A: El Velero Lottery 24/25 Dates: Lottery applications are Due March 5. Lottery is held on March 12.

The application process for the upcoming school year has begun. Applicants must enroll their child at the Bainbridge Island School District Website. Once a student is enrolled in the district, you must fill out the El Velero Lottery Form.

The Lottery is held for Kindergarten only.

The waitlist from Kindergarten rolls over into 1st grade.

If you would like to add your child to the 1st grade waitlist - please register your child (if not already) and fill out a lottery form.

Interested in joining El Velero at 2,3, or 4th grade please contact Ordway Office Manager at (206) 780-1397. There is a Spanish language competency assessment. 

A: This program is part of the public school system and is free to students.

A: We do not do class observations unless a student is coming in at 2nd grade or older and family and teachers are assessing a Spanish language fit. 

A: The Spanish Immersion program relies on parent volunteers. Four hours a month is suggested to support in-class learning, after-school planning meetings, special events, and other volunteer opportunities.  

A: Kindergarten and 1^st grade are the official entry points for the Spanish Immersion Program. If any space becomes available at higher grade levels, demonstrated proficiency in Spanish is required for acceptance into the program.

A: BISD options programs are open to families who reside on Bainbridge Island. Off-island applicants are considered only when there are no Bainbridge students on the waitlist.

A: Please visit the individual teacher pages to take a closer look at which content areas are used at specific grades to develop student biliteracy and bilingualism.

A: For students who live on an Ordway bus route, they can take their normal bus to school. For those who do not live on an Ordway route, parents will need to drop them off at school each day. School starts at 7:50 am. In the afternoon, school is dismissed at 12:50 pm on Mondays and 2:20 pm Tuesday through Friday. Busing is provided to those on an Ordway bus route home and there are also some bus options to afterschool programs. Please contact the Ordway office directly for information regarding afterschool programs and transportation.

A: The El Velero Spanish Immersion Program is the only elementary language immersion program within the Bainbridge Island School District.

A: Currently, the program runs from Kindergarten through the 4^th grade. Four classes are being offered at Ordway: Kindergarten, First, Second, and a 3rd/4th multi-age class. 

A: Our mission is to build biliteracy skills in children. For children living in a bilingual home, El Velero offers the opportunity to gain and maintain academic skills in both English and Spanish. Reading and writing are taught beyond oral, listening, and comprehension skills. For English Language Learning we ensure they receive the extra support they might need as well as continue their home language fluency.