Over sixteen years ago, I helped to write the original grant which established the Baird Middle School magnet program. Our focus has been world cultures, international agribusiness, and technology. It has been our intention to provide students with a sophisticated background in cultural traditions, including foreign languages, enabling them to comfortably assume leadership roles anywhere their future travels may take them. German was specifically chosen because of its importance as a language of business and commerce in European countries. Judith Pansarosa Sixth Grade Teacher Baird Middle School