ban gang INFO-PARENTS eco

Editorial

SYMPOSIUM:

"SCHOOL, THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY: AN ESSENTIAL PARTNERSHIP"

20, 21, 22 of February 1997
From consultation to action!

By Marc Gignac

Since the creation of the
Francophone Education Program
(Programme cadre de francais) in
1979, so many consultations were
made to identify problems and
solutions regarding the quality of
education it offers than we cannot
keep count. These consultations
led to concrete actions giving
opportunities for the Program to
develop and enhance its services
(learning assistance, mesures
d'accueil, teachers’ support, IRP
for Integrated Resources Package,
etc...)

More recently, with the creation of
the Francophone Education
Authority and the hopes it is
arousing, new consultations are
being held. The last one made by
the Francophone Authority will end
at the end of November and will
permit to establish a consensus for
the main orientations the Authority
will take in the coming years.

Now that we know more or less
what we want, time. has come to
act... together. Quite achallenge in
prospect!

In fact, the different partners in
educationare unanimous when they
say that the Francophone School
missionwill be achieved only witha
strong school-community
partnership. But, what does this
mean exactly a partnership school-

community ? How do we do it ?
Why do we work together ? How do
we work together ? What could be
the results ? What are the
Francophone school characteristics
in a minority surrounding ? What
are the roles andresponsibilities of
each individual to attain the ideal
Francophone school objectives ?

It is important to reflect together
before we answer these questions,
to lay the foundations of a
partnership based on the same
vision and the same values.

The main reason behind the
organization of a Symposium by
the Consortium in education
francophone (Association des
parents francophones de la
Colombie-Britannique, Conseil
jeunesse francophone,
Educacentre) isto create a dynamic
partnership between the school and
the community. The Symposium
will be heldon February 20, 21 and
22 next year.

The Concert’Action round table
consisting of parents, youth
representatives, teachers,
community, business people, the
Conseil culturel et artistique, the
Ministry of Education and the
Francophone Education Authority
are participating as consultants to
organize the event.

Some partnerships in British
Columbia gave conclusive results
suchas: “Apprendre ensemble”, a
week of training for partners in
education; the development of the
IRP French as first language; the
community school in Powell River:

Ecole Céte du soleil; the Science

Fair in Victoria and many more.

How did we do it ? What worked
well ? Which problems did we

encounter ? What kind of error
should we avoid in the future ? It
is important to acknowledge these

experiences which led to activities

or projects which contribute to the

creation of a cultural environment
answering the needs of
Francophone children.

The Symposium will enable
teachers, parents, young people and
the community at large to learn
and exchange ideas on the values
of a real partnership. The event
will also help to identify concrete
means to realize the objectives
ensuing from the Francophone
school's mission.

About 200 individuals from all over
the province will be invited to
participate. We hope that a great
number of you will answer to the
invitation. It is time to start rowing
in the same direction together.

Do not miss the boat!