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| Word from the president

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e school year is almost over.
Summer is just around the corner.
Before we all go off to our sun-filled
activities, I would like to go over a few
points of interest of the past year.

Thishasbeen the firstyear ofa transitional
period for Francophone education. With
the advent of the Conseil scolaire
francophone (Francophone Education
Authority) both the Conseil and the
Comités de parents have faced many
challenges. But, all in all, things went
well; our children in the classroom were
not affected. On the contrary, visible
signs of better things to come could be
seen: books, computers etc.

Without a doubt, though, Forum 97, the
school at the heart of the community:
an essential partnership was the high
point ofthe year, with its emphasis on the
importance of the collaborative effort of
all the partners. in learning.
APPRENDRE ENSEMBLE (Learning
together), in August, and the «Congrés
du Consortium en éducation
francophone» brought together parents,
teachers, teenagers and members of the
community to familiarize them with
different aspects of the IRP’s, French
as a first language.

The «Projet éducatif » and other
examples ofclosecollaboration are taking
shape around the province. Kelowna,

Prince George and Victoria are into the
first stages leading to school-based
community centres as well as organizing
sociocultural activities involving different
partners.

Mid-June will have seen the Government
table a bill, in legislature, concerning
Francophone education. Unfortunately,
we already know that it will not conform
to Judge Vickers’ judgment of last
August; and that is a shame, because we
spent energy, time and money to obtain
the respect of our rights rather than to
offer the services that would benefit our
children in the classrooms. Also, the
Francophone Education Authority still
does not have jurisdiction over the whole
province, which means that the students
in those programs outside the territory
are in a kind of no-man’s land and that
does not help the development of the
program and does not make the task of
the Comités de parents easy.

I would like to take this opportunity to
underscore the perseverance of all those
whose tenacity sets the example to the
highest degree and who, in what they do
daily, send us the message to keep doing
what we are doing until we get to the
finish line. I cannot but mention the
accomplishments of all the
«relentless»across the province without
whom education in French would not

will represent the Northern part of the
province at the APFCB Board. Mrs Savoie
takes the vacant spot since Louise Coté-
Madill left earlier this year.

| Claudine Savoie, from Prince George,

The Board would like to wish welcome to
the new member and thanks Louise Coté-

take the forward steps it does. Together
we will make it !

Thisyearhas also seen the implementation
of the «Frenchifying project» which gives
the non-Francophone parent support in
understanding what his child is doing in
class in order to be able to help him. Next
year will see the expansion of this project.

Something to look forward to for next
September : two new programs will be
opening, one in the western area of
Vancouver city and the other in Langley
area.

The APFCB’s role remains a vital one
for Francophone education in BC
regardless of the Francophone Education
Autorithy. | Notwithstanding the
partnership established between the two
organizations, the parents will always
have a say in the education of their
children. As was expressed during the
Parksville retreat at the end of May, they
will find theirplacein the decision-making,
process that will be established in the
months to come.

Finally, in the name of the members of
the Board of the APFCB, I would like to
wish a sunny, cloudless and restful
summer to everyone.

Daniel LeScieller
President

New Member to the Board

Association.

Madill for her commitment to the
Francophone Programm as member of
the Board and as liaison officer for the

Mrs Coté-Madill will continue to be active

forthe Francophone Programas a director
of the Francophone Education Authority.