West Ottawa announces new name for North Holland Elementary

HOLLAND TWP. — West Ottawa has settled on a new name for North Holland Elementary: Los Lagos Bilingual Academy.

The name, and new focus, will go into effect next fall, after the district opens the new Riley Farms Elementary School. At that time, North Holland will transition into a space for West Ottawa's Dual Language Spanish Immersion Program.

Los Lagos is Spanish for “The Lakes.”

West Ottawa currently operates an immersion program at Lakeshore Elementary, but offering a dual, two-way program was a goal in the district’s most recent strategic plan.

“While our Spanish Immersion Program has been running for 18 years, our research highlighted the broader benefits of a (two-way) immersion model," Superintendent Tim Bearden wrote in a release. "We decided that committing to a dedicated space for this program would allow it to thrive and expand in the years to come.”

Los Lagos will be a K-5 building “fully dedicated” to the immersion program — half for English-dominant students and half for Spanish-dominant or bilingual students. Enrollment will be based on a lottery system. Parents of incoming kindergarteners can apply in the winter and spring of 2025.

“We are excited to grow and strengthen this program in a school fully dedicated to promoting bilingualism, biliteracy and cross-cultural competence,” said Pam Schwallier, director of bilingual programs at WOPS, adding nearly 45% of district students identify as Latino or Hispanic.

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“This school will be uniquely designed to honor the languages and cultures of all our students while providing a clear pathway to develop high academic achievement in both English and Spanish.”

Amada Pérez Chávez will serve as principal of Los Lagos, according to the release. Pérez is currently the principal of Woodside Elementary, a role he’s held since August 2023.

Learn more at westottawa.net/academics/spanish-immersion .

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com .

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: West Ottawa announces new name for North Holland Elementary