The members of the French as a Second Language Community Advisory Committee (FSLCAC) are excited to announce our new name:

French Student Achievement Community Advisory Committee

(FSACAC or FSAC for short)

The new name reflects our focus on student achievement in French through Immersion or Core French programs in alignment with the TDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan. Removing ‘second language’ is inclusive of multi-lingual students for whom French is a third or subsequent language.

Our mandate is to foster equity, excellence and growth in French programs at the Board, working in partnership with Trustees, staff, parents/caregivers/guardians.

In early December, some of us met informally to kickstart a discussion on our committee’s focus for the new year. It was also an excellent opportunity to get together – with new members and familiar ones from around the city to share a relaxed evening of conversation.

As the holiday season approaches, we want to extend our warmest wishes to you and your family!

Check out our webpage here. 

New parent/caregiver/guardian members/alternates are needed to fill vacancies! The French Student Achievement Committee is a great volunteer opportunity to get to know the TDSB and the staff who support our French programs, to share your experiences and hopes for these programs and to provide input into the procedures, policies, and plans at the TDSB. Coming up are discussions on bussing and retention of teachers in French assignments.

Committee members must attend about 8 evening meetings during the school year and support the mandate to foster equity, excellence and growth in French programs at the Board, working in partnership with Trustees, staff, parents/caregivers/guardians.

Interested? Please email us at our *NEW* address fsac.toronto@gmail.com !

Please share this time sensitive information with friends, relatives and community members who have children (not already in French Immersion) who are going into grade 4 in September 2025!

The online application process for Middle French Immersion (grade 4 entry) is open from January 6-31, 2025. Information is here.

Middle French Immersion flyers are available in 21 languages here.

Middle French Immersion is offered at 40 schools across the TDSB. Bussing is provided free of charge in grades 4 and 5 based on TDSB distance criteria. Location map and ‘Find Your French School’ search tool are posted here.

Important: all on-time applicants are offered a placement in the Middle French Immersion program, however placement in a particular school is not guaranteed. To reserve the spot, the offer of placement must be accepted by the deadline given in the offer email. Younger siblings of students currently in Middle French Immersion must do an online application for the new student and select the ‘sibling option’.

Note: TDSB no longer offers grade 4 or grade 7 entry Extended French programs. 

Celebrate Family Literacy Day on Monday, January 27 at 6:00 pm on Zoom. Award-winning author, Mireille Messier, will be sharing a beautiful tale of imagination, creativity and resilience: My Favorite Branch (Ma branche préférée). Event is for grade 1-3 French immersion students but older students are welcome to join in the fun. This event is sponsored by Canadian Parents for French (Ontario) and the Ontario Library Association. Register here. 

French Footprints is a new resource hub for parents about supporting children learning French in the early years. It includes an 8-episode podcast which starts with “Introducing French to Your Child During their Early Years” and works through mythbusting about learning French, pursuing French learning in the community, music and French and French storytime. The podcasts and other resources from Canadian Parents for French are available here.

Are you a high school student looking for a way to volunteer AND use your French? Why not share the joy of reading in French by becoming a reading buddy over Zoom with Canadian Parents for French? Orientation is January 13 and 15 at 6 pm and the program runs from February 5 – March 27. Details and registration information is here. 

College and university bursaries of $3,000 (non-renewable) are being offered to secondary Core, Extended and Immersion French graduates through the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne (ACUFC).  Eligibility requirements include pursuing full-time post-secondary studies with 50% of courses in French. Applications are submitted to participating colleges and universities across Canada. Ontario possibilities include the University of Ottawa and in Toronto, Collège Boréal, Glendon Campus York University and Université de l'Ontario français. Information for 2024-25 will be posted here soon. Bursaries are funded by the Government of Canada

Applications due by February 4, 2025 for Explore Ages 13-18

Explore is a residential summer French program that is offered at university and college campuses across Canada for ages 13+. Application deadline is February 4, 2025. Costs are subsidized by the federal government. Details here. 

O’Poésie is a French-language poetry writing contest for grades 1-12 students in Core, Extended and  Immersion French programs across Canada. This is an opportunity for students to explore the beauty and expressiveness of the French language. Winners will receive gift cards for $25-$150. Details here. 

 

February 27-March 2 - Salon du Livre – French book fair in Toronto at l'Université de l'Ontario français (UOF), 9 Lower Jarvis St. Details coming soon here.  

March 1 – Alliance Française-Spadina Theatre- performance ‘Survie du vivant’ for young audience at the Spadina Theatre, 24 Spadina Rd.  Details here. 

The annual report on enrolment in French as a Second Language programs was received by the Trustees in October. It provides a snapshot of registration for entry to JK and grade 4 French immersion, annual French immersion enrolment since 2001 and grade by grade Core French enrolment for the previous year. Report is posted here. The webcast of the meeting where the report was discussed is posted here (at 47:30).

The 2023-24 annual report of the French as a Second Language Community Advisory Committee was also received by the Trustees in October. It provides a summary of committee activities and is available here. 

The French Student Achievement Community Advisory Committee (FSAC) will be meeting on January 14, February 11 and March 18, 2025 from  6:30-8:30 pm. Parents/caregivers/guardians and community members are welcome. Upcoming topics for discussion include bussing and retention of teachers in French assignments. Meeting details are posted at www.tdsb.on.ca/fsac

Have a great winter break - cordialement,
Lynne Leblanc
FSAC Parent Co-chair

5050 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario | M2N 5N8 CA

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