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About VAIS

Why VAIS?

Experts agree, and anyone whose ever taught a second language knows, the best time for learning languages is when children are young. After all, that's when we all learned our first language.

Simply put, the human brain is developmentally at its prime stage for learning language in the earliest years of life. Moreover, study after study shows that children who learn a language before the onset of adolescence are more likely to have native-like pronunciation. A number of experts say proficiency is related to acquiring the language before a physiological change that occurs in the brain as a child enters puberty. Additionally, as with any subject, the more years a child can devote to learning another language, the more competent that child will become in that language!  

  • Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world.
  • Mandarin Chinese uses no plurals, genders, or tenses.
  • Mandarin Chinese has an intuitive number-naming system that lends itself well to mathematics.
  • Mandarin Chinese is currently the most marketable language for job-seekers in global business.
  • The U.S. Department of Defense has dubbed Chinese a critical language and is investing millions of dollars into critical language learning.
  • VAIS has three unique aspects that you currently won’t find in any other elementary school in the state of Wisconsin:
    • First, although our curriculum is comprised of the usual core subjects of math, science, language arts and social studies, we teach half of it in Mandarin Chinese. Our 50-percent immersion setting means students spend half their day hearing, speaking, and writing in Mandarin Chinese, and the other half in English.
    • Second, our curriculum has an international focus, allowing students learn about and make connections with schools in other countries.
    • Finally, rather than the usual music, art and PE classes, VAIS students engage in Global Arts classes. Three times a week, students are given some combination of music, art and/or PE instruction with a focus on the global community. 

Vision

At the core of the VAIS philosophy is the importance of educating children in two languages simultaneously; while developing global competency to prepare them to work and solve problems in tomorrow's rapidly evolving and increasingly interconnected world.

Why VAIS?

 

Where To Find Us

How To Reach Us

Attendance Line: (608) 845-4903

Attendance Email

Verona Area International School
400 North Main Street 
Verona, Wisconsin 53593

Main Office:   (608) 845-4500

FAX: (833) 788-0602

Office Hours:   Monday - Friday 7:15 am - 2:45 pm

School Hours:   

Monday Late Start:   

9:05am Supervision outside begins
9:20am School Starts
2:25pm School Ends

Tuesday - Friday:   

7:15am Supervision outside begins
7:30am School Starts
2:25pm School Ends

Director/Principal: Sally Parks  (608) 845-4510

Administrative Assistants: 

Amelia McConnell (608) 845-4504

Jenni Gumieny (608) 845-4505