IMMERSION school overview
Wôpanâôt8ây Pâhshaneekamuq: Wampanoag Language Immersion School
The Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project (WLRP), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization registered with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as the Wôpanâak Language and Cultural Weetyoo, Inc., has partnered with tribal families and the Montessori Academy of Cape Cod to open an immersion school in 2016,Wôpanâôt8ây Pâhshaneekamuq.
Beginning in August or early fall 2016Wôpanâôt8ây Pâhshaneekamuq will open, initially serving preschool students, followed by Kindergarten students in 2017.
Funded primarily by a three-year federal Administration for Native Americans (ANA) Language preservation grant (2012-2015), WLRP’s teachers have developed a culture-based language immersion school curriculum framework, and more than 1,000 daily Wôpanâak language lesson plans for elementary school students spanning all subject areas (social studies, history, science, math, health, gym, art, and Wôpanâak literacy). Our Montessori teacher trainees are now incorporating Wôpanâak language into Montessori instructional methods and classroom routines. Funding from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe also supports advancing the fluency of WLRP’s language instructors, and Montessori Teacher Certification.
WLRP’s teaching team is also preparing to deliver daily instruction to immerse local tribal students in Wampanoag culture and Wôpanâak language. Beginning in January 2016, WLRP language teachers will offerNeekun (Our Home) language immersion programming for students in grades K-8 from 2-5pm daily, drawing on WLRP’s rich base of curriculum materials and taught in collaboration with Wôpanâak speakers, learners, and staff from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Youth Programs, Language, Education, and Historic Preservation Departments.
Registration information forWôpanâôt8ây Pâhshaneekamuq Preschool will be available in early 2016. Registration information for the Neekun Immersion Program will be available online at wlrp.org and mashpeewampanoagtribe.com in late November 2015.
