French Immersion Program Parent Information Night Principal slides 1 - St. Joseph Aurora December 1, 2014

Prayer We are all here tonight to support our students in the next stage of their lives. Let us pray for guidance as we prepare to make a pathway choice for our children and their education. Lord, we give you thanks for having given us children. We accept them with serenity and all the worries and fears we have. They are our joy. Give us the wisdom to guide them, The patience to teach them and The courage to set a good example. They are our hope. Help us to respect and nurture the person you made them to be. They are our love. Amen

St. Joseph Aurora Principal Mrs. deHaas Staff 35 staff School Council Co-Chair 21 Members – Ms. Wells and Ms. Gontier Students 380 K-8 School Building 52 years old – 3 phases

School Activities/Events/Committees Spirit Days – Halloween, Valentine’s Dance-a-thon Luke 4:18 Annual Community BBQ Christmas Sing-a-long Carnaval Celebrating Diversity Events Lunch Clubs – Lego, Reading, Games Luke 4:18 Social Justice Committee Track and Field Play Leaders Oral Communication Presentations Faith Day June Play Day Music Star / Choir Terry Fox Run/Walk Scientist-in-the- School School Liturgies and Masses

School Activities/Events/Committees (continued) Junior and Intermediate Girls and Boys Basketball Author Visits Bullying Prevention Plays Cross Country Book Fair Catholic Education Week Advent Community Mass Clothing and Food Drives Lenten Outreach Initiatives Intermediate and Junior Boys and Girls Volleyball Jamboree Talent Show Sharelife and St. Vincent de Paul Activities You’re the Chef Catholic School Council Eco School Initiatives Welcome to Kindergarten Yearbook Committee

Community Partnerships Catholic School Council Our Lady of Grace Parish – St. Vincent de Paul York Region Public Health – Healthy Schools Music Star of York Region Aurora Fire Department Aurora Food Bank Share Life Aurora Senior Retirement Home York Region Police – Grade 5, 6, 7, 8 VIP Program, Community Safety Kinark Family Services – SNAP Girls Inc – Girls Circle York Centre – Bullying Prevention

St. Joseph, Aurora CES French Immersion Boundary Feeder Schools

Transportation Transportation will be provided to: Grade FDK – 3 students residing 1.2 km beyond the school Grade 4 – 8 students who live beyond 1.6 km but within French Immersion (FI) boundary Students are required to walk a short distance to and from these centralized bus stops Siblings of students registered in the FI program, for as long as one child remains in the FI program

Rationale French is one of Canada’s two official languages French is one of Ontario’s two official languages of instruction Knowledge of a second language strengthens first-language skills Ability to speak two or more languages generally enhances reasoning and problem-solving, as well as creative-thinking skills Research shows children educated in content subjects (like science and geography) in two languages develop higher reasoning and analytical skills Knowledge of French provides students with an advantage in a number of careers, both in Canada and internationally

French as a Second Language Programs Core French Immersion French language instruction Minutes per week: Grades 1-3 = 160 Grades 4-5 = 200 Grades 6-8 = 160 French is the language of instruction % of total instructional time: Grades 1-3 = 85% Grades 4-8 = 50% Early entry: grade 1 Available in both elementary and secondary Available in elementary with a secondary pathway in place

French Immersion Classroom Program Delivery Grade French English 1 - 3 Language Mathematics Science Social Studies Arts Religion Physical Education 4 – 8 (Health/Dance) Family Life Math Music

Curriculum: For Subjects Taught in French Students will be taught the Ontario Curriculum Expectations in each grade are as outlined in the English- language subject curriculum documents Learning resources provided in French align with the Ontario English language curriculum. Students will be expected to achieve the English language curriculum expectations before the end of Grade 8 Assessment and Evaluation of students is consistent with Board procedures and practices for all students

Is the French Immersion Program right for my child? Research suggests that children who are successful in French Immersion are: Risk takers Interested in learning Attending school regularly Positive in their attitude toward school Able to communicate well verbally in their first language Able to read at grade level or beyond Effective listeners Capable of good memory skills

Application Process All students interested in the French Immersion program must apply online by completing and submitting the YCDSB French Immersion on-line application form at www.ycdsb.ca by February 4th, 2015. If you are experiencing any difficulty accessing the on-line application, please contact the school. 2. In the placement process, student applications will be prioritized as follows: Siblings of students presently in the French Immersion program SK students presently attending St. Joseph CES Students within the school’s French Immersion boundary Students outside of the French Immersion boundary but within the York Region.

Application Process If the number of applications exceeds the number of available openings, a public lottery process will be conducted here at 5:00 p.m. on February 10th, 2015. Approved applicants will be notified by the school between February 13th – 17th, 2015. 5. Approved applicants must register at the school no later than February 24th, 2015, to confirm their child’s placement.

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions YORK CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOLBOARD :: Collaborative Learning Inspired By Jesus

Why Early French Immersion (EFI)? Research shows that Early Immersion leads to the highest fluency in French How does the French Immersion program impact student achievement in other subjects such as mathematics? Research indicates that the performance of French Immersion students in other subjects is equal to the performance of students in the English program.

grades 1-3, specifically spelling skills in English. How do students perform on standard provincial assessments (EQAO) in grades 3 and 6? French Immersion schools exempt students from writing the grade 3 EQAO test in English and write only the mathematics section in French. Across the province, results show that schools with French Immersion Programs tend to exceed the provincial and board average on the grade 6 EQAO test in English. 4. Will my child’s English skills suffer ? There is a certain lag in English Language Arts in grades 1-3, specifically spelling skills in English. However, the gap is minimized with the introduction of English in grade 4.

5. What type of French will my child be learning 5. What type of French will my child be learning? Standard French vocabulary and structures are taught. A variety of accents exists in all languages; during a school career a child will probably be exposed to teachers from various parts of the world who are models of well-spoken, standardized French. 6. Will my child be bilingual after grade 8? No. A young person who has completed an elementary French Immersion Program often appears quite comfortable and competent in the French language. While this is expected, students are not considered to be functionally bilingual until the end of grade 12.

7. Is it important for someone at home to speak French 7. Is it important for someone at home to speak French? The program is designed for children of non-French speaking families. All communication from the school to parents will be in English, including report cards. 8. How may I help my child with homework when I do not speak French? While it may be helpful, it is not necessary, for parents to speak French. Research studies confirm that children achieve greater academic success when parents read daily to their child in the child’s first language. Currently, all FSL students and parents in YCDSB have free access to Voila’ Learning, an online French homework help site.

9. What will happen if my child experiences difficulties in French Immersion? The classroom teacher will provide additional assistance to the student. If this does not address the difficulties, then the classroom teacher will consult with the special education teacher, principal, and parent to discuss a plan of support. If special education intervention is recommended, then the support will be delivered in English.

10. How can I learn more about French Immersion research 10. How can I learn more about French Immersion research? The following website links provide information on French Immersion research studies: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto (OISE) Immersion Education for the Millennium: What We Have Learned from 30 Years of Research on Second Language Immersion by Jim Cummings http://www.carla.umn.edu/cobaltt/modules/strategies/ CUMMINS/cummins.pdf University of Michigan: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/356.hess/research_on_french- immersion_programs