Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Spanish instructor Donna Williams has been one of the most popular, energetic and inspirational teachers on the Denair Elementary Charter Academy campus for many years. Her enthusiasm for her students – and her subject matter – bubbles through every lesson in each class.

So it should come as no surprise that when Williams returned from Christmas break this year with the idea to begin a Spanish-language service club, her students embraced it with the same excitement Williams brings to her work. That is to say, they loved it.

The Sociedad Hispanica de Amistad, known by the acronym “SHA,” is national group affiliated with the American Association of the Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. Williams attended a national conference for foreign language teachers in December. AATSP leaders were impressed to learn of DECA’s commitment to teaching Spanish to every student and offered her a membership on the spot. She, in turn, was delighted to hear about SHA.

In Williams’ mind, it was a perfect fit. DECA’s chapter was formed in January and already has 50 members in third through fifth grades. It is called Los Manos de Esperanza (“Hands of Hope”) and is the first in the Central Valley.

“I had wanted to start a service club using our Spanish as a mode to promote languages, as well as serve our community and school, and the SHA offered exactly what we were looking for,” Williams explained.

Students attend weekly meetings during their lunch period, where they plan and participate in language-based activities. Already, the club hosted a Spanish teacher from nearby Stanislaus State University for a meet and greet. In March, they organized a clean-up project on the DECA campus, counting and singing in Spanish while moving from classroom to classroom for 25 minutes. Continue reading “Spanish Club Is Natural Extension of DECA’s Language Program” »