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FSLAC Newsletter March 2020
In this issue:
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1. March Break at the LibraryDuring March break, Toronto Public Library will be hosting lots of FREE events in French for children at branches across the city. From performances to Cameroon traditions to volcanoes to magic, there is a great array to choose from. Details here.
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2. Alliance Française Programs
In addition to their regular children’s camps (March and summer breaks) and afterschool programs, the Alliance is offering ‘non-school days’ programs in French for children from 5-11 years old at their locations at Bloor and Spadina, North York, Mississauga, Oakville and Markham. Check here for details.
The Alliance Française is a not-for-profit organization that promotes French language and culture.
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3. March 10th Info NightOn March 10th at 7 pm, EduTravel is holding an information meeting on opportunities for secondary students to take credits while traveling during school breaks. Credits available include core French (grades 9-12) and French Immersion/Extended (grades 11-12). The meeting is taking place at North York Central Library at 5120 Yonge St. On-line registration for session is here.
EduTravel is a Canadian owned and operated tour provider for experiential learning through travel. It works in partnership with Ontario school boards to provide students with an alternative to regular classrooms to earn credits towards their secondary diploma.
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4. Share Your Voice: Parent and Community Engagement!The TDSB is reviewing the Parent and Community Involvement Policy 023 to help set standards, improve consistency and further develop meaningful approaches to parent and family engagement. You are invited to participate in the consultation by doing the on-line survey and/or attending upcoming consultation meetings taking place March 30-April 22 at various locations. Consultation information here.
Under the current policy, the Board may create community advisory committees to provide ongoing advice to the Board. In 2005, when this policy was adopted, the Board created the FSLAC (French as a Second Language Advisory Committee) as a parent committee to work in collaboration with staff and Trustees on French as a Second Language programs.
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5. FREE French for TeensOn April 6, May 4 and June 1, 2020, FREE after-School conversational French for teens is taking place at North York Central Library at 5120 Yonge St. This is an opportunity for high school students to speak en français in a fun and safe space. The student facilitator has volunteered for Canadian Parents for French for over 5 years and has Toast Masters Certification and competitive public speaking experience. Registration information is here.
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6. Family French Immersion in QuebecWestern University is offering a Family French Immersion program in Trois-Pistoles, Quebec, from August 9-15, 2020. Children in French Immersion from ages 6-12 do music, art, sports and games while the adults go to French conversation class. Family French activities include whale watching, musical performances and movies. Accommodation is in private homes where meals are a chance for your whole family to converse in French with your hosts.
Trois-Pistoles is located east of Quebec City but on the south shore of the St Lawrence River. The entire town is involved in encouraging French language learners. Other summer immersion opportunities at Trois-Pistoles include Explore (sponsored by the federal government for students age 18 and up at this location), university credits, a 1-week immersion for adults and a 2-week FSL teacher immersion/pedagogy program aligned with Ontario FSL curriculum. Information here.
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7. Nominate your FSL Teacher or ECEDo you know an FSL teacher or Early Childhood Educator who is very passionate about their work and is making a difference in your school using innovative approaches? IDÉLLO is accepting nominations for awards for outstanding FSL teachers and Early Childhood Educators until April 19, 2020. Information here.
IDÉLLO is part of Groupe Média TFO, our publicly funded French educational broadcaster in Ontario. It works with the Ministry of Education to provide electronic resources to support French Second Language teaching and learning.
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8. French in the SummerThinking about summer activities for your children and your family? Frenchstreet.ca is now sharing activities across Canada. It is the go-to searchable database for French summer camps, exchanges and cultural activities.
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9. UOFThe new Université de l'Ontario français (UOF) will be accepting its first students in September 2021 at the just announced location in Toronto on Lower Jarvis Street. During the eight-year start-up period, the federal and provincial governments will each contribute $63 million and afterwards, UOF will be funded in the same way as all Ontario universities. In her remarks at the recent announcement of the location, Dyane Adam, a former Commissioner of Official Languages, now the chair of the Board of Governors of UOF, noted the increasing need for post-secondary education in French to respond to booming French schools and French Immersion programs and to respond to the need for bilingual professionals in the workplace.
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10. Secondary TTC SupportTTC ticket distribution to all French Immersion/Extended (FI/Ext) secondary students who live over 4.8 km from their FI/Ext school was discontinued in September 2019. However, in cases of financial need, FI/Ext secondary students who meet the distance criteria may request TTC support from their principal. Bussing and TTC support are continuing for SK-8 for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school year.
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11. Update: Transportation BudgetFinancial Facts including data on transportation covering 2015 to 2019 estimates was shared with Trustees at the February 26, 2020 Finance (FBEC) Committee meeting.
From 2015-2019, overall enrolment in French Immersion/Extended grew about 8.6% while the number of French Immersion/Extended students who were bussed dropped 8.1%. New French Immersion/Extended sites were added which reduced catchment sizes meaning more students could walk and the need for bussing decreased.
Also during this period, the increase in French Immersion/Extended enrolment and small increases in allocations per student generated an increase of 9.9% in the French Second Language funding received by the TDSB. TDSB transportation expenses went up 20.2% while the grant from the Ministry of Education went up 28.9%. However, this increase did not address the gap between TDSB transportation expenses and the grant which now sits at $3.2 million.
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12. Update: French ReviewTrustees receive information and made initial decisions on the French Review at the Committee of the Whole (COW) as part of the implementation of the Multi-Year Strategic Plan. The COW received Update #2 from staff on January 29, 2020 with information on the Core French Action Plan, on-line engagement with staff and parents, French teacher recruitment, transportation and the development of a redistribution plan for French Immersion programs as well as flow charts that show various French program cohorts.
In June 2019, the TDSB approved major changes to French programs.
All Extended French programs are being phased out. Currently, secondary Extended French students take at least 7 credits in French out of the 30 credits required for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). The last grade 4 Extended classes start in September 2020 and when they enter grade 9 in September 2025, they will be placed in the French Immersion program. Secondary French Immersion students take at least 10 credits in French.
There will be 2 city-wide French Immersion programs with entry points at JK (Early French Immersion) and grade 4 (Middle French Immersion). The Middle French Immersion program will begin September 2021. In September 2022 only, there will be both JK and SK entry to Early French Immersion. In September 2023, Early French Immersion will start in JK. The process for applying has not yet been announced.
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13. Update: TDSB FSL On-lineThe dedicated Google site for FSL teachers and administrators for quick access to resources to support student achievement in Core, Extended and Immersion French is being accessed and updated regularly.
Given the enthusiasm and demand for resources to better support TDSB families and provide information to the wider community, the previously announced Google site for parents/guardians of Core, Extended and Immersion French students will instead be a redevelopment of the French program pages of the TDSB public website in order to comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians Disabilities Act (AODA).
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14. Join Us! The FSLAC will meet on March 10, April 14, May 12 and June 8, 2020. Parents, students, trustees, teachers and staff are welcome. Meetings start at 7 pm at the TDSB offices at 5050 Yonge St., ground floor. FSLAC information is posted on the TDSB website here.
The FSLAC is seeking new parent members and alternates. Parents who are interested should email fslactoronto@gmail.com. The Terms of Reference, outlining the mandate and information about the FSLAC is here.
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15. Share this NewsletterHelp us share TDSB French news and parent tips with parents and school councils by forwarding this newsletter. Sign up link is at the bottom of this email, here and on our TDSB webpage. It just takes a minute to get connected to get this once/term newsletter and occasional breaking news.
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