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April 19, 2007
French Immersion is coming to Waterdown (
On Monday, April 16, the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Trustees
voted to expand the program to Waterdown despite the school not reaching the
30-40 student target.
April 4, 2007
Update from
From Krys Croxall, Superintendent of Program and Assessment
April 4, 2007
"Update on French Immersion at Guy B. Brown
In the
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, the French Immersion program begins
in Senior Kindergarten. A group of Waterdown parents has worked extremely hard
over the past two years to bring French Immersion to Waterdown to serve the
local community and we are now very close to realizing this vision for
September 2007.
Because this is
the inaugural year for French Immersion at
If you have been
considering the option of registering your child entering Senior Kindergarten
for French Immersion, please contact Guy Brown to register your child as soon
as possible to ensure that a program will be offered in the Waterdown area.
More information:
- Funding has been
set aside to support the new program with the purchase of materials.
- The Board is
discussing with local operators the possibility of providing child care. If you
are interested in registering your child for SK in French Immersion, please be
sure to let the school know when you register that you would be interested in
child care as well.
- FI
transportation is not provided for Kindergarten children.
- To
further discuss the program and its benefits or ask questions, please contact
Gisele Portelance, Program Effectiveness Consultant at gisele.portelance@hwdsb.on.ca
or at 905 304-8722 extension 272.
- To ask about
school-related issues (such as bell times) contact
Krys
Croxall, Superintendent of Education
Program and Assessment"
March 25, 2007
1. Poster for getting word out that 2 students still needed for program to
go ahead
Please email waterdownFI@hotmail.com for a copy of the
poster to let the community know that 2 more students for SK 2007 are required asap or the program will not go ahead.
2. Canadian Parents for French website
It has been updated to show status of new programs in Waterdown,
March 23, 2007
1. # Registered for SK 2007 as of Wed., Mar. 21): 28 (NEED 2 MORE)
2. HWDSB French Immersion Advisory Committee Meeting
- Superintendent Krys Croxall (Program and Assessment) is confident that we
will reach 30 kids and wants to wait a bit longer before making a decision on
the program. If we do not reach 30 in the near future (weeks), she will go to
executive council to ask that the program be opened despite being short numbers
at the moment.
- Krys Croxall
agreed to draft a letter to send home to all JK parents in Waterdown.
- The HWDSB
website MAY be updated to say that 2 more students needed for French Immersion
to begin in Waterdown September 2007.
March 12, 2007
# Registered for SK 2007 as of Friday, March 9 (last day before March
break): 27
Next step: We understand that Krys Croxall, Superintendent of Program
and Assessment, and John Laverty, Superintendent for this area, agree that we
will likely reach 30 in the next few weeks. Krys will be proposing to executive
council (Director + Superintendents) that the program go ahead even though we
have not yet reached 30. This proposal will be made either Tues. the 20th or
Tues. the 27th. at the meeting of executive council (not a public meeting),
unless we reach 30 before then. Hiring begins in April, as we understand, so a
decision will be made very very soon.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Spread the
word that French Immersion is an option for SK 2007 to those who may be
unaware. Urge registration asap (remembering that
next week is March break). Call Guy Brown to register at (905)689-8254.
February 25, 2007
Several newspaper articles included under Media Coverage page.
February 22, 2007
1. MID-MARCH DEADLINE FOR
REGISTRATION
The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board has recently said that after the
March 7 French Immersion Information Session at Guy Brown School (6:30-7:30
pm), if the number of students registered for Senior Kindergarten 2007 does not
significantly increase, the program will not go ahead. We need 30 children registered by this time.
2. NUMBER OF CHILDREN CURRENTLY
REGISTERED
See right hand side of this page for the current number of students registered
for French Immersion at
3. COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS FOR DISTRIBUTION
We have developed a poster and a letter for distribution to spread the word
about the expansion of French Immersion to Waterdown and the urgency for
registration. Please email waterdownFI@hotmail.com if you would like
an electronic copy for distribution.
February 16, 2007
1. U R G E N T U P D A T
E: Feb. 28 deadline
to register for French Immersion for Senior Kindergarten 2007. If we do not
have 30 kids registered by this time, the program will not be offered in Waterdown this fall. Call Guy Brown school
to register, at (905)689-9254.
2. Hamilton Spectator newspaper article - "In love
with French again".
February 6, 2007
Three updates:
1. Ward Information Night Wed., Feb. 6,
7 pm at
It is in the school council policy that the Superintendent (ours is John
Laverty) and Trustee (ours is Karen Turkstra) hold a WIN meeting twice yearly
to speak to the community about education issues.
Daryl Sage, Manager of Transportation and Accommodation, will be presenting the
accomodation concept plan (includes plans to build a
new Guy Brown on the current site and to demolish the existing school). He can
also answer questions about FI bussing.
2. Register for FI Senior Kindergarten
2007 as soon as possible to facilitate planning/hiring at
We would like to encourage everyone who intends to register their child(ren) for French Immersion for Senior Kindergarten in
September 2007 at
Of the 3 new FI schools, Guy Brown has the highest enrollment to date, however,
to facilitate teacher planning/hiring,
I understand from the principal, John Harrison, that he would really appreciate
having an accurate picture of student numbers in FI as soon as possible.
We are curious, too, whether most of the people who have registered so far were
parents on the petition. If you're interested in letting us know whether
you have registered, please send us an email.
3. Waterdown Parents for French
Immersion on television February 5
If you would like to watch the French Immersion segment which aired last
night (Feb. 5) on CBC Radio-Canada Le Téléjournal
(French dinner time news show), follow these instructions:
1. Go to: http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ontario/tele/cesoirontario.shtml
2. Click on “Lundi 5 février”
3. Fast forward (looks like >>) to the 29 minute mark.
4. Press pause.
5. Press play. Segment lasts until about 33 ½ minute mark.
4. Plenty of support for bilingualism:
poll
See poll released by CBC:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/02/04/bilingualism-poll.html#skip300x250.
January 31, 2007
1) Watch CBC Radio-Canada Le Téléjournal
(French dinner time news show) between 6 and 7 pm on Monday, February 5
(proposed date of airing) for a short segment on French Immersion in Waterdown.
Kyra and Lynda of Waterdown Parents for French Immersion were interviewed, as
was Gisèle Portelance, French Immersion Consultant
for the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.
If you miss the show, you can watch it online (starting the day after it airs),
at:
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ontario/tele/cesoirontario.shtml
2) Email update sent via mailing list on Tuesday, January 30, 2007:
There are several pieces of information to share with you today (see further
below for details):
1. Final decision of the
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) regarding expansion of French
Immersion to Waterdown
2. How to register your child
for French Immersion
3. Details of French Immersion
Information Night in Waterdown
4. Canadian Parents for French
5. Transportation
6. French Immersion at Grade 1
level
7. Removing your name
from Waterdown Parents for French Immersion mailing list
DETAILS:
1. Final decision of the
HWDSB regarding expansion of French Immersion to Waterdown
Last night the HWDSB ratified the decision made at the Committee of the Whole
meeting last week, January 22, 2007. Therefore, French Immersion will begin at
2. How to register your child
for French Immersion
Registration begins today (Tuesday, January 30, 2007) as the decision was
finalized last night. I just met with John Harrison, Principal of Guy Brown,
and he indicated that you can register in one of two ways:
- In person
- By phone - (905)689-8254.
Registration is on a first come first
served basis.
Registration is currently morning or afternoon, though it is possible that a
full day program will be offered.
3. Details of French Immersion
Information Night in Waterdown
Date: Wednesday, March 7th, 2007
Location: Guy Brown School (Braeheid St., Waterdown)
Time: 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Presenter: Gisèle Portelance, French Immersion
Consultant for the HWDSB
PLEASE NOTE: If you are unable to attend this session, you may choose to attend
one of the alternate dates/locations, as follows:
February 7 - Norwood Park (Mountain)
February 12 - A.M. Cunningham
February 13 - G. R. Allan (West Hamilton)
February 21 - Glen Echo
February 26 - Earl Kitchener
February 28 - Dundana (Dundas)
March 6 - Vern Ames (Mountain)
For locations of these schools, please see the HWDSB website, at: http://w3.hwdsb.on.ca/fimmersion/.
4. Canadian Parents for French
We would like to thank Canadian Parents for French, and particularly Rosalind
Minaji, for all of the assistance she has given us in the past year. We would
also encourage each of you to become a member of Canadian Parents for French.
(Canadian Parents for French was instrumental in obtaining busing for French
Immersion - before 2006, the HWDSB had never provided busing for its French
Immersion students.)
Canadian Parents for French (CPF) was founded in 1977 by a group of 35 parents
who wanted all young Canadians to have the opportunity to learn and use the French
language. CPF works with teachers, administrators and community leaders to
strengthen French second language programs in Canadian schools. Today there are
over 22,000 CPF members across
The CPF Hamilton-Wentworth Chapter was formed in 2002 by a group of 8 parents
who wanted to:
For more information, please
visit their website, at http://www.hwcn.org/link/hwcpf/index.html.
5. Transportation
At the HWDSB's French Immersion Advisory Committee
meeting on Wednesday, January 24, 2007, we learned that parents may not know
whether transportation will be provided for children enrolled in French
Immersion until June. We will communicate transportation information as soon as
we learn more.
6. French Immersion at Grade 1 level
Again, at the HWDSB's French Immersion Advisory
Committee meeting on Wednesday, January 24, 2007, we were informed that French
Immersion will not be offered at the Grade 1 level in September of this year.
The reason is one of accomodation. There simply is
not room to start SK and Grade 1. This year 1 classroom will serve 2 SK classes
(since half-time), next year 3 classes will be required (1 for each Grade 1
class, plus 1 for the new SKs), the year after that 5
would be required, etc.
7. Removing your name from
Waterdown Parents for French Immersion mailing list
If at any time you would like to remove your name from the Waterdown Parents
for French Immersion mailing list, please send an email to waterdownFI@hotmail.com.
As always, if you have any questions, please let us know.
January 25, 2007
Flamborough Review article dated January 26, 2007 (Part 1 and Part 2).
A new page has been added to track all media coverage of
Waterdown Parents for French Immersion.
January 23, 2007
Updates:
1. We did it! French Immersion is coming
to Waterdown at the Senior Kindergarten level, starting in September 2007 at
The Trustees unanimously supported the recommendations contained within the
French Immersion report.
Important points:
- Enrollment will be set at 30-40 SK 2007 kids (2 classes).
- Catchment area will be all public elementary
schools feeding into
- Program will start at Guy Brown but may move, depending on accomodation issues as Waterdown expands.
- Transportation is unknown at this point - it is a separate issue.
- A French Immersion information night will be held in Waterdown (likely in
February).
- Registration time/details not yet known.
- THE DECISION TO START FRENCH IMMERSION IN WATERDOWN WILL BE RATIFIED (BECOME
OFFICIAL) AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING ON MONDAY, JANUARY 29 (time to be
determined - likely 4 pm). However, we are told that this is more of a
formality than anything else.
Waterdown Parents for French Immersion will remain active, continuing to work
with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board to support the program in our
community (quality teachers, required resources, etc.).
Our immediate next step will be to turn our attention to the transportation
issue.
We will continue to attend the board's French Immersion Advisory Committee
meetings, with the next one being this Wednesday, January 24th at 7pm. All are
welcome. Same location as tonight's meeting - 100 Main St. W., Hamilton (board
office).
And finally, a very big thank you to all of our supporters tonight, and over
the past year - we could not have done this without you! A special thank you to
two moms, Deanna and Louise, to our former Trustee Reg
Woodworth, to our current Trustee Karen Turkstra, as well as to the board's
French Immersion Consultant Gisèle Portelance,
to Krys Croxall, Superintendent responsible for French Immersion, and last but
certainly not least, to Dr. Chris Spence, Director of the board.
Stay tuned for more details as they become available. Look for an article in
the Hamilton Spectator Tuesday morning, and the Flamborough
Review some time soon.
Kyra, Lynda, and Vanessa
See Hamilton Spectator article - Tuesday,
January 23, 2007.
If you would like to read the French Immersion report presented to the
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Trustees last night, please send us an
email at waterdownFI@hotmail.
2. Read the Flamborough Review article January 12, 2007
and the Letter to the Editor written in
response to it (in January 19, 2007 paper).
January 16, 2007
NEW TIME for January 22nd meeting
- now starting at 7pm. The Committee of the Whole meeting will discuss the
French Immersion issue near the beginning of the meeting.
CARPOOLING NEW TIMES - meet at
Waterdown Fortinos at 6:15 pm and leave at 6:30 pm.
Email waterdownFI@hotmail.com if you plan to
participate.
January 4, 2007
Carpool for January 22 6:30 pm meeting
If you are interested in carpooling to the Committee of the Whole Meeting on
January 22 at 6:30 pm, please meet at 5:45 pm in the Waterdown Fortinos parking lot (on the East Side Marios
end of the store) and look for Deanna.
Please send an email to waterdownfi@hotmail.com if you are
interested in providing a ride
or obtaining a ride so we have a
sense of numbers.
January 3, 2007
NEW DATE: The HWDSB has rescheduled the January Committee of the Whole
meeting to Monday, January 22, 2007.
All other details remain the same. See update Nov. 23, 2006 (below) for more
information.
December 12, 2006
NEW DATE: Confirmation that the FI issue will be brought to the Trustees at the
Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday,
January 15, 2007. All other details remain the same. See update Nov. 23,
2006 for more information.
December 5, 2006
1. Progress of Waterdown Parents
for French Immersion since its inception early in 2006 has been added to the Report on Progress, Meetings,
etc. page.
2. Presentation given to
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board on October 16, 2006 - if you
would like a copy, please send an email to waterdownFI@hotmail.com (no capability on
this website to post the powerpoint presentation).
November 23, 2006
***Please attend the board meeting on Mon., Jan. 15 [edit - Dec. 12 to
reflect this NEW CONFIRMED DATE of Jan. 15 -- NOT the date previously listed
for Jan. 8], 2007 at 6:30 pm at 100
Main St. W., Hamilton (board office)
when the French Immersion report will be presented (see below for more
information) – Your presence may very well tip the balance in our favour and result in FRENCH IMMERSION IN WATERDOWN!! We
cannot say it strongly enough – if you want French Immersion in
Waterdown, you must attend this meeting! Bring your friends, parents, neighbours, kids – anyone supportive of French
Immersion.
UPDATE:
SURVEY RESULTS – According
to Krys Croxall, Superintendent of Program and Assessment (and responsible for
French Immersion (FI)), the results from the FI survey that the
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board did this fall look very healthy
– more than enough reason to move ahead with a recommendation for
expanding FI to Waterdown. (Results have not yet been publicly released.)
- ACCOMODATION –
Again according to Krys Croxall, several options are being considered, each of
which would be a short-term solution (given the growing Waterdown population, need
for new schools, etc.). If FI comes to Waterdown, it is quite possible that the
program would not be in the same school 2 years down the road (depending on
accommodation issues, possible new schools, etc.).
- FI REPORT
- The three Superintendents holding the pen on the French Immersion report
(Krys Croxall, Don Grant – Superintendent of Business, and John Laverty
– Superintendent of Education for Flamborough)
will likely be presenting recommendations to executive council of the HWDSB
(i.e., the Director + all superintendents) on Dec. 11. After this:
- FI Report, including recommendations, would be presented at the Mon.,
Jan. 8 committee of the whole meeting for the trustees to
vote.
- The recommendation of the trustees would be referred to the next
regular board meeting, on Mon., Jan. 24, 2007, at which point a FINAL DECISION
would be made.
- NEW TRUSTEES
– There are 7 new trustees following the Nov. 13 elections. We will be
sending a copy of our recent presentation to the board to the new trustees, and
following up with each one to answer any questions they may have. Two new
trustees have children in FI programs, and Flamborough’s
new trustee (Karen Turkstra) is extremely supportive of us.
- FI
INFORMATION NIGHT – A date and location are being reserved for Gisèle Portelance, French Immersion Consultant for
the HWDSB, to hold a FI Information Night in Waterdown, as was done early in
2006. The date and location will be confirmed if it is decided that FI is
coming to Waterdown.
- PLEASE NOTE THAT
THE JAN. 8, 2007 DATE HAS NOT YET BEEN CONFIRMED, but it is the date that Krys
Croxall is planning for. We will send out a confirmatory email as soon as
possible.
WE NEED YOU AT THE JANUARY MEETING!!!
We remain
cautiously optimistic.
October 19, 2006
Two updates:
1. Flamborough Review newspaper article Oct. 6, 2006
2. Update from Presentation to Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
As you may know, we made a presentation to the Hamilton-Wentworth District
School Board on Oct. 16 to formally request that French Immersion be
implemented in Waterdown at the Senior Kindergarten level in September 2007.
Thank you to the approximately 20 people who came out to support us! You made
an impression!
***What happened?***
- Canadian Parents for French (Rosalind Minaji) opened with a short
presentation on the benefits of French Immersion and the state of French
Immersion in Canada, Ontario, and Hamilton-Wentworth.
- Lynda and I presented on behalf of Waterdown Parents for French Immersion, focussing on:
- Who Waterdown Parents for French Immersion is
- Why we want French Immersion for our children
- Why we want it in Waterdown
- Accomodation issue
- Why French Immersion is a WIN/WIN for everyone
- A parent delegation from Dundas also made a
presentation
- THE ISSUE OF FRENCH IMMERSION IN WATERDOWN AND DUNDAS, AND THE GENERAL
ACCOMODATION OF THE PROGRAM (schools such as G.R. Allan and Norwood on the
mountain are bursting) WAS REFERRED BY THE TRUSTEES TO THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR
STUDY.
***What are the next steps?***
- No timeline was given for a report to come back to a committee of the whole
meeting, though our trustee pushed hard for a Nov. or Dec. date.
- When the report is brought to the committee, a DECISION WILL BE MADE that
night. We will have an opportunity to speak to the report. It will be
IMPERATIVE THAT AS MANY PARENTS AS POSSIBLE COME OUT TO THAT MEETING. Why?
Rosalind Minaji of Canadian Parents for French has informed us that even if the
report does not recommend expanding French Immersion to Waterdown, the Trustees
can override the report and make the decision to expand the program. This is
what happened in the case of busing for French Immersion, which just started in
early 2006. Last night, the Trustees were very supportive of French Immersion.
- We will continue to push for action on the report.
***How YOU can help!***
- Come to the committee meeting when the report is presented. We will let you
know the date as soon as we hear. THE DECISION WILL BE MADE THAT NIGHT, AND
YOUR PRESENCE MAY VERY WELL TIP THE BALANCE IN OUR FAVOUR.
F I N A L L Y --- E L E C T I O N S A R
E C O M I N G I N
N O V E M B E R -- this includes electing Trustees. Please consider voting for Reg Woodworth, as he has been extremely supportive in our
attempt to bring French Immersion to Waterdown.
Please let us know if you have any questions or need more information.
September 26, 2006
a) Minutes of Waterdown
Parents for French Immersion 9th board meeting (August 22, 2006) now available.
b) hree ways you can help bring FI to Waterdown -
action needed TODAY!! Deadlines involved. See below:
1. Complete board's survey to guage interest in
French Immersion in Waterdown - deadline Oct. 4
This survey should be completed by every parent who did not do so in May,
whether or not your child will be in SK in 2007. The survey gives parents the
ability to list the ages of ALL children, and under which conditions you would
send your child to French Immersion (e.g., with busing or without).
Accessing survey:
a) Hard copy at Flamborough schools (Allan A.
Greenleaf, Mary Hopkins, Guy Brown, Flamborough
Centre, Balaclava, Millgrove) - return to school
b) On-line at http://surveys.hwdsb.on.ca/surveys/waterdown
c) Attached to this email in Word format - return to school
DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION: October 4
Remember, it is the board's numbers that matter, not those on our petition.
2. Attend our presentation to
See all relevant information in update below under update for September 20,
2006. VERY VERY IMPORTANT.
3. Email waterdownFI@hotmail.com regarding portables
Let us know if you would send you child to French Immersion in Waterdown in a
portable if that were the only way to expand the program here at this time.
Very important for the board to know this information.
September 20, 2006
Please note the following VERY IMPORTANT EVENT:
WHAT:
Waterdown Parents for French Immersion will be presenting to the
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Committee of the Whole (Director,
Superintendents and Trustees) to formally request that French Immersion be
expanded to Waterdown at the SK level for September 2007.
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND:
It's decision time - we are making a final push for French Immersion, and the
more parents we have in the public gallery supporting us, the better. We need
you like never before!
WHEN
Monday, October 16th at 6:30 pm (our presentation will last 10 minutes + 5
minutes for questions from the board)
WHERE
100 Main St. W. (From Waterdown going into Hamilton on Main St., turn left on
Bay St., and then a quick right into the back of the parking lot of the
Education Centre (Main Office) of the HWDSB). You can park for free in the
Board parking lot behind the building and enter from the rear. Ask one of the
security guards inside the door to direct you to the room where the meeting is.
Map to location:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=100+main+street+west+hamilton+ontario&ll=43.256831,-79.873996&spn=0.014565,0.042915
We will be phoning each parent on the petition nearer to the presentation date
as a reminder.
Please let us know if you have any questions, and RSVP
(waterdownFI@hotmail.com) if you're planning on attending.
August 25, 2006
Waterdown Parents for French Immersion intends to make a presentation at the
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, October 16th to formally request
that the board implement French Immersion in Waterdown for September, 2007.
The meeting will start at 6:30 pm and
the more support we have at that meeting, the better - this presentation will
be for the Director of the HWDSB (Dr. Chris Spence) as well as all of the
Trustees and Superintendents.
Please RSVP to waterdownFI@hotmail.com if you will be
attending.
LET'S SHOW THE SCHOOL BOARD WHAT FI
MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY!
Meeting
location: 100 Main St. W. (From Waterdown going into Hamilton on Main St., turn
left on Bay St., and then a quick right into the back of the parking lot of the
Education Centre (Main Office) of the HWDSB). You can park for free in the
Board parking lot behind the building and enter from the rear. Ask one of the
security guards inside the door to direct you to the room where FIAC is
meeting (always on the main floor.) The meeting starts at 7pm.
Map to location: http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=100+main+street+west+hamilton+ontario&ll=43.256831,-79.873996&spn=0.014565,0.042915
July 24, 2006
Minutes of 8th meeting of
Waterdown Parents for French Immersion (June 13).
June 14, 2006
1. Summary and HWDSB minutes
of the May 17 French Immersion Advisory Committee meeting.
2. HWDSB Survey of JK Parents to Guage
Interest in FI in Waterdown
This survey was done in June. The board received surveys indicating that
29 kids for SK 2007 would be sent to FI at any Waterdown school if it was
offered here (i.e., not just at a child's home school). WAY TO GO parents for
completing those surveys!! Note that the board's number is 1 higher than our
own.
If your child is starting JK this fall, you will be surveyed in
September.
June 4, 2006
Minutes from 7th meeting of
Waterdown Parents for French Immersion (May 11, 2006)
May 17, 2006
HWDSB Survey of Interest in French Immersion in Waterdown
You must fill out the
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board's Survey ***by May 26*** to guage interest in
French Immersion in Waterdown if:
- your child is currently in JK in the public or Catholic school system (or
Montessori etc.) OR is not in JK but was born in 2001
OR
- your child will start JK in the public or Catholic school system (or
Montessori etc.) in September 2006 OR will not attend JK but was born in 2002
EVEN THOUGH WATERDOWN PARENTS FOR FRENCH IMMERSION HAS A PETITION, ultimately
it will come down to the numbers of interested parents that the board obtains.
To complete the survey, please go to:
http://www.hwdsb.on.ca/schools_curriculum/enrolment/registration/index.aspx
Note that you must print the survey and return it to one of schools in
Waterdown.
ALSO, please pass the message to everyone you know whose child was born in 2001
or 2002. Thank you!!!
April 29, 2006
Two updates:
Meeting with Ted McMeekin, Provincial
Member of Parliament (MPP) on April 28, 2006
Ted McMeekin is supportive of our quest. He
has added us to his Education Advisory Committee, which meets 3 or 4 times per
year. He had several suggestions for us that we will pursue.
French Immersion Information Night
In short, a very successful evening. Approximately 40 parents turned out
to hear a presentation on the French Immersion program in the HWDSB. New
additions to the petition: 24 kids, including 5 for SK 2007. New total numbers
on petition include 24 kids for SK 2007! The board originally stated that they
would like to see a minimum of 30-35 to even consider a program.
Important
note: The HWDSB will be sending a survey to parents
(likely in May) of kids currently in JK to determine the interest for
French Immersion in Waterdown. Since kids for SK 2007 are not yet in school
(will start JK in Sept 2006), the parents of these kids will be surveyed in
September. The board will likely post something on their website so that
parents who wish to be included in the survey can be (for example, parents of
children who will be staying in nursery school programs rather than entering JK
will not be surveyed through the schools). Since it is the board's survey of
parents that really matters (rather than our petition), it will be extremely
important for all interested parents to fill out the survey.
More details as they become available.
April 22, 2006
Record of decisions from Waterdown Parents for French Immersion Board
meeting April 13 (meeting with Flamborough Trustee Reg
Woodworth)
April 14, 2006
Record of decisions from Waterdown Parents for French Immersion Board
Meetings on March 23 and April 6 (brainstorming
session).
April 11, 2006
Waterdown Parents
for French Immersion was featured on television and radio today.
Television
Radio-Canada Téléjournal (French CBC) aired a segment of
approximately 2 minutes tonight. It can be watched on the internet at http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ontario/tele/cesoirontario.shtml
- click on “Mardi 11 avril”, and then
scroll to the 21:50 mark (you do not have to watch the 21 minutes before the
segment starts). Note that it will only be available until Monday, April 17th.
Summary of tv clip:
- Host of le Téléjournal indicated that it is not only francophones who are fighting for education in French
– a group of parents in Waterdown are too.
- Lynda Moore (of
WPFI) mentioned that there is currently no opportunity for kids to become
fluent in French through attending school in Waterdown.
- Mark Chambers
(journalist) indicated that we have a petition for the school board.
- Kyra Paterson
(of WPFI) stated that there are 84 kids on the petition, 18 of those for SK
2007.
- Mark Chambers
also stated that there are 1600 kids in FI in
- Gisèle Portelance (French Immersion Consultant for
the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board) said that the 3 elementary
schools in Waterdown are full, and that while they would like to open a
program, there must be a sufficient number of kids to ensure that the program
can continue until the kids reach grade 8.
- Mark Chambers
stressed that the Waterdown parents are convinced that the interest is there
among parents, and he mentioned the FI Information Night on April 27.
Radio
Bob Bratina and
Shiona Thompson of CHML (AM 900) interviewed Kyra Paterson this morning.
Summary of radio interview
-Bob asked how
close we are to getting what we want. I answered that I couldn’t say, but
that what we want is French Immersion in Waterdown for SK 2007.
- I said that the
major hurdle is a lack of space, and that a possible short-term solution could
be a portable, and a longer-term solution would be a new school.
- Bob asked why it
is so important to me that my kids attend French Immersion, and I responded
with: increased job opportunities, travel opportunities, understanding another
culture, national unity, shortage of people to service French-speaking
Canadians.
- Bob asked how
people could get involved, and I briefly described our petition, the FI
Information Night, and gave the phone number, email and web addresses.
April 5, 2007
Two bits
of information:
1. Brainstorming
Session on SPACE and PETITION #s (April 6th 7:30 - 9 pm)
Still
time to RSVP if you are interested. New faces, fresh ideas - come join us!
2.
Reader's Digest Article on FI
Read the
article about, and essay written by, the high school student from
Look for
an update later this week after our brainstorming session.
Kyra
March 29, 2006
After the
March 22nd meeting of the French Immersion Advisory Committee, Waterdown
Parents for French Immersion made several requests of the HWDSB (through Krys
Croxall - chair of the committee, and Superintendent of Program and
Assessment).
Here are
the HWDSB responses:
1. On our
request for approval of the poster so that it can be displayed at Waterdown
schools
If we
REMOVE the line “help bring… for September 2007” in the text
box the board will approve the poster. I have resent the revised version
(attached) and am waiting for a response.
Note that
the date/time for the FI information night will be added before these posters
are distributed.
Note also
that these new posters will be displayed around town, but for those going
OUTSIDE of schools, we will add back in the info about bringing FI to Waterdown
for SK 2007.
2. On our
request for approval of the brochure so that it can be displayed at Waterdown
schools
In short,
the answer is no.
Because
it is about our organization, our mission, our goals, they cannot ask us to
change this information but as is they cannot approve the brochure. The date
(SK 2007) is a huge issue.
3. On our
request for the HWDSB to survey Waterdown parents (those in JK and those
registering for JK 2006) on interest in Waterdown FI
HWDSB
will do a survey of ALL parents whose kids are CURRENTLY in JK, and all parents
who are now registering for JK 2006 to inquire about their interest in FI in
Waterdown. It will have very specific questions, such as: would you be
interested in sending your child to FI in Waterdown at your home school only,
or at any school? With busing or without? Etc. Anticipated date for the survey
– May. She said they didn’t want parents to anticipate that a
program is imminent, but gauging interest is the goal.
4. On our
inquiry on how the French Immersion Information Night would be advertised
A notice
will be sent home to all kids currently in JK about the upcoming FI information
night. Big posters for the schools will also be printed. No ads will run in
papers because their budget is “already spent”. The date for this
will be announced soon.
Note:
This means it will be up to US to advertise the session to parents of
preschool-aged kids.
5. On the
request for the HWDSB to look into sharing busing with the Catholic school
board
HWDSB
will look into shared transportation with the Catholic board, but it may not go
very far.
6. On our
participation in the French Immersion Information Night
We are
more than welcome at the information night. We can hand out our brochures and
speak to parents.
7. On
possible space in Guy Brown for an FI program
I did not
remember to ask about this, but have asked again by email.
Stay
tuned!
Kyra
March 24, 2006
Hello
everyone,
In this
email you will find:
1. Summary
of the March 22nd Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) French
Immersion Advisory Committee meeting (FIAC)
2.
Upcoming Meetings of Waterdown Parents for French Immersion (WPFI)
3.
Upcoming April Meetings for YOU: Brainstorming Meeting and HWDSB French
Immersion (FI) Information Night.
4.
Petition to Date
------------
1.
Summary of the March 22nd Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB)
French Immersion Advisory Committee meeting (FIAC)
The
message from the HWDSB Superintendent of Program and Assessment, Krys Croxall
(chair of this committee), at the March 22 FIAC meeting was that the biggest
hurdle to getting FI in Waterdown for SK 2007 is a lack of space to house the
program. Other challenges to overcome are a sufficient number of interested
parents, and HWDSB funding. (If it came to a vote of the Trustees - who would
have to approve the FI program coming to Waterdown - a majority of the 11
Trustees would have to vote "yes". Considering funding issues, this
could be a major hurdle - consider a breakfast program for disadvantaged kids
versus an expansion of FI.)
Based on
these 3 hurdles we have revised the goals of WPFI and will be updating our
poster and brochure and website to indicate this.
Goal #1:
To encourage the HWDSB to find space for 1 to 2 SK FI classes in Waterdown for
September 2007.
Goal #2:
Generate enough parent interest in Waterdown to have 1-2 SK FI classes in
September 2007 in Waterdown.
Goal #3: Work
with the HWDSB to approve and implement Early FI at a Waterdown public school
starting with the SK class of September 2007.
More on
Space
- As many
of you know, many Waterdown public schools are already bursting at the seams.
Starting an FI program means finding room for 1 SK class to begin with, then
adding a classroom each year until the first stream of kids reaches grade 8.
That's 8 classrooms in 8 years, plus 8 teachers.
-Krys
Croxall mentioned that it is not just a lack of a portable to open a program,
because often there ARE surplus portables that can be moved from one school to
another. Portables are a short-term solution for what is inevitable in
Waterdown - a population boom (6500 new houses already approved for the next 10
years) means new public schools WILL be needed. However, such schools may be
5-10 years away. This means that portables could be a short-term solution, with
the FI program moving into a new school when this happens.
-
- WPFI
are under the impression that Guy Brown is currently operating under capacity.
If this were true, WPFI would pursue the expansion of an FI program for SK
2006. We are currently looking into this and will keep you posted. Krys Croxall
indicated that it is not too late to implement a program for Sept. 2006.
- Krys
Croxall spoke about the possibility of changing catchment
areas to modify the number of students at the various Waterdown schools. Last
time changes to catchment areas were made in the
HWDSB (3 years ago), it was a VERY unpopular move. It is unlikely to happen
again any time soon. However, Krys Croxall DID acknowledge that it is possible
that an FI school in Waterdown could draw from Waterdown/Flamborough
students only (i.e., so that with the population boom students wouldn't be
coming from outside this area to put the schools over capacity - a worry of the
board).
More on
Numbers
- While
this is not the #1 stumbling block, we still need to build the petition.
- Krys
Croxall said that the HWDSB will consider approving our poster and brochure so
that they can be distributed and displayed in the schools.
- She also
said that they would consider sending an inquiry to each parent who has
registered their child for JK 2006 to ask if they would be interested in FI for
SK 2007.
- The
HWDSB has agreed to hold a French Immersion Information Night in Waterdown,
similar to the sessions that were held in January and February in the schools
that currently house FI programs, for parents considering sending their child
to
- We need
to build the number of kids currently in JK on the petition, IF we are able to
find space for an SK FI program for Sept. 2006. Please spread the word!!
- As an
FYI, currently about 7-8 students attend G.R. Allan (HWDSB) for FI, while
approximately the same number go to the Halton public
board. No transportation for either group.
More on
Money
-Krys
Croxall informed everyone of a memo that came from the Ontario Provincial
Government indicating a source of funding for French as a Second Language programs.
This money could be used to expand an FI program into Waterdown. My
understanding is that the amount available per board is $25,000.
Other
Issues
Regarding
transportation, Krys Croxall indicated that IF there is a surplus of money for
transportation, the FI program is a priority for getting additional funding. At
the FIAC meeting Krys Croxall learned that the Hamilton Catholic school board
buses FI kids from
2.
Upcoming Meetings of Waterdown Parents for French Immersion (WPFI)
WPFI will
be contacting/meeting with the following people in the next few weeks:
- Reg Woodworth (Trustee for Flamborough)
- Jessica
Brennan (Trustee for
- Ted McMeekin (MPP for this area and recently moved to an
education portfolio)
- We will
ask to make a presentation on WPFI and our quest to all 11 Trustees at the next
monthly meeting (April). We need to gain support from a majority of the
Trustees.
3.
Upcoming April Meetings for YOU: Brainstorming Meeting and HWDSB French
Immersion (FI) Information Night.
Brainstorming
Session
Waterdown
Parents for French Immersion will be holding a brainstorming session on
Thursday, April 6 at 7:30 pm. The goals of this meeting are:
- to
provide a brief update on where we are and what our next steps are
- to
brainstorm with respect to 1) increasing petition numbers, and 2) finding a
solution to the current lack of space to house an FI program in Waterdown.
This
meeting is for Waterdown parents who have signed the petition. Please RSVP if
you are planning to attend: email waterdownFI@hotmail.com or call Kyra at (905)690-7623
so we have an idea of the numbers of parents to expect. Meeting details to be
provided upon receipt of RSVP.
Wear your
thinking caps!
French
Immersion Information Night
This
event will be put on by the HWDSB. Gisèle
Portelance, the French Immersion Consultant for the HWDSB, will present.
Sessions such as this are normally held each year in the schools where FI
programs exist, so that parents can get more information about the HWDSB FI
program. The location will likely be
WPFI will
be there to hand out brochures and have people sign the petition.
We
encourage EACH OF YOU TO ATTEND and to bring a friend. We will be publicising this event as much as possible. Note that
Canadian Parents for French (www.cpf.ca) will be paying for the
advertising/promotion of this event. Letters will go home to students currently
enrolled in JK. We need to get the message out to parents of younger kids.
4.
Petition to Date
Total
number of kids (all ages/school catchments): 78
Kids for
SK 2007: 18
Please
feel free to email or call if you have questions or concerns. And as always,
spread the word!!
March 8, 2006
Hello!
A few
updates for you:
1.
Upcoming meeting of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) French
Immersion Advisory Committee
Please
consider attending the next meeting on March 22 at 7pm as a show of support for
French Immersion in Waterdown. Anyone is allowed to attend, and in fact encouraged
by the board (specifically Gisèle Portelance,
French Immersion Consultant for the board).
Meeting
details: March 22 at 7pm (done by 9)
Agenda:
Has not been circulated, however Waterdown Parents for French Immersion has asked
that the following be included:
- Who is
Waterdown Parents for French Immersion?
-
Petition numbers
- Board
approval of poster/brochure
-
Reaching parents of kids for SK 2007
-
Critical timelines/what next?
Meeting
location: 100 Main St. W. (From Waterdown going into Hamilton on Main St., turn
left on Bay St., and then a quick right into the back of the parking lot of the
Education Centre (Main Office) of the HWDSB). You can park for free in the
Board parking lot behind the building and enter from the rear. Ask one of the
security guards inside the door to direct you to the room where FIAC is meeting
(always on the main floor.) The meeting starts at 7pm.
Map to
location:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=100+main+street+west+hamilton+ontario&ll=43.256831,-79.873996&spn=0.014565,0.042915
PLEASE
LET ME KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING BECAUSE GISELE MAY NEED TO BOOK A LARGER
ROOM.
2.
Petition #s
As of
March 8, there are 59 kids on the petition, including 15 for SK 2007. Additions
to the petition have slowed, and we have not yet received any calls/emails as a
result of yesterday’s Hamilton Spectator article. While there is
obviously interest in Waterdown, if we cannot generate higher numbers, the
board will not even consider offering French Immersion in Waterdown for SK
2007. We need to keep spreading the word!
3.
myhamilton.ca
Note that
we are now listed in the myhamilton.ca database, so any google
search for “waterdown French immersion”
brings us up as the #1 result!
4.
Posters and brochures
We have
been busy displaying posters and brochures around Waterdown. If you know of a
great location that we have missed, please let us know!
5. How
you can help
Keep
spreading the word!
Display
posters and hand out brochures!
Attend
the next HWDSB French Immersion Advisory Council meeting Mar. 22.
6.
Interesting busing information
The
Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board buses students from Carlisle
(Our Lady of Mount Carmel School) and Waterdown (
Spread
the word on our quest for FI in Waterdown!
Kyra
February 19, 2006
Hi
everyone,
Two updates for you:
1. Flamborough
Review Article February 17, 2006
See
attached article on the quest for FI in Waterdown. Note one encouraging
section
re: possible use of
French
Immersion if the high school gets approval for land to expand the
current
building.
2. New
website for Waterdown Parents for French Immersion
It can be
found at http://waterdownFI.bravehost.com - it includes a section
on
updates, as well as basic information on Waterdown Parents for French
Immersion,
general information on French Immersion, and more!
Note that
if you cannot open the attachment, I am hoping to get it on to the
website ASAP.
Kyra
February 9, 2006
Hello! A short note to inform you that the quest for French Immersion in
Waterdown will now be led by Waterdown Parents for French Immersion. The group
was formed last night by 3 other moms and myself.
Board of Directors:
Chair: Lynda Moore
Liaison Officer: Christina Grant
Project Manager/Treasurer: Vanessa Palmer-Newman
Community Relations Officer/Secretary: Kyra Paterson
We will be meeting on a regular basis, and will keep you informed of our
progress. In a couple of weeks, you will receive:
- An announcement on our website (currently in test-mode);
- New and improved posters and pamphlets for distribution; and
- A request for assistance from those willing to help.
Please note that all communication directed to Waterdown Parents for
French Immersion should go to waterdownFI@hotmail.com or to (905)690-7623.
Emails will now be sent from this new account.
Thanks again to everyone for your support.
Kyra
bravenet.com
