Nouvelles des APE / APE News

SECHELT

»——————— Par Rocer Lacasse, DirEcteuR ———-———#

L’APE de l’Ecole du Pacifique a parrainé une épluchette de
mais a |’école le 16 septembre. Pendant |’aprés-midi, toute
l’école accompagnée de nombreux parents s’est rendue a
MacLean Bay pour assister a la prise du saumon au filet par
la Nation Sechelt dans le cadre du projet Ecole Bleue. La
prise était excellente et Madame Darlene Nooski a donné
des beaux spécimens aux spectateurs. En collaboration avec
la Nation autochtone Sechelt, l’école éléve des saumoneaux
pour les relacher au printemps.

ENGLISH VERSION — ROSSLAND

A new francophone program is underway in the West
Kootenays this fall. Fourteen francophone students from
Kindergarten to Grade 4 are sharing a classroom in the
McLean Elementary School, Rossland. The Kootenay-
Columbia School Board and the community of Rossland
gladly welcomed the new francophone program to their
primary school.

For all of our students, this is the first time that French is
the language of instruction. Initially, there were many puzzled
expressions on their young faces; however, after a month
in the classroom, the children have settled into the routine
and understand the questions I ask them a little better every
day. Some of the children are even beginning to express
themselves in French...such sweet music to my ears!

Many people wonder how a teacher can make herself
understood when she only speaks French and most of the
students only understand English. It’s simple really...with a
great deal of gesturing, miming, and humour. The training

a

ENGLISH VERSION

The Ecole du Pacifique APE sponsored a corn roast at the
school on September 16. That afternoon all of the students
and staff and numerous parents headed to MacLean Bay to
take part in the Sechelt Nation salmon catch as part of the
Ecole Bleue project. In cooperation with the Sechelt first
nation, the school raises smolts (young salmon) for release
in the spring.

is going so well that I could be ready to join an improvisation
team after this year!

As the only francophone program teacher at Rossland, I not
only have a number of challenges to face but I also have an
opportunity to experience what few teachers have a chance
to learn. Among the challenges: there are five different grades
to prepare and teach, and, most of the children need
francization. On the other hand, how many people can claim
that they had an opportunity to build a francophone school
in a majority English environment and, above all, do so at
the foot of the mountains that will soon be beckoning us to
scale the heights! I imagine that many of you will envy my
opportunity to leave my mark on the francophone community
as well as on the ski trails!

When you’re in the Kootenays, drop in...perhaps you will
decide to move to the area and join the growing number of
young francophone families in the region. Our young program
certainly has a promising future.

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