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FSLAC Newsletter December 2021
In this issue:
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1. Attention Grade 3 ParentsFrom January 3-28, 2022, grade 3 students who are not in Early French Immersion, can apply to start Middle French Immersion in September 2022, their Grade 4 year. There are 40 schools offering the program and information is available in 22 languages here.
Middle French Immersion offers 100% French instruction in grades 4 and 5. In grades 6-8, 75% of the instruction is in French with English and Science taught in English. If necessary, for timetabling, specialist subjects, like gym, may be taught in English. In secondary school, Middle and Early French Immersion students will mix together in the French Immersion program and will do 10 credits in French.
Application information and link here.
Virtual information webinars are being held on January 6, 13 and 17. Details posted here.
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2. Attention Grade 6 Parents From January 3-28, 2022, grade 6 students can apply to enter the Extended French program for September 2022, their grade 7 year. Applications are submitted electronically directly to the Extended French school. Virtual information sessions are being held during January. Full details are posted here.
The Grade 7 entry Extended French program offers students who have successfully completed three years of Core French a more intensive program. Students spend approximately 40% of their school day learning in French. Grade 7 Extended French programs are located at these elementary schools: Bowmore Road, Charles Gordon, Earl Grey, Glen Ames, Glenview, Henry Hudson, J B Tyrrell, J R Wilcox, King Edward, Queen Alexandra, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Sir Ernest MacMillan, Swansea and Winona.
Students who are not in the catchment area for a Grade 7 Extended French program may apply directly to any school that offers it and must also attach their Optional Attendance form to the application. Grade 7 Extended schools which are classified as ‘limited’ for Optional Attendance and may have space for September 2022 for students for students from outside their Extended French catchment are: Charles Gordon, Henry Hudson, J R Wilcox and Queen Alexandra Middle School. Optional attendance information is here.
Note: Extended French programs are being phased out. The last students to begin an Extended French program will be the September 2022 Grade 7 Extended French students.
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3. Secondary Info Sessions OngoingSecondary school information sessions started in November and are ongoing into January 2022. For information on Immersion or Extended French pathways, that is, the schools that an Immersion or Extended French student will attend from JK- Grade 12, check here. For a list of the secondary schools which offer the continuation of Immersion and/or Extended French programs and credits required in French to qualify for Certificates of Bilingualism, check here. Maps for French program locations are posted under www.tdsb.on.ca/French under School Search, here.
Students who wish to attend an Immersion or Extended French school, other than the one designated on their guaranteed pathway, may be able to apply under Optional Attendance. Immersion and/or Extended French secondary schools which are classified as ‘limited’ for 2022/23 and may have space to accept applicants from other pathways are: Cedarbrae, East York, L’Amoreux, Newtonbrook and Oakwood. Optional attendance information is here. Applications for Secondary Optional Attendance are due on January 28, 2022.
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4. French Library ResourcesThe French TDSB Virtual Library offers links to e-books, educational websites for reading, listening and math practice, research resources, magazines and Faire (Make & Do) which has educational tools and games. Passwords, if required, are available from your child’s teacher and teacher/librarian. For Cantook, a Toronto Public Library card is required to access French e-books.
The Centre de la francophonie des Amériques offers FREE memberships in their organization and that gives you full access to their virtual French library Bibliothèque des Amériques. It has more than 2000 e-books in French for young people that can be downloaded or read online for 21 days. With their partner Radio-Canada, they also provide audio books for young people.
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5. O’Poésie ContestO’Poésie is a French as a second language poetry contest for students ages 6 to 18. FSL students can explore the beauty of the French language through this creative learning project and win fun prizes. Poems must be in French, must be 20 lines or less and the poet must be learning French as a new language. Submissions are due by February 9, 2022. Canadian Parents for French is sponsoring this contest. Details here and on YouTube here.
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6. Keeping Up with Our KidsIs your French a little rusty? Do you want to keep up with and support your kids’ French learning by showing them your enthusiasm and commitment? There is an app for that! Mauril is a free, fun and engaging way to work on your French. It focusses on listening skills and the audio and video content is current and Canadian. It is from our national public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada.
The app is available via the website, Google Play and Apple Store. Note: the app store country must be set to Canada to access Mauril.
Why Mauril? The name is a tribute to the Honourable Mauril Bélanger, the former Ottawa-Vanier Member of Parliament, who championed official languages in Canada and was a great friend to French as a Second Official Language learners and advocates.
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7. Win Scholarships to Post-secondary: Entries due December 17French for the Future is holding its annual French essay contest for grade 10-12 students currently enrolled in Core, Extended and Immersion French. Scholarships of $1000-$20,000 at bilingual and French universities and colleges across Canada will be awarded to the winners. The topic is "In a future where everything is possible, how will the food we eat and the way it is produced have changed?". Submissions are due by December 17, 2021. Information is posted here.
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8. Post-secondary FSL Bursary Program
College and university bursaries of $3,000 are being offered to secondary Core, Extended and Immersion French graduates by the Government of Canada through L’Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie Canadienne. 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 Laurentian University in Sudbury, University of Ottawa and in Toronto, Collège Boréal, Glendon Campus York University and Université de l'Ontario français. Further information is available here.
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9. Attention Grade 11-12 FSL Students
Concours d’art oratoire, the annual public speaking contest for Core, Extended and Immersion French students, will be virtual this year. Ontario Grade 11-12 students may submit a recorded speech between February 14 and April 8, 2022. Prizes for first place winners are scholarships to Collège Boréal, University of Ottawa or York University Glendon Campus. Details here.
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10. Update: French Review Implementation
TDSB staff provided an update to the Trustees at the November 3, 2021 Planning and Priorities Committee meeting and the November 10, 2021 Board meeting. The update was about implementation of the June 2019 Trustee decisions on the French review recommendations. At the Board meeting, Director Russell-Rawlins said that there will be a further report on redistribution of French Immersion programs in January-February 2022.
The November update announced improved access to French Immersion programs in underserved areas. Four new Early French Immersion (EFI) sites are being added in September 2022: Brookhaven (JK/SK, York South-Weston – Ward 6), Fraser Mustard (JK/SK, Don Valley West – Ward 11), George B Little (JK/SK, Scarborough-Guildwood – Ward 19) and Mason Road (JK/SK, Scarborough Southwest – Ward 18). Two new French Immersion continuation sites are also being added in September 2022: Bloordale (Grade 6, Etobicoke Centre – Ward 2) and Robert Service (Grade 7, Scarborough Southwest – Ward 18). Higher grades will be added as the lead class moves ahead.
At the October 27, 2021 Governance and Policy Committee, Trustees received updates to PR597 , the procedure staff follows for French programs. The end date for Early French Immersion (EFI) waiting lists has been moved from end of term in December to September 30th. Note that all on-time applicants are placed but not every student gets their designated EFI school. Waiting lists for a particular school occur when there are more applicants than there are spots at any EFI school.
Archived webcasts of Trustee committee and board meetings are available here. To quickly find the recent agenda items about French programs, fast forward to the elapsed meeting time noted here:
Governance and Policy Committee- October 27, 2021-1:58:50
Planning and Priorities Committee November 3, 2021 - 1:02:28
Board meeting November 10, 2021 - 2:05:50
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11. Join Us at Upcoming FSLAC Meetings
The FSLAC will be meeting on January 11, February 8 and March 10, 2022 at 7 pm. All are welcome to attend. Agendas and a link for attending by Zoom will be posted here: www.tdsb.on.ca/fslac
The FSLAC is seeking new parent members and alternates. Parents who are interested should email fslactoronto@gmail.com
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12. Help Us Connect with Parents
Help us share TDSB French news and tips with families and school/parent councils by forwarding this newsletter. Ask your school/parent council to sign up! To join our email distribution list, use the signup link at the bottom of this email or this link here or go to our TDSB webpage www.tdsb.on.ca/fslac and click on the orange button. It just takes a minute to get connected and start receiving this once/term newsletter and occasional breaking news.
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