(MOST RECENT ON TOP)
October 5, 2009
We had a very successful potluck picnic on September 19th! If you would like to be included in the invitations for future events, please send an email to waterdownfi@hotmail.com - emails are sent infrequently, so your mailbox will not be inundated with messages!June 2, 2009
Please join us on Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 11 am to 2 pm for a Potluck Picnic to Celebrate the French Language.
Details
Location: Christie Lake Conservation Area, 6 km west of the Highway 6/Highway 5 intersection (Clappison Corners), Beach Pavilion 2
Cost: $10 to cover the cost of the covered pavilion and bbq - in advance if possible + park entrance fee collected at gate ($8 for car and driver, plus $4/person to a maximum of $20/vehicle)
What to bring: Be creative in your contribution to the picnic! We will have a bbq and picnic tables. Think burgers, sandwiches, fruit/veggies, salad, dessert, drinks.
PLEASE RSVP to waterdownFI@hotmail.com BY JUNE 25, 2009 with:
- # of people in your party
- your food/drink contribution
See you at Christie's!
January 7, 2009
Update 1
FRENCH IMMERSION INFORMATION SESSION
Date: Monday, March 2
Time: 6:30 - 8 pm
Location: Guy B Brown School, 55 Braeheid St., Waterdown
This session is for parents who are considering registering their child for French Immersion Senior Kindergarten in September 2009.
Update 2
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION for 2009-2010
All schools will begin kindergarten registration for September 2009 within the next few weeks. Children born in 2005 are eligible for junior kindergarten, while children born in 2004 are eligible for senior kindergarten in September - the French Immersion program begins in senior kindergarten.
To help Guy Brown plan, and to help make as accurate an enrollment projection as possible, parents are asked to inform the school of their intent to register their child for September.
Simply call the school at 905-689-8254. If you get the answering machine, leave your name, your child's name and date of birth, as well as your telephone number and address. The school will then get in touch with you to arrange a time when you can go to the school to complete the registration process.
September 17, 2008
Canadian Parents for French Hamilton-Wentworth Chapter has a new website address: http://www.cpfhamilton.ca.
August 28, 2008
Update 1
French story time is coming to the Waterdown branch of the Hamilton Public Library this September! Here is a message from the library:
Come to the Waterdown Library for this weekly program for parents and young children that focuses on the pleasure of sharing rhymes, songs and stories “en Français”. Children ages 3-6 and their parents/caregivers are invited to attend. This program runs on Tuesday nights from September 16 to November 4 at 6:30 pm. Call 905-689-6269 to register. Registration starts September 9.
Update 2
It is not too late to confirm your attendance at the 2nd Annual French Immersion Potluck Picnic hosted by Waterdown Parents for French Immersion. See details in June 2008 update (below).
June 3, 2008
2nd Annual French Immersion Potluck Picnic
Hosted by Waterdown Parents for French Immersion
FOR WHOM: Families with children in French Immersion at Guy B. Brown Elementary School in Waterdown or those with an interest in French Immersion
DATE/TIME: Saturday, September 13, 2008 from 11 am to 2 pm
WHERE: Christie Lake Conservation Area (Hamilton Conservation Authority) on Hwy 5, 10 km west of Hwy 6
Park highlights: chlorinated swimming area in Christie Lake, 360 m sandy beach, 10 km of walking trails, fishing, canoeing, playground areas.
http://www.conservationhamilton.ca/Asset/iu_files/CHRISTIEBROCHURE04.pdf
COST: $5 per family on picnic day (covers cost of reserved covered pavilion with bbq – rain shelter!) park entrance fee ($8 for car and driver, plus $4/person to a maximum of $20/vehicle)
FOOD/DRINK: Be creative in your contribution to the picnic! We will have a bbq and picnic tables. Think burgers, sandwiches, fruit/veggies, salad, dessert, drinks.
BRING: Plates, utensils, cups, serviettes etc. for your family
RSVP: Please RSVP by Thursday, June 26 to waterdownFI@hotmail.com with the following information:
➢ # of people in your party
➢ Your food/drink contribution
A reminder email will be sent out in September –
please pass this information along!
January 17, 2008
To solve the over-population of Waterdown District High School the board is proposing two main options - the options will potentially affect every child in Waterdown.
See the following link for the details:
http://www.hwdsb.on.ca/media_desk/media_releases/waterdown/index.aspx
If your child goes to daycare at Waterdown District Children's Centre or at the daycare within Allan A. Greenleaf, these daycares may close depending on the option chosen.
If your child goes to school at Allan A. Greenleaf, they may be displaced to other schools within our community or to currently empty schools in Dundas for 2 years (until a new school is built in Waterdown).
It is extremely important for you to send your comments to the school board by January 30. The school board representatives said over and over again that community input will be considered.
Have your say!!
WHAT: French Immersion Information Session
WHEN: Monday, February 11, 2008
TIME: 6:30 - 7:30 pm
WHERE: Guy Brown School, 55 Braeheid St., Waterdown, Ontario
2. JK/SK REGISTRATION FOR 2008
Guy Brown School will soon be accepting registrations for JK and SK students. For now, you can call the school and tell them your intention to register your child for JK or SK. Call (905)689-8254 - registration packages will be sent out in February. Children born in 2003 and living in East Flamborough (in catchment areas for Mary Hopkins, Guy Brown, Allan A. Greenleaf, Flamborough Centre, and Balaclava) are eligible to attend French Immersion at the Senior Kindergarten level starting September 2008.
If your child will be attending French Immersion at the Senior Kindergarten level starting in 2009, you can register them for JK at Guy Brown if you want to and they WILL NOT be considered out of catchment (i.e., no special forms required to register, just regular registration forms).
NOTE: If you get the answering machine, leave the following information: your name, your child's name and date of birth, your telephone number and address. The school will get in touch with you to arrange a time for you to go to fill out the registration forms.
3. NEW FI CONSULTANT
The board has a new French Immersion Consultant - Lisa Robson - she can be reached at (905)304-8722 x272. Gisele Portelance is now a Vice-Principal within the board.
4. FRENCH IMMERSION PICNIC THIS SEPTEMBER
Heads-up - in September Waterdown Parents for French Immersion will host the 2nd annual French Immersion potluck picnic for all families with children in French Immersion at Guy Brown. Day, time, and all other important details to be worked out.
November 15, 2007
French Book
French Tour of
September 5, 2007
August 28, 2007
A short back to school update:
For Those Interested in Taking an Active Role in Waterdown Parents for French Immersion (WPFI):
- To get more involved, please send an email to waterdownFI@hotmail.com. Once the school year gets under way, and the French Immersion Advisory Committee gets rolling again, we'll have a better idea what the issues are.
Next Meeting of the HWDSB French Immersion Advisory Committee:
- Open to all
- Come meet the FI Consultant, the Superintendent responsible for FI, elementary and secondary FI teachers, concerned parents, and secondary FI students - see first hand what the current issues are
- Wednesday, September 19 at 7 pm at 100 Main St. W. (corner of Main and Bay Streets in the Education Centre)
- Dates for the remainder of the school year: Nov. 21, Jan. 23, Mar. 26, May 21
For Families of FI SK 2007 children:
- It is not too late to join us for the potluck picnic on Sat., Sept. 8 from 11-1. For details, please send an email to waterdownFI@hotmail.com.
- Likewise, let me know if you want to add your name to the FI SK 2007 email distribution list.
Canadian Parents for French:
- This group puts on many events throughout the school year - watch their website for more details: http://www.hwcn.org/link/hwcpf/index.html
Spread the Word about FI in Waterdown:
- Please forward this message on and invite others to join the email distribution list.
- Keep talking about FI. There are still people who are just learning that FI is coming to Waterdown.
May 30, 2007
Updates following the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board's May 23 French Immersion Advisory Committee Meeting (everyone welcome, meets every 2 months during the school year, next meet Sept)
Registrations:
- Children registered for French Immersion SK 2007 at Guy Brown as of May 23: 32
Funding for FI at Guy Brown:
- $15,000 grant money will be used to purchase resources (e.g., books) for the new sites (Dundana and Lawfield will also receive $15,000 each)
- There is also some 'new class' start up funding available from the board.
Childcare:
- Before/after school care for Grade 1 and up: Waterdown District Children's Centre (WDCC) already has approximately 30 kids registered for before and after school care which will be provided at the school.
- JK/SK wrap program – Due to space limitations, there is no capacity to offer the wrap program in the school building, so WDCC will be transporting the kids to and from their facility (within Waterdown District High School) for that program. There is a waiting list.
Transportation
A HWDSB Trustee mentioned at the meeting that clarification was made a couple of years ago stating that FI is NOT a 'program of choice', but rather a 'system level program under the ministry'. Apparently this makes it more mainstream and may give more entitlement for services, e.g., bussing. He stated that although this was clarified at the Committee of the Whole, there are still some places in board documentation and on the website (for example the transportation planning section) which list it as a program of choice (generally transportation is not provided for programs of choice). He put forward a motion (which was seconded and voted on with unanimous support) that the board write a request to the ministry to increase the base funding for transportation in order to allow bussing for this system level program. Apparently 1 bus for the year costs $30,000.
HWDSB to reimburse Guy Brown’s $60 membership to Canadian Parents for French (if the school applies to become a member – WPFI strongly recommends this):
The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board will pay the membership fee for schools with FI programs to become members of CPF. The local CPF website can be found at: http://www.hwcn.org/link/hwcpf/index.html. Great resources for parents and activities planned for kids and families, including a family French concert on June 14th in
French Language Literacy Coaches:
There is ongoing discussion about arranging some French language literacy coaches (there are English language ones throughout the board but not many or none for FI). This is something for Waterdown Parents for French Immersion to pay attention to in the 2007/8 school year.
THANK YOU to Resigning Board Members/Getting Involved in Waterdown Parents for French Immersion (WPFI)
Lynda Moore and Vanessa Palmer-Newman have recently decided to step down from their positions as board members of WPFI. They will remain involved but will not be leading the way. Thank you Lynda and Vanessa! French Immersion in Waterdown would not have happened this year without you!!
This means, of course, that there is now room for YOU to have a greater role in Waterdown Parents for French Immersion, or even to become a board member.
May 23, 2007
General updates to website including new colour scheme. New mission statement, goals and strategy to be developed in September 2007 once the French Immersion program has begun.
All other updates can be found under Old Updates.
bravenet.com