Registration starts Monday, December 18 for virtual after school programs in French during the winter term. Core, Extended and Immersion French students are welcome. For SK-grade 8, there is ‘Franco-Fun’  and ‘French Reading Circle’ . For grades 7-12, there is ‘Vive la Parole’. Sessions are led by Bachelor of Education students training to be French teachers. The programs are offered through Canadian Parents for French (Ontario) with funding from the Ministry of Education. Program information is here. 

Deadline February 6, 2024 for Explore Applications 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 Feb 6, 2024. Costs are subsidized by the federal government. Details here. 

Apply Now for YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange ages 16-17

Over 6 weeks in the summer, this program offers English speaking high school students the opportunity to travel to another community in Canada to live and do paid work in French. Applications are being accepted now. For more information, click here. 

The online application process for Middle French Immersion (grade 4 entry) is open from January 8-February 2, 2024. Apply here. Middle French Immersion program information is available in 21 languages here. 

 Have questions, or want to hear more?
Join a virtual information session:
January 11 - 7 pm
January 16 - 10 am
January 22 - 1 pm
Details 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 information is 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’.

At any time, please visit the TDSB French website to view a video about French Language programs and the application and placement process for French Immersion. Video here.

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

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.

Looking for some quiet activities over the break? Quebec educational publisher Les Éditions Passe-Temps offers free access to downloadable crosswords, word searches and activity kits. Check them out 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. 

Feb 3 – Alliance Française-Spadina Theatre- performance ‘Et on campera sur la lune’ for ages 10+. Details here. 

Feb 20-March 7 - Cinéfranco – French film festival for youth in Toronto. Details coming soon here.

Feb 29-March 3 - Salon du Livre – French book fair in Toronto . Details coming soon here.

March 2 - Alliance Française-Spadina Theatre- performance ‘Cirk’Alors’  for youngsters. 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. 

Updated maps showing locations of French Immersion programs are available here. In September 2024, there will be a new French Immersion Centre starting at the formerly closed sight of Bannockburn PS (Avenue Rd, south of Wilson Ave).

The 2022-23 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. 

At the November 1, 2023 meeting of the Board of Trustees, a motion was adopted to ask staff to report on social demographics of students in French Immersion programs. This information was last made available in the 2017-18 French Review. The motion is posted here, on page 4.  

The French as a Second Language Advisory Committee (FSLAC) will be meeting on January 9, February 13 and March 19, 2024 from  7- 9 pm. The meetings are in person at the TDSB head office at 5050 Yonge St. and are conducted in English. For those unable to attend in person, a Zoom link is available. Parents/caregivers and community members are welcome. Meeting details are posted here. 

New parent members/alternates are needed to fill vacancies! The FSLAC is a great 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.

Parent members/alternates to the FSLAC must be willing to attend about 8 evening meetings during the school year and support the mission of the FSLAC: “To consult with and advise the Board on French as a Second Language matters. As a Board community advisory committee, the FSLAC will contribute to the work of trustees and staff. This partnership of trustees, staff and parents will foster excellence and growth in FSL programs at the Board”.

Interested? Please email us at fslactoronto@gmail.com ! 

 

Have a great winter break - cordialement,

Lynne Leblanc

FSLAC Parent Co-chair