A tipster sent in this surprising news: The International School of Brooklyn will end its long-running French & Spanish Language Immersion Playgroups program in June 2010. The program was started in 2004 and ran playgroups in six Brooklyn neighborhoods.
The ISB release states, “Two ISB French Enrichment Program teachers, who have been with the program for four years, are joining forces to launch their own program, Brooklyn Beanstalk. Stephanie Larrière and Sophie Amieva have spearheaded the creation of Brooklyn Beanstalk with the goal of exposing children to Spanish and French in a playful, interactive and multicultural environment. Classes will launch in September 2010 in Prospect Heights, Park Slope, South Park Slope and Sunset Park. You can find them at Vanderbilt Avenue’s Summer Streets on June 12th, between 2pm and 5pm. More details about Sophie, Stephanie and Brooklyn Beanstalk can be found at www.brooklynbeanstalk.com.
ISB will still run its Spanish and French after school and summer camp programs at their new Carroll Gardens location beginning in September 2010. Schedules and registration information will be available on their website in August 2010.
Personally, I’m sad about this: our son is going to try their summer camp in July and I was hoping to try a playgroup with my youngest this fall. I hope that Brooklyn Beanstalk will be a good alternative.