French Immersion in Dufferin-Peel
The pilot program
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board will implement a pilot French Immersion program, starting in Grade 1, at two of its schools in September 2008. This program is unique to the region in that it will provide students with access to an intensive French language learning environment delivered within a Catholic context. Approximately 90% of the instruction in Grade 1 will be provided in French. In future years, as Grades 2 through 8 are added to the program, the proportion of the instruction provided in French will change to 70% and then 50% as more English is added at later grade levels.
The implementation of French Immersion in Dufferin-Peel will be monitored closely and evaluated throughout the pilot year to assess interest, access, community feedback, and other related considerations that can impact the success of this program in Dufferin-Peel over the long term.
Where will French Immersion be offered in 2008-2009?
Two schools will offer French Immersion (in addition to their regular English programs) starting in September 2008. One school is located in Mississauga and one is located in Brampton. The two schools are:
St Margaret of Scotland School
2266 Council Ring Road
Mississauga, L5L 1C1
Tel: 905-820-5115
St Joachim School
435 Rutherford Road North
Brampton, L6V 3V9
Tel: 905-453-4472
Map of School Sites
Each of the two French Immersion sites will offer two French Immersion classes. Each class has a maximum of 20 student places. In situations where the number of interested families is greater than the number of available student places, a lottery process will be used to determine access.
French Immersion in Dufferin-Peel is open to any child living in Peel Region or Dufferin County who is entering Grade 1 in September 2008 and is eligible to attend Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools. French Immersion school boundaries are based on Brampton, Caledon, Bolton Dufferin County, and Malton residents accessing the Brampton site and Mississauga residents accessing the Mississauga site.
Please note that transportation to this pilot program of choice will NOT be provided by the board. Parents and guardians of students registered in the program are responsible for ensuring that their children arrive and depart safely each day to and from their registered French Immersion site.
How do I register for French Immersion in Dufferin-Peel in 2008-2009?
A Mississauga public information open house will be held at St Margaret of Scotland at 6:00 p.m. on April 30, 2008. A Brampton, Caledon and Dufferin County public information and open house will be held at St Joachim at 6:30 p.m. on May 1, 2008. Interested families may obtain applications for the program at the respective open houses.
For those families unable to attend the open house, applications may be obtained after the open house dates from either French Immersion centre. Applications will be due by 2:00 pm on May 21, 2008. Please note that, in situations where there is more interest than available student places in the program, a lottery will be used to determine access. Unfortunately, where a lottery is in place, submission of an application form will only guarantee entry in the lottery and will NOT guarantee access to a student place in the class. Students who do not secure a place in the program through the lottery may be placed on a waiting list should there be any openings in the respective class list.