The Northwest Catholic District School Board will hear an update on the French immersion program from Education Director John Madigan at its regular monthly meeting here tonight.
Despite efforts by the board and local chapter of Canadian Parents for French to increase the profile of the program, enrolment for this fall’s French Senior Kindergarten class only has risen to 16 from 14 a month ago.
“The numbers have increased slightly so that 16 of the 53 registrations for Senior Kindergarten in September, 2004 have opted for the program,” Madigan writes in his report to the board.
“It seems that most parents are comfortable with their choice of program for their child, which was made when they first registered their child in early February,” he notes.
Despite the number being below the board’s minimum enrolment of 20 students, it decided last month to run the French SK program for another year.
“I have received many expressions of appreciation for the board’s decision to extend the program at the SK level [this fall] despite the possibility of low enrollment,” Madigan writes.
His report also outlines the board’s many efforts to promote French language programs.
“Besides the Kenora Catholic Board, we are the only other English language board west of Thunder Bay that offers French Immersion at the elementary level,” notes Madigan.
“For this optional program, a small amount of additional funding is available, but it is intended to offset the extra costs of the texts and resources written in French.
“It could not sustain small class sizes over an extended number of years,” he warns.
In addition, the local Catholic board offers the Core French program in Grades 1-3 even though the Ministry of Education only requires boards to offer the daily period of French from Grades 4-8.
Madigan also notes the board has many other programs and responsibilities beyond teaching French.
“Initiatives such as Catholicity, literacy, numeracy, native education, and physical health and well-being—to name a few—are also important priorities,” he writes.
“The board is challenged to balance its optional support for the French language in the early grades with its legal requirements as an English language system,” he adds.
Also at tonight’s meeting, the board will:
•review a 1998 report on the feasibility of offering Catholic secondary education; and
•review an enrolment update at the board’s schools as of March 31.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
