Bey INFO-PARENTS Oe eS Frenchifying program for children 3 to 5 : one year after its implementation Sincelast fall, the Association des parents francophones dela Colombie- Britannique (APFCB) coordinated the implementation of a specific program to frenchify young children from 3 to 5 years old. Five Francophone preschool in British Columbia offered the program: Trottin- Trotinnette in North Vancouver, Les P’tits Lutins in Coquitlam, Pomme d‘Apiin Vancouver, La Coccinellein White Rock and Saute-Mouton in Victoria. This program was developed bytwo Franco-manitoban experts, Lucille Maurice and Janine Tougas and was very successful in Manitoba since 1992. Itis actually implemented in other provinces in Canada. Itis free for Francophone preschools however the program can be bought by private institutions, schools, school boards and for immersion. As such the Francophone Education Authority bought a complete kit of the program for each Francophone school in the province. The kit will be used to enhance quickly the level of French of children involved inthe Francophone program but whoselevel of frenchistoolow to followtheir grade. Thekit consists of large books, puppetsand songs developed around 20 themes and 10 categories of vocabulary. Participation of parentsis amust as well as their acceptance to participate toa minimum of three meetings during the year and to go througha story read inclass each evening at home with the child. Atthe end of this first year ofimplementation, the evaluation by parents and educators alike seems very positive. The children like te two characters in the kit, Paul and Suzanne, and madereal progressin French. Few children who did not speak Frenchat all at the beginning of the year are able to make sentences and express some of their needs. Onthe other hand parents haverealized theimportance oftheir implication and their commitment to the process of language acquisition by their children. The APFCB intends to offer the program next year inthe same preschools plus few others inthe province. If you are a Francophone parent and you have children who do not master French language, Tel: 736-5056 1-800-905-5056 please call APFCB and we will tell you the adress of the closest preschool service that offers the Frenchifying program. 1] Surrey : two for the price of one Parents from Francophone Programm in Surrey want to enrich the cultural life of the students. They have created not one but two youth clubs after the school hours. Thereisthe 6-8 years old and the 9-11 years old club. Activities are various et usually last 75 minutes each Monday. Since April, teachers have also joined parents to elaborate and participate in different projects and activities. Almost fifteen students stay at the end of the school day to spend their free time in French. Three parents are acting behind the scenes to make that happen, Johanne Walesh Chantal Jones and Ghislaine Pilon. > COMOX-CAMPBELLRIVER-POWELL RIVER : working together with neighbours During a visit to a meeting in Campbell River, Michel Couture, president of Comox parents committee, has set a gaol for coming years : establish relationship with Francophone Programm and parents committee of Campbell River and Powell River. He had already partners. Beforethe end of the year, Campbell River principal should establish contact with his colleagues and try to organize exchanges or participate in activities with his francophone neighbours. For example, they hope to use the French services offered by the Canadian Air Force in Comox. LANGLEY: one moreschool to offer Francophone programm Three classrooms, 50 students from Kindergarten to grade 7: those are the magic numbers for francophones parents in Langley. In September, their kids will have the opportunity to go to school in the Francophone programm at Bradshaw Elementary school. On June 11, more than 50 parents were invited to the school for a welcoming party. Members of the Parents Advisory Committee (PAC) and principal were there to make sure the parents will feel comfortable in their new environment. Langley is an area where the potential of francophone students is one of the highest in the province according to a study made by the Association des parents francophones.