La Commission scolaire de langue française de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard

(The French Language School Board of Prince Edward Island)

WELCOME TO LA COMMISSION SCOLAIRE DE LANGUE FRANÇAISE'S ENGLISH PAGE.....

• School Calendar for the 2006-2007 School Year (TBA)

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  - Enter your civic address and follow the directions;
  - If you have any questions, please call the Board Office at 902-854-2975.

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A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE PROVINCIAL FRENCH LANGUAGE SCHOOL BOARD
AND ITS SCHOOLS
(Last updated: August 14th, 2006)

TABLE OF CONTENT

1. Chairperson’s Message
2. Brief History
3. Mission and Vision
4. What French education programmes are offered in Prince Edward Island?
5. What is a French language school?
6. Student Services
7. La Commission scolaire’s schools
8. How to get in touch with the French language school in your area
9. Registration Criteria and Registration Form
10. Members of the school board
11. How to get in touch with the school board office
12. For the parents
13. Questions & Answers

Dear Parents,
Dear Students,
Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of la Commission scolaire de langue française, I welcome you to our website.

We are proud of the quality programmes that our schools offer. This would not have been possible without the dedication and endless efforts of our teachers, administrative staff, and support staff.

It is important to note that the success of our schools and students also depends on the commitment of the parents, the general population, community organizations, and Island Acadian and Francophone institutions. I hope that the partnerships that we were able to build in the course of the last few years will continue to flourish.

Robert Maddix 
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2. BRIEF HISTORY                              

PEI’s first Acadian school was established in Rustico in 1815. During the first half of the 20^th century, French Acadian schools were present throughout the province. At one time there were some 60 French language schools on the Island.

During the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s, the consolidation of the school system led to a decrease in the number of Island French and English schools. The only French schools that survived this reform were located in the Evangeline area, and they were placed under the responsibility of a French school board.

Towards the end of the 1970’s, l’École Évangéline was the only French language school on P.E.I. It was not until 1980 that another French school, l’École François-Buote, opened its doors, this time in Charlottetown.

On July 1^st, 1990, the PEI Government officially gave the French Language School Board the responsibility of administering and promoting French education throughout the province.

Following Canada’s Supreme Court decision in January 2000, parents in the Summerside-Miscouche area were granted the right to have a school in their own community.

In September 2000, the French School Board, known as la Commission scolaire de langue française de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard, opened new schools in the Summerside-Miscouche, West Prince, and Rustico areas.

In Septembre 2003, a new French language school opened its doors in Souris.
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3. MISSION AND VISION                                  

In 2002, la Commission scolaire de langue française adopted a new vision and a new mission:

 Vision
Together, we strive to:

·        Foster success and global development for every student;

·        Create a pedagogical framework based on proven practices and sound research;

·        Foster a dynamic collectivity, proud of its language and culture;

·        Create a close cooperation between all education partners.

 Mission
La Commission scolaire de langue française is an Acadian and Francophone collectivity that offers quality education to its students in a friendly and safe environment and that strives to promote and develop its language and culture.

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4. WHAT FRENCH EDUCATION PROGRAMMES ARE        
OFFERED IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND?                                      

There are three French programmes being offered in PEI:

- French First Language Programme
- French Immersion Programmes
- Core French Programme

- French First Language Programme:

It is intended for:

• a child of a person who is eligible under Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
• a child of a person of Acadian or Francophone roots who wants his or her child to develop an Acadian and Francophone identity through the acquisition of the French language and the Acadian and Francophone culture.

The goals of the French First Language Programme are:

• to develop a high proficiency in the French and English languages, both spoken and written;
• to develop a positive attitude towards the French language;
• to develop a positive attitude towards and a sense of belonging to the Acadian and Francophone culture and community;
• to raise student awareness and appreciation of Canada’s bilingual and multicultural nature;
• to promote the acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes in all disciplines taught in French.

The school offers a homogeneous Francophone environment. The French language is used as the language of instruction from Grade 1 to Grade 12. Extracurricular activities are also conducted in French.

English is introduced in Grade 4. Given the predominantly English environment on P.E.I., students acquire the English language naturally.

Upon graduation, students have the choice to pursue postsecondary education in either language.    
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- French Immersion Programmes*:

They are intended for a child whose heritage is other than Acadian or Francophone.

The goals of the French Immersion Programmes are:

• to encourage the development of oral and written competency in French;
• to develop a high proficiency in the English language;
• to appreciate the richness and diversity of the Francophone culture and heritage;
• to raise student awareness and appreciation of Canada’s bilingual and multicultural nature;
• to promote the acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes in all disciplines taught in French.

There are three types of French Immersion Programmes on P.E.I.:

- Early French Immersion Programme:

Its characteristics are:

• French instruction starts in Grade 1;

• The percentage of French instruction at the elementary level goes from 90% in Grades 1-3 to 65% in Grades 4-6;

• The percentage of French instruction at the intermediate level (Grades 7-9) is about 50%. The term "early immersion" changes to "continuing immersion" starting in Grade 7;

• The percentage of French instruction at the senior high level (Grades 10-12) is about 25%.

- Late French Immersion Programme:

Its characteristics are:

• French instruction starts in Grade 7;

• The percentage of French instruction in Grades 7 and 8 is about 75%;

• The percentage of French instruction in Grade 9 is about 50%;

• Starting in Grade 10, students from the Late Immersion Programme are grouped with students from the Continuing Immersion Programme.

- Middle French Immersion Programme:

There is only one programme of this kind on the Island. It is a local pilot project at Gulf Shore School in the Eastern School District.

Its characteristics are:

• French instruction begins in Grade 4;

• The percentage of French instruction in Grades 4-6 is 75%;

• At the intermediate (Grades 7-9) and senior high school (Grades 10-12) levels, students receive the same amount of French instruction as their counterparts in other immersion schools.

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- Core French Programme*

This programme is intended for a child whose heritage is other than Acadian or Francophone.

The goals of a Core French Programme are:

• to develop communicative competence in French;
• to foster a positive attitude towards second language learning;
• to develop an appreciation of Francophones and their culture.

The Core French Programme is offered from Grade 4 to Grade 12. Students take one French course while all their other courses are taught in English.   
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• Context

More than a regular school, the French language school is an institution where language and culture are interwoven. It is a place where a strong emphasis is placed on academic excellence and where every effort is made for the preservation and growth of the French language and culture.

Given that almost all of our schools are located in a school community center, this makes them the focal point of the Acadian and Francophone population who uses the premises for all sorts of family and community social and cultural activities and events. This, in turn, leads to a better sense of belonging among young and old, and contributes to a better appreciation of one's own language and a greater pride of one's own heritage.

• Programmes

The French school offers academic programmes that are equivalent to those taught in English schools. French and English programmes are developed by the PEI Department of Education and therefore meet provincial standards. At the end of Grade 12, successful students receive the provincial high school diploma.

In our schools, all courses are taught in French from Grade 1 to Grade 12. An English course is offered from Grade 4 to Grade 12.

French is the language of instruction, work and communication in the school board office and in the schools.

• Teachers

Our teachers are employed by la Commission scolaire and are members of the Prince Edward Island Teachers’ Federation. In addition, and before beginning his or her employment with the board, every teacher must qualify for and obtain a P.E.I. teaching licence from the P.E.I. Department of Education. The licences delivered to French first language education teachers are equivalent to those delivered to any other teacher in the province.     
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6. STUDENT SERVICES                                                   

La Commission scolaire de langue française makes every effort to give its students and school staff the best support services possible in order to create an environment that is conducive to teaching, learning and growth. La Commission scolaire presently offers the following services:

• Special education teachers and counsellors;
• A special education consultant;
• Teacher assistants assigned to teachers with special needs students.

In addition, there are two tutoring clubs, the first at l’École Évangéline and the second at l’École François-Buote. These clubs are managed by a group of partners (parents, professionals, and volunteers) who are supported by our special education teachers. This service is available, after school hours, to students wishing to receive extra help with their schoolwork.

Finally, our schools have established school teams of teachers and other professionals who meet regularly to find solutions to particular challenges that may surface in the school.

La Commission scolaire can also call upon the services of:

• A psychologist;
• A speech therapist;
• A public health nurse;
• And other services such as:
• Physiotherapy;
• Ergotherapy;
• IWK and Georges Dumont Hospitals.

Furthermore, the following services are available at the Department of Education:

• A team of programme consultants;
• Tutoring for sick children;
• An itinerant service for hearing impaired, and for visually impaired students.
  

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7. LA COMMISSION SCOLAIRE’S SCHOOLS                                      

La Commission scolaire presently administers five schools.(The maps of the territory served by each of the schools are in PDF format. You need Acrobat Reader to be able to open this file. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you can downloaded it free here).

- l’école Évangéline in Abram-Village (territory served);
- l’école François-Buote in Charlottetown (territory served);
- l'école française de Prince-Ouest in DeBlois (territory served);
- l’école St-Augustin in Rustico (territory served); and
- l'École-sur-Mer in Summerside (territory served);
- l'école La-Belle-Cloche in Souris (territory served - the limit is in mauve).

·        L’école Évangéline and l’école François-Buote offer a whole range of programmes that are comparable to those offered in the English language schools of the province. Both schools offer all courses from Grade 1 to Grade 12 leading to the provincial high school diploma. Graduates are then able to pursue their studies at a postsecondary institution or join the labour market.

·           L’école Évangéline and l’école François-Buote offer a whole range of programmes that are comparable to those offered in the English language schools of the province. Both schools offer all courses from Grade 1 to Grade 12 leading to the provincial high school diploma. Graduates are then able to pursue their studies at a postsecondary institution or join the labour market.

·          In September 2004, l’école française de Prince-Ouest will open its doors with Grades 1-9 classes. More grades will be added in the next few years. Eventually, the school will offer all the programmes from Grade 1 to Grade 12.

·          L’école St-Augustin in Rustico offers all Grades 1-6 programmes. Students will then continue their education at l’école François-Buote in Charlottetown.

·          The Summerside French language elementary school, l’École-sur-Mer, offers all Grades 1–6 programs. Students will then continue their education at l’école Évangéline.

·          In September 2003, l'école La-Belle-Cloche opened its door in Souris with a multiage class with students aged 6 to 8 (Grades 1-3). In September 2005, students from Grades 1-6 will attend the school. In subsequent years, new grade levels will be added. Eventually, the school will offer all the programmes from Grade 1 to Grade 12.

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