Known locally as EBI, private school Escuela Bilingüe Internacional is our sponsor today.
For East Bay Families seeking a school that will nurture their child’s natural curiosity in a loving environment, Escuela Bilingüe Internacional (EBI) is a PK-8 multilingual, international program designed to prepare students to actively engage with a changing world. The pre-kinder program at EBI is play-based and encourages children to explore, create and learn from each other.
Pre-kinder is where the love for learning begins! Using a positive approach to learning through play, EBI provides its youngest students with an introduction to the school environment. Children explore, create, and interact with others through a variety of learning experiences with the overarching goal of providing a loving and safe environment where children can grow in all areas: social, emotional, intellectual and physical. In pre-kinder, the foundation is laid for many important life skills.
Both last year and this year we have been knocked out by the quality of our son’s Pre-K teachers. They are truly masters at what they do – they command the class with warmth, a firm but gentle hand, and know how to engage each child with attention and care. We’re friends with founding families so we’ve been able to watch EBI kids graduate, move on to top high schools and thrive. Though the school is only 13 years old, it is already a place that produces intellectually engaged and truly community-minded students.
~ Kyla Kupferstein
Naturally flowing into the complete Spanish bilingual education with an international spirit, EBI continues from PK through 8th grade at two East Bay campuses. PK through grade 1 are in Rockridge, while grades 2 through 8 call the Emeryville campus their home. EBI is the only school on the West Coast that is authorized to offer both the Primary Years Program (PYP) and Middle Years Program (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB) in both Spanish and English. The IB curriculum focuses on developing internationally-minded, young people who will thrive in a diverse, changing world with character and empathy.
EBI teachers receive training in constructivist teaching, positive discipline, anti-bias classroom practices, and mindfulness. Students at EBI engage in learning about topics of global significance such as caring for living things, protecting the environment, learning about families and respecting difference, learning how communities work and our role in them. EBI places a strong focus on social-emotional development and emphasizes that personal well-being is the stepping stone for academic learning.
At EBI, students learn in an immersive Spanish language environment, where they begin their journey of cultural awareness with native Spanish-speaking teachers from 14 different countries. With the addition of Mandarin in grade 3, students expand their cultural and linguistic competencies in languages other than English. Graduates of EBI have conversational skills in Mandarin and are fully literate in Spanish and English. How fantastic is that?!
About Covid-19 Academic Plans at EBI
At EBI, they believe that the ideal teaching and learning environment is one in which students and teachers are able to interact with each other in person. Likewise, they also know that it is crucial to create campus environments that address the health and safety concerns of all community members. The EBI Pandemic Response Plan has been thoughtfully developed by the COVID-19 Response Team and continues to evolve with new information and student needs.
All grade levels, from PK to 8, currently have the option for both in person class instruction along with continuous learning from home. Although it is difficult to predict the ways in which our current health context might continue to change in these unprecedented times, the one thing that remains constant is an unwavering commitment to ensure the continual learning and growth of students.
Plan your virtual visit to Escuela Bilingüe Internacional play-based preschool
You are virtually and cordially invited to visit EBI on an upcoming tour, Information Session, or Diversity Reception. You can also enjoy a free Spanish Storytime every second Saturday of the month. EBI offers a variety of community programs for families to explore.
For more information, please contact the Office of Admissions at [email protected].
It is our pleasure to work with EBI as a sponsor of 510Families.com. Schedule your own virtual tour. They look forward to meeting your family.
[All photos provided by EBI and used with permission]
