A.P.E-C.B. in brief... to give us your comments. SCHOOL MANAGEMENT As you are aware, A.P.F.C.B.’s lawyers sent a formal notification of its intention to proceed with the reopening of the Court action, adjourned in 1989, to obtain school governance for francophone parents. To date we received no reaction from the provincial government therefore, we are preparing all necessary documents to be ready for the next step. CHILDCARE During the school year, we had to face many difficulties regarding financial resources. The Ministry of Education puts forward that childcare is not in its mandate which stipulates that the Ministry is responsible for children’s education from kindergarten to Grade 12. We are exploring all possible ways to find adequate financing. In spite of the above, the Preschool Resources Centre is taking shape; the shelves are fixed, the material is being catalogued for the computerized system which will enable us, it is our hope, to start the lending of resources next September. Latest news on preschools and mini-franco-fun La Coccinelle (White Rock) which open its doors last January is fully operating and successful. A group of English speaking parents donated 400 $ and the money will be used to buy books for the little-ones. Next September new preschools will open their doors: Pomme d’Api (Vancouver); Premier Pas (Surrey); Les P’tits lutins (Coquitlam); l’Ecole francaise des petits (Courtney/Comox). All new preschools are already accepting enrolment for September. or the second time since the publication of our newsletter we are presenting a section in English. Following a resolution passed during our general annual meeting last May, the Association will publish its newsletter in French with a section in English giving a summary of the latest news to enable parents of mixte marriages to understand what we do and our goals as well as to make them feel a part of it. It is the first time so do not hesitate Info-parents Colombie-BritanniqQue =n SOCIO-CULTURAL ACTIVITIES | The participants to the Annual general meeting mentioned few times the necessity to promote Programme cadre de frangais and to develop socio-cultural activities. Their wish may come true! The Ministry of Education is offering a grant to the Association and we will prepare some advertising material and publicize in local newspapers. We are also working on eligibility criteria for the funding of socio-cultural activities developed by Parents Committees. OTHER PROJECTS Jointly with the associations members of the Consortium in francophone education A.P.F.C.B. is planning a tour in Fall of all school districts where Programme cadre is offered as well as La Semaine de la fierté francaise. We also work very closely with Théatre La Seiziéme for the organization of the first Festival de théatre jeunesse. Due to the provincial government retreat regarding francophone school governance, A.P.F.C.B. had to change some of the priorities previously laid out. After consultation with the participants at the General meeting in May and a survey sent with the issue of Info- Parents in April we were able to redefine new priorities for the next school year. We will concentrate our energy in the following fields: promotion and recruiting; Parents Committees training; school boards funding imputability and quality of services. To be able to obtain the results expected, the Board of Directors of the Association has decided to centralized all services to its members. The two coordinators, Daniel Bélanger and Frédérique Grenouillat will be at your disposal for any information you may need from next September. Do not hesitate to call them. They will have a challenge to take up following the wonderful work provided of our Liaison Officers. Here a special thank and hat off to Joane Lebel, Louise Cété Madill, Andrée Lesage, Thérése Guillemette and Annie Audet for their commitment and work well done. We also want to thank here Doris Dion for the time and energy she spent for the cause of education in French as first language. Doris is resigning from her functions on the Board of Directors. We wish her good luck and success in her new endeavours.