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Chinese Immersion

Information Meeting

Bayard Rustin Elementary School

2026-2027

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https://bit.ly/3Lu8mke

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Introductions

Katie West

Principal

Melissa Rosenberg

Assistant Principal

Brooke Winter

Chinese Immersion

Team Lead

Kerrin Torres

Assistant Principal

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Agenda

  • Welcome and Introductions
  • Mission & Vision
  • BRES Overview
  • Benefits of Being Bilingual
  • MCPS Immersion Programs Overview
  • BRES Chinese Immersion Program
  • Application Process
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Lottery Process
  • Additional Resources
  • Q&A Session Information
  • Contact Information

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Mission & Vision

We the community of Bayard Rustin Elementary School will collaborate to provide an environment for academic, social, and emotional excellence for all.

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Bayard Rustin Programs

  • Chinese Immersion (K-5)
  • Cultural development opportunities for non-Chinese Immersion students
  • Instrumental Music (4th and 5th grade)
  • Chorus (4th and 5th grade)
  • Safety Patrol Program (5th grade)
  • No Place for Hate Ambassadors (3rd grade)
  • Kids for Kids Philanthropy Team (4th grade)
  • Rainbow Club (5th grade)
  • Green Team (4th and 5th grade)
  • Girls on the Run (3rd through 5th grade), Let Me Run Club, BRES Walking Club
  • Student Government Association (4th and 5th grade)
  • Student Interest Clubs–Crochet Club, Recess Soccer Club, etc.

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— Bilingual Kidspot

“The benefits of being bilingual go beyond the ability to communicate in another language. Bilingualism gives kids a broader perspective of the world.”

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Benefits of Being Bilingual

  • Increases brain power
  • Academic advantage
  • Increases cultural awareness
  • Provides new perspective
  • Increases mental strength
  • Improves social life
  • Better memory
  • Improves multitasking, problem solving, and decision-making skills
  • Increases future competitiveness (college or career)
  • Slows effects of old age

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MCPS Elementary Immersion Programs

Chinese

  • Bayard Rustin Elementary School

Rockville (partial immersion)

  • Potomac Elementary School

Potomac (partial immersion)

French

  • Sligo Creek Elementary School

Silver Spring (full immersion)

  • Maryvale Elementary School

Rockville (full immersion)

Spanish

  • William Tyler Page Elementary School

Silver Spring (full immersion)

  • Burnt Mills Elementary School

Silver Spring (full immersion)

  • Rock Creek Forest Elementary School

Chevy Chase (full immersion)

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Full vs. Partial Immersion

  • Full Immersion

The core curriculum (reading, writing, math, science, and social studies) are taught in the target language.

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  • Partial Immersion

A portion of the curriculum is taught in the target language.

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Program Overview

  • Math, Science & Social Studies Instruction in target language (Mandarin Chinese- simplified)
  • Partial immersion program (½ day in English, ½ with Chinese teacher)
  • Primary focus on speaking and listening
  • Overseen by Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services (DCCAPS)

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Chinese Immersion Program Application Process

Step #1�Complete & submit an Immersion Interest Form (online)

  • MCPS ID# is required to submit your form
  • Contact your home elementary school to acquire an ID# after February 2, 2026
  • Confirmation email will be sent to the address provided on the submission form after you submit. Please check that all information (grade level, birth date, address, etc.) is accurate before submitting.
  • An Immersion Interest Form must be submitted for every student participating in the immersion process
  • INTEREST FORMS ARE DUE ON APRIL 10,2026

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Chinese Immersion Program Application Process

Step #2

  • Immersion forms are run through a central computerized lottery process–No Input from BRES

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Step #3

  • You will receive an email from DCCAPs in mid-May.

This email will include:

    • The program(s) that your child has been invited to and/or a number indicating their rank order on the waitlist for the programs that you selected on the Immersion Interest Form.

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Chinese Immersion Program Application Process

Factors which may impact the lottery (school assignment) process:

  • School capacity (space availability)

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  • Sibling Consideration-

Students with siblings enrolled in the BRES CI program for the 2026-2027 school year (next year) will have their child’s name entered twice in the lottery for BRES only.

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  • Number of applicants

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Chinese Immersion Program Application Process

Step #4

  • You decide whether or not to accept the invitation to the program.
  • Once you accept an invitation, you need to notify your child’s home school and BRES about your decision and begin the school transfer process.
  • Your child’s name will then be removed from the waitlist of the other immersion programs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does MCPS provide transportation to BRES?
    • YES! MCPS provides transportation from central stops (usually at MCPS schools) to BRES. These stops are determined by the MCPS Department of Transportation.
      • Stops may be several miles from the student’s home.
      • Parents are responsible for arranging transportation to and from

central stops.

      • Bus trips are usually significantly longer than local school

transportation and may vary by program or location.

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It is important to carefully consider transportation options and responsibilities.

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*Note: MCPS does not provide transportation for immersion programs

in middle school.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • How many openings are in the BRES CI program?
    • There is one Chinese Immersion class per grade level. The class sizes will follow the capacity by 2025 MCPS classroom guidance.

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Grade Level

Class Size

Kindergarten

24

1st

25

2nd

25

3rd

26

4th

28

5th

28

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • How many students enter the immersion program lottery?
    • On average, 500-700 students apply for a Kindergarten Immersion spot.
    • Over 200 of those applicants, apply specifically for our BRES program.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child participate in multiple lotteries?

Yes, students may participate in one to all seven lotteries. Lotteries are all run independently, but once you accept a spot in one program, your child’s name is removed from all other lists.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • If my child does not get into the Kindergarten CI class, can I try again in 1st grade?

YES! Yes! You can re-apply to the lottery pool each year. If your child is joining Kindergarten or 1st grade, they will be accepted by lottery only.

  • What about grades 2-5? Is it too late?

If you would like your 2nd-5th grade child to come to BRES they will need to apply to the lottery each year. If they are selected by lottery, they will also need to pass a language proficiency assessment in order to join the program. The assessment is ENTIRELY in Mandarin Chinese and covers the following subject areas: speaking, listening, reading, writing, and math. Your child needs a grade-appropriate background in Chinese in order to pass this assessment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the feeder patterns for each elementary immersion program?

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Elementary School

Language

Middle School

Bayard Rustin ES

Chinese

*Herbert Hoover MS

Potomac ES

Chinese

Herbert Hoover MS

Maryvale ES

French

Gaithersburg MS

Sligo Creek ES

French

Silver Spring International School

Burnt Mills ES

Spanish

Silver Spring International School

Rock Creek Forest ES

Spanish

Silver Spring International School/ Westland MS

William Tyler Page ES

Spanish

Silver Spring International School

*Many middle schools also offer Mandarin as a foreign language course, so check your homeschool for course offerings.

*There is no high school feeder pattern, so your child will need to go to their home school for high school.

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Chinese Immersion Program Application Timeline

Interest Forms Available

February 2, 2026

Interest Form Deadline

April 10, 2026

Parent/ Guardian Notification

Mid-May

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BRES Virtual Q&A Session

Use the Google Form below to ask any BRES specific questions:

Q&A Google Form

Your question will be answered at the Q&A Session.

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February 2, 2026 – 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/87574435232?pwd=3azybLxUTFRLbeN4HuqxdWkYUFsPuO.1

Meeting ID: 875 7443 5232

Passcode: bres

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Chinese Immersion Program Lottery Process

For more information about the lottery process, please check out the MCPS Immersion Program page or contact the Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services (DCCAPS).

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MCPS Immersion Programs Website

email DCCAPS@mcpsmd.org

DCCAPS 240-740-2540

John Rottiers 240-740-7909

Laura Johnson 240-740-7802

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BRES Contact Information

Brooke Winter - Chinese Immersion Team Lead

brooke_j_winter@mcpsmd.org

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Katie West - Principal

kathryn_c_west@mcpsmd.org

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Melissa Rosenberg- Assistant Principal

melissa_l_goldberg@mcpsmd.org

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Kerrin Torres - Assistant Principal

kerrin_a_torres@mcpsmd.org

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Additional Resources

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Thank you!

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