The St. Clair Catholic District School Board is looking for feedback from the community about their interest in bringing a French Immersion program to Christ The King in Wallaceburg.
The Board of Trustees approved a survey to be sent to Catholic families in the Wallaceburg area, to gauge support for a French Immersion program.
The Board currently operates French Immersion programs in Chatham, Blenheim and Sarnia.
“We are excited to begin this process of assessing the level of support for a French Immersion program for Catholic families in Wallaceburg,” says Dan Parr, director of education. “Our French Immersion programs are very successful in the Sarnia, Chatham and Blenheim areas and we think it will be a great success here, too.”
The Board has also tentatively approved Christ The King Catholic School as the location of the new program.
The final decision on location will depend on the level of interest expressed; however, Board officials believe Christ The King would be the appropriate size to house a French Immersion program in Wallaceburg.
“If what we expect materializes, we would begin the French Immersion program at Christ The King in September 2016 with JK, SK and possibly Grade 1,” says Laura Callaghan, principal of Christ The King Catholic School and project lead.
Under Board policy, transportation would be provided within a 20 km radius of the school.
Students outside the 20 km boundary, who wish to enroll in the French Immersion program would be admitted; however, parents would be required to provide transportation.
Within the next day or two, letters and surveys regarding the French Immersion program will be sent to all Catholic families in the Wallaceburg area, who have children in the appropriate age groups.
It is expected that a recommendation will be brought to the Board of Trustees by the end of the year.
I am very excited to hear of a immersion program in Wallaceburg. I have been considering sending my son but transportation to Chatham or Sarnia just isn’t possible. My only concern is with it being at a Catholic school, I sincerely hope religion will not be a condition for enrollment.
What about Protestant French Immersion here in Wallaceburg ??