What is MIR Parents?

MIR Parents is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the Mission of:

1.  assisting the teachers/staff of Turnagain Elementary School, Romig Middle School, and West Anchorage High School on matters relating to the partial Russian Immersion Program,

2.  fostering an understanding of the Russian Immersion Program within the school and community, and

3.  supporting the extra-curricular education and exchange opportunities of the Russian Immersion Program students.

What does MIR Parents support?

  •  -- Books, equipment and supplies
  •  -- Field Trip Buses
  •  -- After-school programs
  •  -- Certificates and O.W.L. awards
  •  -- K-4 summer Russian day camp
  •  -- Exchange trip to Russian Federation
  •  -- Host of visiting exchange students
  •  -- 6th/12th grade completion ceremonies
  •  -- Russian cultural events:
  •         Father Frost New Year Celebration
  •         Maslenitsa Farewell-to-Winter Festival
  • Nutcracker Performance
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About Russian Immersion at Turnagain Elementary, Romig Middle School and West High School

What is Partial Immersion?

The Anchorage School District’s (ASD) Russian Language Partial Immersion Program is a kindergarten through 12th grade program within Turnagain Elementary, Romig Middle School and West High School. Students become functionally proficient in speaking, reading, and writing both English and Russian. Young students have a natural advantage when learning a second language. 

“Partial Immersion” differs from traditional instructional approaches in which foreign languages are taught as separate subjects. In this program children are “immersed” in Russian language for half of the school day. English-speaking children learn to understand, speak, read and write the target language by hearing and using it constantly during normal classroom activities. Care is taken to ease students into the new language and to ensure comprehension. Progress and performance are carefully measured.

This program is one of only a handful in the country that offers the unique opportunity for students to learn a second language in an immersion environment and the only school in the U.S. to offer Russian. The immersion philosophy is used in many other countries as an effective method of language instruction and learning.

Enrollment

Entry into this program is in kindergarten and the first semester of first grade. Enrollment is determined by the ASD lottery system. Preference is given to students in the Turnagain Elementary attendance area and the siblings of current students.

Curriculum

Students in this program are taught the ASD adopted curriculum. In K-6 grade levels students have two teachers, one for each language. These teachers work as a team to integrate required subjects: math, science, social studies, language arts, etc. Subjects are taught in one language only.

In middle school, students have two class periods in the Russian language (social studies & Russian language arts).  Then, in high school students have one period of Russian language until graduation.

Historically, students of immersion programs have high scores in standardized testing in all areas. Recent long-range studies show that overall achievement is high in immersion classrooms.

Tours

If you have not gone to an orientation or taken a tour please do one, it is worthwhile even if your child is already in the program.   Please contact the Turnagain Elementary School office staff at (907)742-7200 for dates and times of tours and orientation meetings.