, sustainable Spanish program with fidelity and purpose. The vision is bold but completely within reach: for our students to graduate with a solid foundation in Spanish—ready to test into higher-level courses in high school or, at the very least, equipped with meaningful language skills and cultural exposure.
We appreciate your continued support, and we’re grateful to partner with families who care so deeply about the academic and spiritual formation of their children. We are moving forward with clarity, commitment, and confidence in the direction we are taking.
Come Holy Spirit,
Raphael Domingo