BRB INFO-PARENTS PAL GunLERIANNtDE toot

Editorial

Programme cadre de francais
is in place since 1979 in British
Columbia. Itis conceived specially for
French speaking children while

| Immersion Programs are offered to

children who wish to learn a second
language : French.

Since the beginning, the name
Programme cadre has been
questionned. What does Programme
cadre mean? What is it? The name
comes from a literal translation of the
English terminologie Core Curriculum
which itself does not mean much.

Parents have been asking fora
change of name for quite a while, last
time being at the provincial meeting in
February, during the planning session
on Sunday morning. Thatis the reason
behindA.P.F.C.B.’s initiative to change
the name of Programme cadre to Ecole
frangaise. Afirst step was taken when
the promotion poster was designed
lastmonth. The name Ecole francaise
replaces Programme cadre.

We sent a letter to Parents
committees of the Ecoles francaises
(Programme cadre) asking them to
find a French name for their schools
and to let us know what they expect
from them : their future and what the
schoolshould be offering tothe children.

Once all the answers are collected, a
brochure will be produced and
distributed. Inside you will find a profile
of what Year 2000 French School
should be like as well as a profile of
each schooloffering Programme cadre
de frangais in the Province.

Of course, the change of name
from PCDF to Ecole francaise will not
be official. To become official we would
need the agreement of all School
Boards as well as an amendment to
the British Columbia School Act,
because Programme cadre de francais
is the terminology used in the present
School Act.

Marc Gignac

However, if we start to use casually,
between us Francophones, nameslike
Ecole du Soleil couchant instead of
Programme cadre of Big Mountain
School for example, this will give a
chance tothe children to identify to their
culture and help them develop a sense
of belonging to THEIR SCHOOL andas
well to the Francophone community.

With this process, we _ will

progressively change the way things
are. Giving a French name to our
schoolsis also a step further to prepare
ourselves for the creation of the
Francophone School Board.

| invite all Francophone parents to
participate in the process and this way
contribute to make the children proud
to belong to the Francophone
community of British Columbia.

Summary of the Association
coming up events in 1995 |

June: Strategic Planning Session

To elaborate a three-year plan taking into
accountimportant changes inA.P.F.C.B.’s
main files: Francophone school
governance; budget cuts; the Francopnone

community development as a Whole, -
Culture in the classroom. It will be also

——— creation...

August: Training session on Culture in

the classroom
The main objectif will be to develop
individual expertise in this field.

Se

tember: lcblas erties ofaproec: -
on Culture inthe classroom i ina French
school.
Through the project an animator will be
provided in the French school chosen in
adic asl sales area agi French _
schools in British ‘Columbia. _ _

October: Participation tainpiomentiin:

new curriculum: French as first -

language.

This. curriculum has been specifically :
designed for French schools andhas an
I portant section on culture. It should be

: November.
_ Training ses:

the parents.

October: Congress and General

Annual Meeting
The Congress will be an occasion to
exchange on culture and specially on

an occasion to celebrate the
Association’s 15th Anniversary as well
as the 50th Anniversary of the Fédération

_ des francophones de la Colombie-

Britannique.

Participants are expected to assume

leadership. in this field ee ihe October - < December Provincial tour
____ of Parents Committees —

We will visit all Parents Ccnitilecs of

French Schools and all Je

a Preschool services.

Febrlery: Regional
ne op Culture i in =

classroom.

_ Four sessions will be. offered.
_ Vancouver,
_ Okanagan Valley and B.C. Northern —
Region. Parents, teachers, students
__aswellasmembers of the Francophone
- eo will oe invited to pte ae

Vancouver ene