As the Holiday season and New Year approaches, it is a natural time to take stock of 2022’s highlights and take pride in how far we have come in one year.
We remain impressed every day by the tremendous skill, passion and dedication of volunteers, staff, teachers and ECEs, and especially learners. FSLAC parent volunteers are grateful for the strong work of the central French department and the many people in our community who give generously of their time to help parents/caregivers and students work towards fulfilling their goals for French language learning.
September 2022 was particularly significant for the Early French Immersion program at the TDSB with the opening of 4 new sites and the one-time double cohort year entry of Junior and Senior Kindergarten students. These milestones are part of the work that started with the French Review in 2018.
For September 2023, the Early French Immersion (EFI) program entry point is Junior Kindergarten. This is supported by research that shows immersing children in an additional language at an early age has a positive impact on language skill development, and will provide a more solid foundation for reading in the early years.
We also look forward to three new EFI sites being opened in September 2023: Kingsview JPS (Ward 1-Etobicoke North), Gracedale PS (Ward 4-Humber River-Black Creek) and Whitehaven PS (Ward 21-Scarborough North). New sites are identified by staff who consider equity of access, capacity and travel distances, key concerns identified through the 2018 French Review. Additionally, the Bannockburn site (Ward 8-Eglinton-Lawrence and Toronto-St. Paul’s) is scheduled to re-open as a French Immersion school in September 2024 to relieve overcrowding in the Yonge-Eglinton area schools. The opening of these sites is building the foundation today for strong and accessible French Immersion programs tomorrow.
Core French and French Immersion information and resources to support students are available here. The French section of the TDSB virtual library is here.
We are honoured to work with the FSLAC parent/caregiver members who continue its mission to consult with and advise the Board on French Language matters and work with Trustees and staff. This partnership of Trustees, staff and parents/caregivers has grown from the old Toronto school board in the 1990’s and continues to foster excellence and growth in Core and Immersion French programs within the TDSB. And, of course, we are looking forward to working with the newly elected Trustees on parent/caregiver engagement in French Language programs.
In 2023, we will be reaching out to parents/caregivers across the TDSB to consider becoming ward representatives. If you are interested, or have questions, please contact us directly at: fslactoronto@gmail.com. Information about the FSLAC is here.
Coming up January 9- February 3: application period for Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 entry); all Grade 3 students not currently enrolled in a French program are eligible to apply online. Information is here.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours all the best during this holiday season with much health and happiness in the year ahead.