Parenthése

An initiative for non-francophones
oarents at L’Ecole Brodeur

It is not always easy for a non-francophone par-
ent to adapt fo his or her child's francophone
school life. In addition to having to help the
child learn in a language that the parent has not always
mastered, he must deal with communications with the
school, teachers and school parents association (APE).
To assist non-francophone parents in their adventure in
the world of Francophony, the APE from the Victor-Bro-
deur’ school, in Victoria, arranged an information session
prior to the start of the school year. This initiative is worth
considering!

“Last year, the APE had the privilege of offering a work-
shop by the FPFCB Ex-Team (for more information about
it, see bellow), points out Brodeur APE president Pauline
Gobeil. To better integrate non-francophone parents
into the school community, the parents in attendance
suggested that the APE organize an orientation session
for non-francophone parents at the start of the school
year”.

In response to this suggestion, the APE held an informa-
tion session on August 31. More than thirty people came
to the school for the approximately one-hour meeting.
According fo Brodeur’s director Carole Massé, “We usu-
ally meet the parents after the beginning of fhe school
year; however, this time, the APE invited them prior fo the
first day to prepare them for what was fo come.”

Pauline Gobeil presented a PowerPoint document sum-
marizing the information that a non-francophone parent

What is the Ex-Team?

needs to become part of the school commun-
ity. This included general information about
the school, the APE, and the services available
inside and outside the school; the definition
of an exogamous (intercultural) family; sta-
tistics regarding British Columbia franco-
phone youth. It also included a presen-
tation on the Francophone
Education Authority (CSF),
and a brief historical look
at French-language educa-
tion in the province; conflict
resolution techniques and ways
to get involved; and where to get
help and find French-language
resources.

Robert Ouellette, a parent from the school, commented,
“! found this information session very useful. After that
evening presentation, my wife, who speaks only English,
felt included in the educational process.” The APE's in-
itiative for non-francophones parents doesn’t stop to the
information session. Since the beginning of the 2005-2006
school year, Brodeur's non-francophone parents have
been meeting every Wednesday afternoon for a free
cup of coffee, cookies and a chat. If is an opportunity
for parents to stay informed, to talk, and to learn a few
French words, while helping to create a first class school
community.

The Ex-Team, consisting of four anglophone parents, has been assembled by Glenn Taylor, author of the I'm with
you! guide. The program is designed for the non-francophone parent in an exogamous family (families with one
francophone parent and one non-francophone parent). Keep in mind that at any time you can ask the FPFCB to
send a member of the Ex-Team to your schoo! community to offer an I'm with you! workshop to the non-francophone

parents in your school.