Is Immersion Right for Students •with Academic Challenges? page 2Award Winners page 3•2008-2009 Board of Directors page 3•CPF Reaches Out to Allophones page 4•Camp de leadership Esprit page 5•

Concours et festival d’art •oratoire page 52007-2008 Annual Report page 6•Chapter Chat page 10•Encounters with Canada page 12•French Fiction Contest page 16•

IN THIS

ISSUE

PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG CANADIANS TO LEARN AND USE FRENCH

Deliver quality programs and establish proficiencybenchmarks for students and teachers. Provide access,

free of barriers, to these programs for all students. Use sound, evidence-based research to make decisions and value French Second Language (FSL) education and its educators! These are some of the desired elements included in a future vision statement crafted by close to 30 FSL stakeholders, CPF Ontario among them, who gathered at the Minister of Education’s request. The FSL stakeholders’ consultation, held September 16, 2008, was a prelude to the FSL curriculum review currently underway in Ontario. With regional consultations on the FSL curriculum taking place across the province, the Ontario Branch of CPF is experiencing an increase in inquiries and requests for information. Parents are worried about how overall declining student enrolment in all but four Ontario school boards may impact where their child goes to school and their ability to access their French Immersion (FI) program. A trustee is inquiring about the proficiencyoutcomes for a 50/50 FI program (50% instruction in English and 50% in French) compared to an Early FI program with 90-100% instruction in French. Other callers are seeking information to help preserve much needed late entry points for French Immersion or Extended French programs that are proven to serve the needs of hundreds of students every year. CPF supports a variety of entry points and intensity of programs in order to provide the broadest possible inclusion. In particular, the late entry point provides an additional opportunity for children to participate who arrive from other boards, provinces and countries. There are strong

feelings among parents and a variety of research to support different entry points, but the bottom line is that the benefitsof learning a second official language should be available ata time in people’s lives when it makes sense for students and their families.Along with a variety of entry points why do we need a variety of programs? FSL programs yield different proficiency outcomesbased on their intensity. Researchers have proven the direct correlation between the number of hours of instruction in French and the French proficiency outcomes of the students.Therefore,in response to the trustee’s request, research supports that, with few exceptions, students enroled in a 50/50 FI program will not achieve the same level of French proficiency as studentsenroled in a FI program where 90-100% of the early primary instruction is in French. Matching parental expectations to program expectations can be a challenge but providing comparison data on the programs is the first step to ensuring that no one feels misinformed.

Combined Percentage of French Instructional Time JK-12

14.81

78.88 78.88 88.67

23.3

33.3

33.353.3

86.66

7.1 11.19

44.6713.33.3

Core French Intensive CoreFrench

ExtendedFrench

FrenchImmersion

50/50

Early TotalImmersion

Early TotalImmersion +

Honours FrenchImmersion

French FirstLanguage

Program Type

Per

cent

age

of I

nstr

ucti

onal

Tim

e in

Fre

nch

SecondaryElementary

Program Intensity Determines Proficiency

2

Extensive and thorough evaluations have been carried out on the linguistic and academic performance of anglophone

students in French immersion (FI) programs in Canada (Lambert and Tucker, 1972; Genesee, 1987; Swain and Lapkin, 1982). Researchers have consistently found that students attain advanced levels of functional competence in all aspects of French while maintaining normal levels of English language and academic development. At the same time, concerns are often expressed about the suitability of immersion for students who are at risk for poor academic performance owing to below-averagelevelsofintellectualabilityandfirst-languagelearningdifficulty.Indeed,itisoftenreportedthatsuchstudentsare discouraged from enrolling in immersion and are encouraged to switch to the English program if theyencounterdifficultiesonceinimmersion.Research on the suitability of immersion for these students is reviewed briefly.In addition to important educational issues, the participation of at-risk students in immersion raises important ethical issues. To exclude them from immersion is to deprive them of access to important life- and job-related skills, namely, proficiency in both Frenchand English. Bilingualism is important not only in the Canadian context, but also in the international context, given the globalization of the economy and employment opportunities. At the same time, to include at-risk students in immersion assumes that schools have appropriately trained teachers and effective support services to meet their needs. At present, specialized services for at-risk students are often not available (e.g., Collinson, 1989), and, when available, not necessarily validated. Students with low levels of academic ability have a level of general intellectual competence that falls at the low end of the normal distribution of intelligence and, as a result, they often do poorly in school. These students do not usually require clinical attention by a developmental specialist; their needs can usually be met by classroom teachers within the context of classroom instruction and individualized planning. Research by Genesee (1976, 1987) and by Bruck (1985a, 1985b) indicates that anglophone students with below-average levels of intellectual ability are not at greater risk for academicdifficulty in immersion than similar students inEnglish-onlyprograms.Specifically,bothresearchersreportedthat while below-average students in immersion programs scored lower than above-average students in immersion did on a battery of English-language and academic tests, below-average immersion students attained the same levels of English-

language and academic achievement as did below-average students in English programs. Genesee determined academic ability using IQ tests, while Bruck used teacher reports. Both researchers also reported that below-average students exhibited significantlybetterskillsonabatteryofFrench-languagetests(speaking, listening, reading, and writing) than students in English programs with core French instruction. Genesee (1976) found further that below-average students in early immersion scored as well as average and above-average students in early immersion on French-language tests of speaking and listening, indicating that their intellectual challenges did not

compromise their French-language development. In contrast, below-average students in late immersion

scored lower on all French-language tests (including reading, writing, speaking, and

listening) when compared with average and above-average students in late immersion. In other words, early immersion was particularly beneficial in promotingcompetence in French in comparison to late immersion since it did not favour average and above-average students.Bruck’s research also indicated that while below-average students can benefit from participation inimmersion, some – but not all – immersion students with academic difficulties develop behavioural and

attitudinal problems that often result in their switching from immersion to an

all-English program. In a followup study of immersion students who left immersion

owing to academic difficulties, Bruck foundthat these students continued to exhibit academic

difficultiesandbehaviouralproblems foranumberofyears. Other researchers have reported that immersion students who are transferred to an English program as a consequence of academic difficulty show improvements in performanceand self-esteem (Mannavarayan 2002; Parkin, Morrison, and Watkin 1987; Waterson 1990; Wiss 1989). However, since none of these studies, except Bruck’s, included comparison groups of immersion students who stayed in immersion and received additional support, it remains to be seen if the improvements reported in these studies can also be realized by retainingstudentswhoareexperiencingdifficultyinimmersionand providing them with additional, appropriate support. Research by Bruck (1985a, 1985b) on early immersion studentswhoareatriskforacademicdifficultyowingtoweakor impairedfirst-language skills suggests that theyarenot atgreater disadvantage in immersion than students with similar

To exclude them

from immersion

is to deprive them of

access to

important life- and job-

related skills, namely, proficiency in

both French and English.

Article continues on page 11.

Is Immersion Right for Students with Academic Challenges?

3

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFFPRESIDENTMonika FerenczyE-mail: mferenczy@cpfont.on.ca

VICE-PRESIDENTHeather StaubleE-mail: hstauble@cpfont.on.ca

TREASURERDenis DaltonE-mail: ddalton@cpfont.on.ca

SECRETARYMaureen McEvoyE-mail: mmcevoy@cpfont.on.ca

DIRECTORMary CrudenE-mail: mcruden@cpfont.on.ca

DIRECTORRichard ManuelE-mail: rmanuel@cpfont.on.ca

DIRECTORNancy McKeraghanE-mail: nmckeraghan@cpfont.on.ca

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORBetty GormleyE-mail: bgormley@cpfont.on.ca

MEMBER SERVICES & OFFICE MANAGERBarbara Mison barbara@cpfont.on.ca

PROJECT & CHAPTERDEVELOPMENT OFFICERTanzila Mian tmian@cpfont.on.ca

PROVINCIAL OFFICECanadian Parents for French (Ontario)2055 Dundas Street East, Suite 103Mississauga, Ontario L4X 1M2Tel: 905-366-1012 1-800-667-0594Fax: 905-625-5570www.cpfont.on.ca cpfont@cpfont.on.ca

Award Winners

At our AGM held in Ottawa in October, Mary Cruden and Nancy McKeraghan were voted onto our 2008-2009 Board

of Directors. Nancy lives in Newmarket and is a longtime member of the York Region Chapter. She has helped write and present many briefs over the years to Board Committees and the full Board on a variety of issues regarding French Immersion programming. Mary lives in Toronto and has served as Co-Chair of the French as a Second Language Advisory Committee for the Toronto District School Board. She has been a long-time advocate

for linguistic duality and French Second Language program opportunities for all students.

2008-2009 Board of Directors: from left to right top row: M. Ferenczy, M. McEvoy, R. Manuel, H. Stauble, N. McKeraghan and M. Cruden. Missing D. Dalton

The 2008 McGillivray Award winner is Susan Lawrence, secondary teacher, Major Head of Modern Language at

West Hill Secondary School, and Curriculum Leader at the Bluewater District School Board. For the past 22 years Susan has been a teacher with the Bluewater District School Board and the former Grey County Board of Education. Her Masters work at OISE (University of Toronto) has impacted French Immersion in Bluewater through her contributions to French Second Language curriculum, program development, and implementation. Her research has provided reassurance to parents about how French Immersion can serve all learners.

We are pleased to announce that the recipient of the Canadian Parents for French Volunteer Award is one of

our very own long-standing members and a tireless volunteer, John Ryan. A member of the CPF York Region Chapter for over 20 years and on our Board of Director for 3 terms, John initially began to support and advocate for French Immersion in his childrens’ schools. He has amassed a wealth of information, statistics, and research involving French Second Language education within the York Region District School Board.John continues to be an avid promoter of CPF’s vision and mission.

Monika Ferenczy (r), President, CPF Ontario, presents the 2008 McGillivray Award to Susan Lawrence in Ottawa at the Annual General Meeting.

CPF Ontario established the “W.R. McGillivray Award” in 1986 as a special tribute to the memory of Russ McGillivray and the outstanding contribution he made to the development of bilingual education. He was a Superintendent of Schools and a Superintendent of Program with the Carleton Board of Education.

Anna Maddison (l), former President, CPF National, presents the Volunteer of the Year Award to John Ryan at the National Conference’s Gala Banquet in Ottawa.

“The Canadian Parents for French Volunteer of the Year Award 2007-2008” was established this past year to recognize a CPF volunteer at the Chapter level for their contribution to CPF.

John Ryan has been chosen as the first recipient of this national award.

CPF Ontario Welcomes Two New Board Members

4

CPF Ontario Reaches Out To Allophones

,

.

Imersão em Francês

Ofereça um mundo de Faça com que ele fale as duas

PRYNc iemrSn

quhwfy b~cy leI pyS krdy hn Axigxq mOky! Awpxy

b`cy nUM kYnyfw dIAW srkwrI BwSwvW iv`c inpuMn bxwau[

In the Fall 2008 issue of CPF Ontario News, readers learned how being in French Immersion (FI) can be a positive and beneficial learning

experiencewhere allophones (individualswhose first or home languageis neither French nor English) can flourish intellectually. In her article“ESL Students and French Immersion: A Winning Combination”, Paula Lee Kristmanson highlighted how research has shown that individuals who would typically enter the English Second Language (ESL) program by defaultcanactuallybenefitbybecomingfluentinbothofCanada’sofficiallanguages.FrenchImmersionisavailabletoallstudentsregardlessoffirstor home language. Why is there, then, an underrepresentation of students from communities of diverse ethnicity in French Immersion programs? First and foremost, there is a lack of information on French Second Language (FSL) program choices reaching these communities that can readily be understood by parents/guardians.

CPF Ontario has received funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage to launch a Multicultural Outreach campaign. The aim of the project is to increase awareness of and eliminate barriers to French language learning (particularly French Immersion) for those in diverse ethnic and aboriginal communities. By engaging with individuals and groups from these communities, as well as by attempting to implement change within the system itself through interactions with those at the classroom, school administration, school board, and government levels, CPF Ontario hopes to increase enrolment in French language programs from individuals in these demographics. According to Statistics Canada’s 2006 census, one outofeveryfiveCanadiansandtwooutofeveryfiveTorontoniansisanallophone. In terms of numbers, that is over six million people in Canada. The goal is to get the word out on French language learning options to these individuals in a respectful and effective manner in order to help the parents and guardians make informed decisions regarding their child’s education.

WhatisCPFOntariodoingtoensurethatmorepeoplelearnofthebenefitsand opportunities of French language learning? We are adopting more inclusive communication strategies and tools. When you log onto the CPF Ontario website (www.cpfont.on.ca) you will now be welcomed in sixteen languages. By clicking on the flashing multilingual “Welcome” on thehomepage you will have access to information on French Immersion and other FSL programs in Arabic, Chinese (Simple), Farsi, Filipino, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, Tamil, and Vietnamese. From there, resources are provided for next steps and guidance. CPF Ontario has also developed a French Immersion brochure in twelve languages which will be distributed to strategic locations. We are establishing networking opportunities within these growing communities to help ensure on-going awareness and access to the FSL opportunities available. CPF Ontario is working hard to make French language learning a possibility for all youth in Canada.

This article was written by Sara Mison. A French Immersion graduate, Sara was selected from among 16 candidates for the position of CPF Ontario Multicultural Project Manager. Well versed in FSL advocacy issues, she holds a Masters degree from the University of Toronto, has served on the board of Guelph’s Ontario Public Interest Research Group and has coordinated the student volunteer efforts for the provincial Concours et Festival d’art oratoire for several years.

5

Make French come alive!

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from around the world?

Join one of our French Immersion Camps and improve your spoken French skills.• France – Cannes, Paris, Biarritz, Montpellier• Switzerland – Leysin, Montreux• Canada – Montreal

Visit our website for more information

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25 Years of Concours et festival

d’art oratoire

Camp de leadershipCamp de leadership

Esprit 2009for Grade 7 and 8

French Immersion Students

February 27-March 1, 2009 at theScanlon Creek Conservation Area in Bradford

Build leadership skills

in French! Esprit, meaning “spirit”, is a fun-filled weekend where grade 7 and 8 French Esprit, meaning “spirit”, is a fun-filled weekend where grade 7 and 8 French Immersion students come together and enjoy the great outdoors. Activities are Immersion students come together and enjoy the great outdoors. Activities are led by French-speaking counsellors and consist of a variety of theme sessions led by French-speaking counsellors and consist of a variety of theme sessions designed to enhance leadership skills through team building events, endurance designed to enhance leadership skills through team building events, endurance and creativity challenges, not to mention cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and creativity challenges, not to mention cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, music and laughter. Make instant hot chocolate and instant friends!music and laughter. Make instant hot chocolate and instant friends!

The registration fee, which includes accommodation, meals, and workshops is The registration fee, which includes accommodation, meals, and workshops is $150 for members and $175 for non-members$150 for members and $175 for non-members. The non-member fee includes . The non-member fee includes a one-year CPF family membership valued at $25. See our promotional video a one-year CPF family membership valued at $25. See our promotional video on our website. The deadline to register is February 6th, 2009. on our website. The deadline to register is February 6th, 2009.

For more information and to register, visit www.cpfont.on.ca, click on “Ontario For more information and to register, visit www.cpfont.on.ca, click on “Ontario Events” and choose Esprit from the side menu.Events” and choose Esprit from the side menu.

Since its inception in 1985, CPF Ontario and the Ontario Modern Language Teachers’ Association (OMLTA) have

provided the platform for thousands of students to shine each May as they present and compete at Ontario’s largest French public-speaking event, Concours et festival d’art oratoire.Any student studying FSL programs in grades 4 through to 12 is encouraged to participate. Categories include Core French, Extended French, French Immersion and FSL Plus (for francophones in FSL programs). More than half of the school boards in Ontario organize a regional Concours. Their winners are then invited to attend the provincial event. Elementary students present their speeches in a celebratory atmosphere, whereas the high school students compete for cash prizes. First place winners in grades 11-12 move on to compete at the National Concours for a chance to win 1 of 4 $20,000 scholarships to the University of Ottawa! This year’s event will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2009, in Toronto at Glendon, the bilingual campus of York University. For more information, visit www.cpfont.on.ca and click on Concours et festival from the top menu.et festival from the top menu.et festival

6

President’s ReportOver the past year Canadian Parents for French (Ontario) has once again demonstrated its role in effecting positive change for French Second Language (FSL) programs in the province through key meetings with the Minister of Education, the Pan-Canadian Consultation on Official Languages and various new partners.Our successful meeting with Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne captured support for a commitment to five action steps: increasing the internal capacity for FSL program and policy at the Ministry, restructuring the FSL grant, advocating for more funding from the federal level for FSL programs through the federal–provincial agreements, and working with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to provide continuity with FSL opportunities at the post-secondary level. Finally, a commitment was made to a round-table consultation with FSL stakeholders to address strengths and gaps in FSL programming in the province. The last element is one that CPF Ontario had been requesting for over five years and is critical to the improvement of FSL programs.As of April 1st, 2008, the FSL Policy and Programs portfolio was realigned under the Field Services Branch of the French Language Education Sector of the Ministry of Education. This change represents a great shift, one that we anticipate will impact positively on efficiency in curriculum policy and program planning and in cultural enhancement for Ontario students.

Board members and staff from CPF Ontario also participated in CPF National Advocacy and Strategic Planning Committees, furthering our province’s presence at the decision-making table on the national level. This contribution was timely, given the crisis parents faced in the province of New Brunswick this year when the Minister of Education cancelled Early French Immersion and all French instruction before grade 5, based on limited sources of information and a flawed report. The impressive and resounding backlash from this decision demonstrated that parents valued FSL programs and served to illustrate CPF’s need to continually monitor provincial activity in FSL policy and programs. Timely intervention by parent groups, other CPF branches, the judicial system and a public outcry successfully reversed the decision, and through a new consultation process, a compromise was presented.If there is one lesson that was made abundantly clear from the New Brunswick experience in 2008, it was the importance of continued research in FSL. Dissemination and communication of research and accurate information to the public and decision makers is vital to help ensure that FSL programs are not under constant threat. Consultation with FSL stakeholders, such as the process currently underway in Ontario in conjunction with the FSL curriculum review this fall, will help create quality FSL programs that are a result of strong collaboration.What are the goals over the next year in Ontario for FSL programs? Increase to the national average (7%) the participation rate of students in French Immersion programs in every school board through better access; reverse the attrition rates of 94% in secondary school Core French programs and 73% in secondary school French Immersion programs through quality enhancements and creative solutions; and increase the number of FSL advisory committees in local school boards for greater consultation. Through new research and the sharing of best practices, these goals can be achieved for the largest proportion of students studying French outside of Quebec, and in so doing, make Ontario the new leader in FSL programming in Canada.

Monika Ferenczy

Promoting opportunities for young Canadians to learn and use Frenchwww.cpfont.on.ca

Promoting opportunities for young Canadians to learn and use French

7

Auditor’s Report

BALANCE SHEET AS AT MARCH 31, 2008

To the Members of Canadian Parents for French (Ontario):We have audited the Balance Sheet of Canadian Parents for French (Ontario) as at March 31, 2008, and the Statement of Operations and Accumulated Excess of Revenue over Expenditures and the Cash Flow Statement for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the organization’s Management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We have conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Auditing Standards. These standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.In our opinion, these financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the organization as at March 31, 2008 and the results of operations of the organization for the year then ended, in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

George Caners Chartered Accountant Professional Corporation

Brockville, OntarioJune 26, 2008

2008 2007ASSETS

Current Assets Cash $ 14,349 $ 34,760 Accounts Receivable 39,696 41,464 Term Deposits 70,000 50,000 Inventory 16,237 21,753 Prepaid Expenses 1,663 3,361 Total Assets $ 141,945 $ 151,338

LIABILITIES Current Liabilities Accounts Payable & Accrued Liabilities $ 81,564 $ 100,459 Deferred Revenue ‑ Government of Quebec Grant 0 1,250 Total Liabilities 81,564 101,709

ACCUMULATED EXCESS OF REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURES

Accumulated Excess of Revenue Over Expenditures 60,381 49,629 Total Liabilities & Accumulated Excess of RevenueOver Expenditures $ 141,945 $ 151,338

Treasurer’s ReportI am pleased to report that the organization is in good financial health. The results for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2008 demonstrate the successful fiscal responsibility of our organization. We are once again closing the year with a modest surplus, meeting our budget targets for both revenue and expense. We have been very successful in generating advertising revenue from our newsletter as well as securing additional project grants. A $20,000 grant was received from the Ministry of Education to develop the Best Practices Guide for Chapter activities and workshops to enhance our volunteers’ knowledge of the school boards and strategies to communicate effectively with them. Other project funds were secured through the Canadian Heritage Support for Innovations Program and from Opera York via the Ontario Arts Council.Denis J. Dalton

Financial Statements

8

Revenue 2008 2007

Canadian Heritage $ 280,000 $ 280,000Advertising Revenue $ 9,934 $ 2,886CH Innovations Grant (Esprit) $ 12,700 $ 0Concours $ 10,995 $ 17,465Donations $ 374 $ 249Esprit Registrations $ 3,050 $ 0Interest Earned $ 1,359 $ 634Keys Sales $ 23,357 $ 25,984Memberships Note 3 $ 61,107 $ 49,823PRO Grant $ 20,000 $ 0Publications & Other Revenue $ 12,078 $ 4,351Other Grants $ 3,000 $ 963Deferred Revenue - Government of Quebec Grant $ 1,250 $ 0Total Revenue $ 439,204 $ 382,355

Expenditures

Advertising & Publicity $ 24,866 $ 10,648Best Practices Guide - Workshops $ 20,298 $ 0Chapter Rebates - Note 3 $ 35,187 $ 31,039Conference Fees $ 3,398 $ 17,795Consultants $ 2,639 $ 7,935Esprit Expenses $ 12,764 $ 0Grants, Donations and Awards $ 32,955 $ 35,815Insurance $ 3,349 $ 3,941Meals & Accommodations $ 26,762 $ 15,155Office & General $ 12,018 $ 18,820Outside Services $ 4,720 $ 1,725Postage & Courier $ 9,134 $ 7,746Printing & Photocopy $ 11,676 $ 29,527Professional Fees $ 5,185 $ 7,117Publication Purchase $ 14,134 $ 16,741Rent $ 20,015 $ 19,097Repairs & Maintenance $ 1,074 $ 2,400Salaries $ 165,629 $ 133,189Tell Me More Licences $ 3,032 $ 0Telecommunications $ 3,398 $ 2,734Travel $ 16,219 $ 14,950Total Expenditures $ 428,452 $ 376,374Revenue Over (Under) Expenditures $ 10,752 $ 5,981Balance, Beginning of Year $ 49,629 $ 43,648Balance, End of Year $ 60,381 $ 49,629

Statement of Operations

FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2008

Note 3 - Related Party Transactions - CPF Ontario receives membership rebates from its National affiliate.It also pays rebates to the various Chapters situated in Ontario.

9

Executive Director’s ReportAfter two years of working diligently on strengthening our organization and building a foundation for success, CPF Ontario was able to accomplish a number of its targeted goals and objectives in 2007-2008. Placing significant effort on increasing our capacity, we are pleased to report that membership currently stands at 5,465 reflecting a 20% annual increase since 2006. Five new CPF Chapters were established in 2007-08, CPF Brantford, CPF Bluewater Bruce Peninsula, CPF Manitouwadge, CPF Toronto West Catholic, and CPF Toronto Midtown. Partnerships and Networking to affect changeCPF Ontario continues to make presentations and work with partner organizations and FSL stakeholders such as the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages in Ontario, the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers, the Association canadienne d’éducation de langue française, the Ontario Modern Language Teachers’ Association, the Ontario School Counsellors’ Association, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association, OISE (University of Toronto), York University (Research) and Glendon College, the Ministry of Education, school boards and individual schools. Projects and diversification of fundsWe were successful in obtaining funds from the Ministry of Education (Parents Reaching Out Grant) for the Parent Engagement Conference held in October 2007 as well as the creation of the Best Practices Guide for Chapter activities. We received funds to enable our promotional support of the L’Opéra pour les écoles project and to develop the Esprit Leadership Camp and prepare it for sustainability. This will be achieved in part due to a working partnership with student interns from the new Bachelor of Education in French Immersion Program at Glendon College who are filling positions as camp counselors. CPF Ontario also signed a two-year partnership agreement enabling five student candidates’ to participate in the Encounters with Canada program. An application for project funding through the Canadian Heritage Support for Innovations Program has been approved and is underway to inform communities of all FSL educational opportunities and address barriers to access for youth of diverse ethnicity to the French Immersion program. We have hired a dedicated project manager and will be reporting on this project upon completion in 2009.CommunicationsAdvocacy tools in the form of reports and agreements, FSL funding allocations, transportation school board summaries and more were added to the CPF Ontario website and are being downloaded by parents, teachers and administrators alike. Fourteen press releases were issued from the Branch office and thirteen radio, television and newspaper interviews were conducted with either the CPF Ontario President or Executive Director on topics relating to access to quality FSL programming. Three issues of CPF Ontario News were distributed. CPF Ontario also had a feature column in the quarterly magazine The School Advocate. Print ads were purchased with a modest budget. CPF Ontario Chapters delivered over 40 advertisements in various formats to promote the benefits of FSL, CPF parental support initiatives and youth activities.Activity HighlightsThe Concours / festival d’art oratoire was a resounding success this year with over 280 students from 32 school boards and 7 independent schools participating. The level of French proficiency was high with two Ontario winners going on to win first place at the National Concours and full scholarships to attend the University of Ottawa.Summer Camps – CPF Ontario sponsored 7 French summer camps in 2007 with an estimated 500 participants. CPF Ontario Chapter ActivitiesMovie Nights: This is an opportunity for children and their parents to be entertained in French.French Clubs: The goal of Le Club Français is to have fun in French and provide a solution for homework help.Performances in French: Chapters sponsor performances by French-language artists to students in a school setting. Adult French Courses: Levels 1 to 5 courses are available to local community members who are looking to learn conversational French. 28 courses were offered by 12 Chapters in 2007-08.French Immersion Information Nights: Chapters assist at or deliver information nights to inform parents of Kindergarten students or pre-school children about the benefits of FSL learning and the program options available to them.Library Grants: Two library grants were disbursed in 2007-2008French Cafés: Chapters parents and FSL students help coordinate and operate cafes in conjunction with other activities or as fundraisers.Career Fairs: CPF Ontario joins local high school career fairs to present the benefits of linguistic duality in career planning. French Trade Shows and Book Fairs: These are organized to make all things French available to the FSL parent community.

Betty Gormley

10

Mlacak Award WinnerThe winner of the 2008 Mlacak Award is Michelle Eccles,

Chapter President of CPF Bluewater - Hanover. As well as being the Chapter President for the past fiveyears, Michelle also sits on the Bluewater District School Board’s Parent Advisory Committee. Mother of three children and an active volunteer, Michelle has been a leadership force in the promotion of French Immersion in her community.

The Mlacak Award was established by Canadian Parents for French (Ontario) as a special tribute to the volunteer work Beth Mlacak did and the outstanding contribution she made as a volunteer to our organization.

Chapter Chat - Parent Survival NightVolunteer members from Chapters across Ontario hosted a

popular CPF Ontario event - Parent Survival Night. Held in the fall to an audience of parents, the evening’s agenda includes information on how you can assist your children with French when you do not understand the language. Speakers range from veteran parents and senior high school French Immersion (FI) students to local FI teachers. They are there to share their tips and tools and to address some common concerns including: “Is and tools and to address some common concerns including: “Is and tools and to address some common concerns including: “there a French pronounciation guide I can refer to?”, “What can I do to keep French alive during the summer?”, “Will my child’s English suffer?”, and “How can I help with the weekly homework?”. Chapters also invite local businesses, including French book vendors, companies offering French camps and after-school programs in French. This allows parents the opportunity to see a variety of French/English dictionaries and books available for purchase, and to meet local entrepreneurs who offer all things French in their communites.To view some of the resourceful handouts distributed at these events, visit our website at www.cpfont.on.ca and click on “For Parents” from the side menu on the homepage.

Some of the handouts available include:

How to deal with the dreaded •DictéeParent Survival Tool•French Keypad•French Pronounciation Guide•Homework Help•

Since many students are bussed to school, this event is the perfect opportunity for parents to network with other parents who have their children enroled in the same program - early French immersion.

Take a look at some of the Chapters who have hosted a Parent Survival Night during the 2008 fall season:

Our Glendon InternsEach year CPF Ontario participates in the Field Experience

Placement Program for York University’s Faculty of Education teacher candidates. The teacher candidates are enroled in York University’s French Immersion Concurrent Education Program held at the Glendon Campus. Our two students this year are Friya Bastrani and Andrew Noble. As aspiring French Immersion teachers, both did

a great job reading French stories and interacting with the French immersion students at CPF Mississauga West’s Parent Survival Night. Andrew is the product

of the Early French Immersion program at the Bluewater District School Board and Friya completed all four years of the Dufferin-Peel

Catholic District School Board’s Core French program. We wish them both well in their future careers. For more information about this unique program, visit www.glendon.yorku.ca.

EAUX BOOKS BYour source for French language materials

Books, comics, dictionaries, reference books, workbooks Book Fair & Dictionary Sale services

Complimentary research provided to schools & individuals to find French language material suitable for

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CPF Mississauga WestCPF Toronto Catholic WestCPF Toronto Midtown West

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first-language profiles who attend English-language programs.Specifically, she found that the language-impaired immersionstudents attained levels of academic achievement that were commensuratewith their languagedifficultiesand,at the sametime, achieved greater competence in French than similarly impaired students in an English program with core French.It is often argued that, since participation in immersion is voluntary, the results of the research reviewed here do not apply to all students with relatively low academic or first-languageskills, but only to those who remain in immersion despite their difficulties. This is true. It is also true, however, that many, ifnot most, immersion students who participated in these studies and formed the “below-average groups” were not receiving the additional support services that are routinely afforded similar students in English programs. As a consequence, present research findings are just as likely to underestimate as to over-estimatethe effectiveness of immersion for students with academic challenges. At present, there is no evidence to support decisions or policies to exclude immersion students who face academic challenges owing to general academic or first-language learning difficultieson the grounds that they will experience greater success in an English program.

Fred Genesee, PhDThe State of French-Second-Language Education in Canada 2008

To view the entire report visit our national website at www.cpf.ca.

Article continued from page 2.

As feAtured in the nAtionAtured in the nAtionA Al Post, on CtV And CBC!

AiM language learningRR#1, AL-33Bowen Island, BC Canada V0N 1G0Tel. North America 800-668-6288 Tel. International (+1) 604-947-0015Fax. 604-947-9630www.aimlanguagelearning.com

The Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM), which employs gestures, drama, songs and dance to teach vocabulary, is used in core French classes and as the language and literacy component of immersion classes.

Amazing results! A good working fluency(oral and written) in less than 100 hours of instruction! Grammar raps to avoid the fossilization of errors!

“How exciting to be part of the constructing of language so that you are learning how it works as you use it. That is what grammar has to be and that is what this program does… Students are part of the meaning-making.”

- David Booth, Professor, University of Toronto

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STUDIES IN FRENCH HAVE REACHED NEW HEIGHTS!Faculty oF arts and social sciences• PrograminPublicAdministration&CommunityServices www.sfu.ca/frcohort

Faculty oF education• TeacherEducationPre-service&In-servicePrograms, CoreFrench,FrenchImmersion,Francophone• Master’sandDoctorate www.sfu.ca/educfr

TAkEThEnExTSTEPwIThuS! Cohort programs enfrançais Small interactive groups Academic & language support Scholarships & bursaries

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                                                                                                       Canadian Parents for French (Ontario) presents the ….     …  

“Encounters with Canada” Fiction Contest  

Are you creative? Do you enjoy story‐telling? Do you like to write for fun?  

 For  a  chance  to  win  one  of  five  all‐inclusive  trips  to Ottawa to attend a week‐long Encounters with Canada Youth Forum  (valued  at  $625),  students  are  asked  to  write  a submission of French  fiction. The  theme, style, and  format of the submission are up to the student, so be creative and have fun!  The  contest  is open  to all Ontario  students  in grades 9‐11 studying  French  as  a  Second  Language  (Core  French, Extended French, or French Immersion).   Encounters with Canada/Rencontres du Canada, a program of 

the Historica Foundation of Canada allows French and English youth  from across  the country  to come together and live a week of unforgettable memories at the Terry Fox Canadian Youth Centre in Ottawa. Winners may select from 12 career theme weeks during the school year from April 2009 to May 2010. Visit incredible Canadian federal institutions and engage in life‐altering activities!  For more information on this program and to hear all the great things that participants had to say about their encounters, please visit their website at www.encounters‐rencontres.ca.                          

The “Encounters” experience in Ottawa

                 Submission  deadline  is  February  27th,  2009.  Please  submit  by mail  to: Contest Committee, CPF Ontario, 2055 Dundas St. East, Suite 103, Mississauga, Ontario, L4X 1M2.  

 

   

Submissions will be evaluated on originality, French  language quality, content development, and creativity. All five winners will be contacted by Friday, March 13th, 2009.       

 

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Encounters with Canada Contest Rules  Who May Participate The contest is open to all Ontario students in grades 9, 10 and 11 (14 to 17 years old) in English schools who  are  studying  French  Second Language  (Core  French, Extended  French,  or  French Immersion).  Fiction Submission Details Create an original work in French with whichever theme you find most inspiring. The style and format of the work is also at the discretion of the student. The submission must be a maximum of 700 words, on no more than 2 pages (8½ x 11) one‐sided, and an original work of poetry or prose created solely by the participant. The work must be entirely in French.   How to Register Send  your  finished  submission  together with  the  completed  registration  form  to  the  address below.  Submissions must be received by February 27, 2009.  Contest Conditions The student undertakes the task of creating her/his own original work and will not make use of works or documents subject  to copyrights  (with  the exception of short quotations  in accordance with  the  laws  that govern  copyrights), or use defamatory material or material  contrary  in  any respect  to  the  laws and  regulations.   All  entrants  relinquish,  free of any  charge, all  copyrights, broadcasting rights, royalties, etc. related to the final reports and additional material, to Canadian Parents for French (Ontario) who will be entitled to publish or exhibit said reports and additional material,  in  part  or  in  full  in  any way  that Canadian  Parents  for  French  (Ontario) will  deem appropriate,  including  the  internet.   Winners will be required  to obtain  their parental signature and  permission  from  their  school  principal  to miss  a week  of  regular  school  programming  to participate.  

‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐   

Encounters with Canada – Fiction Contest  

Last Name: _______________________________________First Name: __________________________  

Complete address: _____________________________________________________________________  

_______________________________________________________________________________________  

E‐mail address: ______________________________________Phone no. (_______)________________  

School Name: _______________________________________School Board: _____________________  

Grade: _____________________FSL Program: ______________________________________________                  (Core French, Extended French, French Immersion)  

Please complete this registration form and mail, together with your submission, to:    Canadian Parents for French (Ontario), 2055 Dundas St. E., Suite 103, Mississauga, Ontario  L4X 1M2.   

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Student Exchanges• Travel expenses covered

• Short-term exchanges within Canada

• Groups of 10 to 30 youth aged 12 to 17

• School year or summer exchanges available

• Accessible to all — financial assistance available

70 years of experience in education and youth leadership

VAS-Y! VISITE! VIS!

With the participation of the Government of Canada

Charitable Registration #10797 1341 RR

EXCHANGE EXPLORE EXPERIENCE

A Global Experience! Canadian Education

Exchange FoundationFondation canadienne des

échanges éducatifs

A not-for-profit organization!

France Belgium Luxembourg Spain Italy

Germany The Netherlands

RECIPROCAL INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES for...

• Individual Secondary School Students 14–17 years old.

3 months abroad + 3 months hosting.

• 2009 French-language Summer Cultural Exchanges

France or Geneva (Switzerland) 1 month abroad + 1 month hosting.

• Short-term Class/Small Group Exchanges also available.

Canadian Education Exchange Foundation

250 Bayview Drive Barrie ON Canada L4N 4Y8 Phone: 705 739-7596 Fax: 705 739-7764 E-mail: info@ceef.ca Web Site: www.ceef.ca

9 June 2008

15

Planning ahead for the summer?

Visit the Summer Camps and French Resources section of our website at www.cpfont.on.ca to view a listing of French summer camps and exchange programs for all ages.

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:Canadian Parents for French (Ontario)

2055 Dundas Street East, Suite 103Mississauga, ON L4X 1M2

Prefer an e-newsletter instead? E-mail the Branch office at cpfont@cpfont.on.ca to receive an electronic newsletter instead of a hard copy.

Publication Mail Agreement # 40045397

French Fiction is Fun!French Creative Writing Competition

Is your child creative? Do they enjoy story-telling? Do they like to write for fun?If so, they should participate in the CPF Ontario French Fiction is Fun event, a French creative writing competition for students in grades 1 – 8*. The first place winner from each level will receive a fun filled prize package and their work will be published in the Spring/Summer issue of 2009 CPF Ontario News.

Level Maximum Length Word Count PresentationPrimary

(Grades 1 – 3)One 8.5’ by 11’ sheet of paper. One-sided.

Min. of 10 words.Max. of 50 words.

The student may decorate the page with pictures to help emphasize the creative writing.

Junior(Grades 4 – 6)

One 8.5’ by 11’ sheet of paper. One-sided. Max. 350 words. No pictures but the student may arrange the

words in a creative fashion. Senior

(Grades 7 – 8)Two 8.5’ by 11’ sheet of paper. One-sided. Max. 700 words. No pictures but the student may arrange the

words in a creative fashion.

*Open to CPF Ontario members only. Non-members may compete by joining CPF. The fee to join is $25 for a one-year family membership, which you can include with your submission as a cheque made payable to Canadian Parents for French.

Deadline for submissions is March 31st 2009.Please note: the writing must be entirely in French and an original work of poetry or prose created solely by the participant. The theme, style, and format of the submission are up to the student, so be creative and have fun!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - French Fiction is Fun!

Last Name: _______________________________________First Name: __________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________

City: _____________________________________________Postal Code: _________________________

E-mail address: ____________________________________Phone no. (_______)___________________

CPF Membership no.____________________________________________________________________

School Name: _____________________________________ School Board: ________________________

Grade: _____________________FSL Program: ______________________________________________ (Core French, Extended French, French Immersion)

Please complete this registration form and mail, together with your submission, to: Canadian Parents for French (Ontario), 2055 Dundas St. East, Suite 103, Mississauga, Ontario L4X 1M2.