French Immersion Task Force
Notes for June 9, 2005
Present: Charles Menzies, Anne Trudel, Henry Ahking, Craig Sidjak,
Janet Stewart, Valerie Overgaard, Jim Burnham, Max Adrien, Nancy Hawkins,
Les King, Katharine Shipley, Andy Krawczyk, David Frost, Barbara Anderson
DISCUSSION ACTION
1. Updates
Another late immersion class at Trafalgar is confirmed
for Sept. 2005.
2. Participant Perspectives
Charles reminded the group of a study he sent out
on the demand for French Immersion.
Anne cautioned the group to make sure that plans
to open Grade 1 classes for 2006 are not
forgotten. Max and the Facilities group met
since the last meeting and Max contacted
CPF in Calgary and Toronto. Henry, Les and
Craig have summarized all the data
gathered.
3. New Data
Henry presented a PowerPoint presentation
on the new data that has been collected. Max
explained the data comparing K-12 French
Immersion enrolment rates per school district
in the province. He also explained
that retention rates are calculated by dividing the
intake number in Kindergarten into the total
students in Grade 7 eight years later. The
trend retention rate has been improving in
our district. Vancouver retains about 75% of
French Immersion secondary students.
The graphs indicate a 10 year average but not a
trend. Craig thinks the retention rate
isn’t changing but the growth in the program has
increased. The data for attrition shows
that attrition increases in a dual track school but
in a single track school it is not so high.
There is excess demand by EFI Catchment
areas. This is reflected in the number
of applicants versus the capacity of the school.
This refers to people who reside in the school
catchment only. French Immersion schools
are not on the map because they are already
full. In 2009 we will be maxed out with a
capacity of 3145 students. This is with a
440 intake each year.
4. Capacity
As students move to the next grade, enrollment
will match our capacity. Secondary
capacity is illusory depending on other programs
such as district programs which could
cause enrolment to fluctuate. The demand
for capacity in French Immersion will come
with diminishing capacity for English classes.
The 2005 Elementary enrollment is
increasing slightly. Are there areas where
enrollment is declining and areas where
enrollment is growing? Overall we have a
slight decline of about 500 a year. That
decline is leveling off. We know where but
not why enrollment changes. Are
demographics changing in enrolment with people
with more affluence learning towards
French Immersion?
It was mentioned that New Westminster is advertising
for students in French
Immersion in Richmond. There is the
question of supply vs demand. New Westminster
for example is providing supply not must meeting
demand. They are also offering other
language immersion courses such as Punjabi.
5. The goal for Vancouver
There is a need to accommodate programs we
have already at 440. There is a need to
expand all 3 programs: Early Immersion,
Late Immersion and Secondary French.
We are assuming the demand will increase
over the next years. It was agreed that an
increase in Early Immersion enrolment is
necessary.
How much of an increase to Early Immersion
in 2006? Should there be an increase in
Late Immersion? This was a little more
problematic. Is there a real demand? The
Secondary French demand will grow as Early
and Late Immersion numbers increase.
Trafalgar is not a new site. It is
a one time only Late Immersion class. Andy suggested
that each Secondary site have a Late Immersion
Elementary feeder school. The group
agreed that it is advantageous for
teachers and students to have Late Immersion in a
school with Early Immersion. What is
preferred in a Secondary Immersion model?
Blending Early and Late Immersion students
is happening now at all Secondary sites and
works well. Having a third Late Immersion
site at a school with Early Immersion that is
south of 33rd Ave. is recommended.
Kerrisdale Elementary was mentioned as a
possibility.
Capacity is difficult with existing sites
whish are already at capacity. The group will
explore further a third Late French Immersion
school to be combined with an Early
Immersion school to feed to Churchill.
6. Secondary French Immersion
Do we need an expansion at the Secondary level
and if so when? Henry said the
numbers show it is not needed until 2008.
John Oliver would be a logical site.
7. Expansion Decisions
It was agreed that expansion is necessary.
Some decisions that need to be made are:
• How much growth?
• 3 sites for EI?
• What are the rules and principles of expansion?
Facilities can do the specifics on the numbers etc. and the impact on a
school. Staffing is a challenge as well. This year HR put ads
for FI teachers across Canada and interviewed back east. There is increased
interest in candidates and their willingness to move here. The key
is posting soon enough. Janet will get information on this for the
notes. The housing market should be a consideration for where a new
FI site is located. Is there research on ESL students enrolling in
French Immersion? What about the sites where there is no demand for
FI? We need to meet the demand carefully. The group recommended
looking at other second language immersion options as well. Max has
a discussion paper on second languages. See attached. What is
the community demand and what is individual demand?
Janet
8. Next Meeting
Tuesday, June 21st at 1:00 p.m. More
research is needed. Les will try to have research
for review prior to the next meeting.