The new John Stanford International School celebrates its opening with a public dedication on Sept. 1. The innovative school is for children in kindergarten through grade 5.

John Stanford, the late Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, was the visionary in the creation of the school. The school is the first in the Seattle district to fully incorporate both cultural literacy and international language instruction into the everyday curriculum.

The John Stanford International School is housed at the site of the former Latona Elementary School, at 4057 5th Ave. NE, in Wallingford. The building recently went through an extensive, year-long renovation and now features modern classrooms with advanced technology connections.

Students at the school will have the opportunity to become proficient in a second language. This year, students will receive a portion of their regular instruction in Spanish, with Japanese and other language options available in future years.

Besides culture and language exposure, the school's 380 students will have access to the best in information technology. Through a connection with the University of Washington, it is the first elementary school in the nation to be attached to the super-fast Internet2.