Wondering if you should enroll your child in a French immersion program? The York Catholic District School Board invites you to attend virtual information session that can help you decide.
The French immersion program is designed to help non-francophone children become proficient in French. The curriculum is the same as that in the English-language program but the language of instruction for most subjects is in French in the primary grades.
The board offers the French immersion program at 15 elementary schools and five high schools. Its elementary program begins in Grade 1 and is a prerequisite for its high school program. In most instances, students can’t enter the program after Grade 1. Parents and guardians should attend the information session for their local French Immersion school, which can be determined at http://locator.ycdsb.ca/. Parents and guardians will need to pre-register to attend the virtual information session by filling out the form on the local French Immersion school’s website at least 24 hours before the scheduled event.
Here’s a list of elementary French immersion schools and ate on which it will host its information session, each of which begins at 7 p.m.: St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Aurora on Thursday, Dec. 2; St. Thomas Aquinas CES in Keswick on Monday, Nov. 29; St. Anthony CES in Thornhill on Tuesday, Nov. 23; St. Edward CES in Markham on Thursday, Nov. 25; St. Francis Xavier CES in Markham on Monday, Nov. 29; St. John XXIII CES in Unionville on Tuesday, Nov. 23; St. Elizabeth Seton CES in Newmarket on Wednesday, Dec. 1; Christ the King CES in Richmond Hill on Thursday, Nov. 25; St. Marguerite d’Youville CES in Richmond Hill on Tuesday, Nov. 23; St. Brendan CES in Stouffville on Thursday, Nov. 25; St. Mark CES in Stouffville on Thursday, Dec. 2; Blessed Trinity CES in Maple on Thursday, Nov. 25; Our Lady of Fatima CES in Woodbridge on Thursday, Dec. 2; St. John Bosco CES in Woodbridge on Thursday, Nov. 25; and St. Joseph the Worker CES in Thornhill on Thursday, Nov. 25.
Children born in 2016 who will begin Grade 1 in September 2022 can apply for the program. Parents can apply for their children at www.ycdsb.ca from December 3 to January 21, 2022. After the application period closes and depending on the number of applicants, a lottery may be conducted.
The high school program is available at Father Bressani Catholic High School in Woodbridge, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Academy in Georgina, Our Lady Queen of the World CA in Richmond Hill, St. Brother Andre CHS in Markham and St. Maximilian Kolbe CHS in Aurora. Visit www.ycdsb.ca/2021/10/26/high-school-open-houses-2021/ for information students entering high school next year.
