Parents who are interested in having their children study French immersion at Pleasantdale School had their chance to learn more about the program, and ask questions, during a Zoom meeting on Feb. 2.
Representatives from the school and the South East Cornerstone Public School Division explained the program to about 20 people who participated in the session. The South East Cornerstone Public School Division announced last year it was looking to bring French immersion to Pleasantdale and to Weyburn’s Assiniboia Park Elementary School, and now the division is moving forward with the plan.
If it goes ahead, there would be French immersion for kindergarten to Grade 2 students at the two schools starting this fall. Another grade would be added each year.
Currently French immersion in Estevan is only available at Sacred Heart School/École SacréCoeur, which is part of the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division.
“Every time we start something new that offers new opportunities, it’s really quite exciting,” said Pleasantdale School principal Michelle Smart. “Right now, we’re deep in the planning stages, reaching out with information and trying to collect some registrations, and we’re learning a lot along the way.”
Shelley Sargent, a superintendent of schools with South East Cornerstone, said this will help them meet a different need that has been identified
Lori Meyer, a long-time French immersion teacher at the Estevan Comprehensive School who is a consultant with Cornerstone on the French immersion project, talked about her experiences as a teacher and as a parent of kids in French immersion.
She noted that parents do not have to speak French to have their kids entered in French immersion. Her husband Darrell doesn’t speak French.
Meyer also emphasized the split classrooms that would be at Pleasantdale are often found in French immersion programs.
“When my kids went through the program, it was split, basically with double grades,” said Meyer.
The kindergarten to Grade 2 students would be in the same classroom, but Meyer pointed out they would be starting at the same level on the first day of school in September.
“In my mind, that’s an excellent way for these kids to feel more comfortable, and for them to start off kindergarten, Grade 1 and 2 all together, and then they can gain their confidence, get their vocabulary going,” said Meyer.
The introduction of French immersion at Pleasantdale wouldn’t impact the offering of English-based programs at Pleasantdale.
One of the goals for the school would be to eventually have French immersion for Grade 8 students, allowing them to graduate the school with years of immersion experience.
“French will be used for the majority of the school day and as the language of instruction for most courses,” a video stated. “Students who are in French Immersion become proficient in English while simultaneously developing a strong foundation in French.”
The video noted that the students in French Immersion perform as well as those in traditional English programs when it comes to English-language tests. And it noted that English proficiency shouldn’t suffer, because the majority of households conduct their daily lives in English, ranging from conversation to reading to watching TV.
The French immersion program will introduce English classes in Grade 3.
Several testimonials aired during the video from students who went through the French Immersion program at other schools.
Several questions were asked during the evening. One was from a parent concerned who works with kindergarten and Grade 1 students regarding the split grades.
Meyer responded they want the kids to mimic the French they hear, so the vocabulary will come to kindergartens through play, music and games.
And Meyer noted that kindergarten would be a full day every second day, so there would be a greater concentration on reading and higher level learning on the days in which kindergartens weren’t present.
Smart said five-year-olds are very adaptable and learn very quickly, and are usually up for what is thrown at them.
“It is so amazing to watch kindergartens, how fast they learn, how fast they catch on to new routines,” said Smart.
If someone relocates to a community where they don’t have French Immersion, the child would have to go into the English stream, but Meyer doesn’t expect it would be a tough transition.
Another Zoom meeting will be held Feb. 10 for those who couldn’t attend last week’s session.
Information on the French immersion program can be found on the South East Cornerstone and Pleasantdale School websites. A lot of the planning for French Immersion in Cornerstone will depend on the numbers that are registered.
