French Programs at Near North Schools

The French programs offered at Near North District schools are designed specifically for children whose first language is not French. Monthly newsletters, Board information, other print communication and parent-teacher interviews are communicated in English.

There are three French programs offered to students: the Early French Immersion program, the Extended French program and the Core French program. Students of Early French Immersion and Extended French and Core French programs have options to continue in their French programs at the secondary level. For information on how to register your child for a Near North French Immersion or Extended French program, please refer to our registration page.

Entry into the Early French Immersion program can be at the Junior or Senior Kindergarten level. The Junior Kindergarten program is offered all day, on alternate days. The Senior Kindergarten program is offered all day, every day. In Grades 1 and 2, instruction is in French with the exception of 1/2 hour per day devoted to English literacy activities. French Immersion is a program where students receive all or most of their instruction in French from a teacher who speaks French and English fluently. The aim of the program is to develop functionally bilingual persons.

Entry into the Extended French program commences in Grade 5. In this program, 50 - 80% of instruction is in French until Grade 8.

Core French is available to all other students who are not in the Early French Immersion or Extended French programs.

For more information about Early French Immersion and Extended French programs, please download this brochure. You may also telephone the Board Office for more information, as well as view an online list of all schools who offer Early French Immersion and Extended French programs.

Extended French Program Information Sessions:

If your son or daughter is entering Grade 5 in September, 2008 and is looking for an exciting new challenge that will grant them more opportunities in the future, then attend one of the parent information sessions on: