Not to be confused with Hollywood's Golden Globe award, St. Clair's award came from the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association (PSMLA), identifying the district's foreign language program as an exemplary one.
PSMLA began showcasing exemplary Pennsylvania high school foreign language programs in 2005, inviting all the high schools in the state to participate by submitting documentation that their school meets the criteria established by the PSMLA.
The PSMLA Exemplary Program (PEP) awards,
made on a two-year basis, are awarded in four categories: golden, silver, bronze, and globe. Upper St. Clair was the only district
in the state to receive a Golden Globe for 2008-2009. The district also received a Golden Globe in 2005-2006.
Deanna Baird, foreign
language curriculum leader at Upper St. Clair, said that the district's program is very proficiency based.
According to Baird, the students want to learn to speak a language and see they're progressing. She credits the foreign language staff with wanting the students to learn the language they've chosen. Our staff has traveled the world said Baird, and they have an enthusiasm for the culture and language of a country. "They want the kids to speak better."
In addition to attending foreign language staff in-service events, all staff members belong to professional organizations. Because all the foreign language staff knows the benchmarks, they are focused on the same goals. We do a proficiency based, applied knowledge assessment across the grade levels said Baird. She said the students, many who take upper level languages, are well prepared for when they go to college. "They're surprised how well they do in their classes."
Upper St. Clair offer Spanish in grades 1 to 12, with one elementary school offering Spanish in kindergarten. French and German are offered in grades 5-12, and each of three languages offer two IB level courses at the high school. Latin is offered for four years at the high school level. Japanese is offered for three years.
A new addition to USC's high school language curriculum is Chinese, and next year Arabic will be offered. We have a lot of parental support for our foreign language program said Baird.
In grades 9 to 12, 81 percent of the district's students are enrolled in the foreign language program, with over 400 students in levels 4, 5, or 6 (higher level) language classes.
Additionally, Baird said there are a number of students taking more than one language. She commented that the elementary influence helps as the students move through the foreign language program, stating that they are less inhibited about the sounds they need to make when learning a new language. They expect to have to make funny sounds and move their mouths in strange ways said Baird.
Besides foreign language classes, each year the high school holds an international education week which is an interdisciplinary celebration of cultures. Participation in the Cultural Communications Alliance international marketing competition, mentored by Bayer Corporation, is another annual event. Educational trips abroad are also periodically offered; and every other year there is a German exchange program with USC's partner school. Baird said the exchange teaches the students that the German students are kids just like they are, but different enough to be interesting.
Foreign language programs for the Golden Globe awards are evaluated on 11 criteria, including maintaining a high percentage of students enrolled in world language; offering an extended sequence of instruction; retain students at higher levels; provide a choice of languages; offer advanced placement, IB, or other higher level programs at the high school; and schedule classes that are one level per period.