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Parenthése |

La voix des parents de Colombie-Britannique

The ABC of the parents’ network in BC

e You have before you the first
ze] edition of Parenthése for the

2007-2008 academic year. It’s
filled with informative articles on a wide
range of topics of interest to you, the
parent, in your family and school rou-
tine.

Perhaps you will find yourself or
your children in an upcoming issue of
Parenthése! The community page
invites parents’ associations to submit
a text and photos of something of
which the parents at your school are
proud. We encourage you fo share
experiences that may be of interest fo
parents across the province who, like
you, strive to maintain the vitality of our
school communities. Parenthése will be
published again in December, Febru-
ary, and May.

The Fédération des parents franco-
phones de Colombie-Britannique
(FPFCB - BC Federation of Francophone
Parents) is the organization responsible
for publishing Parenthése. A careful
reading of the magazine will provide
an excellent overview of the FPFCB
role. Following is a brief summary of the
Federation activities.

A Brief History

Since its inception in 1979, the mis-
sion of the FPFCB, known at the time
as the Association des parents du pro-
gramme cadre de francais, was to pro-
mote the rights and interests of parents
with regard to French language edu-
cation in British Columbia. Efforts to fulfil
this mission later prompted two lawsuits
against the Province to gain recogni-
tion of parents’ rights. The judgements
rendered in these actions resulted,
among other things, in the creation
of the Conseil scolaire francophone
(CSF —- Francophone schoo! board) in
November 1995.

The FPFCB has evolved consi-
derably during the past 28 years,
changing its moniker on two occasions.

In 1991, it became the Association des
parents francophones de Colombie-
Brifannique (BC francophone parents’
association), and in 1997, the Federa-
tion adopted its current name.

Our mission today

The current mission of the FPFCB is
to promote the involvement of parents
in establishing an educational and
community environment conducive to
the full development of children and
families within fhe French culture.

Federation members include the
parents’ associations of CSF schools
and parents’ associations providing
francophone preschool services. The
FPFCB is governed by a board of direc-
tors consisting of seven parent volun-
teers; 6 parents, one each representing
a region of the province, and one
parent who serves as chair. The Board
of Directors is elected by the members
(parents’ associations) during an annu-
al general meeting. The next AGM will
take place on November 25, 2007.

The FPFCB is involved in two areas:
education and early childhood edu-
cation. The organization works closely
in partnership with the players in both
areas of interest. To do so, it sits on the
Education Advisory Council, which re-
ports to the Minister of Education, as well
as on the Comité conseil en éducation,
a body that formulates recommenda-
tions to the CSF Board of Directors.
The FPFCB also liaises with politicians
and civil servants of the provincial and
federal departments involved in these
matters.

Our Services and Resources

In addition to Parenthése, the Fede-
ration publishes a monthly electronic
newsletter, numerous promotional and
informational pamphlets (on language
development, intercultural families,
etc.), a directory of daycare services,
an information kit for new parents, and

guides to establishing preschool servi-
ces. Visit the Ressources section of the
FPFCB website, www.fpfcb.bc.ca, to
download these resources. The Fede-
ration also operates a resource centre,
Tire-Lire (see page 7), where you can
borrow books, games, DVDs, CDs, and
more... all in French!

The FPFCB also offers workshops for
parents, for example the workshop on
the Paul et Suzanne francization pro-
gram (see page 2) or the workshop
for non-francophone parents of inter-
cultural families (see page 10).

Services to school and preschool
parents’ associations play an impor-
fant role in FPFCB activities. It offers
workshops and support (requests for
information, incorporation assistance,
conflict resolution, challenges of a
specific nature, etc.). Finally, each year
the Federation organizes a conference
during which parents’ association
representatives may benefit from
training, discuss issues among them-
selves, and keep informed. This year,
the conference will take place on 23
and 24 November 2007 (see page 5).

The Federation focuses its develop-
ment efforts on early learning services.
It helps to develop the network of
francophone daycares and nursery
schools by supporting parents’ efforts
to establish new services. The Federa-
tion also works closely with the CSF
to better integrate the daycare and
nursery school services operating
within CSF schools, while ensuring that
these facilities effectively prepare the
children for French-language kinder-
garten.

The FPFCB is your provincial voice!
Whether your child is a preschooler or
primary student, whether or not you
belong to a PAC executive, be sure
to consult our resources and take
advantage of our services! Have a
great academic year!

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