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Canadian Parents for French say thank you with a dinner and discussion

Program alive and well in Quesnel with students in three schools from K-12
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French Immersion senior students provided insight to parents and visitors during FI Appreciation Night at Ecole Baker elementary school.

French Immersion programs have been flourishing in Quesnel for 28 years. École Baker has K – 7 FI classes with an active Canadian Parents for French parent group and Quesnel junior school carries on with FI classes for Grades 9 – 10 and Correlieu senior secondary school finishing the program with classes for Grades 11 – 12.

For the past three years, the CPF parent group have hosted a dinner and information session for FI parents during the week of French Immersion celebrations.

This year the week of Feb. 26 – March 3 was the time to celebrate FI with the dinner and evening March 1 at École Baker.

“We decided to structure discussions a little differently,” CPF president Rebecca Beuschel said.

“It was a speed dating format where people had eight minutes at each topic table then they moved on to their next choice.”

She said the format worked very well with most people able to express their thoughts and ask their questions.

Table topics included Enriching the Culture of French learning, Reasons and Ways to keep your kids in FI, a Grade 12 perspective – things for parents to remember in helping their kids stay committed, QJS – understanding the timetable and house system and finally membership and parent feedback.

“We were very pleased with the turnout,” Beuschel said.

“There were 126 people along with four school board trustees and all FI principals (CSS principal Mike Adams, QJS principal Cyril Tobin, École Baker principal Perry Lofstrom and École Baker vice-principal Marissa Knauf.)”

Although kindergarten enrolment is capped, numbers for the FI program, especially in the high schools are up. This year École Baker has 118 FI students with 18 in the kindergarten program and 23 registered for Fall of 2012. QJS currently has 30 FI students as compared to 28 last year and CSS has 47 FI students as compared to 28 last year. Eight students are expected to graduate with their double dogwood (French and English) in 2012 and the projection for next year is seven to graduate.

“The number of graduates has hovered between five to 10 for the past eight years,” Beuschel said.

The CPF evening was a resounding success and Beuschel was quick to thank the FI teachers, principals, school trustees, Katimavik volunteers and the senior FI students for helping out.

“CPF Quesnel chapter wishes to acknowledge the financial support of the Province of B.C., Ministry of Education and the Government of Canada, Canadian Heritage/Patrimoine canadien,” she said.

“We also wish to thank Canadian Parents for French B.C. and Yukon branch for its support.”

The dinner was catered by Savalas Steak House.

For those interested in information on the French Immersion program in Quesnel contact Beuschel , 778-414-9119 or contact any of the FI principals.